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Nintendo 3DS Hazardous to Kids?

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Nintendo 3DS

Those thinking about buying the upcoming Nintendo 3DS for your pre-schooler might want to wait a few years. In advance of its Nintendo World 2011 demo, Nintendo posted a warning that suggests children under the age of six should not use its 3D functions.

"Vision of children under the age of six has been said [to be in the] developmental stage," according to a note posted to Nintendo's Japanese site. 3D content, including the 3DS, "delivers 3D images with different left and right eye images, [which] has a potential impact on the growth of children's eyes."

Nintendo recommended the use of parental controls to only allow younger gamers to play in 2D. There is "enough for everyone to enjoy," Nintendo said.

Nintendo recommended that players of all ages take breaks from 3D content every 30 minutes - or if you feel sick.

As Kotaku notes, however, Nintendo has previously warned against letting young children use the 3D functions on the 3DS. This particular notice comes as Nintendo unveiled its lineup for Nintendo World 2011. The event, set to take place in Japan from January 8-10, will show off the 3DS to the public for the first time. Children under six will not be allowed to use the 3DS at the event, Escapist reports.

Games on the lineup include Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D The Naked Sample, Winning Eleven 3DSoccer, Street Fighter IV 3D EDITION, Resident Evil Ribereshonzu, and more.

Earlier this week, GameStop confirmed that it is accepting in-store pre-orders for the Nintendo 3DS, though Nintendo has yet to announce an exact release date or price in the U.S. It is launching in Japan on February 26 for about $300.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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