PSA: 3DS firmware update is live

by JC Fletcher on Dec 6th 2011 9:15PM

I just updated my 3DS, and other users are reporting that they've been asked to do so as well. This is the delayed "November update" meant to add DLC capabilities, 3D video recording, and more.

Looking around my system, I see a new "Nintendo Zone" app for interfacing with "participating locations," to receive special content from certain free wi-fi hotspots. The "3DS Camera" app now has a toggle for video or stills, and -- most unexpected of all -- there are new "accomplishments" (achievements, kind of) in the StreetPass Mii Plaza. A few popped up immediately upon starting the app (above). You can see them all in a list within the Mii Plaza. I have 20 total (!) relating to the number and location of the people I've met.

Other new stuff in the StreetPass Mii Plaza includes a music player for Mii Plaza music, new Find Mii stuff (Find Mii 2 game and lots of new hats, accessible only to those who have all the hats from the first game), new Puzzle Swap puzzles, and even some kind of new SpotPass connectivity, to bring Miis into your Plaza from the internet. I'm not sure how this works yet.

Though the eShop was down all day in preparation for this update, I didn't see anything new there yet -- except for a news item about the 3D video update.

Tags: 3d-video, 3d-video-recording, accomplishments, eshop, find-mii, firmware, firmware-update, puzzle-swap, spotpass, streetpass

Reader Comments (50)

@dfdslfjhsiud
Aw, how cute. The spam bot is trying to spell "pony".

Except it got the N and the O backwards. Try harder!

Better yet, don't try at all.

@Shadow Hog
Pfft, figures the spam got deleted before I replied. Disregard!

(It WAS kinda cute, though...)

Speaking of updates, downloading the new Xbox dashboard update now. Try it of youbweren't prompted to do so yet.

@Shadowbender

*you weren't*

Yes!!! Now about those ambassador games nintendo

@Wizardsofwaverly
AHAHAHAHAHA dude your so freaking hilarious

Now back on topic, whats up with those games Reggie?

@Wizardsofwaverly I know right?

Awesome! Just updated mine and I'm now playing around with the 3D video recording. Pretty cool, but I'm still waiting for the GBA Ambassador games!

@Narniashark

Well, they've still got 25-ish days left in the month to get them out.

@Gibbeynator

I do suppose that's true. I just hope they don't have to hold them back until January... But, I doubt that.

@Narniashark

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/328081/3ds-gba-ambassador-games-not-delayed/?

@Gibbeynator

Oh, didn't see that. Thanks for the page! :D

Well, that better be the reason why my 3DS reset in the middle of playing WWE All-Stars.

I was totally winning too, btw.

@TerryMasters

Lies!

Hopefully GBA games are coming soon. eShop is "under maintenance" for me as of this writing.

Nintendo Zone is old, fyi. You could add it to your 3DS via a Best Buy download.

@Bighouse
Barely even a download, you just walk in with your 3DS and the app appears on your menu, doesn't even ask you.

Downloading now!

Do we have a Mario Kart 7 Joystick Community yet?

Shop is still down. Hope something nice is waiting for us!

My princess Ron Swanson Mii is lookin' pretty hot.

@RickGhastly Nintendo can do a lot of things that may seem bad, but to turn MY MII INTO A CHICK?!?!?!?

That, I will not take lying down.

But can you store more than 10 people at a time? THAT IS ALL I WANTED.

The Spot Pass Miis are from before the update. They're out of the Mario Kart communities. I'm only installing the update as I type and I already have a bunch of spot pass Miis in my plaza, including you JC.

94 spot pass mii's and counting mario kart 7 is a magnet for mii's. How many is the limit for spot pass?

94 mii's and counting. How many spot pass mii's is the max you can have at one time?

@snintendog there's an 'accomplishment' for having 100 Miis in your plaza, so at least that many?

The Data Management menu in System Settings now has an option for Add-On Content.

Next hopefully Nintendo finds a way to check into Foursquare using Spotpass. Now that would be sweet.

@MattLimburg

Foursquare?

What is that? If it's another social networking app like Facebook, Twitter, etc. then count me out.

@MattLimburg

Like I really want people to know my location.

@tendoboy1984
It's a pretty dangerous game that people always hurt themselves with. Think of it like super extreme hopscotch in hell.

Wait I'm thinking of parrises squares. Nevermind.

You can also scan _any_ QR code by pressing "R" or "L" on the main menu.

Love the 3DS Video app. Stop motion video, recording in intervals, montage video (haven't gotten that to work yet), they're all fun additions to an otherwise boring app.

The "accomplishments" excite me. If there's one thing I feel Nintendo needs, it's some equivalent of achievements. Having a little something to show off when I do something cool in a game is for some stupid reason important to me, and having a dumb little pic stamped onto my Wii's bulletin board when I get 241 stars just doesn't cut it.

