2.13 Stereoscopic Display

2.13.1 Using the 3D Depth Slider

The Nintendo 3DS system’s ability to produce stereoscopic images is one of its most appealing features. However, the ability to see stereoscopically varies from person to person. For example, users who have trouble with their eyes might not be able to see stereoscopic images properly. Even users who normally turn on stereoscopic images may temporarily turn them off because their eyes have grown tired or for some other reason. The 3D depth slider is provided as a means for users to adjust the stereoscopic depth of the application, or turn stereoscopic display on or off.

Nintendo prefers that the 3D depth slider not be used for any purposes other than those above; that is, the 3D depth slider must be simply a slider that allows the user to adjust the screen to be easier to view. Therefore, applications must not ask users to manipulate the 3D depth slider in order to progress through the application, or make users manipulate it for any purpose other than adjusting the stereoscopic display. Game designs such as the following are prohibited.

  • Applications in which it is impossible to progress without using stereoscopic display to distinguish objects’ relative depth.
  • Applications in which it is impossible to progress without information which can only be viewed using stereoscopic display.
  • Applications that seek or prompt the user to manipulate the 3D depth slider for any purpose other than adjusting the stereoscopic display.
  • Applications that assign functionality to the 3D depth slider equivalent to that of some other input device.

It is acceptable for the 3D depth slider to apply the following effects.

  • Implementing stereoscopic display by applying parallax proportionate to the value of the 3D depth slider to one or more 2D layers.
  • Blurring (defocusing) objects in the background or foreground to a degree depending on the value of the 3D depth slider.

Additions of other display effects are acceptable as long as the effects are applied only in response to changes in stereoscopic display.

Contact Nintendo at support@noa.com if you are planning an application that requires stereoscopic display, or if you are unable to determine whether functionality you want to add to the 3D depth slider makes it equivalent to some other input device.

2.13.1.1 Prohibition of Forced Use of Stereoscopic Display

Guideline Item
Applications must not require the use of stereoscopic display in order to progress in the application.
Software to Be Tested
Applications that support stereoscopic display.
Test Method
In a scene where the 3D LED is illuminated, move the 3D depth slider all the way down and play the application.
Pass/Fail Determination
Passes if the lack of stereoscopic display does not present any obstacles that impede progress in the application, such as an inability to find certain items.

2.13.1.2 Prohibiting Processing Unrelated to Parallax Adjustment

Guideline Item
Applications must not use the 3D depth slider for anything other than adjusting effects related to stereoscopic display.
Software to Be Tested
All applications.
Test Method
Adjust the 3D depth slider up and down in every application mode.
Pass/Fail Determination

Passes if all of the following conditions are met.

  • There is no change in the content of the application due to manipulating the 3D depth slider, such as the application assigning functionality to the 3D depth slider equivalent to that of some other input device.
  • The application does not require or prompt the user to manipulate the 3D depth slider.

2.13.2 Enabling/Disabling Stereoscopic Display and Adjusting Parallax

The Nintendo 3DS system includes the 3D depth slider, which is intended to be the only way to turn stereoscopic display on or off and to adjust the depth of stereoscopic images. If an application implements features similar to that of the 3D depth slider, it could cause confusion for users. Specifically, this refers to features such as the following:

  • A feature that can switch stereoscopic display on and off.
  • A feature that can adjust the parallax (the depth of stereoscopic images) at any time during the main game scenes, just like the 3D depth slider .

Avoid implementing such features unless there is a particular reason, since these issues should be handled using the 3D depth slider.

However, there have been titles released that implemented features such as the following, which have a different purpose and effect than the 3D depth slider and which did not cause any particular problems. Implement such features as needed, depending on your application's specifications.

  • A menu, an option on the title screen, or some other feature that can change the sensitivity of the 3D depth slider from a particular location in the game.
  • A feature that adjusts the overall depth of a space, or otherwise adjusts the stereoscopic effect or parallax differently than the 3D depth slider.
Note:

Features that adjust the parallax by changing the position at which two provided images are displayed—for 3D photos and pre-rendered video, for example—differ from the 3D depth slider’s ability to adjust the depth of stereoscopic images. When the 3D depth slider is moved all the way down, images are displayed with no parallax; when the 3D depth slider is moved all the way up, the difference between how much images pop out of and sink into the screen—in other words, the depth of the stereoscopic images—is at its maximum. The parallax adjustment feature for 3D photos, on the other hand, shifts images for the left eye and/or images for the right eye uniformly to the left or right. This is equivalent to moving all the objects in a 3D photo forward or back together. Adjusting the parallax in this case does not change the difference between how much images pop out of and sink into the screen, as created by the left and right photos, but by (for example) moving all the objects in a photo into the screen you can suppress an uncomfortable “popping-out” effect in a 3D photo. No matter how you adjust the parallax for 3D photos, it will not disappear (the depth of stereoscopic images will not be 0) as long as the left and right images are different.

No required guideline items.

 


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