One of the most common things I have ever seen posted about the 3DS is "can it do pop out effects?"

The answer is obviously yes, but the question still comes up so I'm hoping to clarify that.

All methods that give a 3D effect work exactly the same, one image goes to the left eye and another, slightly different image, goes to the right eye. Even without glasses the same thing occurs.

Pop out effects are only done if the game developers want it to, so why isn't it done more often? after all the 3DS is more than capable of doing it.

The answer is screen size. In order for  pop out to be convincing, the entire object has to be contained in the screen. The minute it reaches an edge and begins to go off screen, it starts messing with your eyes. In a movie theatre, the screen is so large that it almost completely covers your field of vision so the effect works great, not so with the 3DS since the screen is fairly small in your field of vision. But even then, we are seeing 3D movies go for depth into screen vs. something that is right in front of your face. Adding depth instead of pop out feels a lot more natural to your eyes, compare watching a newer 3D movie in theatres vs. a 3D show/attraction at a theme park and you will know what I am talking about.

Lastly, depth works pretty good even if you are close to the screen boundry, since it is more like looking through a window, it feels more natural.

Pop out effects will be thrown in every once in a while in games, probably for a quick shock, however due to the size of the screen, it will look like it's hovering just above the surface rather than coming right at you.

I hope this was informative for you!

I see double when playing the AR Games. The target is so close that my vision sees some things incorrectly (i have a lazy eye, or whatever its called, when your eyes don't always track the same point in space all the time).

So im happy that it doesn't push out as much. I think I had this type of problem with Avatar too.

Good clarification. I think some of the people who say they don't think the 3D on the 3DS is good, is because they expected stuff flying at their face every other second, as opposed to the subtle depth and space it does so well. Not that there isn't pop out, but if it was all pop out it would get old pretty quickly. I for one am very satisfied with the 3D.

pop out effects are cheezy and dumb, i'm glad i don't see thsi in the 3ds from what i have done. 

Try the Star Pics AR game then get Mario to do that air fist position and then make him face the camera by touching the face camera option on the touch screen. You can see Mario's fist coming out of the screen. That impressed me the most.

The pop out 3D works amazing with the AR cards imo.  If you put the 3DS close up, like 6-8 inches or so, you can make it look like Kirby is standing completely outside of the screen.  It looks like you should be able to grab him no problem.

When I put my finger out to touch where his front foot would be, then turn the system sideways, the tip of my figer is about two inches away from the top screen.

I only have SSF4 and Steel Diver, niether or those do pop out anywhere near as convinsing as the AR cards.

Me, I tried it at some stores, and not only did the AR suck (for the reasons the OP mentioned whenever something was only partly on the screen), the 3D on the games only worked for me at the low setting, which was barely any 3D at all. But even then, it did not actually add any depth perception, which was the only real advantage of 3D that wasn't gimmicky (as how things look changes the style, not the substance).

I don't think I'll be using the 3D on this system, and wouldn't miss it if it was removed.

Awes here I thought in another thread you were just trying to get responses. That sucks Rol, but its not the system not producing 3D its your eyes not being able to see it.

Some games look pretty much 2D even with 3D on max, however if you pop in Nintendog's you should see the dog's tongue coming right through the screen. As others said with AR you should also see very good 3D.

But we all knew that some people would have negative reactions to the 3D or no reactions at all. Bieng a Nintendo fan that must suck for you. But the rest of us can definatly see the 3D.

Your not alone on that. Its also one of  the reasons I think many will be waiting a long time to get one. How many people are willing to pay $250 for a feature they dont want. Im sure they have some reasons, but I dont see why they didnt make two different ones. One with 3D and one without. Price would  be different and those that dont want the 3D would not feel like they are paying a huge amount for the feature to be included.

It's like the hd movie player on the PS3. Even if it had loads of games I wanted, I wouldn't have bought it at full price anyway. Now it's more reasonable, which means I can actually look forward to getting it and the games I want for it.

I'm just not looking forward to the 3DS at this price.