StreetPass may not have been a technical marvel when included in the 3DS hardware, but it was a typically charming Nintendo move. The idea of simple data exchanges had already been utilised in the original Nintendogs on DS, but the built-in StreetPass Plaza app is accessible to everyone with a 3DS, while the functionality has been used to varying degrees in plenty of games. Basic technology, yes, and perhaps best suited to the packed urban environments of Japan, but it's a fun addition that adds a key social element to the system.
Available since launch day, the StreetPass Mii Plaza has seen some subtle adjustments in updates, while it's been bulked up with additional puzzle panels and StreetPass Quest 2 / Find Mii 2; for some, however, only new puzzle panels will still be occupying their time. While it's possible to walk around a hometown and receive no hits, taking a 3DS to a gaming expo or an event such as a Zelda Symphony concert is an experience in itself, with the well-known activity of constantly clearing out new arrivals and grabbing as many puzzle pieces as possible.
Until now, this was a universal activity shared by all, a common thread for Nintendo gamers, and one of the best freebies — arguably — that Nintendo's ever provided.
And yet today has changed that, in Europe and Japan at least, with the introduction of paid StreetPass games in the revamped plaza. After installing an update — and assuming it's not constantly crashing on you — you can now buy up to four new games at £4.49 / €4.99 each, or a Combo pack for £13.49 / €14.99. Nintendo's been exploring monetisation with DLC in various games, but this is a notable step — ahead of small monthly fees for the World Gallery in Flipnote Studio 3D — where Nintendo has taken a concept that was originally free and applied pricing. The question is, how do we feel about that?
What we're not, in the case of the Nintendo Life team, are gamers that think everything should be free or less than a dollar; we'd argue that there should be an acceptance that gaming experiences have a value that needs to be paid as a reward for developers and publishers. In many respects that can be the justification for Flipnote Studio 3D's online gallery pricing, as Nintendo is paying for servers to maintain the data; clearly an expense it no longer feels the need to swallow as it did in the DSiWare version. It's a specialist app, too, catered to artists and budding animators to create fun GIFs to share with the world.
With the StreetPass DLC, however, we feel there are grounds to question the logic behind charging for the content. In terms of value, we have to reserve judgement to an extent — we will be reviewing the games in good time — but it's more around the context than what's on offer. We have little doubt that, like the StreetPass Quests that came before, there'll be decent value in these games, especially as many players don't necessarily pick up a large number of hits on a regular basis, so each one may take a good while to complete.
The question is how it changes the dynamic and applies tiers to what has, up to now, been a universal and unifying app. It can be argued that it changes nothing, as puzzle panels are still being added for free, but with examples such as StreetPass Battle, the game reacts differently depending on whether the other player owns the same content. There are other obvious incentives, with additional hats and goodies there for the taking in these games, while their variation in play styles — while still tied to accumulating hits — is very welcome after over two years of the same old grind in the original quests.
That length of time for these to arrive does make us wonder whether — as well as considering the fact that an app that was the same for everyone now has paid gates of entry — Nintendo could have taken a high road and offered these as free gifts. Nintendo has given various freebies over the lifespan of the 3DS, with the likes of Swapnote / Nintendo Letter Box and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (the latter on DSiWare) being examples that portrayed a company generous to loyal customers. A more recent example was a free Coin Rush pack in New Super Mario Bros. 2.
And yet, Nintendo has gone to great pains in recent times to emphasize a desire to increase income from digital products, a promise often made when surrounded by shareholders. Fire Emblem: Awakening has been a high-profile example of perks being offered in a map — which may take less than an hour to clear — for a few dollars, while the sale of the modest Wii U Panorama View applications seemed to be overambitious.
Public perception, then, is tough to balance, as Nintendo aims to promote an image of kindness while, ultimately, earning as many dollars and cents from us all as it can. DLC in Awakening may or may not be seen by many as an inevitable part of the modern landscape — nor is it necessary to beat the game — while the freebies in Animal Crossing: New Leaf do nothing but foster goodwill. But with the StreetPass games, 3DS owners may be surprised that the free, pre-installed app that encouraged them to take the 3DS on the road and trade Mii data for over two years is now hawking games at £4.49 / €4.99; it's arguably a similar disconnect to suddenly being charged a penny to send a letter in Swapnote. Suddenly we're not all bound by a unity of purpose when clearing out StreetPass hits and marching Mii characters into battle, as some of us will have glitzier prizes while others plod through the original quest.
