Nintendo: 3D Games May Damage Kids' Eyes

As gamers eagerly await the release of the Nintendo 3DS, a portable console featuring glasses-free 3D technology, the company has issued a warning to consumers. Nintendo stated that viewing images in 3D may cause damage to the eyes, especially in children younger than six years old.

The disclaimer was posted to Nintendo's Japanese website along with guidelines for proper use of the 3DS device, Fox News reports.

According to a translation of the warning (via Google Translate), Nintendo says that young children's eyes are not fully developed and that prolonged exposure to 3D images could interfere with proper growth in a ways that might not affect an adult's eyes.

Engadget has details: "Nintendo [...] says that children under six shouldn't use the 3D mode at all, since their eyes are still developing, and that parents can use controls built into the 3DS to lock it into 2D mode for children."

Nintendo's warning also informed adult gamers on proper 3D gameplay. "[P]layers are advised that 3D gameplay causes eye fatigue more quickly than 2D gaming and are told to take a break after 30 minutes of play -- and you should quit immediately if you get ill," writesEngadget.

The Escapist is now reporting that young children will be barred from using the 3DS console at the upcoming Nintendo World event, which will showcase the device.

Ophthalmologist Michael Ehrenhaus told Fox News that children as old as eight years old may be at risk of developmental damage, but he also said that Nintendo's warning may be a bit extreme. "I don't foresee it as a major issue," Ehrenhaus conceded. "[Nintendo are] just being overly concerned."

Fearmongering aside, Nintendo plans to start selling the 3DS this coming February in Japan. European and U.S. consumers can expect the device in March, AP reports.

Earlier this year, Samsung stirred up fears about the health risks associated with watching 3D TV. View our slideshow (here) to see who should steer clear of 3D and why, according to Samsung.

Comments

[Craig 212]

09:51 PM on 02/24/2011

Some of these comments are making me nostalgic for my Virtual Boy.

sadface

[Chumbly]

01:01 PM on 12/31/2010

Having had a 3DS dev kit sat on my desk for the last 6 months, I can attest to the eye fatigue. It's an amazing screen with an astonishing 3D effect using no stupid glasses. However, I can't look at it for more than 5 mins without feeling quite ill. Any longer than that and headaches start to ensue. It'll be a hit.

[dblan9]

10:22 AM on 12/30/2010

Did Steve Martin invent this technology?

He Hates Cans!!!!

[studmoose]

04:22 PM on 12/31/2010

No, that's the Tea Party...

AfriCANS, MexiCANS & Puerto RiCANS!

[Lawrence0123]

10:10 AM on 12/30/2010

I felt the same way when I tried to browse the web on my cell phone.

It's beyond me on how everyone is so infatuated with their phones. the damn thing is so small, how are you supposed to use the web and what not on it??

[canuckhoser]

05:09 AM on 12/30/2010

"Ophthalmologist Michael Ehrenhaus told Fox News that children as old as eight years old may be at risk of developmental damage...but it's not an issue"

Huh....it's not an issue? It's just the development of kids eyes....

How many Ophthalmologist's did they call until they got the answer they wanted for this story....

If Nintendo is developing a product an Ophthalmologist just said is an issue, there is nothing "extreme" about a warning....

Journalism is so dead to me when I see these stories printed in such a manner...

[meowski]

06:28 PM on 12/29/2010

This sounds like a repeat of Virtual Boy. Or maybe I'm just dating myself here(nah, really dating myself would be mentioning the still functioning Master System 3D glasses and games I own)...but in all seriousness, I'm expecting this to die out quickly, with more "video games destroy youth" claims when a bunch of kids have severe eye strain.

[axt113]

11:39 PM on 12/29/2010

No, virtual boy was done in because it gave pretty much everyone a headache and was horribly clunky and had poor games support.

3DS is completely different, very portable, better games support, not to mention, 3D can be turned off

[Charles Elk]

10:37 PM on 12/31/2010

Virtual Boy was terrible. I remember a friend of mine had rented it for a birthday party and by the end of the day no kid wanted anything to do with it. Aside from getting headaches and neck cramps there was no comfortable way to play the thing.

[Spartan Ideal]

03:56 AM on 12/30/2010

You haven't been following Nintendo too closely lately if you think this will flop. It's too expensive to dethrone DS sales initially, but they'd be hard pressed not to have this be a huge seller.

[meowski]

04:14 PM on 01/04/2011

I'm hoping. It's a neat idea, and it would be nice to see it done correctly. I'll be cautiously optimistic.

[ontariogirl]

04:52 PM on 12/29/2010

Here is a tip. You want to experience a 3D game.......go outside and play.

[BuckyJamesDio]

04:55 PM on 12/29/2010

Perfect.

[Alien Nation]

03:37 AM on 12/30/2010

Yeh but none of the people you kill respawn.

[masterdaddy0]

11:58 AM on 01/01/2011

Respawns are for wussies.