Nintendo invests in 3D-chip company

Nintendo, the Japanese video game giant, has invested $15 million into Matrix Semiconductor, which designs three-dimensional memory chips. Because chips based on Matrix's designs go "up" rather than "out," companies that adopt its technology can squeeze more chips out of a wafer, and hence reduce costs. Phones and other devices also cost less to make because not as much motherboard space is required for Matrix-based processors. Even though designing 3D chips has historically been fraught with difficulty, investors have so far injected $95 million into Matrix.