Last year, Satoru Iwata promised that Animal Crossing: New Leaf would not have "unwholesome" DLC. So the question is obvious: is the act of monetising StreetPass games just part of the modern gaming scene and a fair attempt to retrieve costs, or is it unwholesome? Consumers will ultimately decide.
StreetPass Plaza screens courtesy of Official Nintendo Magazine.
Comments (131)
Nintendo,
Why is this not in the US yet?
I just wish I was able to get it... Get your act together, NoA! (maybe they're just waiting to get the bugs out, so it doesn't crash in the US, too)
Also, I'd probably get a lot of use out of this; for whatever reason, Portland, Oregon is a veritable StreetPass hotspot, and I have well over 600 streetpasses across several software titles.
Meh. I don't take my 3DS anywhere outside my house and if I did, I doubt I'd get a single street pass.
I'm not that bothered by this, I would rather have had them free, but its been so long since we got a new Find Mii game and I have nothing else to spend my walking coins on, so I'm fine with this. It would be nice if every once in awhile they threw us a free game like they gave out the free New Super Mario Classic Mario DLC along with the paid ones.
I don't think the inclusion of extra games will lessen the enjoyment of players who stick with the basic set. I'll be purchasing the bundle when it launches in NA, though it does seem to be priced just a few dollars too high.
Since the games are developed by different studios and not specifically by Nintendo, it's only fair to gain revenue on them.
It's like TF2; DLC for hats.
Sure, we get minigames for those hats, but who cares? HATS MAN! HATS!!!!
Considering that Nintendo's not the ones developing these games, I say it's fair. Them other developers deserve to get paid.
I'm really not bothered by this as I look at it differently than DLC made for a game. These are whole new games instead of content for pre-existing games, while its true that Find Mii II and more puzzle pieces are free those weren't probably worth much.
These games however are made from non Nintendo teams and a price tag of $5 each makes sense for these small mii heavy games.
@Zach777 I suspect Nintendo may not bring it to the U.S.; as Mr. Iwata recently said, StreetPass / SpotPass usage is very low in the States compared to other territories. Speaking personally, I'm not about to pay for more games that depend on randomly stumbling upon strangers with 3DS's; I've owned a 3DS for two years now and had just 40 hits, with all but three of them being in airports.
I have mixed feelings, however I will be purchasing all 4 when it hits the US. I've had all of the Find Mii's done for over a year now. I am looking forward to some new hats.
It is only an option for those who are finished the game or for anyone who wants more to do. It's a good idea because it looks like Nintendo put a lot of effort in this update so it makes sense to charge a few bucks for it.
"Monetise StreetPass"
Nintendo is changing StreetPass to look like an impressionist painting?
I don't feel it's fair to complain about free DLC for a paid game or paid DLC for a free game.
@rjejr Arf arf
But yeah, monetise is a word and a thing...
To emphasize the main point, I'm querying whether adding paid DLC to StreetPass Plaza changes its context, especially in the eyes of those that have had a 3DS for a good while. Nintendo has every right to charge for the content, I don't think that can be disputed, but should it have passed on the opportunity this time? Personally, I think it should have, and I'm certainly not someone that thinks everything should be free or dirt cheap. I just think it's a strange move in the context of the app.
From the information that the game gives me, these games look well fleshed out and very enjoyable. It has a lot more interactivity going on in it and it is a real step up to the previous (free) games. I might buy the bundle as soon as I start studying at the university, I will be getting many hits while riding the train
Eh, this doesn't botter me. They're allowing, to people who want, to upgrade the streetpass plaza experience by choosing what they want and not forcing you into it in any way.
There has been huge demand for this. The Mii Plaza is one of the 3DS's best activities, and it was really begging for more content. Looking at some of Nintendo's other downloadable prices, these are great prices for what you get with the money.
DLC is good. The problem is holding back parts for a price.
If Nintendo designed the games so that people who pay have an unfair advantage over others who don't, that would be something that I consider "unwholesome". Nintendo doesn't pander to the e-peen crowd, they pride themselves on creating fun experiences. From what I see here, these new games are just paid expansions. I still haven't finished the original quests, but once I do, it might be something to consider.
I have mix feelings about the annual fee you habe to pay for flipnotes 3D but I understand that Nintendo has given free goodys and I hope I could afford it because I want to buy my Wii U and I only have $228 dollars
These games are great
Even if this comes to the US I probably won't get it...
meh.. too expensive...
