Unity Support Is Coming To The New Nintendo 3DS

Yeah now we can play the 8 billion Flappy Bird clone games on the N3DS, but anyway this will be brilliant for someone like me who has been working quietly on a couple of different projects for the last year.

BTW if anyone is asking what they are and how far into development they are, lets just say that the games are going to be 2D and they are in the concept stage of development.

@CreativeWelshman 2d flappy birds then? how many are you going to make?

This is nice 'n all, but I doubt the 3DS will be all that appealing for Unity developers.

@faint
One just as a test product to see how certain features work as well as figuring out stuff like Procedurally Generated Environments for use in my other game projects that I have.

I'm also working out the fine details of F2P to make sure it's used properly in my games without ripping people off like EA do. In short after I get these things sorted out I will then start developing a dungeon Crawler type game with a town building aspect built into it.

@Kaze_Memaryu That and now Nintendo needs to tell gamers the difference between the new and old 3ds big time seeing that the interface for both systems are the same.....

I'm assuming the eShop is getting a "New 3DS Only" section. This adds value to those who wanted the N3DS to have more "value"

so it was worth me getting a New 3DS, which I still haven't unboxed yet..........

I don't care how long it take you lot will be able to 1 day play "Bassie The Flying Cat", a F2P game that's fair and honest with the pricing for the in game microtransactions that net you extra tries as you attempt to beat your highscore and the game will feature free updates that fix bugs and adds new content to the game.

The microtransactions are to be set up like so

• £1.50 for 5 Tries
• £7.50 for 35 Tries (+5)
• £16.50 for 85 Tries (+15)
• £28.50 for 155 Tries (+40)
  (Please let me know if this pricing structure is fair to you and would you lot be okay with a spending cap in place to stop kids from racking up a massive credit card bill).

Good...that means we'll have more than just one game per week to download on the handheld. This is a good thing for Nintendo to help them get ready for their next system too...if it's going to be a console with handheld.

This is actually very awesome news!

From now on all the good stuff are only available for the New 3DS, way to go Nintendo. N3DS is becoming like a new gen handheld, the old 3DS will be incompatible with more things in the future. It will happened slowly and gradually so no one will blamed Nintendo for selling them an inferior product and force them to upgrade.

@JLPick Actually that's a good point as there would be too many games coming out and the good ones will be lost under a sea of smelly brown stuff. But I guess Nintendo will have sorted this problem out by then anyway, but it's a big problem regardless.

Great news in principle.
Making it for the New 3DS only is a bit of a joke though. That's a 50 million install base being cut out of the loop.

Also will there be more cross buy games available on the Wii U & N3DS? if so then I be happy to support the trend of cross buy which we should all admit was started by Sony.

@Dezzy
Just another reason to upgrade then and besides you also get to play XenoBlade Chronicles 3D as an added bonus in addition to the Unity games that are coming out as well.

I was thinking of this last night! Finally! Maybe I'll be able to port my game to 3DS.

More indies? Thanks but not interested, only 10% of their games are good...

I just had an interesting thought for my game "Bassie The Flying Cat", Amiibo support and I've got a few ideas already. The only problem would be convincing the big N to let me run riot with their IPs and do some crazy stuff with those figures, Inkling I've got my eye on you.

Then Nintendo better bring their A-game on screening apps especially clones and whatnot. I don't wanna see the eShop cluttered with Mario and Flappy bird clones.

YESSSSSSS!! This is good news indeed!

@Zyph
True but what about ones that try something new and innovate in those genres? I would love for there to be competition on the E-Shop but there must be a balance in the content being submitted as well.

Also just because I'm making a Flappy Birds clone doesn't mean that I'm going to just copy and paste the formula and be done with it, no I'm going to add a few touches of my own and make my game more unique with it's innovative features to help the game craft it's own identity in the E-Shop Marketplace.

@CreativeWelshman
I already have a New 3DS. I'm thinking more about the developers.

@CreativeWelshman That's very true. I'm just saying that developers shouldn't just make a "clone" game just for the heck of it. I'm sure you see those kinds on the App Store or Google Play.

Hopefully this means we can get more quality indie games on the 3DS since it seems to be overshadowed by the Wii U by a large margin in terms of indie games.

@Dezzy
I think it's to do with the hardware capabilities of the N3DS being the reason for the games coming only to that platform and not the regular 3DS.

