Topic: eShop Questions

Hi,
Not sure if this topic should go here, but it seems a fitting section of the forums... Anyways.

I'm planning on purchasing a New 3DS XL within the next couple of days, and along with it I'll be needing some games (duh). The last nintendo consoles I've owned were the original DS and Wii (never used its eShop), so I'm new to the whole Nintendo eShop thing. I love the idea of having all my games on me at all times, without having to carry an extra game cartridge case around with me, but I'm not so sure on how secure it is. If you buy the physical copies, you can keep them forever (until you lose the cartridges ... ), no matter what happens to the DS itself. However, I don't know how the eShop works. If I download games from it, and I happen to break my DS &/or SD card, are the games just gone forever?

Another thing, I'm may actually end up buying a used New 3DS XL locally, and the seller just so happened to have purchased their games via the eShop. If the games are tied to some account, are they able to switch over from one to another, or will I have to like, take over the guy's account?

Sorry, sounds a bit noobish... Just not ever had experience with this.

If your SD card breaks, you can buy a new one and redownload all of your games from the eShop for free. Unfortunately, you have to visit all of the shop pages one by one. There is no download list like Sony has (probably Microsoft too, but I've never used their online store).

Breaking the 3DS is a little more tricky. You can recover all of your purchases and redownload them, but it involves phoning Nintendo and verifying your identity and purchases, so be sure to jot down your serial number on the 3DS as soon as you get it. Also be sure to make a Nintendo Network ID (NNID) as soon as you can. All of your purchases are tied to this ID, so phoning Nintendo will allow them to deactivate the ID on your lost/stolen/broken 3DS and reactivate it on a new one.

As for the other guy's account, yes, they would be tied to him and you cannot transfer to your own account. You would need to either take over his account or make your own and repurchase the games. Note that if you simply take over the other guy's account, you would not be able to recover any games if your 3DS was lost/stolen/broken, because you would be unable to verify your identity.

That pretty much explains everything I was wondering, and very quick response as well. Thanks for being so helpful!!