10th December 2013, 11:53 AM
This one adds a lot of features the 3DS has needed, but the biggest one is the Miiverse.
I'll list the smaller, but welcome, changes first.
The 3DS finally added patching to a Nintendo game system, but the patches had to be done manually. A user first had to become aware that a patch even existed for a game, then find said patch on the 3DS store and download it there. It wasn't automatically downloaded or installed, as it is on MS and Sony's systems (just so you know, yes, you are prompted asking for permission to patch, and you can go on playing the game without it, but online features will be disabled, and that applies to both XBox and Playstation). The Wii U did fix this, finally adding automated patching, but the 3DS still lumbered about with no reliable way to update user's games to fix glitches. Fortunately, it seems enough frustrated gamers complaining about already patched issues called Nintendo's hotlines for Nintendo to finally do something about it. Now when you launch a game (assuming you're online of course), the system will alert you with a message indicating that a patch is available (if one isn't, it'll simply launch the game without delay). You can skip the message if you want, but here's where it gets a little tricky. If you DO want the patch, it won't just download and apply it right there like on every other modern game system. Instead, it'll take you to the 3DS store's download page where you have to initiate the download yourself, then quit the store, then start the game again. It is still far better, because even with those extra steps at least the average user will now know the patch exists, but I'm hoping a future update will streamline the process a bit to operate more like the Wii U.
Before, the 3DS only allowed you to do a data transfer to another 3DS a total of 5 times. This restriction is now lifted. Good, but not far enough. One still can't "log in" as separate accounts on a 3DS and download their account items to another system as on other consoles. One is still forced into all-or-nothing when transferring anything, as even saved data for games, SAVE DATA, is encrypted and locked to the system in question.
So as to the Nintendo ID, yes, you can now "link" it. This unites the 3DS and Wii U online stores, as well as any balances. This is also how you post to Miiverse. The 3DS "account" still exists though, and here's the problems. It doesn't take your friends list from your Wii U, instead just keeping your 3DS account's friend list. They need to "unite" the friend lists at some point and resolve this, as it's a rather large problem, especially when it comes to tracking friends on Miiverse. It also would pay to allow multiple accounts to be made on one 3DS. When accounts can be "recovered" onto any Nintendo system, just like with the other consoles, this'll be very helpful. I also want to address one more thing. Virtual console games need to be "shared" now. If I buy the NES game Super Mario Bros. on the Wii U, I should be able to download it on my linked 3DS.
All that said, get today's update, as it is a big one.
I'll list the smaller, but welcome, changes first.
The 3DS finally added patching to a Nintendo game system, but the patches had to be done manually. A user first had to become aware that a patch even existed for a game, then find said patch on the 3DS store and download it there. It wasn't automatically downloaded or installed, as it is on MS and Sony's systems (just so you know, yes, you are prompted asking for permission to patch, and you can go on playing the game without it, but online features will be disabled, and that applies to both XBox and Playstation). The Wii U did fix this, finally adding automated patching, but the 3DS still lumbered about with no reliable way to update user's games to fix glitches. Fortunately, it seems enough frustrated gamers complaining about already patched issues called Nintendo's hotlines for Nintendo to finally do something about it. Now when you launch a game (assuming you're online of course), the system will alert you with a message indicating that a patch is available (if one isn't, it'll simply launch the game without delay). You can skip the message if you want, but here's where it gets a little tricky. If you DO want the patch, it won't just download and apply it right there like on every other modern game system. Instead, it'll take you to the 3DS store's download page where you have to initiate the download yourself, then quit the store, then start the game again. It is still far better, because even with those extra steps at least the average user will now know the patch exists, but I'm hoping a future update will streamline the process a bit to operate more like the Wii U.
Before, the 3DS only allowed you to do a data transfer to another 3DS a total of 5 times. This restriction is now lifted. Good, but not far enough. One still can't "log in" as separate accounts on a 3DS and download their account items to another system as on other consoles. One is still forced into all-or-nothing when transferring anything, as even saved data for games, SAVE DATA, is encrypted and locked to the system in question.
So as to the Nintendo ID, yes, you can now "link" it. This unites the 3DS and Wii U online stores, as well as any balances. This is also how you post to Miiverse. The 3DS "account" still exists though, and here's the problems. It doesn't take your friends list from your Wii U, instead just keeping your 3DS account's friend list. They need to "unite" the friend lists at some point and resolve this, as it's a rather large problem, especially when it comes to tracking friends on Miiverse. It also would pay to allow multiple accounts to be made on one 3DS. When accounts can be "recovered" onto any Nintendo system, just like with the other consoles, this'll be very helpful. I also want to address one more thing. Virtual console games need to be "shared" now. If I buy the NES game Super Mario Bros. on the Wii U, I should be able to download it on my linked 3DS.
All that said, get today's update, as it is a big one.