@Zyph
I know what you mean but I suspect the Big N will put quaility first when approving the games that get sent in to be certified or perhaps a upload limit of say 5 a month per a dev to cut down on the workload and get these games out faster.

So more 3DS games is always good. However Unity games are already available in a lot of other platforms and I don't think the New 3DS has that much of install base to interest the majority of indie developers.

I want to buy a New 3ds so bad, but i have to wait until a good game comes out for it.

@Pichupr0ject
XenoBlade Chronicles, Majora's Mask, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Smash for 3DS, Codename S.T.E.A.M and Ironfall say hi.

Finally! The eShop on Nintendo 3DS has been feeling pretty empty, so more games is exzctly what I need.

With news like this I will not be surprised if they decide to phase out the original 3DS model entirely

@CreativeWelshman All except the first doesn't require a New 3DS so not really.

Well this is a reason to upgrade.

I would really like some feedback on my game idea guys just so you don't have to look through all the comments I'll just summarise things here for your convenience.

The game will be called Bassie The Flying Cat, it will be released on the N3DS platform as a F2P game with in game micro transactions to buy additional tries and the prices are as follow

• £1.50 for 5 Tries
• £7.50 for 35 Tries (+5)
• £16.50 for 85 Tries (+15)
• £28.50 for 155 Tries (+40)
  I'm also considering a spending cap as well so people don't go bankrupting themselves.

I will also update the game to include free content at no extra cost and depending if the big N can be swayed Amiibo support will be included as well and below is a list of Amiibos I'm thinking of using.

• Mario
• Luigi
• Toon Link
• Inkling
• Squid Boy
• Squid Girl
• Yarn Amiibos
• Kirby
• Star Fox
• Rosalina
• Shulk
  What will they do in the game is a secret to everybody, but rest assured that once the game is ready to be presented to the public you will know what they do.

@CreativeWelshman I highly doubt you'd be able to use amiibo in your game, though I may be wrong.

@Inkling
Well I did say if the big N can be swayed and Iwata did say that Nintendo should start licensing their IPs to 3rd Parties.

@CreativeWelshman That's true that too many would come out, but judging by how they did updates on the Wii, they could have 2-3 indie games released and a few virtual game releases. I just figured that this would be good to help fill in large retail gaps, but I also thought that this would be good that if a game becomes too big to release as an indie, they can also release it as a retail to show more games off. I love the Wii U, but when you look at store shelves...it looks pathetic. What's even more sad about the Wii U retail-side library is the fact that you can barely even find some of the other games. The ones that are over a year or two old (Pikmin 3, Game and Wario, Donkey Kong, Wii Party, Wii Fit, Tank Tank Tank, Game Party Champions, Assassin's Creed 3, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Scribblenauts Unlimited, Monster Hunter 3 and a few others) you cannot even find on store shelves and barely find used in other stores, which makes the library look even more small for people who would think about picking up the console.

As I've seen people in stores looking at it, they only see Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros, Legend Of Zelda Wind Waker and Super Mario 3D World...and that was seeing what Target, Walmart and K-Mart in my area has...now K-Mart has nothing, and Wal-Mart (around me) has pushed the Wii U games in a case with Wii and 3DS...kinda sad to look at. It's just a shame that the system isn't doing good.

Well in my area we have Game and Games Exchange all the down in Rhyl, HMV, Argos as well as some SuperMarkets in Llandudno and Games Exchange, Argos and the street market to choose from when it comes to video games shops and that is quite pathetic in my opinions.

This could be super-exciting for me. The game I originally wanted to make for Wii U was made in Unity, but needed multiple second screens to connect to the Wii U (the one Wii U gamepad was not enough. Each player needed their own secret screen). And the only (Nintendo approved) way to do that was to connect 3DS to Wii U. But 3DS didn't support Unity at the time, so I was a bit stuck and eventually went on to making other games for Wii U.

Now though, it ought to be possible. Tempting as well to port my game Totem Topple, which is going through lotcheck for Wii U at the moment, though will have to wait and see what Nintendo reps say, and also if I can get my hands on a new 3DS devkit.

I love how all the old 3DS owners in here are crying foul. It's the outdated console, that lasted you 4 years. Cell phones come out every year so be thankful for what you got.

Upgrade or stop crying.

