Nintendo chief clarifies how dangerous 3DS is

ROWING BACK on how dangerous his company's products are, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has clarified how dodgy the 3DS gaming handheld toy really is.

The 3DS has a 3D mode producing a three dimensional image that can be seen without glasses, a technology called auto-stereoscopy. While it might be great for new versions of the Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong it turns out its not so great for kiddies' eyes.

Nintendo made the announcement that its product might not be good for eye development during Christmas week. Perhaps not the best time to announce that your latest toy is dangerous, but the product will not be released until February anyway.

Sensing a public relations disaster Iwata clarified the situation with the Wall Street Journal, explaining that his company was "being proactive about informing our customer, even though it may not necessarily be positive for our sales."

Well there's honesty for you. Then again it migbt be a calculated move to avoid prolems when slow sales numbers come in because few want 3D screens. Not that we're that cynical here at The INQUIRER.

Despite the call for six year olds and younger not to use the toy, one imagines older siblings will now up the pester power to get the toy so they can torment their brother or sister. µ