Topic: 3DS to Implement 'Nintendo eShop'

[greybrick]

Nintendo has revamped their online store front.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/24775

Shopping for downloadable games has never been a smooth experience on Nintendo platforms. The new eShop appears to rectify many of our download woes. Sporting a smoother interface, the eShop will feature digital game downloads, game demos, and game videos.

At launch, 3DS owners will be able to choose between Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and 3DSWare games. In addition to games, Nintendo will include eShop Video. The user can select the desired topic or genre and be directed to a video. Players will be able to watch game videos in-store.

Nintendo eShop purchases use a "cash-based" system, similar to Sony's PlayStation Store, apparently doing away with the current Wii/DSi points-based system. You can purchase content with a credit card or by inputting a code from a retail-purchased card.

[Spak-Spang]

No gameboy advance games that is disappointing.  Maybe Nintendo will at least push for color in all original gameboy games.

[MaryJane]

Yeah it is disappointing about GBA but maybe they're still working on that, and maybe we'll get GameGear games as well.

[TJ Spyke]

No gameboy advance games that is disappointing.  Maybe Nintendo will at least push for color in all original gameboy games.

Requires too much effort for developers, and it would result in them charging more. I would rather play them in their original form if it means a lower price. At most I could see something like what Super Game Boy did for games.

What kind of video? Real stuff, or crappy stuff like on the Japanese Wii video service? Basically, are there normal movies and TV shows like you see on Zune Marketplace and PlayStation Store?

[Chozo Ghost]

Some people might want to play the games in their original spinach color mode anyway, for nostalgia reasons. Everything is pushing for better graphics all the time, so sometimes it can be refreshing to take a step back and experience gaming as it used to be.

[gbuell]

I have no desire for them to go back and add color to older GB games. I DO have a strong desire for GBA games though! I can only hope that will come eventually.

[TJ Spyke]

Maybe they will, they did that with Virtual Console on Wii. I hope so, I only have a DSi and don't want to buy another system just to play GBA games (plus I would like the convenience of having them installed on the system).

[NWR_insanolord]

I think GBA games are inevitable. Nintendo's not usually one to pass up an opportunity to make money with no real effort.

[Jonnyboy117]

I highly doubt there will be a "spinach" option for original Game Boy titles on 3DS. Those games were programmed in black-and-white; they only look green on the original GB system due to the screen technology. If you play them on any other model (Super Game Boy, GB Pocket, GB Color, GBA, etc.) they look black-and-white, not green-and-white.

[ShyGuy]

I think TJ is right. I bet they will have color palette choices like the SNES player.

[Crimm]

I think TJ is right. I bet they will have color palette choices like the SNES player.

Many GameBoy games had built in palettes for the SNES. It would be safe to assume those show up.

[Ian Sane]

Game demos?  Nintendo having game demos?  Okay, what is the catch?  They must screw this up in some way.  Surely Nintendo has not LEARNED FROM THEIR MISTAKES!

For original Game Boy games, what I would like would be the old Super Game Boy borders and palettes.  I love my Game Boy Player for the Cube but it has one major flaw in that it does not support the Super Game Boy enhancements.  So for any game that has those enhancements I play it on the SNES instead.  The GB Player supports all the Game Boy games I want but it does not do so in the way I want so it really only gets used for GBC and GBA games and older GB games that don't have Super Game Boy support.

When Donkey Kong is on the eShop, we're all going to want the classic Super Game Boy border and palette.  I find it hard to mentally picture that game any other way.

And the Super Game Boy had the spinach green palette as an option.

[BlackNMild2k1]

About the demos, was it demos for every new game? demos for all games? demos for select games? or is it entirely up to the dev/pub which of their games get to have demos??

[Caterkiller]

About the demos, was it demos for every new game? demos for all games? demos for select games? or is it entirely up to the dev/pub which of their games get to have demos??

