With the runaway successes that are the Wii and DS, Nintendo has essentially taken over the gaming world this generation. How long they can keep their crown and whether or not Microsoft and Sony will be able to catch up is a discussion for another time. Instead, why don’t we take a look at the possibly game-changing (pun intended) handheld console that is the Nintendo 3DS.

So far E3 has gifted us with a plethora of information on the DSi/XL successor that sheds some much needed light on Nintendo’s next handheld. After the jump you’ll find everything we know so far about the device; its features, games, and specs.

Having a decent arsenal of colors to choose from is key to personalizing the gadgets to the geek. I’m fond of brighter colors so people can more easily recognize my gamer superiority, therefore increasing their respect for me tenfold. It’s true, just whip out a bright orange iPod, cherry red DS, or zebra striped PSP and you’ll have to beat scores of women off you with a stick (Disclaimer: Dead Pixels does not endorse beating women with sticks.) The colors we’ll be able to choose from currently include a snazzy black and blue combo (seen above), sultry red and black, and classy all black.

As you likely know by now, the 3DS is all about 3D gaming, but you will not have to wear 3D glasses to use the device. But the 3DS’s 3D capabilities don’t end there, as it will also include two cameras positioned on the outside (again, you can see this in the above pic) that can take 3D pictures. There is also a camera facing the player above the screen, so you can take pictures of yourself, but not in 3D.

Expanding on Nintendo’s growing focus on online gaming, the console will have WiFi built in and it will periodically search for WiFi spots as well as nearby 3DSs. Thankfully, no cell phone carrier is needed to go online, and there is no monthly subscription fee to use the service, which also includes intuitive online navigation.

Some cool new features include a new 3D Depth Slider located on the side of the 3DS, a ‘Slide Pad’ analog stick, much improved graphics, DSi compatibility, built-in motion sensor and gyroscope, and the ability to watch 3D movies. As for the screens, the top screen will be 3.5 inches and the bottom screen is a touch panel (the 3DS still uses the stylus). So far it has no solid release date other than the rather wide 2011 release window, and there’s also no price confirmation (but there is still time to hear this at E3!)

Albert Einstein once said, “A gaming console is only as good as its games”, and I’m pretty sure he was also a total badass at Gears of War. So everything above is great and exciting, but what about the games? Oh, they’re here, and in their 3D glory I dare say they’re better than good.

Nintendo is working on a 3D Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Nintendogs + Cats, Paper Mario, Pilotwings Resort, Star Fox 64 3D (YES!), Steel Driver, and the long anticipated next installment in the Kid Icarus series entitled Kid Icarus: Uprising.

Some of the more surprising announcements include a DJ Hero 3D, a new Resident Evil game subtitled Revelations, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, The Sims 3(D), Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D “The Naked Sample” (I’m sorry, but ‘Snake Eater’ and ‘Naked Sample’ in the same title officially gets this game the Dirtiest Title Award), Ninja Gaiden, Saints Row: Drive By, and Assassin’s Creed: Lost Legacy. Square Enix’s Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts franchises will also be making their way to the platform, and there is a currently still secret music game in the works by Harmonix and a baseball title from Konami, both without names.

But that’s not all, oh no sir! Here’s the rest, in long, cramped list form for your viewing pleasure: Cubic Ninja, Etrian Odyssey, Shin Megami Tensei:, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, FIFA Soccer, Madden NFL, Asphalt GT, Hudson, Bomberman, Deca Sports, Kororinpa, Contra, Frogger, Pro Evo, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, BloodRayne: the Shroud, A Boy and His Blob, Face Racers: Photo Finish, Lion’s Pride: Adventures on the Serengeti, WonderWorld Amusement Park, BOKUJYOUMONOGATARI 3D, Dragon Ball, Gundam…

… Pac-Man & Galaga, Ridge Racer, Super Robot Wars, Crash City GP, Super Robo, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Monkey Ball, Chocobo Racing 3D, Carnival Games, Dead or Alive 3D, Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors 3D, Tomy, Lovely Lisa 3D, Naruto Shippuden Action, de Blob 2, Kung Fu Panda: Kaboom of Doom, Marvel Super Hero Squad Infinity Gauntlet, The Penguins of Madagascar, Puss N Boots, Battle of Giants: Dinosaur Strike, Driver Renegade, Hollywood 61, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, Batman, and a LEGO game.

Phew. On to the detailed specs that should please the hardcore nerds out there, thus rounding out this feature’s target audience.

DIMENSIONS (when closed)
5.3 inches x 2.9 inches x 0.8 inches
WEIGHT
8 ounces

TOP SCREEN
3.52 inch widescreen display / 800×240 resolution (400 pixels for each eye during 3D gameplay)
BOTTOM SCREEN
3.02 inch touch-screen display / 320×240 resolution
CAMERAS
Three cameras, two on outer casing, one above top screen / 640×480 resolution (0.3 megapixel)
STORAGE MEDIUM
Cartridge slot for both 3DS and DS cards (3DS cards have a 2GB capacity “at launch”, suggesting larger sizes to come) / SD memory card slot
WIRELESS
2.4ghz / 802.11 wi-fi / Can communicate with other consoles or internet when in sleep mode / wireless can be switched off to preserve battery life
CONTROLS / INPUT
Touch-screen / D-pad / 360-degree “Slide Pad” (the analog stick) / motion sensor / gyro sensor / 3D “depth slider” can reduce (or even disable) 3D effects in games
STYLUS
4-inch stylus (when full extended)
AUDIO
Stereo speakers (includes stereo headphone out jack)
BATTERY
Lithium ion battery (lifespan details TBA)
PARENTAL CONTROLS
The 3DS will include parental controls

So that’s all you need to know about the Nintendo 3DS, hell, it’s everything everyone knows about the console except Nintendo, the people at E3 who had hands-on time with the device, and everyone else who knows more about the device that I’m leaving out. But still, that’s pretty good.