Nintendo 3DS Shopping Channel - Video & Details

By Richard 29.10.2010 22

Nintendo 3DS Shopping Channel - Video & Details on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

Nintendo's Satoru Iwata has given a brief glimspe of the 3DS's shopping channel interface during an investors meeting yesterday.

During the demonstration Iwata-san assured investors the new shopping channel interface would provide a much smoother experience in comparison to what's currently available. He went onto say that it would be combining sales and promotions together, saying that if this were on Wii, it would be like merging the Shopping Channel with the Nintendo Channel.

In the shop users will be presented with what he called "racks", these racks will showcase software that suits a particular theme. When users select a game off a rack they'll be able to see it's details, and have the option to view trailers and download demo's when available. You'll also see a direct link to the games official site if it has one. Users will also be able see the opinions of other players on games - users will be able to vote-recommend games they own.

Aside from themed "racks", the shop will also have a sections where games are listed under typical "Latest Releases" and "Most Popular" headings. A customary search function is also included.

Thanks to Andriasang

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SirLink is offline. SirLink 29.10.2010#1

Well, this sounds awesome. Definitely a big improvement over the features of the DS.

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Glenjamin is offline. Glenjamin 29.10.2010#2

Looks really nice. I wonder what the downloading animations will be on this system. Little "Super Mario Bros. 3" action maybe? Smilie

 
WP-Final is offline. WP-Final 29.10.2010#3

saying that if this were on Wii, it would be like merging the Shopping Channel with the Nintendo Channel.

OMG Iwata. >.< You said it yourself now make it happen. Merge the two and be done with the slow mess that is the current Wii Shop Channel.




( Edited 29.10.2010 15:26 by Squidboy )

 
Squidboy is offline. Squidboy 29.10.2010#4

Ifrit XXII said:
saying that if this were on Wii, it would be like merging the Shopping Channel with the Nintendo Channel.

OMG Iwata. >.< You said it yourself now make it happen. Merge the two and be done with the slow mess that is the current Wii Shop Channel.



The slow mess is a result of Wii's technical limitations. I do agree though, they definitely should be combined for a smoother experience.

3DS Code 2578-3122-0744
 
Mush is offline. Mush 29.10.2010#5

When users select a game off a rack they'll be able to see it's details, and have the option to view trailers and download demo's when available.

This sounds great. Similar to XBL marketplace.

 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 29.10.2010#6

The poorness of the current shop channel has NOTHING to do with the Wii's technical limitations.
Ive managed to get infinitely more advanced websites to run on the Wii just fine.
Its just poor design; Thats all.

That said, I don't think combining the Nintendo channel and shop would help that much anyway.
We need bigger changes; Like using WiiConnect24 to download demo's automatically. Or cache news and trailers overnight for instant playback and higher quality.
(Of course, this would require a big SD card, but I suspect lots have one in their Wii by now)

Advanced ordering and recommendations are needed too, and a heck of a lot more demo's. (Why they remove DS demo's is beyond comprehension. If they are honestly worried about the bandwidth of 4MB files being downloaded, I'm sure 3rd partys would be happy to host them themselves)

. Users will also be able see the opinions of other players - users will be able to vote-recommend games they own

Can you search by rating though?


( Edited 29.10.2010 17:16 by Darkflame )

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Squidboy is offline. Squidboy 29.10.2010#7

Darkflame said:
The poorness of the current shop channel has NOTHING to do with the Wii's technical limitations. I've managed to get infinitely more advanced websites to run on the Wii just fine. Its just poor design; Thats all.


...


Do these websites, directly interact with your Wii in the same way the shopping channel does?

Smilie

3DS Code 2578-3122-0744
 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 29.10.2010#8

The Wii shop channel basically is a website.
http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Accessing_Wii_Shop_Channel_From_PC

Just has a special download function really.

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Jimmy2000 is offline. Jimmy2000 30.10.2010#9

Yeah the wii shop is actually powered by opera Smilie

If it was to do with power the PSP would have a fairly shit shopping channel, but it dosn't it's interface is actually quite nice and smooth.

( Edited 29.10.2010 19:16 by Jimmy2000 )

 
AdamC3 (guest) 30.10.2010#10

Was that the new Polarium I saw briefly on that video?? Smilie Smilie

Squidboy is offline. Squidboy 30.10.2010#11

Darkflame said:
The Wii shop channel basically is a website.
http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Accessing_Wii_Shop_Channel_From_PC

Just has a special download function really.

