Topic: 3DS Internet Connectivity Rising

[Halbred]

Japan and the U.S. have the highest connection rates.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/29987

The Japanese and U.S. markets have seen a steady increase in 3DS internet connectivity to their current rate of 70%, Nintendo revealed during their end-of-the-year investor's meeting. 

This does not mean that 3DS owners in those two territories are necessarily playing games online, but only that they are actively connecting their systems to the internet. This rate is the highest that any of Nintendo's handhelds have ever achieved.

The European and Australian markets, however, hover around 50%, a number Nintendo is unsatisfied with. It should be noted that even at 50%, that rate is still much higher than for previous handhelds. Additionally, 3DS owners are visiting the eShop more often than they ever did on the DSi Shop. This increase in consumer connectivity, as well as the increase in eShop visits, are helping to motivate Nintendo toward its surprising decision to embrace digital retail downloads.

[KITT 10K]

If they wanna get it to go even higher than they need to put out Down Loadable Content that isn't "Down Loadable CRAP" and the sooner they do it the better.

[leahsdad]

70%?   Even AU and EU at 50% seems ridiculously high.   That means that half or more of 3DS owners have WIFI in their homes, know how to configure it, and know how to find it on their 3DS.   Awfully optimistic if you ask me. 

I wonder exactly what their criteria is for "internet connectivity."  For example, I walk into Starbucks with my 3DS in my pocket, since that's a Nintendo Zone, it just automatically connects, even in sleep mode, without me doing anything, as long as I have wireless on.  Even if I never open that Nintendo Zone App, go to the Eshop, or update my system, does this count as "actively connecting" my system?  The active part, being, I walked into the freakin' Starbucks with my 3DS?

I've heard that internet connection rates for PS3 and 360 are low...way below 50%, even now.  I find it hard to swallow that 3DS owners are that much more saavy, unless we're all just techie early adopters.

[C-Olimar]

Not sure about the PS3, but my Xbox requires the purchase of an overpriced adapter to connect to wireless, whereas with my 3DS I went on internet settings, found my wireless, put the code in and then I was done. It's pretty easy to do and find in the settings. Plus the 3DS system updates must convince people to connect to the internet, right?

[ejamer]

@leahsdad


But if Nintendo can push updates automatically* when you take your 3DS to a Nintendo Zone, then why shouldn't that count?  Why does it need to be an "active" connection, as long as people are able to receive the benefits?






*Um... so can they do this?  I thought so, but maybe I'm wrong?

[Bman87301]

70%?   Even AU and EU at 50% seems ridiculously high.   That means that half or more of 3DS owners have WIFI in their homes, know how to configure it, and know how to find it on their 3DS.   Awfully optimistic if you ask me. 

I wonder exactly what their criteria is for "internet connectivity."  For example, I walk into Starbucks with my 3DS in my pocket, since that's a Nintendo Zone, it just automatically connects, even in sleep mode, without me doing anything, as long as I have wireless on.  Even if I never open that Nintendo Zone App, go to the Eshop, or update my system, does this count as "actively connecting" my system?  The active part, being, I walked into the freakin' Starbucks with my 3DS?

I've heard that internet connection rates for PS3 and 360 are low...way below 50%, even now.  I find it hard to swallow that 3DS owners are that much more saavy, unless we're all just techie early adopters.

Not so fast...

That 50% does NOT suggest they all have wifi in their homes by any means. As you already acknowledged when mentioning going into Starbucks, Wifi is in a lot of public places these days, and unlike PS3 and 360, 3DS is a portable device. The 3DS is commonly brought to public places that have their own Internet, while PS3 and 360 are not.

Also, not all people who bring their 3DSes to these places necessarily leave them in their pockets in sleep mode the whole time-- they take them out and actively connect because they know they're in hotspots. So, most of these people are apparently just connecting at these public places, and since connecting a 3DS to an open Internet source (one that doesn't require you to provide a security key) is pretty much effortless, it really shouldn't be much of a surprise that that high of a percentage connects.

[leahsdad]

Also, not all people who bring their 3DSes to these places necessarily leave them in their pockets in sleep mode the whole time-- they take them out and actively connect because they know they're in hotspots. So, most of these people are apparently just connecting at these public places, and since connecting a 3DS to an open Internet source (one that doesn't require you to provide a security key) is pretty much effortless, it really shouldn't be much of a surprise that that high of a percentage connects.

See, that's my point.  I think Iwata/NCL are being a bit misleading.   When they say that 70% of 3DS users in Japan/NA (and 50% in EU/AU) are ACTIVELY CONNECTING to the internet, they're implying that those people are either playing their games online or browsing the eshop (or let's throw in swapnote and opera).   If I were an indie developer thinking about whether I should develop for the eshop, I might think "That's a HUGE market for my game!  I'm going there."  And then I find out that while 70% of 3DS users connect in some way, most of those are actually just walk-in's to a Nintendo Zone, well, I might be a little annoyed.


And how many people walk into Starbucks, get a cup of coffee and a chocolate brownie, sit down, and bust open their 3DS?  Well, I do, it's awesome, especially after a long day of work, it's better than getting a beer at a bar for just shedding all that stress, and I highly recommend it.  But I never see anyone else doing it. 

[TJ Spyke]

When they say that 70% of 3DS users in Japan/NA (and 50% in EU/AU) are ACTIVELY CONNECTING to the internet, they're implying that those people are either playing their games online or browsing the eshop (or let's throw in swapnote and opera).

To be fair, it's Zach saying that. The pic just says that 70% have connected online.

[Bman87301]

See, that's my point.  I think Iwata/NCL are being a bit misleading.   When they say that 70% of 3DS users in Japan/NA (and 50% in EU/AU) are ACTIVELY CONNECTING to the internet, they're implying that those people are either playing their games online or browsing the eshop (or let's throw in swapnote and opera).   If I were an indie developer thinking about whether I should develop for the eshop, I might think "That's a HUGE market for my game!  I'm going there."  And then I find out that while 70% of 3DS users connect in some way, most of those are actually just walk-in's to a Nintendo Zone, well, I might be a little annoyed.


And how many people walk into Starbucks, get a cup of coffee and a chocolate brownie, sit down, and bust open their 3DS?  Well, I do, it's awesome, especially after a long day of work, it's better than getting a beer at a bar for just shedding all that stress, and I highly recommend it.  But I never see anyone else doing it. 

You apparently misunderstood, as what I was saying hardly fits into your point. I was specifically saying people DO take out their 3DSes and actively connect at hotspots and it's NOT safe to assume NCL is simply including idle SpotPass connections in their figures.

Maybe you're not aware of this, but connecting in public places isn't just limited to locations that support the Nintendo Zone app-- the 3DS will connect to any open wireless connection within range, including idle SpotPasses. So, if they were counting SpotPass connections in with these figures, that number would have to be a lot higher (especially for Japan).

Just because you don't personally witness other people taking out their 3DSes in public, doesn't mean a lot aren't still doing it.

(P.S. On an unrelated note, unlike the browsers for Wii, DS, and DSi, the 3DS Browser actually isn't Opera-based.)