Hand-held video game devices are an entertainment must-have for kids, with many of them now capable of not only connecting kids to online sources so they can play with friends, but allowing them to surf the ‘Net as well. The upcoming 3DS from Nintendo is about to make the world of hand-held gaming even better, allowing users to play in 3D without the use of special glasses.
Sounds neat, right? And I bet your kids are going to beg for one the minute they become available, but there’s something you should know before you run out to Best Buy and nab one up. The 3DS is not safe for children under the age of 7. In fact, it may even cause headaches no matter the age of the user.
Children under age 7 run the risk of permanent eye damage if using the 3DS, as their eye muscles have not fully developed yet. The 3D imagery could damage to those muscles, and Nintendo of American President Reggie Fils-Aime said the company will recommend young children do not use the 3D capabilities of the 3DS.
Nintendo are no dummies, and they know kids are going to beg for the 3DS. In order to get it out there despite the risk of eye damage, the 3DS comes with a switch allowing you to turn the 3D capabilities off.
3D is all the rage right now, with nearly every movie on the market coming out in 3D and television manufacturers working hard to market 3D TV sets to the masses. It’s no small wonder the next trend would appear in gaming circles. I just can’t help but wonder the impact the 3D craze will have in about ten years on the health of our eyes.