Since summer this year gamers in Japan have been able to use a variety of NFC (near field communication) cards to buy content on the Wii U eShop; this includes commonly used cards such as the SUICA brand, which are often kept topped up by consumers for use on local transports services, for example. It's a quick and easy way to buy games, and an option that'd be welcome with equivalents in the West.
While we're yet to see this feature arrive outside of Nintendo's homeland, it's now confirmed that the recent 3DS system update has activated the same functionality on the New Nintendo 3DS, which has NFC built into the touch screen. A rather charming video advertising this feature is below.
Today's system update has also added the amiibo menu to the New Nintendo 3DS, which has the same functionality as the equivalent on Wii U, allowing you to delete data and re-name the figures. Though 3DS game support is promised none are active yet, though the fact that the menu is now available suggests its début — likely in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS — can't be far away.
While Australia and New Zealand have the New Nintendo 3DS, other countries outside of Japan are still waiting; our money is still on a full Western release prior to the end of the financial year — this would get the inevitable burst of sales on the books, and if that's right it would arrive before 31st March. Until Nintendo confirms a release date, however, that's only speculation.
Comments 29
They need to hurry up and send this too the west. I want to upgrade to an XL 3DS since my current one is getting a bit iffy, and I want to wait until the New 3DS. Please... atleast before Majora's Mask 3D
It would be nice of this came Westward. I use my phone to tap and pay some places and it would be cool if I could use it on my 3DS. Softcard and Apple Pay would make it pretty convenient.
In case you were wondering, the Amiibo menu is also enabled on the PAL New 3DS.
Which includes my Australian New 3DS XL imported and set to UK Region.
And for a second here i thought you could get discounts or exclusive content with an amiibo.
It's a cool feature, too bad in Italy those kind of payment cards barely exist (if they exist), which mean that even when the New 3DS will be out here that function won't work...
Not that this change much, I want a New 3DS anyway XD
"The amiibo menu is also live, despite the lack of compatible games"
Classic Nintendo right there.
looks at 64DD port underneath his N64.... further looks at the modem port underneath his Gamecube
@gatorboi352 You can play Phantasy Star Online on the GameCube... well not anymore since the servers are down.
Cool feature! I love that animation!
Awesome news, and I know that it is unrelated, but I hope that once we get the New 3DS we get crossbuy with the Wii U - particularly with the VC
@Dipper723
You can still play through private servers such as Schthack.
EDIT: nvm, seems like Schthack is down at the moment (not sure if temporary or permanent). Pretty sure there are other private servers out there though.
@gatorboi352 double dash allowed LAN play across several GameCube s and TVs , was amazing, but unfinished as it would only randomly chose stages. But loads of fun
@Danrenfroe2016
I hope they leave the LAN function in when they release gamecube games on the wii u
@megamanlink Given the Gamecube adapter stock issues, I think "if" is more reasonable than "when".
@gatorboi352 But N64DD allowed you to make custom tracks in F-Zero X, essentially making the possibilities endless!
@megamanlink
I am still afraid that they will not release any GameCube games for the Wii U, I am afraid that they shot themselves in the footand did something bad architecture Lee that won't allow that to be easy to pull off, all those theoretically since the Wii is based on the GameCube and the Wii U is based on the Wii, you think it would be relatively easy.
@Danrenfroe2016 Also it supported unofficial online muliplayer through Warpipe tunneling! Didn't always work, but it was fun.
Do other countries have a mass use transportation card system with a chip in it like the IC cards in Japan (like Suica, Icoca, or Pitapa). I've used the NY metro cards, as well as cards in Korea and Shanghai (Shanghai specific, doubt it would be usable in other places like Peking).
In Japan we can use the IC cards for so many things other than transportation. I use it shopping a lot. It will be nice to have the option to use it on my 3DS.
The Smash update can't be far away.
@Tsuchinoko It depends on the city I suppose, but as you mentioned NY, I would think these types of cards are mostly limited to major metropolitan areas. Such as NY.
I've certainly never seen or heard of such cards here in Calgary, and I don't know that they're very widespread in other parts of Canada either.
While it certainly seems very convenient, I think this is probably going to be limited to japan, or at the very least - I doubt I'll ever see it where I live.
My VISA credit card has an NFC element. It would be cool to use but pointless since I already have the info stored in my eShop account. May attempt to use this feature anyway to see if it works...
@gatorboi352 Don't forget the NES and SNES also came with expansion ports which were never or rarely utilized. Genesis, on the other hand...
@Danrenfroe2016 The Wii-U can be forced into Game Cube compatability mode (homebrewers have verified it can be done under Wii mode) however doing so is mostly pointless since the Wii-U has no Game Cube ports and will not accept mini-discs. The USB Game Cube adapter isn't a viable alternative as it requires communication through Universal Serial Bus, which use a completely different protocol as well as completely different hardware registers compared to backwards-compatible Wiis.
The 3DS can also be forced into GBA compatability mode as well, owing to the fact that it is backwards compatible with DS which was backwards compatible with GBA. VC GBA games were released to Ambassador participants. But there is no standby mode when you close the lid (the screen blacks out but the game/CPU will continue to run) quickly draining the batteries, none of the DS or 3DS background functions are operable, and if I remember correctly you have to shut down/reset the console to get back to 3DS mode.
I was fine with this setup but other players may not be. Either way, GBA is now on Wii-U VC with full emulation perks (save states et al), albeit Genesis, TG-16, and N64 are nowhere to be found. It may be possible to crudgingly support Game Cube VC through compatability mode, but it would need some kind of frontend/modification/virtualization to handle the controller inputs. And compatability mode would block access to the Wii-U system memory where the VC games are stored or even Wii control inputs when running under compatability mode under Wii.
Don't hold your breath, but I would pay $$$ for a retail HD remake of Mario Sunshine similar to what they did with Wind Waker.
@Aqhu I love calgary! I used to visit my ex for weeks at time and just walk around downtown. Its so comfy there.
I'd be interested to know if the London or Paris Metro cards had that function. The NY, Shanghai and Korean cards are so much thinner than the Japanese ones.
@StarDust4Ever How do you force a 3DS into GBA mode. I've been hoping for a rerelease of Mother 3 so I can play it on my 3DS (it would increase Lucas chances for returning to Smash as well). My DS is so old and dusty.
@RupeeClock excuse me for being stupid but does the australian new 3ds work with European games?
@thepeterwright
Yup, it even explicitly says so on the package
"This New Nintendo 3DS XL system is for use with European/Australian version Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DSi (tm) software titles only. Nintendo DS (r) software titles from other regions may not function."
I hope they finally update Smash to add amiibo compatability. Hopefully by the end of the year. I'd love to use amiibo with my N3DS because I get to play it much more than my Wii U.
@Drawdler I'm sure soon. I actually still don't really understand the whole amiibo thing but I'm hoping to try it out.
@Tsuchinoko Nintendo did it with several bonus NES VC and GBA games for participants in the Ambassador program, late 2011. Only people who bought the original 3DS for $250 and registered them on Club Nintendo prior to the 2011 price drop got the GBA games. The GBA titles load directly from the system menu and lock the 3DS into GBA mode while running.
So far nobody's been able to get GBA ROMs to run on 3DS using homebrew. This was entirely Nintendo's doing and the 10 GBA games were never made available in the 3DS eShop.
@gatorboi352
Further looks at gamepad accessory port... seriously, I really want to know what they are going to use this for! I think it may be for connecting it to a future wii u zapper or something.
@RupeeClock Thanks, just ordered one today from play asia hopefully it dont take to long to get here.
Tap here to load 29 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...