Some interesting comments have come out of a recent Nintendo investor call: namely that Nintendo wants to help you shop for digital products even when you don’t have your 3DS around.
In a translation from: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/111028/index.html
We would like to solve this issue by making the Nintendo eShop accessible via PCs and smartphones as well. At the beginning, you will not be able to directly purchase software from your PC or smartphone. Instead, you will need to take a photo of a QR code at the Nintendo eShop by using the camera of your Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo 3DS will then open that specific page of the Nintendo eShop. That function is already included in the upcoming system update for the Nintendo 3DS. In the future, we will make it so that you will be able to purchase software by using your PC or smartphone.
Which means, obviously, Nintendo is taking baby steps with getting its digital content shopping up to date, but at least it’s trying. Being able to shop for Nintendo games regardless of where you are or what devices you have with you is precisely the convenience that Nintendo has been missing out on.
Still no word about the Virtual Console games from the Wii being playable on the 3DS, though. Which is something Nintendo really should be doing.
In other news, when it comes to next year’s Wii U release, it looks like Nintendo is very worried about getting the launch right, and making up for the mistake that was the 3DS launch:
“We are also planning to launch the Wii U, which is the successor to the Wii, during the next fiscal year. We would like to show the final format of the Wii U at the E3 show next year. As we learned a bitter lesson with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, we are trying to take every possible measure so that the Wii U will have a successful launch.”
Fingers crossed that launch actually includes the download portal this time.
That's awesome news if it does happen. I just hope doing it the 'nintendo way' doesn't continue to leave them far behind.
As far as Wii VC on 3DS that would also be huge. (especially if they let you play purchased games on both) One thing I'm disappointed in is that there's no TG16 titles on 3DS like I thought I heard about.
Howdy Robert,
Good to see you around!
I figure that Nintendo would finally come of ace if the Wii VC came to 3DS eShop. Sony does it (PSOne downloads work on both PS3 and PSP), and it's a really big advantage that Sony has when it comes to retro gaming.
I could understand N64 games perhaps not being playable on 3DS, but certainly SNES and Megadrive and earlier console should be. (Ogre Battle on 3DS?!? Oh lordy yes).
Howdy Robert,
Good to see you around!
I figure that Nintendo would finally come of ace if the Wii VC came to 3DS eShop. Sony does it (PSOne downloads work on both PS3 and PSP), and it's a really big advantage that Sony has when it comes to retro gaming.
I could understand N64 games perhaps not being playable on 3DS, but certainly SNES and Megadrive and earlier console should be. (Ogre Battle on 3DS?!? Oh lordy yes).
Thanks Games, good to be back sort-of connected to the world again. 🙂 (moved 900 miles last week and everything is in complete chaos)
I really don't know how typical nes,snes,tg16 games would look on 3DS, but even that would be huge. I didn't know about the PSOne games on PS3/PSP. Hopefully they'll take notice of that.
Thanks Games, good to be back sort-of connected to the world again. 🙂 (moved 900 miles last week and everything is in complete chaos)
I really don't know how typical nes,snes,tg16 games would look on 3DS, but even that would be huge. I didn't know about the PSOne games on PS3/PSP. Hopefully they'll take notice of that.