Nintendo Network ID and Miiverse coming to 3DS among upcoming plans for the Big N.
The most recent Nintendo Direct has come and gone and with it plans for Nintendo’s future. Some of the plans could be seen as expected like Nintendo bringing Miiverse and NNID’s to the 3DS and others like the new Kirby game could be “not-expected.” There’s a lot to cover and only a limited number of hours in the day.
It all begins with a 3DS system update but 3DS owners should be use to this by now. Nintendo doesn’t do anything without a system update and if you think about it, how can they change things on your system without an update? The update, which occurs in December, will link your 3DS eShop account and your Wii U eShop account. You’ll be able to register NNID account info for your Wii U on your 3DS and have one eShop account for both systems. This is a welcome addition because players were finding it to be a hassle having to put money on the 3DS account and the Wii U account. Now, all you have to do is put money one account and you can spend it on either the 3DS or Wii U. Miiverse will also be coming to the 3DS because of the Dec. system update.
Players will be able to have the fun of Miiverse in the palm of their hands on the 3DS, complete with everything the Wii U Miiverse has. Youtube will be coming to the 3DS as well and it seems like quite a month for Apps on the 3DS. You have Miiverse, which could be considered an app, and now Youtube. 3DS owners will be able to watch all their favorite Youtube videos right on their 3DS.
There was plenty of Zelda news on the Direct video presentation with a Link Between Worlds release date almost upon us. Details pertaining to new characters and locations were revealed such as Irene, who has a magic broom, and Gramps, who can start battles with people you’ve encountered from Streetpass mode. The Milk Bar location was also revealed to be in A Link Between Worlds so old school Zelda fans (of Nintendo 64 lure) can have some classic moments in a game that should be all about old school Zelda Memories.
A new 3DS bundle that is Zelda themed was revealed as well as the details. It will be sold for 219.99 and have the Black and Gold coloring and the Triforce on it that any Zelda themed item needs to have. It will also come with a download code for A Link Between Worlds so you can get the game and system in one nice little package. For those of you who don’t want to digitally buy the game, the physical version will be sold at retail for 40 bucks which isn’t too uncommon a price in this day and age. With the Wind Waker HD and now A Link Between Worlds, Zelda fans should be well taken care of, at least until the news about the Wii U Zelda game surfaces.
Nintendo has been trying to get people to use the Spotpass service at Nintendo Zone locations by any means necessary. Two modified methods to get people to use the Nintendo Zones were talked about in the Nintendo Direct. One was to give people rare items for Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Super Mario 3D Land. People go crazy for Animal Crossing items and friends I have online go after all these items for their AC homes. Starting Nov. 15th, you’ll be able to get an AC: NL Cat Tower for your town. (lasts until Nov. 28th) A rolling suitcase will be your reward if you go to the Nintendo Zone on Nov. 29th to Dec. 12th and fans of Super Mario 3D Land will be able to get a Mystery Box for their game starting Nov. 22nd at any Nintendo Zone location. Another thing players can get from the Nintendo Zone is Streetpass data from the last 6 people who visited that Ninty Zone location. This will allow people who don’t interact with other 3DS owners often to get Streetpass hits and Puzzle pieces/etc.
The 3DS isn’t only about the Legend of Zelda and Nintendo knows it couldn’t leave their other 3DS franchises out in the cold. Staring with Mario Party: Island Tour, players will be able to play the travel version (portable) of one of the best party game franchises around. This time there are seven new game boards to play on and 80 new mini games to play with friends and family.
The Bowser Tower, similar to Mini-Game Island in the original Mario Party, players will play 30 floors of mini game fun and have a boss battle every 5 floors. Streetpass uses will be able to compete in mini game competitions with the people they run into on the street or the train or wherever the Streetpass hit occurred. Island Tour will release Nov. 22nd at a retail price of $39.99. Minor details were revealed about a new Kirby game, titled Kirby: Triple Deluxe, sounds more a fast food menu item than a video game. A collector’s edition for Bravely Default will be available at select stores and will have an Art Book, Soundtrack CD, and 34 AR cards. Collector’s edition and regular launch February 7th. A release date for Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy was revealed to be February 28th and will be sold in stores and on the eShop.
The Wii U also has plans for its future and they’re not all Super Mario. Some of it is but not all of it. Super Mario 3D World will have plenty of extras, such as Rosalina being playable, a Luigi Bros. mini game that will be easier to access if you have save data of NSLU, and Captain Toad levels. The Captain Toad levels will have you collect 5 coins without jumping, which should be a real challenge in a Mario game. The next DLC for Pikmin 3 will be released on Dec. 2nd. There will be four “Collect Treasure” stages and four “Battle Enemies” stages released for download.
The Animal Crossing Plaza will be updated, allowing for players to customize their Miiverse posts with stamps and see the results of monthly polls as well. The Youtube App will need an update but once it does, you can play one video on the Game Pad and another one on the TV. Nintendo also reminded everyone about the free trial version of Wii Fit U that is available until Jan. 31 of next year.
It looks like Nintendo has plenty of ideas for the future and should be better off financially after the holiday season. With games like Mario 3D World and A Link Between Worlds, how could they not be?
