Nintendo has heard your (and mine) cries and pleas for new game content on 3DS, that is if you believe what Mr. Iwata has said to investors in the company’s quarterly financial results briefing. Iwata even goes as far as to say that preparations are being made with third-party publishers to ensure that a ”˜continuous stream of Nintendo 3DS games will be released next year.’Iwata tells investors that what has been missing from 3DS are new types of games that made the Nintendo DS so popular such as Brain Age and Nintendogs. That is set to change. Iwata said ”˜[We are] aiming for the next fiscal year, we are also working on new genres of software that may attract people who are not particularly interested in video games.’
Satoru Iwata also confirmed that with the firmware update the 3DS is scheduled to receive this November, a whole slew of new features will be available for the handheld, namely: game demos, the ability to download games while in sleep mode, in-game DLC, and perhaps most exciting, a web based interface for PC and smartphones to browse and download eShop items.
While the 3DS eShop interface is leaps and bounds better than what was previously available on the DSi and Wii, it has still been hindered by clunky interface which makes game discovery a chore. Having a smartphone app with with the ability to connect to your eShop account is very intriguing. While I don’t expect Nintendo to give gamers the option of actually playing eShop content via smartphone or PC, it should still help spur sales of eShop content simply because it will be easier to see what is available on the store.
As a lifelong fan of Nintendo products, I just hope that this the beginning of a fresh start for the Nintendo 3DS. I love my handheld, but in the last few months I must admit that I have turned to it rarely for my daily dose of gaming. With new games like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 that is surely set to change, but lets keep those games coming all year long, shall we Nintendo/third-parties?
