10 reasons you'll buy a Nintendo 3DS

It's the hot new portable games console that will be making headlines for the rest of the year, so you might not need any further reasons to buy a Nintendo 3DS.

In case you're still pondering, here are 10 good reasons why you should be prepared to hand over your hard earned cash for yet another DS - whenever it eventually hits stores.

Already the most successful gaming console ever, the Nintendo DS has been through plenty of changes, but the 3DS - the fourth redesign - is clearly the most significant version ever released. As well as the 3D graphical effect that gives the device its name, there are enough other tweaks that we should really consider it the Nintendo DS 2.

With its multi-toned colour scheme, more solid frame, repositioned buttons and stylus slot amongst others, the 3DS extends the brand and improves the build quality, if not to iPhone or Droid standards, at least to beyond PSPgo.

Then there's the new analog slider pad. It feels good and more natural for many types of games - racers, shooters, sports game and anything in 3D - compared to the previous default d-Pad.

Details remain unclear but the Nintendo 3DS has been updated in terms of its CPU, GPU and memory. Of course, this has to be the case as the 3D effect is based on rendering the screen twice, but it also seems likely that with the original DS hardware now effectively obsolete, Nintendo has taken the opportunity to revise its hardware, enabling better and more complex games to be made.

It didn't raise many headlines but the addition of a gyroscope to the 3DS has the potential to be huge. As already seen with iPhone, tilt or motion control has enabled a new type of casual gaming - just think about the likes of Doodle Jump on DS? And then there's also the possibilities of augmented reality gaming.

Nintendo doesn’t have a great reputation for the online features of its consoles, and exactly how it will be improving the mediocre DSiWare distribution channel remains to be fleshed out, but it’s clear that Nintendo has significantly improved the online features of the 3DS.

For example, its Tag mode,or the ability to download data and get updates while the device is asleep, whether from the internet, or adhoc peer-to-peer from nearby devices has been highlighted. This will mean better community features as well as providing developers with more opportunities to get creative providing additional content.

There's a strong argument that backwards compatibility is one of those features demanded but seldom used. After all how many people really play many of their old games on a new device? Still, for what it's worth, the 3DS will play all your existing DS titles.

One of the most impressive demonstrations of its commitment to the 3D technology is the way Nintendo has added the option to take 3D photos by adding two cameras to the outer casing. Up to this point, such capability has been limited to specialist and expensive cameras, as well as involving complicated mounting to view the finished results. Now you can take and view 3D photos on your 3DS.

One of the main recent criticisms leveled at the DS is that it's become a console for the kids, and young kids at that. Viewed as the DS 2, and blessed with a wealth of new features, the 3DS will revitalise the brand (again) for an older and more hardcore audience. This looks set to be underpinned by a promising mix of content and support from a massive range of third party companies, ranging from familiar games publishers to movie studios and beyond.

One of the biggest (and most pleasant) surprises of Nintendo's 3DS announcement was the huge support it gathered from game publishers. All the big players are onboard and there will be hundreds of games released during the first couple of months, everything from Nintendo's classics such as Zelda, Mario, Starfox and Animal Crossing to industry franchises such as Metal Gear Solid, Madden and Resident Evil.

Oh, and in case you forgot, the 3DS is the first piece of consumer electronics to handle 3D graphics. Whether games or films, it will give you what's previously only been a movie theater experience in the palm of your hand. How cool is that?