Link not working - what does that link to anyway :? "Access Wii Shopping Channel from PC", what's that got to do with this :?

Wrong, the channel accesses the Wii's meagre internal flash memory at every page. Game data is loaded into the 512mb flash memory for the channel to assess which games you own, and to show which games you are able to re-download if they're not housed on your Wii at that moment. Among other things...

3DS Code 2578-3122-0744
 
Jimmy2000 is offline. Jimmy2000 30.10.2010#12

Link not working - what does that link to anyway :? "Access Wii Shopping Channel from PC", what's that got to do with this :?

Wrong, the channel accesses the Wii's meagre internal flash memory at every page. Game data is loaded into the 512mb flash memory for the channel to assess which games you own, and to show which games you are able to re-download if they're not housed on your Wii at that moment. Among other things...

You used to be able to load up the wiishop channel on a standard browser on the pc.

Wrong, the channel accesses the Wii's meagre internal flash memory at every page. Game data is loaded into the 512mb flash memory for the channel to assess which games you own, and to show which games you are able to re-download if they're not housed on your Wii at that moment. Among other things...

Yeah so does the Nintendo Channel and it's interface is really quite good, in fact the Nintendo channel probably loads more information like videos and demos!



( Edited 29.10.2010 20:47 by Jimmy2000 )

 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 30.10.2010#13

Indeed, Nintendo upped the security somewhat.
(Note you need a plugin anyway to spoof your browser user-agent-string to pretend to be a Wii anyway. Merely clicking a link wont work).

But the Wii Shop Channel is still just a website essentially. An extra layer of security, but thats all.

Sending data about what games you got etc is absolutely trivial.A secure HTTPRequest, or a controlled cookie or well, dozens of ways really.
Theres nothing process intensive that Wii shop channel has to use, and thus nothing where the Wii's "limited" processing power would restrict it.



( Edited 29.10.2010 21:20 by Darkflame )

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
Squidboy is offline. Squidboy 30.10.2010#14

Darkflame said:

But the Wii Shop Channel is still just a website essentially. An extra layer of security, but thats all.

Sending data about what games you got etc is absolutely trivial. A secure HTTP Request, or a controlled cookie or well, dozens of ways really. There's nothing process intensive that Wii shop channel has to use, and thus nothing where the Wii's "limited" processing power would restrict it.

Trivial :/ Wrong, catalogue data has to brought into and read via the flash memory, and data from the flash memory needs to be sent at every page load due to a lack of a HDD [.]

Who has said anything about "processing power" in this thread :?. This issue only concerns two things: 1) Wii's measly internal flash memory of 512mb, & 2) Wii's inability to run certain plug-ins which are commonly used today, due to Nintendo's lack of rights.



( Edited 29.10.2010 22:40 by Squidboy )

3DS Code 2578-3122-0744
 
PMD is offline. PMD 30.10.2010#15

Regardless of technical limitations, I think that Nintendo could easily improve the Shop Channel's interface. As many have mentioned, they made a lot of improvements with the Nintendo Channel and the most obvious thing would be to integrate the 2 channels.

I doubt the 3DS has more flash memory than the Wii, but that shop looks pretty nice.

 
WP-Final is offline. WP-Final 30.10.2010#16

PMD said:I doubt the 3DS has more flash memory than the Wii, but that shop looks pretty nice.

The 3DS has 1.5GBs of flash memory (rumoured), nearly 3 times as much as the Wii's tiny 512MB. Smilie

( Edited 29.10.2010 22:59 by Ifrit XXII )

 
Squidboy is offline. Squidboy 30.10.2010#17

PMD said:
Regardless of technical limitations, I think that Nintendo could easily improve the Shop Channel's interface. As many have mentioned, they made a lot of improvements with the Nintendo Channel and the most obvious thing would be to integrate the 2 channels.

I doubt the 3DS has more flash memory than the Wii, but that shop looks pretty nice.

Definitely, it's bland cumbersome crap, when it should be the complte opposite - colourful and easy.


The 3DS is rumoured to have 1.5 gig of flash memory.