The best thing would have been to set up gamer profiles like with Microsoft, which extended across 3DS and Wii U. Tell me that beating Mario 3D Land 100% doesn't warrant some kind of reward!

But... it's Nintendo. :/

@Derp Sandwich I think the problem is nobody at Nintendo gets your mind set. For instance, I really don't understand the appeal of achievements and if I worked at Nintendo I'd never give it another thought. Now, it's obviously important to you and many others so they should probably get on that.

@TheRealLawrence
Achievements would only stimulate the sells of shovelware, the last thing we need on the 3DS. People would buy Hannah Montana's beach adventure or Barbie in Wonderland or some crap like that just to up their gamerscore. I deal with too much of that crap on PS as it is, I'd rather just not have them at all on Nintendo. But a unified account that ties into Club Nintendo would be awesome.

@TheRealLawrence Exactly, their problem is seeing what the gaming community wants. They're so busy coming up with their own super special innovations that they're blind to the things the majority of gamers are crying for, and that they can get everywhere else. The fact that they're only now making a real effort in the online department just shows their stubbornness. I don't care a lot about playing games online, but holy hell if that's not one of the most important things to people right now.

Still waiting for demos in Europe. :0

DLC for the 3DS? That sounds like a terrible idea! One of the reasons I bought a 3DS was because I thought there'd be a lack of DLC!

And besides that, didn't we already have DLC of sorts with Dead or Alive Dimensions? Pretty sure it was DLC instead of costumes since it seems the data saved directly to my SD card....

DLC will probably be reserved for bigger additions, like entirely new stages or playable characters.

Spot pass is nce, and I think Nintendo had good intentions, but realistically it would be insane to give away that kind of stuff for free.

I applaud Tecmo though for being the only ones who ever used spotpass in any kind of meaningful way. Probably will be the first last and only ones.

@(Unverified)

What the hell are you talking about?

This would be great if my friggin 3DS would connect to my wireless network. Great job on the online implementation there, Nintendo.

@ShinAntonio
Pretty sure that's your problem there. My router constantly messes up on my PS3 but it always works great with my Wii/3DS, never had an issue. Now if only I could get DS games to connect via WPA.......

@ShinAntonio
Yeah, that's probably an issue with your wireless network. I got an old router set up and I can connect online, but can't play Mario Kart's multiplayer on it for whatever reason.

@ShinAntonio

I have multiple devices that connect wirelessly to my router. Wii, 360 (at times), iPhone, laptop, etc. Only one that gives me problems is the 3DS unless I turn off security. Given that my router is only 2 years old, I definitely think Nintendo's to blame.

@ShinAntonio
I have the exact same situation, except it's my PS3 and not my 3DS. I have to put my PS3 in the DMZ in order to play anything. 3DS and Wii work fine. Still they would benefit from the network custimization options that other devices have.

I do find it odd though that your Wii works and your 3DS doesn't....

@ColorblindMonk
DS Mario Kart? DS games use WAP I think, and 3DS used WEP. I just got a new router and none of my DS games can connect online anymore, which sucks majorly cause I'd still love to play Starfox Command, Metroid Hunters, and Phantom Hourglass online. Worst of all though, I can't download new Picross or 3D Picross puzzles or new Warioware DIY games.

Bring on the custom firmware and homebrew stuff! After all, that's why many people bought the PSP and Wii right?

Kidding kidding. :)

PSA: 3DS firmware update is live

Reader Comments (50)

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 10:36AM Shadow Hog said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 10:37AM Shadow Hog said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:21PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:41PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:22PM Wizardsofwaverly said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 11:38PM cwinters2k8 said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 11:14AM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:23PM Narniashark said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:27PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:31PM Narniashark said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:35PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:38PM Narniashark said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:23PM TerryMasters said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 12:05AM Midnitte said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 12:06AM Midnitte said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:26PM AGuyOnTheInternet said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:30PM Bighouse said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 3:34AM Nolan North said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:30PM havok37 said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:36PM NPTran23 said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 9:36PM spacemanroo said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:10PM RickGhastly said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:20PM religiousjedi said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:14PM Fuzunga said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:16PM MJD8000 said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:29PM snintendog said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:27PM snintendog said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:33PM MJD8000 said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:30PM MJD8000 said

Posted: Dec 6th 2011 10:42PM MattLimburg said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 12:58AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 1:59AM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 9:18AM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 12:07AM penubag said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 12:57AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 3:36AM Derp Sandwich said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 4:41AM TheRealLawrence said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 9:21AM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 3:22PM Derp Sandwich said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 8:21AM DekuTree said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 9:14AM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 9:41AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 1:49PM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 10:51AM ShinAntonio said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 11:18AM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 1:08PM ColorblindMonk said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 1:58PM ShinAntonio said

Posted: Dec 8th 2011 3:43PM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Dec 8th 2011 3:45PM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Dec 7th 2011 1:53PM tendoboy1984 said

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