Excitebike 3D free for 30 days after eShop launch, Pokedex 3D free forever

by David Hinkle on Jun 2nd 2011 9:20AM

When the eShop launches on June 6, it won't just be our Japanese friends ripping up the track: Excitebike 3D Classic, a remake of the NES title, will be right there for free on the North American store. Act fast, though, as you'll be paying $5.99 to download it after the first 30 days of availability have elapsed.

If you don't mind parting with some cash, you'll also be able to buy Game Boy ports Super Mario Land, Alleyway and Radar Mission on day one.

The update will also add the ability for DSi and DSi XL owners to transfer "most" of their DSiWare purchases to the system (we're looking for clarification on what titles will be left behind).

But let's get to the really important news: Nintendo's eShop will also arrive alongside PokéDex 3D, a virtual compendium of pokemon from the Black/White games. It's available as a free download (not timed) and lets you summon vast amounts of information on the critters, as well as full 3D models. It also has Street Pass functionality (unlock random pokémon by exchanging data) and QR support.

The QR feature is actually pretty neat: you can take a picture of your friend, set it as a background layer, then snap a pic of a QR code to introduce a pokémon. Now you won't have to photoshop all your poké-snaps!

Excitebike 3D Classic

PokeDex 3D

Source: Nintendo

Tags: 3ds, ds, eshop, excitebike, excitebike-3d-classic, nintendo, pokedex-3d, pokemon

Reader Comments (53)

Cool, I wonder if it will search for any data off your Pokémon games?

@mikemantia

That would be really neat... most people are speculating that this is basically a tech demo for a future full 3D Pokemon game in the works

It looks nice, but am I the only one who feels that Pokemon would look way better with cel-shaded graphics than normal 3D?

I never had a Gameboy, so I'm excited for the Marioland games and some other classics.

@A Sandwich

Kinda sad the first notable eShop release is a decade old Gameboy game.

I really hope Nintendo takes the 3DS store seriously. I had high hopes for the DS eShop and only ended up buying Cave Story.

@NaeemTHM

you're mixed up. The first major notable 3DS RETAIL release is a decade old. The gameboy games are 2 decades old...

How can people take advantage of this offer when nobody was gullible enough to buy a 3DS this early?

@NathanDTS

Ahem...

@NathanDTS That was an allegation. Proper allegations require facts. You don't have facts. You no longer have an allegation. Your allegation have morphed into: pathetic troll.

Thanks for playing!

@sammo21 Trolling implies that I'm saying things to get a reaction out of people. I was not doing that, I was pointing out that people would either have to be moronic to have purchased a handheld with no games out for it at the moment, and only ports coming out for it in the foreseeable future.

@NathanDTS

It's okay, we've only got a week until they announce the NGP (or Vita or whatever) pricing and the real LOL's can start rolling in.

@NathanDTS Except there ARE games for it at the moment and original non ports coming out this very year.

Of course if you weren't in denial you'd know that then.

@baby sea tuna At least the NGP has games announced for it that aren't ports. I don't care how much it costs as long as it has games. The 3DS does not have any good games besides the Rayman port.

@Bluebreaker What games? Care to give examples?

@NathanDTS

The Ghost Recon game is pretty good, and frequently on sale for less than retail price. The other ones, not so much, I guess. SSFIV seems to be pretty decent, but that does fall under the ports category. But who cares? If the NGP is more than a PS3 (which it most likely will be) it's probably going to get steamrolled by the 3DS even if all the top selling 3DS games do end up being ports (especially since every 3DS is making Nintendo ~$100 of profit and the NGP will probably sell at a loss.)

@NathanDTS

Blazblue Continuum Shift II for 3DS is something that will be in my system for the rest of the year,

@baby sea tuna Who cares if all the games end up being ports? I would thing everyone would. Again who cares about price as long as the games are good?

@Bluebreaker A single fighting game, really? I believe I said examples, as in multiple games.

@NathanDTS
So you're insulting people with nothing but your own opinion?

Yeah, you're trolling.

@NathanDTS

You keep contradicting yourself. You say, "Who cares about the price if the games are good?" and next week the (possibly) highest rated console game OF ALL TIME is coming out for the 3DS. Sure, it's a port, but it is still one of the best games period.

Don't get me wrong, I bought a 3DS a week after launch, and I still can't justify its use over my DSiXL, since all I play are regular DS games now, but to say that NGP is going to be worth it based on the "announced" games and 3DS isn't (even though they announced a TON of games at E3 last year) is just ridiculous.

@NathanDTS

Don't forget RE: The Mercenaries is a few weeks away. That will be a good game.

@NathanDTS

Well over a million and counting, cowboy

but but i want to catch them ALLLLL

wow excitebike will cost $5.99 when it's no longer free??!?!? That is outrageous for an NES game, 3D or not.

@Poor Tom

Extra dimensions are expensive.

