A far as Mobile gaming goes, I mean. If you are sitting at home with your good old WiFi then it's all good. Though if you want to take your 3DS out on the road, pretty much what portable gaming is all about, then you are going to be hard pressed to get a decent on-line connection. Even with AT&T's 10,000 free hot-spots. That covers what, about 1% of the United States?

Japan is a small and densely populated country. I could see how it would work for them but for people in the United States that actually want portability SpotPass is a joke. How often are you really gaming at StarBucks or McDonalds? Probably not often. It would be nice to actually play games, surf the web, or stream movies while out and about and not have to worry about finding a certain spot that most likely isn't anywhere close to the average American.

There really should have offered a 3G version. There has to be a huge market of people that aren't just going use their 3DS on-line while at there house. It just puzzles me that while Nintendo pushes the boundary, like motion controls and 3D, they are always behind the times in other aspects, poor downloadable service and now this SpotPass.

I must be the minority, I rarely ever take my handhelds out of the house

I wasn't aware that you had a 3DS and had extensively tested SpotPass functionality. I think it will work great. If you're at home or someone elses home then you probably have a wireless network to work with. As far as out and about goes, I think if you are in a place where it is appropriate to play a handheld device, there is probably a wireless network nearby. I mean, where do you go out and about to? I tend to go to the mall or a restaurant or some other place that very likely has a wireless network. Really, the only time you might not be near a network is when you're out somewhere playing a sport or something along those lines and in that instance, you wouldn't be playing your 3DS anyway. Really the only places you have an argument for this would be trying to play while camping or in a moving vehicle. I don't think that's all that bad.

Will you be taking your 3DS out with you for the StreetPass functionality?

Same here, except on car trips, and @bboy: No, no I won't. Not in this town D:

Not unless I need to. I'll take it with me once I do get one just to try it out, but otherwise I'll just keep it at home.

While the AT&T WiFi hotspot service (only) doesn't have the coverage that a 3G connection would, there are still a few other places that utilize it other than StarBucks and McDonalds, at least in my area. There is a hotel chain and the airport are a couple that come immediately to mind. I have a strict no-game-system policy when the family is out to eat so the WiFi at StarBucks/McDonalds would never be used by me. I'm always a little sadened when I see a big family at a restaurant (kids, mom & dad, maybe a few friends/grandparents/etc) and the kids have their noses stuck in their DS's or PSP's instead of being part of the family.

Really, it's moot for me. There are so many other free wireless access points that I run into in my travels anyway that the addition of the AT&T WiFi is a negligible difference. But better to have it than not I guess.

Yeah, Nintendo makes its devices for Japan if you hadn't noticed yet.

It's fortunate I basically live in a country with nearly 100% wifi coverage for free then. Unless the fee was very reasonable, I personally wouldn't use 3G even if it (or any other device I own) supported it.

I never go online outside of my home/friend's/etc anyways, kinda figured SpotPass was used so the 3DS could quickly update itself and all that...

I agree with Magi on the kiddies...no DS playing outside of the car (which is only done on long rides). Family time and game playing are 2 separate entities. I play the DS outside but only on my commute which would be long enough to be involved with online play...and if I did I would probably lose track of where I am and be on the wrong end of the city.

Edit button not working.

I thought SpotPass was meant to work automatically as you walked by open or usable wifi access points? It's not about waiting around at a Starbucks so much as snaps of connectivity and downloads as you move, isn't it? If that's the case (and it's certainly possible), it's still plenty portable and also free of charge.

Well Ranted.

I don't really carrie my bulky DS everywhere, (Not the bast thing to go running with)
And seeing how unlikely to run into people with a DS, in a daily basis, unlike Japan, and there very social area.

But, Streetpass isn't really a big part of the 3DS, I think we can live with out it.

I think it'll work out fine for me. Some of the trains here have open internet connections, as do many of the stations and a lot of eateries. I can actually think of 5-6 places for it between my house and the place I'll be getting my 3DS
And I do generally carry my DS everywhere I go, anyways, so it's a good feature for me. Nice, Nintendo

I can imagine that Nintendo would work with local malls, libraries, walmart, and Hotels/motels. LOL, besides the burbs where I live. Almost the entire city would be spot pass capable.

Wow this is a fail forum, honestly, if you dont like it, big whoopy doo. It's everyones opinion

Whats wrong with expressing opinion, its just an concern the person has that others might have too.

[ @Jayarr Don't forget, New York is rather small too. No doubt a lot spotpass compatible hotels, soon. You can send something to Nintendo about making more spotpass capable, hotspots]

Opinions don't exist on the internet, lol

I've always said it'll suck. Not for the concept of it, but the logistical fact.

Japan is tiny and SUPER condensed in population, there's a high chance they'll be someone nearby with a 3DS. That's not the case in North America, we have a lot of space and not a lot of people will be walking around with this.

I saw it from the get go that this was a made in Japan feature and it caters to the strengths of the country.
Aside from schools and places like malls and MAYBE theaters, I really don't think there isn't going to be whole lot of places where this will work.

I think it'll work well in parts of the world and not so well in others. Surprise!