Very good news, especially since Nintendo are working towards a 'cross-platform development environment'. In other words, games you make for New 3DS can, if developers want to, upscale automatically to Wii U and NX without any extra effort. Mean loads more new indie games for a start )

Well, this adds to the idea that NX is not a replacement portable. Nintendo clearly designed the New 3DS to extend the life of the line a little longer. Still, kind of stupid to not make it work with the original 3DS.

@CreativeWelshman Honestly, for £28.50 I'd want unlimited tries. I know that's not how these microtransactions work really, but that's what I'd prefer. Shuffle and Rumble on 3DS show the difference here. Shuffle is an endless money pit. Rumble lets you buy a limited number of pokediamonds then gives you an in-game mine, so I think you get the whole game experience for about £20+. Shuffle gives you nowhere near enough bang for your buck and is a shameless rip off with new and exclusive stages being added every couple of weeks.

Now I understand why Nintendo needed to bump up the processor power. They want indie games available to fill out the 3DS release list over the last few years of its life cycle. The original 3DS simply doesn't have the juice to support Unity thus the need for a hardware refresh. I had planned to buy a second 3DS at some point anyway so it is now skin off my nose if I need to pay a bit extra to get the New 3DS instead.

@gatorboi352

Not everybody upgrades their cell phone every year, and phone companies also tend to have ways of offering those phones for deals or below regular retail cost with certain packages and the like. Suffice to say, you may get your new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy for a lower price, but you have to pay full price for another 3DS.

Wow, this is awesome news. Definitely adds value to the New 3DS system!
I'm not understanding why people are complaining about this. The DSi came out and only it had the capability to play DSiWare, which completely shut out the previous DS generation. This isn't even nearly as bad as that was, at least on the old 3DS you still have the eShop. I would prefer for Nintendo to upgrade the capabilities of the system so people at least have the OPTION of having more content than not do it so people don't feel left out.

@Sakura
Would prefer EA prices like £70.00 for 155 Tries? Well at least I'm trying to be honest with gamers who are skepictal of the F2P buisness model and I do want to make this game as fun as possible.

I am a relatively recent 3DS owner and so far I have ignored Indie games because I have been catching up on the first party releases. The 3DS actually has an awesome line-up of first party games. I have drained my bank account quite a bit collecting them. However, I would like to start getting some indie stuff. Shovel Knight and Steam World both look pretty good. Are there other must-have indie games in the current 3DS line-up?

@RatKing64
Dillian's Rolling Western, Gunman Clive (1&2), Pokemon Shuffle & Rumble World, IronFall: Invasion, Steel Driver: Sub Wars, Rusty's Real Deal Baseball, Cave Story 3D and the StreetPass Games such as Quest(1&2), Puzzle, Zombie, Mansion and Gardening are all worth your time.

@CreativeWelshman
Thanks. I will check reviews and buy a couple!

@CreativeWelshman I'm just being honest. F2P is always pay to win and feels like a rip off for the consumer (because it is a rip off - no game is worth the ridiculous prices charged.) What I'm really saying is that I am not a fan of F2P in general so would probably avoid no matter how good the game is. There's plenty else to spend my money on without pouring it down the drain. I guess there's a cap on my generosity (and my stupidity).

@RatKing
To @CreativeWelshman more than half of those games aren't indie.

This is a great way to make people who paid $250 for a slightly upgraded 3DS feel like they actually made a good decision.

So does this mean more New 3DS exclusive games?

Thats great!

With this Unity news, the DeNA mobile Partnership, the new Online Membership service and the NX, I believe that Nintendo is going to announce a Nintendo Cloud type service that aims to help us keep track of our games, save data and to make us more aware of their upcoming products.

@Quorthon

Which here in Canada is about a third or a quarter of the price and doesn't come with a ridiculous contract (which is why you get the "deal" in the first place), Also a 3DS i'd suggest is a much more durable machine with greater potential for reuse once you upgrade.