I don't think it was completely clarified yet. Regardless it gives me lots of hope.

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

Sleek interface - definitely a nice improvement from the cumbersome DSi Shop. All the features of Nintendo Channel seem to have made their way into the shop channel itself.

As for GBA games, I think the demand for them will be sufficient that it'll be seriously considered down the line.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Since this is related to the eShop, I'll just drop my question here.

Does anyone have any information regarding the DSi -> 3DS transfers and 3DS -> 3DS transfers?
Does it attach to an account? a system ID? how does it work? How Nintendo (and the 3DS) keeping track of these transfers?


edit:
Also NWR says

At launch, 3DS owners will be able to choose between Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and 3DSWare games. In addition to games, Nintendo will include eShop Video. The user can select the desired topic or genre and be directed to a video. Players will be able to watch game videos in-store.

But Wired says:
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/01/3ds-download-store/

Nintendo 3DS won’t be able to download games or access the Web when it launches, Nintendo said Wednesday.

Although the company has plans to add a digital games store, Internet browser and other functionality to its $250 3-D gaming handheld, these key features won’t be online when 3DS ships in the U.S. on March 27, Nintendo said in a statement following a press briefing in New York City.

Other functions that won’t be ready for launch include software that allows users to transfer their downloaded Nintendo DSiWare titles from DS to 3DS and the ability to play 3-D movies.

Nintendo did not say when the “eShop” would go online, although it did reiterate that standard DSiWare, new games for 3DS and Virtual Console games from Game Boy and Game Boy Color would be included in the shop when it does.

Anyone care to explain what the real deal is?


edit 2:
Is there a Day 1 firmware update that allows all this stuff on release day? or atleast eShop and Internet browsing?

[TJ Spyke]

From Nintendo's official press release:

The Nintendo eShop, through a system update, will offer access to downloadable games, including Nintendo DSiWare and ones specifically made for Nintendo 3DS. Also, just as the Virtual Console service on Wii makes retro games available for download, the Virtual Console games on Nintendo 3DS will be pulled from classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. Players will be able to view game videos, download demos for select games and see how other consumers rated the games. The Nintendo eShop will use a cash-based system. Users can either input credit card information in the shop or purchase a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at retail locations.

It doesn't say if that will be a launch day update though.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

EXCITE-SHOP GET

[BlackNMild2k1]

Thanks for not answering the question TJSpyke.

I already knew that there was going to be a firmware update but that still doesn't say whether or not it will be on launch day or will it happen later.
NWR says @ launch, Wired says not @ launch. Who is right?

[Kytim89]

Thanks for not answering the question TJSpyke.

I already knew that there was going to be a firmware update but that still doesn't say whether or not it will be on launch day or will it happen later.
NWR says @ launch, Wired says not @ launch. Who is right?

BnM, what is with your avatar?
 
Also, GBA on virtual console is a given and just a matter of time.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Thanks for not answering the question TJSpyke.

I already knew that there was going to be a firmware update but that still doesn't say whether or not it will be on launch day or will it happen later.
NWR says @ launch, Wired says not @ launch. Who is right?

Nintendo text did not provide a date.  Anything else you read is mis-communication.

[Ian Sane]

How long after the Wii launched did the VC start up?  Was it right away or did it take a little while?

I think you can trust that it is going to be there and Nintendo is probably not going to sit on it for a long time.  No one is going to end up buying a 3DS with the eShop primarily motivating their purchase only to have the feature quietly cancelled on them.

[NWR_insanolord]

The Wii Shop was available from day one. I'm pretty sure I downloaded and started up Super Mario 64 before I played any of the disc games I bought with my Wii.

[ShyGuy]

If I remember right, the Wii online was delayed by a couple days.

[TJ Spyke]

I downloaded a VC game the day the system came out. The TurboGrafx-16 games were delayed though, the first ones came out 2 days after launch. NES, SNES, N64, and GEN were right away though.