3DS Code 2578-3122-0744
 
WP-Final is offline. WP-Final 30.10.2010#18

My main problem with the shop channel is that you get NO infomation on what you're buying. You get a short description with 2 tiny screenshots which you can't zoom in on.

 
Squidboy is offline. Squidboy 30.10.2010#19

Ifrit XXII said:
My main problem with the shop channel is that you get NO infomation on what you're buying. You get a short description with 2 tiny screenshots which you can't zoom in on.

I don't have a problem with that myself, but I can see how it would be an issue for the majority of users.

What makes it worse is the nature of the descriptions...

3DS Code 2578-3122-0744
 
jb is offline. jb 30.10.2010#20

Already looks like an improvement over the Wii shop, for sure. Nintendo hopefully has learned some lessons on what not to do with an interface and downloadable games.

The Wii just about copes, but all this fiddling around, putting games on SDs, booting from memory cards and limitations on the filesizes of the games themselves make it more of a hassle.

Do agree with everyone that the new shopping experience should be merged with the Nintendo Channel, more videos and information on the games before downloading would certainly be ideal.

Plus publicly available profiles for users would be great - here's who I am, these are the games I own, achievements, Social network integration etc etc. The DSi does this on a slight, basic layer with some Facebookness but it's still lacking imo.

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Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 30.10.2010#21

Squidboy said:
Darkflame said:

But the Wii Shop Channel is still just a website essentially. An extra layer of security, but thats all.

Sending data about what games you got etc is absolutely trivial. A secure HTTP Request, or a controlled cookie or well, dozens of ways really. There's nothing process intensive that Wii shop channel has to use, and thus nothing where the Wii's "limited" processing power would restrict it.

Trivial :/ Wrong, catalogue data has to brought into and read via the flash memory, and data from the flash memory needs to be sent at every page load due to a lack of a HDD [.]

Who has said anything about "processing power" in this thread :?.

a) The Wii's FDD memory is vastly faster then a HDD at random read/writes. Other then that it can act *exactly* like a HDD. You have really been badly informed about FDD drives here. You can use a FDD drive in your PC exactly like a hard drive. In fact, many laptops now come with a combo, as the FDD can be a lot more power efficiant.

The only downsides to the Wii's lack of a HD is the space - thats it.
(also, Nintendo could always remember the data their end too)
----
b) The point was that the Wii's spec somehow prevented them making a decent interface.
Given I think the whole thing is bullshit, I didnt know if they were talking about ram, cpu or whatever....regardless its nonsense.

I pointed out there was websites the Wii could run which were far more sophisticated then the shop channel. Other things running just fine on the Wii can have better interfaces. Things ON THE SAME HARDWARE.
*somehow* the "counter-argument" to that was that websites don't "directly interact with your Wii". So I was pointing out that the Wii Shop Channel basicly was a website.

You can actually read the conversation above.

There is nothing anyone has said that is any excuse for the Shop channel not being vastly better.

2) Wii's inability to run certain plug-ins which are commonly used today, due to Nintendo's lack of rights

You don't need the latest version of Flash to run a decent website. Smilie
Every thing else the Wii's browser is pretty darn good at standards support.


Sorry, the excuse's made for the Wii's bad shop channel on here are getting unbelievably dumb.

The Wii shop channel is a downloadable bit of software that is VERY VERY simple compared to all sorts of other things the Wii can do.
The idea that "Mario Galaxy" can run fine, but they can't do a decent interface, demos, cacheing data, or ordering by ratings (to name just a few of hundreds of improvements) is just silly.
Nintendo doesnt even need to use a webbrowser based shop if they wanted - but even kept how it is it could improve a lot.

( Edited 30.10.2010 13:42 by Darkflame )

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
sporkhead (guest) 18.11.2010#22

Squidboy said:
Darkflame said:
The poorness of the current shop channel has NOTHING to do with the Wii's technical limitations. I've managed to get infinitely more advanced websites to run on the Wii just fine. Its just poor design; Thats all.


...


Do these websites, directly interact with your Wii in the same way the shopping channel does?

Smilie

Well, the PSP has the PlayStation Store working with all its smoothness and fast transitions (hardly any waiting), pretty much for a similar experience in terms of convenience as its PS3 counterpart, with the PSP itself being less capable than the Wii, so it's really down to Nintendo's fault with the state of the Wii shop channel, where despite the fantastic background music, feels like a chore to navigate and check up on.

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