Free 3D NES Classic Coming to 3DS Owners With eShop Update

[Tom Goldman]

Free 3D NES Classic Coming to 3DS Owners With eShop Update

Nintendo will soon gift 3DS owners with a free classic NES game, now in 3D.

The Excitebike [http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Cosmo-Black/dp/B002I096AA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303834238&sr=8-3].

Excitebike is easily one of the most memorable NES titles, but it doesn't carry the name recognition of Super Mario Bros. or Legend of Zelda, so it's a good one to give away for free. It also happens to play out from a perspective that would work very well in 3D. Excitebike puts players in the seat of a professional motocross rider that hits huge jumps while trying not to overheat his bike or crash into opponents. It also has a short, but catchy menu theme.


At a recent investor briefing, Nintendo revealed that the free version of Excitebike will accompany the addition of the 3DS eShop coming with a firmware update in late May, at least for Japan that is. It'd be just plain cruel to keep the game exclusive to one region, so here's hoping that it'll be a worldwide thing.

The eShop will be similar to the Nintendo DSi's DSiWare shop and allow users to download games, trailers, and more. The firmware update will evidently also bring the 3DS's Virtual Console service down the pipe, which will begin by offering Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles such as Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening [http://www.amazon.com/Super-Mario-Land-Game-Boy/dp/B00002ST28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303838517&sr=8-1].

Nintendo also talked about adding other platforms to the 3DS Virtual Console down the line, with Sega Game Gear and TurboGrafx-16 already confirmed. The free release of Excitebike hints that we'll probably see more NES games brought to the 3DS in the future too, if we're lucky. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! [http://www.amazon.com/Mike-Tysons-Punch-Out-nintendo-entertainment-system/dp/B00005AV8O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303840455&sr=8-1] in 3D anyone?

Source: Siliconera [http://www.siliconera.com/2011/04/26/nintendo-to-distribute-free-excitebike-3d-classics-with-may-3ds-firmware-update/]


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[Yopaz]

I would love if it Punch-out came for free. If I had to pay too for that matter.

 

[yanipheonu]

BADASS. Well done Nintendo.

Definitely will be getting a few games as the come out on VC.

 

[twaddle]

i really feel hat we are getting the shaft here on this one. how bout something that was actually fun like kid icarus or ninja turtules or even some sort of mario game, because this is bollocks

 

[mjc0961]

Yeah just give us a date for the update Nintendo. I want to get my hands on Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype.

 

[subtlefuge]

i really feel hat we are getting the shaft here on this one. how bout something that was actually fun like kid icarus or ninja turtules or even some sort of mario game, because this is bollocks

What's more fun than creating your own motocross track, ramping into a massive jump, and overheating then exploding in midair?

Also, it's free.

 

[Cadapalo]

I have to wonder if Nintendo will use the same format use in the Wii. Where you purchase the points and with that you buy what games you want. Not sure how it worked with the DSi since I never had one.

 

[mjc0961]

I have to wonder if Nintendo will use the same format use in the Wii. Where you purchase the points and with that you buy what games you want. Not sure how it worked with the DSi since I never had one.

Same thing, except the points you have on the Wii don't work on DSi, and the points you have on DSi don't work on Wii. If you have points on Wii, you can only buy something on the Wii. You can't send those points to the DSi or buy a DSi game from the Wii and then use download play to send it over. A shame, really. I have 700 points sitting on my Wii that I'll probably never use.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

This news makes me glad to have bought a 3DS again. I was a bit bummed when the reality of NO GAMES actually hit me after Nintendogs and cats got boring! At least they're starting to get the services up and running now, although I feel they should have had this stuff ready from the offset... I'm hoping for a port of Star Fox for the NES. Yeah!

 

[standokan]

When I saw the title I was like `awesome´ when I actually saw what game it was `sadface´

 

[Weaver]

Am I the only one who just never liked excite bike?
Yes the level editor blew my mind back in the old days, but I didn't like the game.

 

[xyrafhoan]

Forget ExciteBike, Link's Awakening is going to be at the top of my list of must-buy games for the VC. I only got to borrow it from my neighbour and I would love my own copy.

 

[Bento Box]

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in 3D anyone?

I believe you meant to say, "Punch-Out!! (featuring Mr. Dream!)"

 

[archvile93]

I loved Link's Awakening when it first came out. Maybe I was just too young at the time, but I remember it as the hardest Zelda game I ever played. Any idea when this update's coming.

 

[New Frontiersman]

Awesome! Even more reasons to be excited about this update! I just wish I didn't have to wait until late May to get it...

 

[D Moness]

Forget ExciteBike, Link's Awakening is going to be at the top of my list of must-buy games for the VC. I only got to borrow it from my neighbour and I would love my own copy.

Found the original gameboy version again. Makes me wanna play it.
They do take their time on that 3DS shop. Love my 3ds , dislike the lack of good games atm.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Then thank goodness I got a 3DS in time for this update!

 

[Plurralbles]

what the hell was the point of the video...

The familiar melody for people who remember plaing it back in teh day?

Bah. Was hoping it was continuing what was in the still shot.

 

[Logic 0]

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in 3D sounds painful if I lose to often.