The 3DS: Just What Are You Getting?

As Nintendo's 3DS events draw to a close, and while we await a proper announcement of the European price, lets take a look at what you'll be getting when you buy your 3DS.

Releasing on March 25th and 27th, in Europe and North America respectively, Nintendo's 3DS handheld is definitely a hot piece of kit and is destined to follow in the footsteps of the Wii and DS and simply fly off of store shelves come release day. But, when buying a new console, it's always best to know exactly what you'll be getting for the price you're paying and here, we'll be highlighting exactly what you'll be getting in the box and on the console.

Obviously, you'll be getting your 3DS console, in either Aqua Blue or Cosmic Black depending on what your tastes are. But alongside this, you'll also be getting the following inside the box:

• Nintendo 3DS charging cradle
• Nintendo 3DS AC adapter

That's obviously what you'll be getting in the box, but Nintendo will be shipping each 3DS with software installed on the hardware for use. Each console will come with the following:

• Activity Log - This works as a pedometer which will award you with coins for walking a certain distance which can then be used in certain games to unlock items
• Face Raiders - A pre-installed game which allows you to take pictures of your or your friends' faces and put them into a shooter style game which uses the 3D cameras and gyroscopic sensors
• Mii Maker - Just like the Mii Maker on the Wii, except this time around you can use the cameras to take pictures of faces and the hardware will generate a Mii based on the picture
• Mii Plaza - Again, just as with the Wii, you'll be able to view all of your created Miis here as well as any you receive through Street Pass
• Nintendo 3DS Sound - This is just like the sound software which was included on the DSi hardware
• Nintendo 3DS Camera - This allows you to take pictures, be this in 2D or in 3D, and view all your stored images
• Nintendo e-Shop - This is the new, redesigned online store for the 3DS which will allow you to download DSiWare and 3DSWare titles as well as old Gameboy and Gameboy Color titles which will become available on the store's Virtual Console service. It'll also allow you to view videos for new or upcoming 3DS games

An enhanced version of the internet browser already existing on the DSi consoles will also be made available for download through a later system update, as will the ability to watch 3D video content, with Nintendo of Europe already having announced that Aardman Animation shorts, sporting content from Eurosport and content from Sky will become available as the year goes on.

At the same time, the console features Parental Controls for parents who wish to restrict games content by age ratings, wireless communications and 3D functionality.

Those of you who currently own a DSi console or a DSi XL will be pleased to know that DSiWare titles you have downloaded to those consoles will be transferrable to your 3DS when you get it, although there will be limitations on the number of times software can be transferred and certain pieces of software won't be transferrable.

Finally, there are the two new wireless features, Street Pass and Spot Pass. With Spot Pass, provided that your 3DS is on sleep mode, if you enter into an area with an accessible wireless network, you will automatically be updated with new content for games, 3D videos or system updates. With Street Pass, if your console is in sleep mode and you walk passed a person on the street who also owns a 3DS, the consoles will automatically communicate and transfer information, such as Mii characters. You don't need to have the same game as the other person or a game at all for this feature to work. Of course, both of these features can be moderated by the gamer to limit access.

And that is what you'll be getting with your 3DSs come release. Certainly, while some may be begrudging the prices at the moment, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.

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