Not currently on display at the V&A

Super Monkey Ball 3D

Video Game Cartridge
March 2011 (released)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This game was developed by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS system and was the latest in a long series of Super Monkey Ball games released in different formats since 2001. The first was an arcade cabinet game featuring a banana-shaped joystick and featured unusual game play for platform actioner - instead of moving the character around a landscape, the player controls the landscape, tilting it to move the monkey, who is encased in a ball. The object of the game is to collect as many bananas as possible and reach the goal before the time is up. The tilting aspect of the gameplay makes the series ideal for the Nintendo 3DS, which contains a gyroscope, meaning that motion is detected when moving the 3DS console rather than holding it static and controlling through the directional pad. This was one of the launch titles for the 3DS when released in the UK in March 2011 because of this perfectly suited motion control. It also features 3D autostereoscopic effects and two other modes of game play (fight and race) that can be played with competitors through the 3DS's wifi capabilities.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSuper Monkey Ball 3D (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Offset lithography on paper, injection moulded plastic, plastic wrap, printed circuit board.
Brief description
Super Monkey Ball 3D video game unwrapped, Sega, 2011
Physical description
Super Monkey Ball 3D game for Nintendo 3DS, unwrapped. White plastic case with transparent outer sleeve, containing offset printed cover featuring a computer generated cartoon monkey thrusting a banana, and information about the game on the back. Contains a game cartridge and manual.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.5cm
  • Width: 13.7cm
  • Depth: 1.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Subject depicted
Summary
This game was developed by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS system and was the latest in a long series of Super Monkey Ball games released in different formats since 2001. The first was an arcade cabinet game featuring a banana-shaped joystick and featured unusual game play for platform actioner - instead of moving the character around a landscape, the player controls the landscape, tilting it to move the monkey, who is encased in a ball. The object of the game is to collect as many bananas as possible and reach the goal before the time is up. The tilting aspect of the gameplay makes the series ideal for the Nintendo 3DS, which contains a gyroscope, meaning that motion is detected when moving the 3DS console rather than holding it static and controlling through the directional pad. This was one of the launch titles for the 3DS when released in the UK in March 2011 because of this perfectly suited motion control. It also features 3D autostereoscopic effects and two other modes of game play (fight and race) that can be played with competitors through the 3DS's wifi capabilities.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
B.131-2011

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2012
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest