The new 3DS update is live now. The best feature is that it can capture and play up to 10min of 3D video, plus there is an extra option to shoot stop motion videos.

There is also a The StreetPass Mii Plaza update with new puzzle panels and a sequel to StreetPass Quest
Also you can now transfer content between different 3DS consoles, including account funds, games and photos

If you want to update your Nintendo 3DS read our 3DS firmware update guide

A commercial airing in the United Kingdom has supposedly revealed that the 3DS firmware update will be coming on the 30th of November.

The commercial states in the fine print that "3D Video Recording update available to download"

Nintendo 3DS™ and Wii™ owners will soon have the ability to access even more of their favorite TV shows and movies: the Hulu Plus service will be added to both systems by the end of the year. Nintendo is also announcing new features being added to the Nintendo 3DS system, including the ability to record 3D videos, new musical artists coming to Nintendo Video™ and a new animated 3D video from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Additionally, Nintendo 3DS owners will soon see four inventive downloadable Nintendo-published games and applications delivered to the Nintendo eShop, the portable one-stop shop for fun, cool and interesting entertainment options.


“Nintendo 3DS continues to evolve with great new features and functions designed to reinforce its position as a premiere entertainment device,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “All of these features, in addition to great upcoming games like Pokémon Rumble Blast on Oct. 24, Super Mario 3D Land on Nov. 13 and Mario Kart 7 on Dec. 4, make Nintendo 3DS a smart gift option this holiday season.”
Hulu Plus: With Hulu Plus, Wii and Nintendo 3DS users will be able to instantly stream thousands of TV episodes – including the entire current season of popular shows like Modern Family, Glee, Dancing with the Stars, The Biggest Loser, House and Grey’s Anatomy – from premium content partners like ABC, Comedy Central, FOX, NBC, MTV and many more. Hulu Plus also offers access to classic TV favorites like Lost, Battlestar Galactica, The Hills and hundreds of popular and award-winning movies. Hulu Plus is available through a separate subscription fee of $7.99 per month with limited advertising.

Nintendo 3DS System Update: At the end of November, a new system update will deliver a range of cool new features and enhancements, including 3D video capture, which will let users record up to 10 minutes of 3D video and enable people to create their own 3D stop-motion animation videos. The update will also add new puzzles to the StreetPass™ Mii Plaza™ and a new dungeon to Find Mii. Other features will be announced in the future.

Games Coming to the Nintendo eShop:

Freakyforms™: Your Creations, Alive! lets players create creatures and bring them to life. This game is all about creation, customization and exploration. Available in November for $6.99.
Developed with 3D game play in mind, Pushmo™ asks players to solve more than 250 puzzles by pulling and pushing blocks. Players can also create their own custom puzzles. Launches in December.
Swapnote™ gives Nintendo 3DS owners the chance to send 3D messages to their friends via the SpotPass™ and StreetPass features. Users can hand-write messages in 3D and also include picture and sound. Available for free download in December.
Dillon’s Rolling Western™ is a 3D tower defense game that blends action and strategy. It features an armadillo who defends an Old West town rendered in 3D by literally rolling over his enemies. Launches in Q1 2012.

3D Animation: Starting today, Nintendo 3DS owners can visit the Nintendo eShop and, for $1.99, download a new 3D “Thriller” video that features singing and dancing by their favorite Shrek characters from DreamWorks Animation.

3D Music Videos: Fans of the Nintendo Video service on Nintendo 3DS will soon see the arrival of new 3D music videos, including “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” from Foster the People’s Torches album.
To watch a new episode of Iwata Asks in which Nintendo President Satoru Iwata discusses Mario Kart 7, visit http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/3ds/mario-kart-7. To watch a Nintendo Direct video of Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime discussing today’s announcements, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo_direct.

Remember that Wii and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds. For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.

