3DS infosplosion aftershock: Mii importing, eShop details, parental controls
The last 24 hours have seen the gaming news-o-blog-o-tweet-o-tube-o-sphere erupt with 3DS details, showering panicked readers with large chunks of concrete info. Needless to say, it's been pretty darn gruesome - and only a little bit hilarious.
We, however, have continued to dig through the resulting ocean of ash and fanboy sweat, and here's what we've uncovered.
Mii importing: a one-way trip
Joystiq reports that the 3DS does have something of a relationship with its older brother, the Wii. For now, though, it's limited to Mii importing. Got a Mii you absolutely can't stand to part with while you're out and about? Transport him/her/it onto your little slice of the third dimension. The only problem? It's less of a vacation and more of a permanent move.
"It's a one way transfer," NOA product marketing manager Bill Trinen said to Joystiq. "You can send your Miis from your Wii to your 3DS. But, because the Mii Maker on the Nintendo 3DS is a more robust program and has newer features, like hairstyles and eyes and things like that, the Miis you create there can't go back to the Wii."
Don't call it DSiWare
Joystiq also got Nintendo to blab about the 3DS' eShop, which will make some pretty substantial changes to the Shop Channel's rusty old innards. On top of the already known Game Boy/Game Boy Color Virtual Console, the eShop will also offer demos, user ratings, and promo materials like screenshots and videos. If you're dreaming of bypassing retail altogether, however, consider this a rude awakening.
"I think, right now for us, the digital shop content is focusing on growing the digital ... distinguishing from the retail content in terms of what it offers," Trinen explained.
On the bright side, the largely pointless "point" currency system is out - replaced by cold, hard cash. Unfortunately, Wii and DSi points won't be able to be converted into 3DS money, so you may as well spend what you've got.
Oddly, the eShop could very well show up tardy to Nintendo's launch party, with Trinen concluding that "in terms of specific announcements or when it's going to actually be available,we'll go into more detail on that as we get closer to the launch date."
Think of the children
Ripten bravely sacrificed precious game time during yesterday's 3DS event to snoop around under the 3DS' hood. There, the site found a fairly robust parental control system, which includes the ability to enable or disable the Internet browser, shopping services, display of 3D images, sharing of images/audio/video, online interaction, Street Pass, friend registration, and DS download play with a simple password.
Mom and pop will also be able to dictate which software ratings they deem appropriate for their impressionable offspring, so no T-rated games until you're 37, young man.
Failing all that, there's mention of an all-bypassing unlock key - just in case the regular password is lost or forgotten.
If you're not already unconscious in a gutter somewhere from a life-threatening 3DS overdose, you can also check out yesterday's event round-up or our interview with Nintendo UK GM David Yarnton.