The Nintendo 3DS is getting a massive shot in the arm next week

Matt Hawkins Contributing Writer, Video Games

For you 3Ds owners out there that are aching for something else to do other than play Super Street Fighter 4: 3D Edition for the 700th time, you’re in luck! On June 6th, a number of long promised features finally happen.

eshop The Nintendo 3DS is getting a massive shot in the arm next week

Cuz that’s when the system’s eShop launches. Similar to its counterpart on the Wii and DSi/DSi XL, you’ll soon be able to download games and applications. First thing’s first: the games that will be initially available, which are actually old Game Boy titles from ages ago. The list includes Super Mario Land ($3.99), Alleyway ($2.99), and Radar Mission ($2.99).

Much like how the Wii can play old console games, the 3DS will be able to play old handheld titles. There’s speculation (and hope) that Game Boy Advance titles will be supported eventually, but till then, it’s the old black and green classics. In addition to the three above, there are two other releases…

Pokédex 3D, which is the first 3DSWare classified title, is totally free, and like the name implies, allows you to view a variety of Pokeman in glorious three dimensions. You start with just 16 and collect more from friends, random strangers via SpotPass, and scanning QR codes. Meanwhile, the last piece of software might be the most exciting of the entire batch: Excitebike 3D…

… It’s essentially the NES original with stereoscopic 3D visuals, with not only the ability to save courses created in the editor, but ability to trade them as well. Neat! Best part is how it’s totally free… for a limited time. After July 7, it’s $6. Still not bad.

There will also be a web browser for download, and the fact that it won’t support Flash has already caused a few ripples. Guess Nintendo is going the Apple route (and truth be told, it is a serious battery drainer). No word yet on that Neflix app that was mentioned a while ago, but it’s probably forthcoming.

Time for the one thing everyone has been waiting for: the ability to transfer DSiWare games. Come next week, there will also be a tool that allows one to move software from a DSi to a 3DS (there’s no vice versa I’m afraid). The key word is move: games are not copied but literally transported over, with everything being deleted on the source system. The best part (and I mean that sarcastically) is how save data won’t make the jump; be prepared to beat Cave Story all over again.

No idea if this is a one time use kind of deal, and how software saved on an SD card (which is how I have mine) is handled. Meanwhile, this same tool will copy photos and audio files… which in this care, the originals are not trashed. As if this whole deal wasn’t confusing enough as is. Anyhow, for those of you who have wanted to trade in your DSi’s for a 3DS, but didn’t want to “throw away” all those goodies that you spent good money on downloading, at last your time is almost here. Note that not ever game can make the move, but the list of incompatibles is small and not even worth mentioning (but just in case, here it is).

Guess that’s it? Again, I’ll wait till the 3DS gets a redesign, though if Link’s Awakening shows up in the eShop, I might be tempted to nab one sooner. Then again, I’m STILL waiting for Starfox to show up on the Wii. Point being, I just hope the 3DS Virtual Console gets more love than the console one.

Full info on eShop update, launch lineups [Tiny Cartridge]

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