Satoru Iwata had a chance to clear up some concerns and answer some questions during a recent Q&A session with investors in Japan. Mr. Iwata offered a few details on the performance of the 3DS, what costs will be associated with the handheld, and more specifically he noted that the title of “3DS” is not in fact the final name of the product. Mr. Iwata more or less confirmed that the current name is a stand in, stating, “We've said that it will be released during this term, so the announcement of the formal name will not be too far off.”
Development cost was also of concern for the crowd, so Iwata explained that developing for any new technology can often lead to increased costs: "It is that trial and error alone that could see an increase in development cost, however, the trial and error is there for any development where you try to make new entertainment experiences, and not just 3D."
He also, once again, addressed potential health concerns that playing in 3D could have: "This isn't limited to just kids, but we're aware one in some tens of people, including adults, has difficulty with three dimensional visuals," he explained. "So, while the 3D image is a special feature of the 3DS, we won't force the player to use the 3D functionality. By making it so that the player can at all times play with [the 3D feature] off, we believe we can comply with those who have difficulty with the 3D view or those who are worried about their child's eyes.” [Thanks 1UP]
While some might think the introduction of 3D on a handheld would gear the device more towards a hardcore gaming audience, Iwata noted that it'll have both casual games and games with "high-level productions."
The “3DS” does not have a firm launch date, but speculation is that it will be released sometime around this October.
