Nintendo Doling Out 3DS Currency for Exercise

[Tom Goldman]

Nintendo Doling Out 3DS Currency for Exercise

Nintendo is taking pedometer rewards to a universal level with the 3DS.

Nintendo has created a newly revealed form of currency called "Game Coins" that it plans to use across various 3DS titles. Unlike Farmville cash or Microsoft Points, this currency isn't acquired by spending real world dollars, but just by walking around.

Though Nintendo tried to start a pedometer craze with HeartGold [http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Trainer-Walking-Nintendo-DS/dp/B001NXCIUS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294849465&sr=8-1]. With the 3DS, Nintendo has integrated a pedometer into the hardware itself.

Each day, the 3DS records its owner's steps and awards him/her with Game Coins that can be exchanged in games that support their use. Specific games that provide bonuses for the coins haven't been revealed yet. The currency could potentially allow players to unlock new karts in Mario Kart [http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Kart-DS-Nintendo/dp/B000A2R54M/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1294851130&sr=1-1], or could be something less substantial.

It sounds like a move by Nintendo to implement the exercise game craze it's been taking advantage of with titles like solved [http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Fit-Plus-Balance-Board-Nintendo/dp/B002BSA3EM/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1294850465&sr=1-1] the problem of having to move around to acquire in-game goods with a pedometer. My windshield wipers are already set up to net me billions of 3DS coins.

Source: Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5730437/earn-virtual-nintendo-chump-change-for-walking]

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[Tim Latshaw]

This should also potentially encourage the emphasis on "Tag Mode"-style gimmicks by having people carrying their units around more often. Sounds good to me so far.

 

[mjc0961]

I dunno about that whole windshield wiper thing. The 3DS likely to be much heavier than just the Pokéwalker, and much harder for a windshield wiper to move around. Maybe they did know you solved that problem and that's why they put the pedometer inside the console this time.

I mean yeah I know it was likely a joke, but for some reason I feel compelled to go with the serious response anyway.

 

[xDHxD148L0]

Damit Nintendo, when I wanna work out I'll go work out, chances are ill end up tying it to something and cheating just like a lot of people are, lol.

 

[Roboto]

My windshield wipers are already set up to net me billions of 3DS coins.

Just make sure you have plenty of extra 15A fuses for when you burn them out.

 

[rpspartin]

I (like most people ) tend to keep my DS in my pocket whenever I am walking around anyway. If Nintendo wants to give me in game bonuses for something I already do then I am all for it.

 

[Crazie_Guy]

I like it. Not just for what it is, specifically, but also the idea of integrating more unusual routes to achieving something in a game.

But then, I happen walk most places and enjoy myself doing so. I'm sure there will be plenty of people making up some reason or other to to hate it so they can complain without admitting their disgust for moving their body.

 

[Thedarkness77]

This could work but how many people take thier DS with them to places/

 

[Thaliur]

Considering my DS is in either my rucksack or my pocket all the time, this is a nice feature. I just hope they include a special power state for it, because otherwise I expect the batteries to go out much more often than I do...

 

[Danpascooch]

This is a good idea, not that anyone is going to increase their exercise over this, but they WILL probably bring their DS EVERYWHERE which means more multiplayer games and trading.

Kind of like the pokewalker is the "I have a pokemon game" call sign.

 

[Gahars]

I don't see the point, and I doubt any games will really take advantage of it besides the casual fitness ones, so really, seems kind of pointless.

But hey, who am I to argue with free stuff.

 

[Rect Pola]

This sounds like the pedometer is built into the 3DS itself, not a little packed in doodad you won't miss going without. Wherever you secure your fancy $300 system besides in your pocket, you fully deserve whatever happens to it.

 

[War Pony]

This seems to reinforce a joke my friend and I have going: Nintendo hates fatties.

But I carried around my DS enough that the 3DS might actually be in favor for this.

 

[CharrHearted]

This could actually get me off my ass! I'm intrigued!

 

[Yopaz]

This is a good idea, not that anyone is going to increase their exercise over this, but they WILL probably bring their DS EVERYWHERE which means more multiplayer games and trading.

Kind of like the pokewalker is the "I have a pokemon game" call sign.

Great idea. I think I will get a t-shirt that says "I got a Pokemon game" to go with it.

This seems like a good idea, I would rather bring it with me when I walk than spending money on my stuff. Worst thing I know is Xbox live market with their pictures, avatar stuff and add-ons. They make it impossible to spend all the points...

 

[Hashime]

It is simple, the thing uses a tilt switch, so a 555 timer hooked up to a relay using a continuous loop set-up could count without needing to replace the fuses in your car or rent a paint shaker.

 

[drbarno]

Now I will start walking around while I 'm playing again!

 

[Trogdor1138]

I like this idea, I think it has a lot of potential.

Exercise+Getting unlockables in games=Good combination.

Smart move, especially for those of us that keep saying we'll take more walks >_>

 

[JoJo]

This sounds like the pedometer is built into the 3DS itself, not a little packed in doodad you won't miss going without. Wherever you secure your fancy $300 system besides in your pocket, you fully deserve whatever happens to it.

I doubt many people have large enough pockets to contain a whole 3DS, it's more likely to stay in a rucksack where it would be safer from theft.

OT: I like this idea, yet another excuse to get this console sooner rather than later...

 

[blarghblarghhhhh]

I don't see the point, and I doubt any games will really take advantage of it besides the casual fitness ones, so really, seems kind of pointless.

But hey, who am I to argue with free stuff.

In america games with tag mode are only viable within the first couple of months the game is released, then nobody is playing that game anymore and tag mode is pointless. The 3ds is constantly in tag mode for all games that it has a record of you playing at some point in time. Still its hard to convince someone to carry around there 3ds on the off chance they run into someone to exchange data with. However if your offering people free stuff for walking around with there ds the chances of passing by someone and exchanging data are increased by alot.