Nintendo sold over 235.000 Nintendo 3DS portable entertainment systems in the usa in August, and the system finished since the No. 2 best-selling dedicated game system for that month, according to the NPD , which tracks video game sales in the usa. About 185, 000 units were sold after a price reduction on August 12, an increase of more than 260% during the comparable 19-day time period in July.

That means they were selling around 37.000 in that same lenght of time prior to the price drop.

Nintendo's rumoured hardware refresh for 3DS console, which adds another analogue control stick, has turned out to be true.

The add-on increases the console's dimensions by 1cm on the left, 2cm  {the underneath, 2-3cm on the right and make the console 2-3cm deeper. Pricing and release information is unknown

Its existence has been confirmed by a gaming magazine called Famitsu, and twitter user South1996 posting a photo to Twitter from the article .It is believe that the controller add-on is going to be supported by a future title in the popular Monster Hunter RPG.

The idea behind the 2nd stick is it will allow more games to be ported from other hardware that have controllers with dual analog sticks, like PS3, Xbox 360. It also opens the way for new kinds of games to be created  for the hardware that require two analog sticks.

Nintendo releases an online tool that checks if your Nintendo 3DS console is eligible for the free ambassador games . If you want to check your 3DS serial visit Nintendo 3DS Ambassador page

This online tool will allow you to confirm if you have registered your Nintendo 3DS for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program.
You cannot use this tool to register for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program.
Please check under your Nintendo 3DS for the 11 digit product barcode. Please enter this code into the form below to confirm your place in the Ambassador program.

Note: Do NOT include the last number, the one in the square box, when entering your Nintendo 3DS serial number.

"There is nothing inserted in the game card slot" is a common error that you face when you try to start a game from the HOME Menu.

What you have to do is to power off the Nintendo 3DS console and remove the game card.Then insert it again into the 3DS slot and turn on the console. Usually this happens because of quick inserting the game card or because of bad contact between 3DS and game card.

If that didn't work then try another 3DS game so that you can be sure that there isn't a problem with the 3DS console. If this problem is occurring with multiple games, the system will need to be repaired.

In case your 3DS plays the other games that you have,then the faulty 3DS game card needs to be repaired.

One common problem of all the LCD screens (3DS, televisions , mobile phones) is dead or stuck pixel.
If a pixel of your LCD screen is black and it can't change color then this is a dead pixel. If a pixel is stuck in any other color other than black then this is a stuck pixel.

Usually you'll have about 1-2 pixel stuck or dead and will remain limited to those pixels, and will not get any worse.

There is only one way to repair the stuck pixels by using a color blinking video.Unfortuanly 3DS doesn't read any video files from the SD card with the current firmware nor plays Youtube videos.

Here is a color blinking video on youtube



So right now just play for a week and if the problem remaing then return it to Nintendo as 3DS does carry a one-year warranty.

Hope that helps. Please post your comments or tips about dead or stuck pixels

Let's look at the games that are confirmed to be a part of 3DS Ambassador Program

NES/Famicom Virtual Console titles will include:
- Super Mario Bros.
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Balloon Fight
- Ice Climber
- The Legend of Zelda

Game Boy Advance Virtual Console titles will include:
- Yoshi's Island:Super Mario Advance 3
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Metroid Fusion
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Here is a video preview of all the free 3DS games that you will get

 

Here is the official press release about the Nintendo 3DS price cut:

An exciting message for people who own a Nintendo 3DS and those who want to:

Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS™ system to $169.99 in the United States. The new price takes effect Aug. 12 and makes an outstanding value even better.

Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar for Nintendo 3DS is a Who's Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64™ 3D arrives on Sept. 9, followed by Super Mario™ 3D Land in November, Mario Kart™ 7 in December and Kid Icarus™: Uprising during the holiday season.

And don't forget that Nintendo 3DS has a bunch of fun features, including Nintendo Video™, the Nintendo eShop and access to Netflix, that make it a must-have video game system.

