Thursday 7 April 2011

Nintendo 3DS: 'Record Returns' Denied By Retailers

Recent claims made by the Sun newspaper that 'thousands' of gamers had returned their 3DS consoles back to the shops after they had experienced several side-effects, have been refuted by retailers.

The article stated that there had been 'record returns' of the new 3DS console after gamers experienced dizziness and nausea after playing the console with the 3D effects enabled. Nevertheless, several video game retailers including GAME and HMV have said that the newspaper's claims are untrue.



GAME has admitted that a few people have requested a refund for the console after experiencing some minor ill-effects, but that these returns figures do not add up to thousands of returns. A spokesperson for GAME said: "We've had less than five people complain that they feel sick and want to return [the 3DS]." [Source:http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-05-nintendo-discredits-3ds-headaches-story]


Meanwhile, HMV has denied any 3DS returns. A representative of HMV said: " we are not aware of any manufacturing fault with the 3DS console - which we have seen huge demand for, and that we have not issued any refunds for it." [ibid.]   

Nintendo have also been quick to defend the 3D technology used in the new console, saying: "The number of calls and emails with queries on Nintendo 3DS is in fact well below the rate experienced during past hardware launches and having spoken with our retail partners there are only a handful of people who have actually gone into stores to request a refund." [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-04-05-retailers-deny-3ds-scare-story]

 The 3DS has proven to be extremely popular with the European gaming community. The console sold 113,000 units in its first two days on sale in the UK, and 303,000 units across Europe combined. Nevertheless, this latest media backlash - whether true or otherwise - is now likely to dent public confidence in the Nintendo handheld.

For those gamers who have experienced side-effects from using the 3DS, however, Nintendo have offered various pieces of health and safety literature that accompany the 3DS console, and which can be summerised in the following way:

  • Children aged seven or under should not use the 3D effects on the new console as it could damage their developing eyesight. Parents and guardians should use the 3D Depth Slider to turn off the 3D effect before giving it to a child aged seven or under.
Play the 3DS in a well-lit environment and avoid playing if you feel tired. Take a fifteen minute break after approximately half an hour of playing the 3DS (with 3D enabled). 
  • Consult your GP before playing the 3DS if you are prone to epilepsy or seisures when playing video games, or are affected by flashing images.

  • Use the 3D depth slider on the side of the console to control how much of the 3D effect is displayed. If the 3D effects make you uncomfortable, slide the depth slider to the lowest possible 3D setting.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Have you experienced any ill-effects whilst using the 3DS with the 3D effect enabled?

 Has The Sun newspaper article put you off of owning a Nintendo 3DS?

Have you tried to return a Nintendo 3DS console to the shop where you bought it? What was your experience?

If you have any comment to make on this subject, please let us know. We'd be delighted to hear your thoughts.

9 comments:

  1. This is dumb. The majority of my friends have 3DSs and all of us are super impressed with the 3D feature. I can even play my 3DS in the car without getting sick. It is a wonderful handheld. I personally love it and will stand behind it. If you are thinking about getting one and this is a deciding factor, please take my comment into consideration.

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  2. Thank you for your comment, anonymous. Like you, we here at Mini Gamers think that the 3DS is a wonderful console and have experienced no ill-effects whilst using it. We would however be interested in hearing from anyone who has experienced sickness or nausea.

    We have to say though, it seems as though the article has blown the scale of this problem way out of proportion. Most people are able to use the console with no ill-effects whatsoever.

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  3. Hey I went this morning to check out the 3DS... someone else was playing with the tester console and I went closer to see what it looks like...standin right next to that kid and lookin straight to the 3D screen I got this weird feelin like i couldn't watch no more...
    but when i finaly held it to my hands i was totaly thrilled...
    i bought it and i hope there will not be any side effects

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  4. Thank you for your comment.

    Yes, the 3DS manual states that the 3D images should only be viewed whilst looking directly at the 3D screen, otherwise you get a double-vision, distorted view, which can induce headaches and dizziness.

    Well done for giving the console a try though. Mini Gamers hopes that you enjoy your 3DS with no side-effects too.

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  5. UPDATE: Two young relatives have since tried out the 3DS. Whilst one of them had no problem with the 3DS and instantly turned the depth slider up on full, the other had problems adjusting to the 3D images and often refered to images or games being 'blurry', but after a short while, their eyes adjusted and they were fine. No dizziness or sickness though.

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  6. These people who whined about the 3D making them sick lack one thing: Common sense. Is it really that hard to -gasp- turn the 3D slider OFF, for crying out loud? Sheesh! If the effect makes you sick, turn it off! People nowadays have to be told everything. What a damn shame.

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  7. Hello Hey_Soul_Sister,

    We agree that turning the depth slider down or off completely would seem to be the best solution under the circumstances, Mini Gamers can also sympathise with those people who claim that there is no point in owning a 3D CAPABLE product if they cannot use the 3D function for themselves.

    Nevertheless, it does seem as though only a minority of people have actually experienced problems of this nature, and the news report was grossly exagerated.

    Thank you for your comment!

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  8. I bought this system fo rmy 7 yr. old son for Christmas. He hasn't gotten it yet, as Christmas morning has not yet arrived. We were at the store today, and, just like any other time, he wanted to go play the 3ds they have in the store. He only played for about 5 minutes, then we left. On our way home, he was complainning of a headache. I thought nothing of it because he's played it before. When we got home, he started vomiting. After he laid down for a little, he said, "I know why I got sick, it was from the 3ds." I thought nothing of it before. He also said that he would just play it without the 3d effects on. I'm not quite sure what to do at this point, as his grandparents & myself have gotten him games to go along with this awesome gift. This system is all he's been talking about for the past 5 or more months.

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  9. Dear Hoffmanchic, Mini Gamers is very sorry to hear that your son has had problems with headaches after playing with the 3DS system.

    It may just be a case of sliding the 3D depth slider (on the side of the console) down to a minimum setting when he plays it at first. This might allow for his eyes to adjust to the 3D images.

    Also, your son must always view the 3D images directly 'face on' to avoid any ghosting effects which may also make him ill.

    However, it is also possible that your son is one of the minority of people who cannot process 3D images correctly, in which case, only playing with the 3D effect off completely would ease his symptoms. It is a tricky situation...Our best advice is if you are confident that the 3DS was what caused to return the console to the store and ask to exchange it for another gaming gift - a PSP perhaps?

    Mini Gamers hopes that your problem is sorted out soon. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for your comment!

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