@NaeemTHM

To be fair, Tom *is* Poor.

(he's also, right, but poor nonetheless)

@Poor Tom
Well a game like excitebike isn't worth six bucks, but I think some nes would be worth six bucks. Like Mario 3 and Megaman 2.

oh man, I will totally buy Super Mario Land.

@sammo21

I dunno, if I wanted a platformer with terrible jumping mechanics, I've already got LBP2.

@baby sea tuna http://cache.ohinternet.com/images/f/f3/Fanserviceftw_7538_Obvious_troll_is_obvious.jpg

@sammo21

Oh get off it. Legit complaint is legit.

@sammo21
I think this one gets a pass, simply because if MARIO LAND is priced anything higher than $3, it won't be worth it.

I wonder if they'll throw in the National Pokedex as an extra charge then?

I'm getting tempted to trade in my xl... Hope some bundles cone out soon.

That Pokedex will be perfect for me considering I've barely taken HeartGold out of my 3DS since I bought the system, and when I finally finish that I'll probably move on to White (maybe after that, some good 3d games'll actually have hit.)

As for Excitebike, free is awesome but looking at that $6 price tag makes me think that they are going to dick up the pricing for these games just like they did with VC.

Only 5 days until my purchase is justified. Even if that is only through buying every single good DSiware game I missed.

Man, I just want to play Shantae....

@Alexisonfire

We'll be able to transfer them over from older DSi's right?

AR cards, eh? How about a giant AR card, for life-sized AR pokemon pictures?

@ColorblindMonk

Just make it yourself.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/refactr-turns-whiteboard-into-giant-3ds-ar-card-proves-bigger-i/

I'm still super pissed that dsi owners can't download old gameboy games. I've been waiting for that since they announced the dsi shop. Now I have to shell out money for another handheld to get it. Lame sauce.

@EffinNinja
Only suckers bought the DSi in the first place, you should have known that the DSi shop wouldn't hold up while the DS Lite was still out.

I guess I shouldn't talk much though, with my 3DS's bottom screen scratching the crap out of my top screen.... I'm never buying a launch system again....

@(Unverified)

I put a dust free cleaning cloth over my bottom screen before I close the 3DS. You might want to try it.

FARK YEAH RADAR MISSION.

No? I guess I'm the only one....

/that game had some pretty decent music.

I thought they were giving out Black and White for free. Got my hopes up there for a bit. Oh well. I'll just play Excitebike instead, and if it's not stupidly-priced, I'll buy Super Mario Land as well.

so..... can Iz use my Nintendo Points card that I bought for the DSi thinking that a good title was going to be released? or do I have to buy a new form of points?

@Trilancer
Points are NOT transferable. 3DS's eShop will not use a Points system, but just normal money.

Did someone say...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmRYccuXWNA

how exactly will we "unclock" random pokemon? does the pokedex actually connect to the original DS game?

I always hated Pokemon 3D models. Something about them just seem a bit off. Maybe cell shading could work better? Anyway, I'm looking forward more and more to this eshop launch.

Awesome. Now I get to look at Snivy's smug face...in 3D!!!!

Please let this be a sign of Pokemon Stadium: Black/White, please let this be a sign of Pokemon Stadium: Black/White, please let this be a sign of Pokemon Stadium: Black/White...

Awesome that the Pokedex is free. I thought for sure they'd charge for it, glad I was wrong.

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Excitebike 3D free for 30 days after eShop launch, Pokedex 3D free forever

Excitebike 3D Classic

PokeDex 3D

Reader Comments (53)

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:27AM mikemantia said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:48AM skyblaze said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:29AM A Sandwich said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:40AM NaeemTHM said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:04AM Poor Tom said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:31AM NathanDTS said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:33AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:35AM sammo21 said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:53AM NathanDTS said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:00AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:00AM Bluebreaker said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:10AM NathanDTS said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:18AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:27AM Bluebreaker said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:27AM NathanDTS said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:40AM NathanDTS said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 11:04AM Vegeta has a ps3 said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 11:19AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 11:41AM Sponge said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 2:49PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:31AM shabby329 said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:32AM Poor Tom said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:35AM NaeemTHM said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:40AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 11:18AM pizzafreak360 said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:34AM sammo21 said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:41AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:43AM sammo21 said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:57AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:01AM foxhound said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:36AM Bluebreaker said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:37AM mmmfishtacos said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 9:39AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:05AM Alexisonfire said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:10AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:09AM ColorblindMonk said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:13AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:12AM EffinNinja said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:48AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 11:39AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:16AM MrCheeks said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:17AM TCJJ said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:22AM Trilancer said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 1:54PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:31AM CyberTyrant said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 10:41AM lobotomies4free said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 11:56AM Tab said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 12:05PM religiousjedi said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 12:07PM Cypher FDP said

Posted: Jun 2nd 2011 12:15PM Bighouse said

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