I don't think it's a bad thing, but I'll have to pass. I don't get enough street pass hits to make the purchase worth it.
Don't know where to post this but there is a new interview with Sakurai from the french website http://www.p-nintendo.com/articles/interviews/masahiro-sakurai-nous-parle-de-ssbb-235210
I started translating the first 2 questions, I might translate more if needed :
PN : At E3 2011, Iwata surprised everyone with the announce of a new super smash bros for 3DS and WiiU, what will be the main differences between the 3DS and Wii U version ?
Masahiro Sakurai : When the development of Kid Icarus Uprising came to an end, Iwata came to ask me to develope a new super smash bros game, he asked me wether it should be on the 3DS or on the WiiU. We were at a point where the franchise couldn't really evolve so we asked ourselves if making it for a portable sytem could be the solution. In the past we added a lot more stages and characters but that wasn't enough.
We could have chosen to develope it only on the 3DS but the system showed limitations. I'm talking about playing on a small screen. So even if it's not easy to develope two versions of the game at the same time, we chose to adapt the experience to the specificities of both console.
Even if the characters will be the same for both versions, the arenas will be completly different. In the 3DS version the stages will be based on portable games and in the WiiU version they will be based on games that appeared on non-portable systems.
PN : How are you organized developping the two versions of the game ? Is there a lead platform or are they developped simultaneously ?
Sakurai : The team is the same for both version, they are developped simultaneously. There is no « lead platform ».
I will get the space one cause it's a SHMUP and that other one that mixes a haunted house with Tetris. They look interesting to me, and it's not hard for me to get SPs. I live in NA though so I can't even get them.
I don't mind since, during the school year, I get at least 4 streetpasses a day. I've already beaten Find Mii (II) many times. It's about time for something new!
I only have two thoughts:
First, I would be very upset if it was something free that was made into pay-to-play. I am just considering this to be another Download game that interacts with the Plaza. Even better it improves the useage of the Plaza and I am tapped out of everything on my plaza.
Second, I would be willing to pay for a game like Streetpass Mii plaza. Especially because EVERYone has the capability to Streetpass without having to buy it to begin with. This will only increase the benefits of the Plaza without really damaging its structure.
To be honest, the 3DS is the first NIntendo handheld to have any decent FREE games at all built in... sure you have had clocks & calculators, but other handhelds have been doing them for years. I remember my Neogeo Pocket Color that came out at the same time as the Gameboy Color had 3 or 4 free built in features including an alarm clock, something Nintendo has still failed to incorporate!
Let them charge, as long as they don't remove the free stuff, they have a right to try and make a few pokédollars here or there.
After two years I am sick and tired of Find Mii so I welcome these with open arms. Digital games that make specific use of StreetPass — I'm cool with that!
£4.49 is a good price... but £13.49 for all of them, it's kinda hard to justify, Nintendo should offer a multi pack of all 4 games and make it abit cheaper
I wish these were free, but then again; I wish I had a Corvette ZR-1 I think it would have been good to offer these on Club Nintendo for coins, or to have been given to us free, one at a time; over a 6 month period rewarding loyal Nintendo buyers. However, like most people; I will have no choice but to pay for the bundle because I love Mii plaza so much.
@ThomasBW84
Huh. I think that Nintendo is within their rights and not necessarily wrong to ask for the price. But would you agree more if they introduced one of them as free and the others as DLC? It would increase the base for everyone like Find Mii II while not only catering to DLC players. At the same time it would introduce DLC and the concept to the free game as it is...
@123akis Try working out 4*4.49.
I can guarantee, had these games been released on the eShop, there would not be such a furore.
@123akis
Umm... That IS a discount. If there are 4 games at 4.49 each, it should be 17.96, not 13.49...
It really does depend on wether you get streetpasses on a regular base or barely any at all.
And even then, I actually support the idea of additional games, and I don't mind them charging us for it.
We need to keep in mind, though - the idea is most likely more focused on the japanese 3DS community, which is getting more streetpasses per day than some of us get in an entire month. I can clearly see the appeal for them, but we might be a bit harder to convince.
A good plan might have been to offer us one of the games for free while charging us for the other three, but that's just an idea.