But what about the 830,000 of you who already own a Nintendo 3DS? You're some of Nintendo's most loyal customers, and we're rewarding you for getting in on the action early with not one, not 10, but 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop! Here's how it works:

The 20 free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

1. Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros.™, Donkey Kong Jr.™, Balloon Fight™, Ice Climber™ and The Legend of Zelda™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.

2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi's Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.

It's a great time to own a Nintendo 3DS!

--Your Friends at Nintendo of America

Source: Nintendo America

Nintendo will be reducing the trade price of the Nintendo 3DS to retailers by around a third from August 12, 2011.

Nintendo is cutting the price of the new 3DS console from its $250 retail price to $170 as the company misses sales targets. The announcement coincides with Nintendo’s financial reports, citing losses this 2nd quarter of 2011.

"The ultimate price to consumers is, of course, determined by retailers, however we look forward to consumers benefiting from much lower retail prices very soon," reads a statement from Nintendo.

Nintendo wants to boost sales of the 3DS, particularly in the US market. In a media release timed to the company’s latest financial reports, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that this price reduction was unprecedented. While there had been price reductions in consoles and portable gaming systems before, “it has never happened in Nintendo’s history that a console would be reduced in price so drastically and after less than six months.”

Nintendo announced plans to offer an exclusive Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Programme to consumers who have bought the Nintendo 3DS at the original launch price.Nintendo is offering 10 free downloads of NES classic games via the 3DS eShop, as well as 10 free downloads of Game Boy Advance games, which the company hopes will compensate for the price difference.
 
To register for the Ambassador Programme, early Nintendo 3DS adopters simply need to connect to the Nintendo eShop before August 12. The free software will then be made available at a later stage. More details on the programme will be announced on the Nintendo of Europe website shortly.

Nintendo has just released a new firmware update for the 3DS.

System stability improvements and other adjustments
Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user's experience.

You can receive automatic updates when a wireless internet connection is available. When the download is complete, you will receive a dialog on the HOME Menu detailing the steps to install the update.

STAR FOX 64 3D TO INTRODUCE A NEW GENERATION OF CLASSIC INTERSTELLAR COMBAT

Prepare for re-mastered graphics, gyro sensor controls and a whole new dimension to multiplayer modes

21st July 2011 – 14 years after Lylat Wars dashed into space to save the universe, get ready to live through the battle for the Lylat system once again as a re-worked offering for the Nintendo 3DS launches on 9th September. The game, which previously appeared on the Nintendo 64, now makes a return in Star Fox 64 3D.

With bold new 3D graphics, a faithfully restored script, fresh voiceovers, and a new multiplayer mode which uses the Nintendo 3DS camera to send you live video footage of your opponents reactions as you chase them around the skies, Star Fox 64 3D feels both comfortably familiar yet challengingly new.

Pitched in the middle of a battle for supremacy of the Lylat system, you take control of Fox McCloud’s’ signature Arwing starfighter and help pilot him through insurmountable odds as he battles to protect his home planet of Corneria and rid the entire Lylat system from the onslaught of the evil Andross. Teammates Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi and Slippy Toad join the mission and help you to progress through levels, providing timely hints during battle about what to expect from the enemy.

With Fox McCloud heroically at the helm, Star Fox 64 3D allows you to use the in-built gyro sensor of the Nintendo 3DS to plot your way through battles more instinctively. You will also be able to choose the more conventional controls if that suits your style.

Boasting sumptuous graphics, which have been given a fresh makeover for Nintendo 3DS, playing in 3D allows you to better judge distances and avoid oncoming enemies, attacks and asteroids. Cut scenes are now more cinematic and the inclusion of 3D visuals will make for a more immersive experience.

If the battle for the Lylat system isn’t enough for you, then take advantage of the multiplayer mode via the Download Play option. Play against up to three friends and take part in soaring dogfights above environments based on locations in the main single-player game. A range of game modes have been developed for the multiplayer option to increase competition amongst friends. In Survival mode players must fight each other and compete to be the last pilot remaining. Point Battle mode will see pilots receive a point for each rival they destroy and the first to a set total will be declared the winner. Time Battle mode pits you against the clock to take down your friends as many times as possible in the allotted time given.

