why do nintendo 3ds screenshots say 2d image of nintendo 3ds game?

Answer 1

Because you cant take true screenshots of a 3D image for the PC.  The 3DS uses special technology that makes the 3D viewable only on the 3DS itself.

Answer 2

This is to let you know that the image you are seeing is NOT the same as what you will see when watching the game.  (The image you see is obviously 2d, yet the 3DS is in 3D).

Unfortuantely Nintendo has a bit of a problem in that they can not show in advertisements what the 3DS gameplay "really" looks like. In order to see 3d you need a 3d screen, or 3d glasses, or some sort of 3d tech.  Most people don't have that, or at least are not watching their advertisments that way.

So Nintendo wants to make sure that people know this and don't say "Hey, it's called the 3DS but these pictures are not in 3d!"

TL;DR - The games are in 3D, advertisements are not, Nintendo doesn't want people to think that the 3D doesn't work based on the advertisement images.

Answer 3

This is a clarification, since they can't show the 3d effect in advertisements.  Do keep in mind you can slide the 3d effect slider all the way down to get a flat 2D image like in the ads, however.

Answer 4

Because the 3D image effect is not viewable through a still image of the handheld.

This is because the console screen is built to cause your eyes to focus in just the right way to create a 3D effect when you have the console in your hands. Viewing a picture of the console causes your eyes to focus like they normally would for any other picture.

Answer 5

if the give you a screenshot of the 3d version you won't be able to see the image, instead, you see a distorted image