Streetpass sucks. I'm sorry I work in a hotel in Las Vegas and carry my 3DS on me to count how many foot steps I walk everyday. In 2 years I have a grand total of 11 streetpass hits. Waste of time. I am in a heavy populated area I even see people with 3DS's walk by me and BAM no hit. I have even asked some people if they have streetpass turned on they look at me all Crookeyed and dont have a clue about what im talkin about.
So wait, what are these games? Like what do you do in them?
Well, originally they were making a profit on the 3DS when they gave us these freebies with the system, but then there was the drastic price cut, so I don't think Nintendo could afford to take the hit of giving away any more games for free with the system.
@Windy
Then educate them. Hold a Streetpass Hook-up. That is what I did at a library in NJ. I educated the players on what Streetpass actually is and helped them set up Streetpass in several games. Now I get a lot of hits all the time around town.
It may help if you make up a pamphlet that explains everything, considering that you work in a hotel. Ask your boss if you could hold a Streetpass convention there or something.
@Radbot42
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/software/built-in/miiplaza/index.html
Pics and videos for all 4 games.
They really should just let your online Friends join in Find me and puzzle swap. The streetpass for animal crossing I have feeling for me will stink as well
@LordGeovanni @C-Olimar oh yh.. it does say combo pack in the article, if i actually worked it out i would of known... but i still think £13.49 for all of it is kinda too much, but i will get it anyway
Im absolutely fine with it. These things are completely optional and as far as i read, dont hinder you if you dont want to buy them. But as always, i think that these street pass thingys are more targeted for eastern regions, where the population is much denser and your more likely to find other Miis.
And like others said: The 3DS was the first system that could be enjoyed even without games at the start, since it had so many things built in to explore and Nintendo handed out so many free stuff over time, let them add "pay DLC" once in a while to keep them well fed
To be honest, if Nintendo keeps on giving like that, that money will be back in no time.
@ThomasBW84 - I knew Monet is an impressionist but you didn't think I knew what monestise means? Even w/ the Queens spelling?
I know when I've been insulted! I know when I've been insulted!*
*Lucy van Pelt, It's a Charlie Brown Christmas
@LordGeovanni
I have. when I show them they dont think there is anything neat about it. Dont get me wrong it can be a neat if it worked. It probably works for alot of people. But for me so far its been a real dud
I like Puzzle Swap
Personally not bothered about new content being purchasable. Just really grateful that it's been developed. Had it been a £40 download thing, I'd have said, "no way", but this seems reasonable enough.
Sign me up! Can't wait for this in the US
I'm fine with it. I have over 700 actual street pass hits on my almost 2 year old 3DS. I'd definitely be willing to shell out a couple of bucks for a new experience that will more than likely last quite a while
@LordGeovanni oh I have thought about running a craiglist ad for a get together at a local library. I think that would fun but there seems to be a little creepiness to that. Im an older guy and what if real young people showed up. they would think this old man was off his rocker! LOL
The games better be good for 5 bucks each. And even then i might only get the ones that don't rely on the other StreetPasser having the same DLC too. If there are any.
@Dogpigfish
I don't think they really held back parts of the Street Pass for a price, I am pretty sure they made this, then after a while decided to do something more because year... once you get everything, it's kind of boring and useless. The service is a free service for your 3DS so I am pretty sure they made it as it was without intending for more to add to it and then probably developed more when people started asking.
Im skipping on Flipnote I used it about 20 minutes on the DSi and don't expect to use it that much on 3DS anyway. I will miss the worlds artwork which will be neat cause I do love colors 3D and its online artwork. who knows maybe I will get sucked in. I would rather see a monetised online RPG such as Star Legends or Arcane Legends rather than just uploading your artwork and having to pay for it to view
meh....all my play coins are going into animal crossing xD
I've got your point Thomas, but I don't think this move is gonig to change things.
You know, you are still able to go for the original quest since they just added at least 5 new puzzles, and personally I have to complete Mii Quest II secret mission four times yet in order to get all the "free" hats.
I find all the new games pretty interesting, and something to keep me quite busy since I love the Mii Plaza app, I'd rather not pay for the new content but onestly, it must be said, this is not just an update of the previous software, like it was for Mii Quest II, so I can understand this decision.
Waiting for your reviews guys
I love it, I was hoping they'd update it again but wasn't actually expecting them to.
Having more standard Streetpass features for free may have meant more people are interested in the system, but I doubt it. I don't have a problem with them charging for this stuff - it's a completely optional distraction anyway. I don't get streetpassed much at all though so I have no incentive to buy any of it.
