This illustration shows how the tech could work

When Nintendo clumsily announced the 3DS a few days ago we - as well as several other sites - were quick to point out that 3D gaming is already possible on the DSi, to a certain extent. The DSiWare title Rittai Kakushie Attakoreda uses head-tracking to create a fairly convincing impression of 3D.

However, Keith Stuart of the Guardian isn't so sure this will be the case. Having spoken to Andrew Oliver, CTO of UK-based Blitz Games Studios, he's discovered that the 3DS is almost certain to utilise a new screen technology called Parallax Barrier.

Oliver has been quoted as saying that such a display would offer "a perfect 3D display and also can give an excellent 2D display at a touch of a button."

Stuart explains:

In Parallax Barrier displays a slitted layer is placed over a standard LCD screen to separate the image into separate light paths for the viewer's right and left eyes. It's not a new technology. Sharp developed a version for a mobile phone handset eight years ago - and as with the 3DS, it doesn't require glasses. One problem with the technology as a home TV option is that the viewer needs to remain still and central for the effect to work. However, as Oliver points out, "if you know there is only one viewer and they are roughly in front of the display and within a meter, then there are ways to give each eye a different image."

Furthermore, tech site Engadget has reported that Nintendo is almost certainly using such a screen in the new device.

[source guardian.co.uk, via engadget.com]