Nintendo Co has warned children six years old or younger should not play games in 3D mode on a new 3D-capable handheld game player slated for an early 2011 debut, citing possible health risks.
The Nintendo 3DS, which will be launched on February 26 in Japan and in other places later, is free from bulky glasses and aims to appeal to consumers after rivals stole head lines away from the Kyoto-based game maker during this winter holiday.
Microsoft Corp's Kinect and Sony Corp's Move controllers have improved upon the Nintendo Wii's motion-gaming technology. Apple Inc and Google Inc's Android have chipped away at Nintendo's handheld gaming market share.
Nintendo is due to hold a series of free trial campaign events for the Nintendo 3DS, starting on Jan. 8 in Japan.
Ahead of these events, the company said on its website that children six years old or younger will be able to experience the new handheld game device in 2D mode only because playing it in 3D mode could be bad for their eyes.