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3DS is finally out in the UK (and almost in the US)! But there's so much to discover in the unit's built-in applications alone, you could easily spend the first couple of days you have it happily tinkering away without even playing an actual 3DS game card. But to save you time, here are the best built-insecrets and neat functionality so you can instantly know more than your mates. Ready? Let's go.
1)Blow on the mic
Is it just a knowing nod towards DS' most over-used trick? Or is Nintendo just keen to program secrets into everything? While browsing the home screen, try blowing into the microphone (located on the front, just to the lower-right of the start button) or tapping the back of the device with your hand and watch the logo spin. This is especially pretty if you've got the 3D switch on and are hovering over the Mii Plaza. Look at it go!
Above: This blows. In the wind, I mean. And just wait until you play loud music to it...
2)The help bird is mad
The little green and yellow bird that shows up to give you hints in the photo and music screens has always got something to say if you tap him. Thing is, he's bonkers. He told us that the word 'camera' is actually derived from the latin word for 'room'… but couldn't remember why untila few hours later.
Above: Mad bird is mad. Surely that 'OK' should read 'WTF?'
He also mimics you while you're on the sound playback screen. Try having a conversation with someone and he'll start repeating what you say, only slightly wrong. Chirp.
3) Play Game %26amp; Watch football
There are new 3D versions of the visualisation software from DSibuilt into the unit, so when you add music to the SD card on a PC, you can see it like it's 1969. Just choose the Nintendo 3DS sound application and select the music from the list of files. The song should start playing and you'll see the visualisation on the top screen.
The good news is, however, there's increased awesomeness over the old DSi version in the shape of a playable Game & Watch-style football game and a pilotable Arwing-alike. The latter even fires lasers at the background blocks when you play along on the shoulder-button instruments.
Above: Game & Watch lives on! Do keepy-uppies while you groove along to some fine music
(Thanks toCVGfor pointing this one out).
4) The gyroscope affects the photo effects
In the 3D Camera mode, you can blow on the mic to make special effects like confetti or sparkles (oooh) flood onto the screen. While they're falling, tilt the device and they'll follow according to the rules of GRAVITY. Sorry to shout, I panicked.
Above:I defyanyone to lookanything less than transfixed when these things come on the screen in 3D
5) Status updates work like chat
It's entirely probable that Nintendo will make some form of PictoChat for use with the new system, but until that firmware comes around, you can still chat with online friends, albeit in three word sentences. Just change your Mii's motto by tapping the smiling 'Friends List' icon at the top of the home screen, scrolling right until you see yourself, and selecting 'Write Message'. Thiswill update the text on your friend's screen almost instantly, provided you're both connected to the internet of course. Primitive, but it'll do for now.
Above: The 3DS will also flash to let you know that a friend has come online, so keep an eye on it.
6) Puzzle Quest pics are worth getting
The StreetPassPuzzle Quest is ridiculously addictive, causing one journalist (who shall remian nameless) tobecome visibly uncomfortable when he couldn't pick up a StreetPass notification to get the last peiceof one of the 3D picture puzzles.
But you really should try and get them. There are several to collect, from Zelda and Kirby to Pikmin and New Super Mario Bros. I've finished two so far. They're awesome. What you may not know is that you can then move the camera around with the Circle Pad.
Above: Are thepicsworth all the hassle? If you have to ask, you clearly haven't started collecting the pieces
Incidentally, you can skip through pretty much everything at double speed in the StreetPass Mii plaza by simply holding down the right shoulder button. Well worth knowing when you've got a lot of friends.
7) Fish can see your tablecloth
You can trade in some of your daily play coins (simply walks more than 1,000 steps in 24 hours to get 10 play coins) to buy more AR games once you've gone through the first lot of six. In the Free Fishing mode, you can get different kinds of fish depending on the colour of the surface you're playing on.
A red tablecloth, for instance, will let you catch Cheep Cheeps from the Mario series. Blue will let you catch sardines.
Thanks again toCVGfor this one.
8) Your favourite colour MATTERS
When you're making a Mii, you get asked what your favourite colour is. You'll immediatelynotice that it changes the colour of your T-shirt, but did you know that it directly affects StreetPass Quest? Every shirt colour has a unique magic ability that can be used in battle. Some create environmental conditions (yellow makes a sandstorm that lowers the accuracy of sword attacks), others are elemtal attacks (red for fire, blue for water etc) and some boost the stats of the next player in your team.
Makesure you persuade one of your friends to wear a white T-shirt. You'll need it later on. Trust me...
Found anything else that we haven't? Let us know in the comments!