@Geonjaha thats my problem as well so for me I wouldnt be interested. Just not enough streetpass hits to warrant paying for this stuff
There is no point in StreetPass for me. Nobody has a 3DS here or they don't take them out.
@Windy
That is why I mentioned the library. Libraries can hold their own activities and can advertise through itself. If you set it up, you could explain everything pretty well...
@TysonOfTime 'cept in TF2 those hat's drop if I'm correct. (Never played it, but most of my friends do)
Well, they're trying to sell us games which use StreetPass, not to charge us for StreetPassing... or you should criticize Spirit Camera: the Cursed Memoir for asking money while the pack-in AR games were free!
@Gnoll
My point exactly. This is just like a game from the eShop - except that it is accessed thru the Plaza and can (possibly) use characters from said plaza.
Streetpass is an exclusive feature to the 3DS (The Vita has Near, but its a very small feature on the console). Now that Nintendo released several games with great examples of how Streetpass can be done only on the 3DS, it has less meaning to add another. But I really want more Streetpass games, and if this is the only way Nintendo will sell it, then I'm fine with that. These games look to have some value in them anyways.
Streetpass Quest 1+2 are definitely not worth any of my money. If these new games are more sophisticated though, I'd be happy to purchase them.
Too expensive for street pass games. Why would I pay for games that rely in the scarce encounters I get?
I'm afraid they might start making dlc for all their games. I don't want to see any dlc in Smash Bros, X or Mario Kart (among others), specially when Nintendo's are as expensive as Awakening's.
Meh. As long as they aren't starting to charge for what was already included I don't see the problem.
Having just beaten Streetpass Quest 2 for the first time, using upwards of like 250 Mii's to manage it, I just headed out again to collect more hats. I almost hope this update does not come to the US, or by the time it does, they realize they should not charge for this extra, fun, content that really only added value to the 3DS experience, but not enough to PAY for.
@123akis Well, the games are a little overpriced as it is
so they give us the option to buy games but not complete puzzle panels? why???
Doesn't bother me. The puzzles and streetpass quest I and II have enough content. These 4 games are just an optional bonus if you really want more. And I want that
Personally i think the new Streetpass games are WAY too expensive. They should be free of charge to be honest.
This is BS. 5$ for a Streetpass game? You can get Gunman Clive for half of that. I might still get them depending on the reviews... but you have to remember, it all depends on where you live. I get MAYBE three hits a month (not including the ones from my brother), sometimes way more, sometimes none at all, but on average I'd say three is fair. Of those three, how many are going to have the same DLC on their streetpass? I'm guessing maybe 5% of 3DS users are going to buy these. That means I've got about a 1.6% chance per month of meeting somebody with this software, which is absurdly low.
And the article does not reflect the title once more.
Bah, i tought of worse things with that article, it's all optional and really if i want to play a game i play a game not streetpass, it's not like on 3DS you have little choice. Especially with AC New Leaf that's just out in this days in Europe. (where i live)
It has crashed only so far... but I do wonder if those are really worth the prize. I thought you could buy them with play coins.
People use the streetpass games in the first place? Now they're charging for some?!?! lols
Streetpass is not popular or even useful in America for the reason not many people take trains or buses unless they live in large cities. I don't even know why they implemented Streetpass in the first place outside Japan.
I guess if you lived in Japan it wouldn't be too bad.
@Captain_Balko Actually it doesn't matter if the other person has the dlc, you get your help in the new games anyway. I bought them and tested it with my old 3DS. The old 3DS doesn't have the dlc but the Mii showed up fine and acted as if he has it by showing his flower etc. There may be restrictions that I haven't found yet but so far it doesn't seem to matter if the person has the dlc or not.
That said I really like the new games and I am in a region with really low streetpass count and using the old 3DS for this is not something I often do. I just use play coins to buy some helpers if I want to play the game. Yes, the price is a little high but from what I can tell they are not just some short games, they are fun and take some time and so far I will replay them some times because I like them. And that's all i want from my game: fun. On a sidenote I hope they will do more with Plaza. Most Wanted would be a pink puzzle buy for 10 play coins or whatever but waiting for the special persons to bring some is just bah, I really want to know how they look when they're finally finished after many months ^^
I can have my fun with play coin cats even if it is harder that way, every other person may not and should just pass on the dlc. It's a decision for everyone to make I can just say that they are all fun so far (allthough the flower one hasn't fully got me yet)
I don't think there's enough demand to charge for streetpass.
