Just a few months away from releasing the Nintendo 3DS, a 3D handheld gaming system, Nintendo has officially come out to discourage children from playing 3D games and watching 3D movies.
The 3DS is currently slated to release in Japan in February and in the United States in March.
According to a statement on its Japanese Web site and discovered by CNN, children under the age of 6 may have the growth of their eyes stunted if they play 3D games of any type, including on Nintendo’s 3DS handheld system.
To avoid harming their children’s eyes, parents are encouraged to turn off the 3D functionality of the 3DS.
Nintendo is not the first company to warn against the potentially negative effects of 3D technology, particularly on children, although the company’s new positioning is certainly the most ironic in light of its systems’ consumer demographics. Previous warnings have come largely from the manufacturers of 3D TVs.
In its statement warning against 3D games, Nintendo urges everyone — adults and children alike — to take breaks from the 3D content after 30 minutes to an hour.
If you’re older than 6, feel free to pre-order the Nintendo DS from Amazon using this link: Nintendo 3DS