25 Mar, 2011
See Mario, Link, Samus and more running around in the real world
Could you love your console even without any games to play?
Yeah, pretend this isn't the first thing you're going to do when you get one...
1)Blow on the mic
Is it just a knowing nod towards DS' most over-used trick? Or is Nintendo just keen to program secrets into everything? While browsing the home screen, try blowing into the microphone (located on the front, just to the lower-right of the start button) or tapping the back of the device with your hand and watch the logo spin. This is especially pretty if you've got the 3D switch on and are hovering over the Mii Plaza. Look at it go!
Above: This blows. In the wind, I mean. And just wait until you play loud music to it...
2)The help bird is mad
The little green and yellow bird that shows up to give you hints in the photo and music screens has always got something to say if you tap him. Thing is, he's bonkers. He told us that the word 'camera' is actually derived from the latin word for 'room'… but couldn't remember why untila few hours later.
Above: Mad bird is mad. Surely that 'OK' should read 'WTF?'
He also mimics you while you're on the sound playback screen. Try having a conversation with someone and he'll start repeating what you say, only slightly wrong. Chirp.
3) Play Game %26amp; Watch football
There are new 3D versions of the visualisation software from DSibuilt into the unit, so when you add music to the SD card on a PC, you can see it like it's 1969. Just choose the Nintendo 3DS sound application and select the music from the list of files. The song should start playing and you'll see the visualisation on the top screen.
The good news is, however, there's increased awesomeness over the old DSi version in the shape of a playable Game & Watch-style football game and a pilotable Arwing-alike. The latter even fires lasers at the background blocks when you play along on the shoulder-button instruments.
Above: Game & Watch lives on! Do keepy-uppies while you groove along to some fine music
(Thanks toCVGfor pointing this one out).
4) The gyroscope affects the photo effects
In the 3D Camera mode, you can blow on the mic to make special effects like confetti or sparkles (oooh) flood onto the screen. While they're falling, tilt the device and they'll follow according to the rules of GRAVITY. Sorry to shout, I panicked.
Above:I defyanyone to lookanything less than transfixed when these things come on the screen in 3D
5) Status updates work like chat
It's entirely probable that Nintendo will make some form of PictoChat for use with the new system, but until that firmware comes around, you can still chat with online friends, albeit in three word sentences. Just change your Mii's motto by tapping the smiling 'Friends List' icon at the top of the home screen, scrolling right until you see yourself, and selecting 'Write Message'. Thiswill update the text on your friend's screen almost instantly, provided you're both connected to the internet of course. Primitive, but it'll do for now.
Above: The 3DS will also flash to let you know that a friend has come online, so keep an eye on it.
6) Puzzle Quest pics are worth getting
The StreetPassPuzzle Quest is ridiculously addictive, causing one journalist (who shall remian nameless) tobecome visibly uncomfortable when he couldn't pick up a StreetPass notification to get the last peiceof one of the 3D picture puzzles.
But you really should try and get them. There are several to collect, from Zelda and Kirby to Pikmin and New Super Mario Bros. I've finished two so far. They're awesome. What you may not know is that you can then move the camera around with the Circle Pad.
Above: Are thepicsworth all the hassle? If you have to ask, you clearly haven't started collecting the pieces
Incidentally, you can skip through pretty much everything at double speed in the StreetPass Mii plaza by simply holding down the right shoulder button. Well worth knowing when you've got a lot of friends.
7) Fish can see your tablecloth
You can trade in some of your daily play coins (simply walks more than 1,000 steps in 24 hours to get 10 play coins) to buy more AR games once you've gone through the first lot of six. In the Free Fishing mode, you can get different kinds of fish depending on the colour of the surface you're playing on.
A red tablecloth, for instance, will let you catch Cheep Cheeps from the Mario series. Blue will let you catch sardines.
Thanks again toCVGfor this one.
8) Your favourite colour MATTERS
When you're making a Mii, you get asked what your favourite colour is. You'll immediatelynotice that it changes the colour of your T-shirt, but did you know that it directly affects StreetPass Quest? Every shirt colour has a unique magic ability that can be used in battle. Some create environmental conditions (yellow makes a sandstorm that lowers the accuracy of sword attacks), others are elemtal attacks (red for fire, blue for water etc) and some boost the stats of the next player in your team.
Makesure you persuade one of your friends to wear a white T-shirt. You'll need it later on. Trust me...
Found anything else that we haven't? Let us know in the comments!
25 Mar, 2011
See Mario, Link, Samus and more running around in the real world
Could you love your console even without any games to play?
Yeah, pretend this isn't the first thing you're going to do when you get one...
