Although the 3DS will provide gamers with a less cumbersome Friend Codes system than what is currently in place, the eShop might be a different story altogether.
According to Nintendo, the 3DS will utilise a different virtual currency than the Nintendo Points we are already using for our WiiWare and DSiWare purchases. As translated by Kotaku, the Japanese Nintendo website states that Nintendo Points will not be usable on the 3DS and dedicated prepaid point cards will launch at a later date.
This will inevitably cause some gamers minor annoyance as it's not uncommon to have points left over when buying cards for WiiWare/DSiWare titles. At least the latter will still be purchasable via the eShop, making the new point cards just a little bit more widely accepted than if they were just for 3DSWare.
[source kotaku.com]
Comments 42
As long as there is some kind of card to get points, I'll be fine. I don't own a credit or debit card.
It infuriates me. It's clearly a ploy by Nintendo to keep the little extras that their customers waste. I don't see why else you would do it, surely it's more simple to have one central user system with one pot of money, rather than have three pots (Wii, DSi, and now 3DS). Whatever, Nintendo.
What about unused Nintendo Points vouchers? Would I be able to redeem those on the eShop?
What happened to the eShop accepting direct payment by credit/debit card? I was under the impression that we didn't need points at all, and the new prepaid cards were just for people without access to credit or debit.
EDIT - Straight from the 3DS press release: "The Nintendo eShop will use a cash-based system. Users can either input credit card information in the shop or purchase a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at retail locations."
This doesn't mean new points, it just means Wii/DS points aren't compatible.
You'll be able to use your credit card on the shop, but this will be to buy points to then buy the games.
Sounds to me they will be like PSN cards and in dollar amounts
I bloody hate points! Had some stuck on my Wii for months. They're ust not enough to buy a game meaning I'd have to spend more to use them up.
It's a ploy to get us spending more online. We want to use points we've paid for but, to do that, we have to pay for more. Just let us use cash and buy individual games!
I'm more annoyed by the fact that I'll have to buy 2 separate points cards for for my Wii and 3DS and that Nintendo points will cost more here as they can rip you off unlike prepaid cards in dollar amounts. Also my local store I buy points from are only likely to be selling one type of card so I can see Nintendo points getting ignored. (or they won't have any prepaid cards for a long time after release)
Lucky I didn't purchase any points in advantage.
Can't wait for all that DSiWare goodness!
This will inevitably cause some gamers minor annoyance as it's not uncommon to have points left over when buying cards for WiiWare/DSiWare titles.
What? I'm pretty sure it states very clearly when you go to redeem points cards that said points will be non-transferable afterward. We wouldn't be able to do anything with the overage anyway.
I'm pretty sure that this was a given ever since Nintendo announced they were dropping the points and going into cash.
nick_gc wrote:
Did you read the news story?
the Japanese Nintendo website states that Nintendo Points will not be usable on the 3DS
After Getting Shantae my points are down to zero and I have no further plans to download anything from DsiWare so I'm good
I shan't be getting a 3DS, so this doesn't affect me, but why the need for points at all? If downloads were priced in cash amounts the whole process would be simpler and probably result in more downloads.
DON'T PANIC:
Flipper 2 will take your unused points, no problem people!
The point system manages to be worse than the 360's, having to buy 1000 points minimal is outrageous, especially when a game costs something like 1,200, making you pay at least £7 more than you have to. If the 3DS doesn't use these points, that's only a good thing.
As long as the cards will be available from launch I'm fine with it
I'm fine with this.
No issues here; Spend your points wisely, and then transfer the games.
@Kevin: "dedicated prepaid point cards will launch at a later date."
Kinda annoyed about this since I don't have a credit card. :/
Doesn't surprise me one bit, I kinda expected this.
If it means going to a psn real world currency, great, fantastic, and hope the next console goes with that system.
In the unlikely event this is another monopoly money currency simply replacing nintendo points, this is a stupid, fanbase anger decision.
In either case, phasing out nintendo points may yield some decent discounts at retail.
I was afraid that we'd have to pay with Crysta.
.. if Nintendo really makes us use credit cards for this, then I'm not going to download any 3DS downloadable titles. At all. I'd rather buy GameBoy games on eBay and then play those on my trusty GBA SP.
it would be cool if all you had to do was wave the points card infront of the camera and it will slowly use it up (like a gift card at a retail store). then you could just go to an eb games or similar game store and refill it
@Yosher: I think you missed the "dedicated prepaid point cards will launch at a later date" part of the article, lol... they can't force you to use credit cards to purchase something from a retail store, i don't think. :3
Huzzah for credit cards!
I hope your able to buy a game with a credit/debit cards instead of having to buy in 1000 points ($10). It would be alot nicer for games that are over 1000 were you have to spend 20 dollars just to get a 12 dollar game.
I have a credit card but Nintendo let me use my Visa debit card to buy points. I wouldn't buy prepaid cards if they are anything like the last ones. Here they cost up to £15 for 1000 points as opposed to £7 on my debit card. That is a much bigger waste of money than having 100 points left over.
So can I buy DSiWare using the new cash-based system or do I have to buy Nintendo Points?
Ah well
Can I pay for my games using postage stamps?
Well, at least my old Wii/DSi Nintendo Points are all used up.
This shouldn't be a big problem as some people are making it to be.
Heck, they're using a whole new online infrastructure so this wasn't a surprise to me (and it was mentioned before that they'll be using another currency-thing for the eShop).
YYYAAAHHHH!!!!!! epic i hate whanting a 800 point game and you buy 1000 points and have 200 left over (on wii) so you cant buy anything so if i want an 800 point game i need to get 4000 points and get 5, 800 point games
Child: Dad! my points are not working!
Dad: Don't worry, I'll use my credit card.
On a series note I kinda like points, however it does not bother me too much.
edit:
3DS store: in 3DS cash ok?
Customer: is monopoly money ok?
i dont see any problem in this Nintendo point will still remain so i can still use them on my wii or dsi and the dsiware games can be transfered on the 3ds so thats not a problem and am really glad that nintendo went on cash system because i think those points where stupid (for example germany has to pay 10 euros and uk only 7 pounds for wii) but on dsi they have to pay more for same points that was really a stupid system now if a game costs 2,39 euros you have to pay only 2,39 euro (i have a prepaid visa card so i dont see any problem to use it on 3ds
Another amusing comments section. "BUSINESS COMES UP WITH PLAN TO MAKE MONEY, THIS IS CLEARLY EVIL AND HEARTLESS AND UNIQUE TO NINTENDO."
yes i agree with mario party fan 999 this is really annoying that there going to be different cards for my wii and dsi (although i will have sold my dsi) to my 3ds and the store we get our points from that is the only place in the whole town that supply's them is very slow and has only stocked wii remote + 's as of yesterday. So they will take along time to start selling these pre paid cards but when they do that's the end of the points because no shop will wont to sell them as they will just think no we will sell the newer product and completely forget about the points.
Sucks, I have 100 Wii Points on my Wii account. I want that dollar.
I hope they just do it like the PSN store... or like in STEAM... thats the best system for the gamers, points are just a problem
All I know is I've grown weary of the points system, but I don't have a final say in the matter. It just would be nice to just buy direct and be done with it.
The worry is that when Nintendo phases out Points completely from all three of their shops, outstanding points will not be honored...
Well, i haven´t bought nintendo points before, i just by the games, but i think that would change very soon, i really miss the gameboy games for a handheld. my old GBA is getting pretty weak, so i will at least download some mario games. I just love him.
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