Unique to Nintendo 3DS, you will be able to use the Nintendo 3DS camera to stream live video of your friends within the game – watch their faces react in real-time while you chase and shoot at them! Enjoy the moment when you take a friend out of the game and marvel at your own image when you top the leader board at the end of each multiplayer game.

In a first for Lylat Wars, the game has been localised into five languages – German, French, Spanish, Italian and English, meaning players who could not play the game previously in their native language can now enjoy the full experience on their Nintendo 3DS.

For fans old and new to Star Fox 64 3D, get ready for a fast-paced space-bound action game that will absorb you in single-player mode and entice you to play with friends in multiplayer mode when it is released on the 9th September exclusively for Nintendo 3DS.

This is the Flare Red version of the Nintendo 3DS, to be available on July 14th (along with Star Fox 64 3D) in Japan. So far, Nintendo did not confirm if the Flare Red version will also be available in the US and other countries.

Nintendo updated the 3DS virtual console by adding Mario's Picross. You can download now Mario's Picross for 4 euros. Also you can watch the introduction of the recent E3 press conference from Nintendo. In the four and a half minute video you can see the orchestral concert with the most beautiful scenes of the Zelda series.


 


Here is the content that is available from today

Virtual Console
Mario's Picross (Game Boy)

DSiWare
Jewel Keepers: Easter Iceland
Airport Mania: Non-Stop Flights

Videos
Zelda Orchestra
Mario's Picross
Kirby TV Channel Trailer
Kirby Mass Attack Trailer
Kirby Wii Trailer

The 3DS is the first console in the world that allows us to enjoy three-dimensional images without additional glasses - and from 13 July is also for the animation, documentaries and other video content. Then the free software Nintendo ™ video appears in the Nintendo eShop with which users can access a wide range of new and exclusive videos, 2D and 3D.

The application software can cartoons, music videos and many other films in 2D and 3D are seen. Thanks to the perfect spot function is this simple. right spot is a true revolution when it comes to mobile access to content: The Nintendo 3DS may automatically receive free content over wireless - even if it is in standby mode. The only requirement is that a wireless connection to the Internet.  

The users find their freshly downloaded videos in the HOME menu, then the console, where they remain stored for a limited time and can be played as often. To ensure broad availability, Nintendo has made with different hotspot providers in partnerships across Europe. Nintendo ™ video works but of course with the home wireless network.

Right from the start on 13 Nintendo ™ video in July, offering a comprehensive program. These include selected episodes from Oscar's Oasis: The cult cartoon series of TeamTO & TUBA will be first shown to be in full 3D.

From the bag of tricks 3D specialists D4D is the serial Magic Tricks. The classic card tricks and optical illusions are entertained every Nintendo fan 3DS and amaze.

Exclusive in Germany will open the gates of ZDF.archive. The short 3D documentation in areas such as science, nature, wildlife and travel destinations provide insights never before seen and entice the audience with spectacular images of places like the Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall.

Nintendo ™ video music lovers granted a peek behind the scenes of the Fantastic Four: The fans enjoy excerpts from the recent tour of the popular German hip hop group that are otherwise reserved only to insiders.

This is of course not all of 2D and 3D content, because Nintendo ™ video is growing steadily. Owner of the Nintendo 3DS can already look forward to movie trailers, classic music concerts, children's activities and much more - all in full 3D glory!

At a recent shareholders' Q&A session, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said:

"At a past shareholders' meeting, we received the opinion that Nintendo should improve the design of its digital software distribution shop, and I think that we made measurable progress with Nintendo eShop. Additionally, when Nintendo would like to ask users to try a specific new game, we should deliver it to their Nintendo 3DS, and possibly Wii U, with their prior consent and recommend that they just try it and, if they like it, they can pay for it. In this way, we need to introduce users to unknown products. Consumers are likely to be convinced to pay about 5,000 yen for a well-established franchise product, but not all the people are willing to pay a certain amount of money for an innovative but unknown product. Now is the time to prepare for these situations."