I would gladly pay 15 dollars for 4 new ways to enjoy Street Pass, and I rarely get any passes. As long as they don't give us a Mario game with worlds 1-5 for 60 dollars and charge for worlds 6-8, I'm fine with the way they're handling DLC.
Wow I didn't expect team Nintendo Life to complain about this.
Here we go again with the negative stuff.
This shouldn't be called talking point, it should be called moaning point, you don't even fairly debate the two sides of the issue.
Are you seeing my point yet BXLL.
Whew! Good thing I completed both Find Miis before I can play the updated app. I've never been to an anime convention or a Zelda Symphony, but I can tel you my best Streetpass hot spot was Disneyland in crowds. I got over 80 Streetpasses that day, not including second hits.
As for the games, I'm undecided how I feel. I'll have to see them for myself.
@DanteSolablood - DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL all had alarm clock functionality and the downloadable clocks do too.
These seem like they might be fun expansions, I'm fine with it if they come. The price decides if I hesitate on getting them.
The games look fine. I hit just 35 'passes in six months in my town, but I rarely spend one day without gaining 10 coins!!! I'm strangely in love with the gardening game...
It looks to me like they're selling a game that is based on the concept of StreetPassing, and nothing more. Buy if it looks cool to you, don't if it doesn't. I don't see how a 'gross' argument can be made for monetizing something they made; they're a business, that's what they do.
Also keep in mind that this is probably to help pay for that StreetPass via networks thing they're looking into.
All I have to say to this is Boo-Urns, Nintendo. Boo-urns indeed.
I'm fine with it as long as it's cheap enough. Couldn't they have just charged a couple bucks for these? I would have been fine with that. But these prices are a little crazy.
I'm assuming they're holding off launching this for the US until they finish their "hub" project to make amassing guests easier.
I think that Nintendo is getting to greedy (the price of the console alone should tell that)!
Though I'm not going to buy it, I'm fine with the paid games. There's already so many things to spend Play Coins on, various achievements, Find Mii II, Puzzle Swap (which always presents new puzzles to spend your coins on), and there are even games outside of Mii Plaza you can use your coins for, such as Animal Crossing!
Magikarp uses splash on Golem. @Witeldram is knocked out. Just kidding, Golem is cool. I carry my 3DS with me all the time, I usually get 1 or 2 a week. But, I heard in bigger cities people get more streetpasses. I would like to get 2 or 3 a day but that's just me. C'mon Nintendo, give us more streetpass puzzles/pink pieces.
@Gioku
I had streetpass on the whole time I was in portland during Christmas. I didn't get jack s***!
my god that plaza looks amazing! come to USA now plz
Seems cool I like te idea
Doesn't interest me in the slightest. Seems if Nintendo was going to give its fans anything for free, it would be this.
I enjoy Street Pass but I work overnight so I usually only score 1-3 hits a week. It hasn't really been enough to get anywhere in Find Mii. I don't know if I'm ready to spend money to add more games.
Did I miss something? When did Nintendo start charging a Penny for SwapNote?
So these games. Are they actually fun? Or are they like the RPG and Puzzle game where you just grind streetpasses? Or hope for the right "t-shirt" colour to continue onward.
Yes. My opinion is that the RPG and puzzle games for Mii Plaza suck. They are not good games, and there's nothing fun about them.
I don't care I have hundreds of streetpasses and like 90% of them are from the same person so streetpassing kinda sucks for me. I don't like it but I am very OCD and I can't rest until I have a complete set of something. I don't like the streetpass plaza games but knowing that my puzzles and hat collections are incomplete bothers me
Why would I care about something that's not being forced on me and I have an option to do?
I think DLC and micro transactions etc really needs to be handled very carefully or I think it just just really anger and frustrate a lot of consumers.
I'd just like the update to hit North America so I could look further into this.
@Windy I live in downtown Toronto and I get five to seven street pass hits a day. Minimum. Also, when I was still in college I was at double that rate. It's all about location. haha.
Now if I could only street pass a single person with Denpa Men 2 data, I would be happy.
Those Metroid hats are creepy. Looks like you can see Mii brains lol
I'm ok with it. The stuff that was free remains so, and new more interesting content will cost me some $$. Seems fair and should it get to NA I will purchase.