As for why "Nintendo cut 50 million" 3DS owners out of Unity compatibility i'm sure it's as simple as the old 3DS simply isn't capable of supporting the engine. This is most likely the first step in creating increased compatibility between consoles,

@CreativeWelshman you just went full sillywilly. Never go full sillywilly

@CreativeWelshman

I'd never buy a flappy bird clone let alone pay for tries. No offense but your idea is horrible for eshop marketplace health, it's a terrible business practice in general with an awful price for the suggested content. It's a flappy bird clone it should be 1-2 dollars and that's it, there should never be the potential to pay 30 fricking dollars. FTP is a joke on the eshop, you can't advertise to a huge install base so incentive for that model is low without predatory pricing like you are suggesting. I'd also have to strongly suggest you don't say ANYTHING bad about EA if that's your idea of an appropriate pricing scheme, i honestly thought you were joking until like your 3rd-5th post based on that first comment.

@Kevlar44 Same. I thought it was a decently written piece of sarcasm... then it appeared not to be so and I shuddered.

@heathenmagic Are you kidding? I already thought I'd gotten enough vaule with half coming from the better experience in Monster Hunter 4 and Majora's Mask and the other half of the value coming from Xenoblade 3D

Cool! Unity is great middleware and not having 3DS has been odd considering it supports almost everything else (Blackberry!)

The timing is suggestive, though. Is Nintendo going to rest on the New 3DS for longer than a year, now?

As a Unity developer myself I welcome this turn of events!

OMG!!!
Twitches like a giddy child

@Quorthon I don't pay $60 for service per month for my 3DS either

@leo13 I have Majoras Mask and playing Monster Hunter 4 right now, on normal 3DS XL. I only thought the load times and framerate would be better? It is hard tearing myself away from my beloved XL lol, especially as I think once I transfer it across, I can't use Monster Hunter on the XL as the save is set to the system I think? I went for New 3DS as thought it might be cool and bit more portable etc.

@heathenmagic monster hunter my wife plays on the old XL and I play on the new XL and to me it's night and day. Plus I forgot to mention codename steam which I played the demo on my old XL and was really frustrated with the camera control, but it worked wonders with the c stick on the new

Thanks for that! I don't know anyone else who has a 3DS - which is their loss I say! - so its nice to compare notes! I will have to do the transfer for sure I think, the touchscreen camera is okay, but reckon the nub will be better. Perhaps will join you on a quest real soon

Heh, now the handheld is joining the unity love.

@Quorthon but the full price of a 3DS is the same price of a subsidized price of an iPhone...

And its been 4 years!

Sounds good for those eager devs and N3DS owners.I may have to upgrade eventually...
But for the love of god Nintendo,PLEASE run SOME KIND of quality check this time!

uh oh.... i smell a port of The Letter coming...

;P

Put some great games not available on Wii U and I may have a reason to upgrade.

I don't think this particularly means anything about the 3DS line. DSi was released in 2009, and the 3DS was announced in 2010. New 3DS in 2015, NX in 2016. Only reason we know about the NX at all is because they had to say something about it when they made the mobile announcement. If it hadn't been for that, we most likely wouldn't know about the NX until next year. Not really any evidence towards one over the other - could be a handheld, could be a console.

Anyways, great to see Unity support on New 3DS.

@gatorboi352

Sir, could I interest you in an Ouya? Their plan for that, originally, was to have a new console out every year--like phones.

I don't think they're going to get to that point, though.

@Kevlar44

"Supposedly" the PSP was not powerful enough for Unity, but the original iPhone had the absolute minimum hardware heft for it. Which sounds kind of weird. I read that on the internet. Take that how you will.

Moreover, I think Nintendo just wanted to ensure a decent crop of exclusives for the New 3DS. Hardware was, I'm sure, a consideration. But Nintendo needed to convince people to plunk games on the New 3DS.

@Quorthon

Perhaps, but now we're getting into conspiracy theories here. Also the PSP being compatible with Unity is a whole other ball game given the version of Unity being considered for it would now be long obsolete. Also one thing to consider is that a PSP probably isn't much less capable than a 3DS despite being much older and the architecture inside can make a great deal of difference in terms of compatibility. It seems to me typical Sony hardware is much more likely to be compatible with PC programs than Nintendo, but that's more of an educated guess than anything.

@CreativeWelshman More than half of those are also on the Old 3DS.

Oh wow! As soon as I see this spring to life I have to get a new 3DS with a copy of Xenoblade. I want it!

this is a good thing, it will more games that will take advantage of the New 3DS

Meh, Unity is as good as flash??? Personally I would rather people stick to the PC platform for videogames, and the NDS/3DS is under powered compared to PC development.

Personally the Unity I have heard talk among the programming community, however things are more easier other ways around that.