Source: Nintendo Japan

Here is an interesting story that i read at Consumerist about an unlucky Nintendo 3DS owner that every time he tries to get his defective 3DS replaced, they send him another one that has a different defect!!!

"Ray is a huge Nintendo fan. Which is why it hurts so much that every time he tries to get his defective 3DS replaced, they send him another one that has a different defect. The first 3DS had dead pixels, the second had deep scratches, and the top screen was sliding on the third. Now he's on his fourth DS, and it too has troubs. The touch screen keeps slanting to a greater and greater degree. Why, Nintendo, why have you forsaken your loyal follower?"

Read full story @Consumerist

Just a quick update. Nintendo released a new firmware that fixes Ridge Racer 3D error.

Version 2.1.0-3U of the 3DS system firmware includes "a correction for the screen freeze symptom" found in that game.

The new update also enables automatic download of future updates when wireless internet is available.

 If you have Ridge Racer 3D , I recommend you not to update your 3Ds firmware. Nintendo will release a new firmware update later this month, to fix that bug.

Here is what Nintendo said about the Ridge Racer 3D freeze:

Accompanying the system update available on June 6, it has been confirmed that under certain circumstances when making a selection before the race starts in "Grand Prix" in "Single Play" mode of the Ridge Racer 3D game, the screen sometimes freezes. If you do not install the system update at this time, the symptom will not occur.

We apologize for any inconvenience. We will have a system update in mid-June that should take care of this matter.

In Ridge Racer 3D, pressing the B Button to return from Race Selection or Machine Selection may cause the screen to freeze. If the screen does freeze, please press and hold the Power button and turn the system off then retry. There should be no impact to the save data.

source: Nintendo

The new update is out, and bring 3DS eShop , web browser and SpotPass.

Here is how to download the firmware update:

To download the update, go to System Settings, Other Settings, Page 4 then System Update. Follow the on-screen instructions and the update should begin to download. To ensure you do not encounter any problems, make sure that the 3DS is downloading an update where the Internet connection is strong and make sure to plug it into the charger while updating.

Here is another video tutorial from Nintendo Europe showing how to setup parental control on 3DS console.



Here are the top selling 3DS games in March according to NPD data

1.Super Street Fighter IV 3D
2.PilotWings Resort
3.LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
4.Rayman 3D
5.Tom Clancy Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
6.Super Monkey Ball 3D
7.nintendogs + cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends
8.Ridge Racer 3D
9.Steel Diver
10.nintendogs + cats: French Bulldog & New Friends

Here is a tutorial, that I found online, that shows you how to connect your 3DS console to the internet

There are many reports from 3DS gamers, getting a black screen error from their Nintendo 3DS console that halts the game causing a reset.Nintendo know about the black screen error and released a released a statement on the matter but doesn't says what cause it.

If you experiencing any problems with your 3DS console , it's good to download and install the latest 3DS system update, which is available online by Nintendo

If you still have the problem after you updated your 3DS console you have to contact Nintendo support.

I have updated my 3DS console by the time I bought and so far I've never had a problem with black screen error.

Here is a short tutorial on how to tranfer your Mii's to your 3ds console. It's pretty easy to do just follow the steps from the video. If you have any problem just post a comment and I'll try to help.

I'm so excited!!! 3ds was released yesterday in Europe and today in USA.
I really love the new Nintendo console. It's the first time I see real 3D without glasses.
So far the 3ds console is working flawlessly, after playing for 5 hours.

Nintendo created a very sturdy console and I haven't read any complain yet.
The joystic and buttons have a nice feeling and they seem very strong even if you press them hard while playing Street Fighter.

Did you buy a 3ds? What's your first opinion about the console?