As a new NYC resident I am stoked for this. Streetpass has grown to be my favorite thing about my 3DS. I think enough people own the system now that if you bring it everywhere it wont be long before you get a hit, especially with the new relay spots in the us
I just wish they'd take the limit off. I didn't realize you could only get 10 at a time and left Symphony of the Goddesses with only 25 street passes
@Windy: Damn, I feel the same way. I get all excited when I see some kid playing his 3DS in hopes that he/she has street pass activated and nothing. It really bums me out dude. Call me a dork, but I really get excited when I get new purple puzzle pieces from random people:)
@ThomasBW84 I suppose it revolves around the fact that Nintendo didn't develop them at all, 3rd parties did. I'm sure these groups would like to be paid for the work they did.
Want street pass tags? Go to the FF Distant World concert or the LOZ Symphony of the Goddesses.
Never cared about the Street Pass, and I'm not going to buy any app related to that, unless suddenly they show one mini game that greatly appeals to me, but I doubt it.
Anyway, If a 3rd party made the apps, Nintendo should pay them, but Nintendo tends to put relatively high prices on small things. Let's hope the content is worth the price.
I still wish my hard earned hats didn't feel so useless - they REALLY should appear on your mii in other games.
@Kaine_Morrison
Read the line again:
"it's arguably a similar disconnect to suddenly being charged a penny to send a letter in Swapnote."
It was a comparison, not something that was true.
Although, comparing a brand new DLC game that cost $ is FAR different than making something Free into a Pay-to-Use...
I think Fire Emblem Awakening has great DLC system. I bought all the maps.
Is that the new Plaza? Interesting. I wonder if Nintendo has something like that planned for eshop. Virtual Reality is upon us, I see.
I don't know about paying money to play the games. I do it for fun, but it's not important for me to get various hats. OTOH, if they allow me to pay money to remove the 10 coin limitation, then I may be interested.
Just have to mention the forthcoming 3ds update which will allow us to get streetpass hits in hotspots from other players who have previously visited the same store eg starbucks & mcdonalds and don't have to rely on passing on the street anymore, this will up everyones chances of getting great value from these paid streetpass games
As long as they do not remove the original free Streetpass games (puzzle quest, find Mii), it's fine by me. By the way, it seems that the bug has been fixed? (at least my system did not crash yet)
The only question I have is where are the paid DLC Augemented Reality games!?! I can't believe Nintendo hasn't push out more of these!
Streetpass as it is is perfect for Japan. But for western countries, initiatives like the European wifi spots being turned into stationary Streetpass spots is a good start, but there needs to be more of them, and there especially needs some kind of way to earn play coins without a limit (without cheating) and scrap the limits on how many hits at one time. Maybe sending a swap note could earn a visit from a friend to the Streetpass games. And more spotpass people being sent out like at e3. It's great advertising for many games. Get third parties in on the act.
Don't see any problem with it, don't think it's curious. Excellent decision by Nintendo to make some more money.
Well it is a shame that they didn't at least give us one of them as a freebe, that would've been nice. But at just under a £5er per title that's a bit much IMHO - there are many and more games out there at that kind of price which (dare I say it) will be better. I dunno, but TBH I don't think I'll be forking out any cash for these anytime soon.
In unrelated news, Sony's charging $60 for PS+ to play PS4 games online.
@NintendoPro64 wow
Did any read any thing from E 3. Nintendo is making street pass dynamic. Because of the way we live in the USA. Street pass will work through the internet to connect to people rather than walking past them. They said it should be patched this summer. As far as the updated plaza for USA that's something else that should happen
@Collinhall instead of trophies and achievements, these hats could work nice if they can be recieved in other games and seen in them as well. i'd rather have one ooze mouth on my mii or a daisy crown on my jill valentine than 50 trophies, and that game already has in-game achievements with in-game rewards, which already beats showing off without really getting something extra in your game.
future nintendo games (at least) should support hats in-game!
Nintendo can choose to make services, games, features etc free or not. But these new StreetPass games are made by other developers, so obviously they need to be paid for their work. Nintendo can choose to make some things free as an incentive for buying their hardware, such as the first few StreetPass games. In a time when we're talking about Nintendo needing more support from other developers (especially on the Wii U), we should welcome projects from other developers and support them.
@NintendoPro64 You also get free games, and they are blockbuster games, and are updated regularly. On the PS3/Vita at least it really is a phenomenal service. I can only make the assumption that it will still be a great service on the PS4. I absolute love it. Infinitely better than Xbox Live for example.
Street pass is so rare now.
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