Thursday, March 3, 2011

Nintendo GDC keynote roundup: Netflix and free AT&T WiFi coming to 3DS this summer!

We survived the keynote address here at GDC 2011, where Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime just got done revealing a veritable cornucopia of info about the 3DS. On the video content front, the 3DS will get Netflix this summer along with the ability to pause a video on your handheld and continue watching on your Wii -- though we presume you may recommence your cinematic experience on an XBox or PS3 too. The addition of Netflix wasn't the only announcement by Iwata, however. Get the rest after the break.

A wireless 3D video channel is coming too -- exclusive to the 3DS -- that will push Nintendo-selected content like movie trailers (Green Lantern's coming soon), music videos, and comedy shorts to the device. And if you want to make your own, Nintendo's enabling 3D video recording as well. Along with the new video content, Nintendo is bringing Game Gear and TurboGrafx 16 titles plus 3D-remastered classic games to the 3DS. The games will be available in the new Nintendo eShop along with existing DSiWare titles. While much of the attention was on downloadables, cartridges got some love when Iwata teased a new 3DS Super Mario game that may or may not include the use of the racoon tail from SMB 3 -- all will be revealed at E3.

Now, you may be thinking: "This new content is well and good, but how does Nintendo expect me to download it when I'm gaming on the go?" Well, Nintendo's got you covered by partnering with AT&T to provide free WiFi access at 10,000 hotspots starting in late May. It'll also use the SpotPass passive connection feature -- that works even when no game is in the system and when its in sleep mode -- to download new content as it becomes available. Could 2011 be the year of the 3DS?

For more details, head on over to Joystiq's liveblog of the event.

2 comments:

  1. The only thing I don't like is the auto-update thing. If I want to update, I'll do it. If I don't, I don't want to be made to.

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  2. do you people see it, netflix is adding netflix to all popular item so in 2012 they can send a wifi signal to your device which will make you device gain intelligence rise up against use and netflix will control the device and enslave all humans to have netflix the human edition wired in to out brains and have us at there total control. TAKE A STAND AGAINST NETFLIX

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