Report: 3DS to allow full game installs

By Tom Bramwell Published 18 June, 2010

Save multiple titles to internal memory.

The Nintendo 3DS will allow users to copy games to internal memory according to a report in Japanese newspaper Nikkei, translated by Andriasang.

The software install feature will allow 3DS owners to store multiple games on memory rather than having to carry around a lot of cartridges.

Nintendo has come under pressure from third parties to do something about rampant DS piracy.

Yesterday Activision COO Thomas Tippl told GameSpot: "if they also address the piracy issues they have and upgrade the copyright protection system, I think [3DS is] going to be a big success"

Given that a lot of the piracy devices are cartridges that store multiple ROMs on micro-SD cards, perhaps Nintendo has decided that if you can't beat them...

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (53) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Boomerang #1 2 years ago

    Finally, some common sense! Good move Nintendo.

  • Eraysor #2 2 years ago

    This is genius, but they're going to have to implement some sort of method to stop you sharing cartridges around your friends otherwise it would be far too easy to copy games.

  • sfp_noodle #3 2 years ago

    Nintendo is really going on the offensive with the 3DS. Sony, if you've got something up your ass you'd better let it out now otherwise Nintendo is ready to shit all over you. Thid is the FIRST Nintendo console I've ever wanted before it's been released.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/10 @ 10:58

  • wizlon #4 2 years ago

    Good move. Once you install a game it locks the cart to that system, uninstalling the game will unlock the cart. That's how I would do it.

  • midnight_walker #5 2 years ago

    Do not get. How will they combat the obvious sharing and buying/installing/trading lark? More info required plzkthx

  • mrpon #6 2 years ago

    How many?

  • chrisjm #7 2 years ago

    i'd go with wizlon's method too.
    the only problem being when your 3DS breaks or is stolen, your library of games is locked and unlockable.

  • kangarootoo #8 2 years ago

    A good move.

    @wizlon

    Does the 3DS support DS games? You make an interesting point about locking the cartridge also, but I would imagine DS games don't have that capability. Would that mean only new 3DS games can be installed, as only those new carts can be secured? Interesting to find out what their full plan is.

  • kangarootoo #9 2 years ago

    @chrisjm

    Some kind of online backend, storing your 3DS serial number and installed game collection info would cover that. I guess it could also make the system mnore secure (maybe...?).

    They won't want to make anyone jump through hoops. All they will really want to do is make sure you can't install the same game on lots of consoles. An online record could cover that, removing the dependancy on physical items.

  • peterfll #10 2 years ago

    3DS just keeps getting better and better.

  • FreakyZoid #11 2 years ago

    > An online record could cover that

    Except you could only install / uninstall when you're at a wifi spot.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #12 2 years ago

    They won't want to make anyone jump through hoops.

    Have you ever used a Nintendo Friend Code?

  • YoshiMcTaggis #13 2 years ago

    Great feature, I like it. Now announce the price!

  • kangarootoo #14 2 years ago

    @FreakyZoid

    It all depends on the hardware I think. If the cartridge is capable of locking itself, you could do that anytime and then just upload the record periodically (in case your cart gets eaten by a hedgehog).

    However, if old DS carts can't be "locked" (which I would imagine is the case), but DO have a unique identifying number, an online service would be necessary.

    I guess its a glass half full/empty situation. You could look at it as "booo, you need a wifi hotspot to install your DS carts"... or you could look at it as "yay, if you are at a wifi hotspot you can now install your DS carts to memory".

    Of course, I am speculating as to the service, so lets not assume too much.

  • kangarootoo #15 2 years ago

    @Mentalist(air)

    "Have you ever used a Nintendo Friend Code?"

    Nope, never :)

    I do hear they are a pain the behind.

  • GamesConnoisseur #16 2 years ago

    Would seriously prefer gamer account be the main Factor and enabling you to reinstall purchased games onto replacement 3DS, at the moment I have to REPURCHASE all my DSi games on new DSi should mine get stolen/lost etc as associated to only that handheld.

    That is the only concern I have and still dying for 3DS!

  • DrDamn #17 2 years ago

    @FreakyZoid
    Not really a huge issue. Possibly more of a concern - though not for Nintendo - is the second hand market. How does a retailer like game check it is unlocked, how do you as a consmer?

    Want to see this sort of thing on the big consoles too.

  • erp #18 2 years ago

    This is brilliant news! Not wanting to carry loads of carts around with me is the only reason I own an R4, so with the 3DS I won't need to. Kudos, Ninty.

  • CallousB #19 2 years ago

    Miyamoto seemed to semi deny this in an interview with IGN.He said-

    "I'm not familiar with the article that you're referencing, but of course even with Nintendo DSi we introduced DSiWare and we introduced applications that were built into the system menu. So I wonder if maybe they were talking about something along those lines?"

  • LazyDan #20 2 years ago

    AHHHHHHHHH YES!

  • wizlon #21 2 years ago

    A retailer would be responsible for checking the game at the point of trade in (a single 3DS behind the counter would do it). As for sales on eBay, it's just the same as buying anything (a scratched DVD, a broken iPod), if you've been ripped off you make a claim to eBay.

  • Lusterpurge #22 2 years ago

    It wouldn't really matter too much since the cards are so tiny anyway. You can fit about 20 of them in the DS case.

  • Toothball #23 2 years ago

    This sounds like a rather appealing idea. I really like being able to carry around multiple games on my PSPgo without having to resort to piracy. It'll be great to do the same thing with Nintendo portables.

  • the_sas_man #24 2 years ago

    Hate to say it (and it's an unfortunate fact of life), but any anti-piracy system can be cracked.

    Hackers will only see this as a challenge.

    This will merely delay the inevitible

  • Der_tolle_Emil #25 2 years ago

    Wow. Not something I expected Nintendo would even think about. They really are doing everything right when it comes to the 3DS.

  • L0cky #26 2 years ago

    A lot of the issues discussed above could be solved by a simple expiration of the install.

    Install the game, then within x days you have to sync with the online service to validate the install. That would allow you to install without a wifi connection at that time. Once you've validated online later, the expiration can then be extended by a longer period.

    All of that can be done invisibily to the user; especially as the 3DS has online connectivity, even when in sleep mode; so for most people requires them to perform absolutely no action at all, or even be aware of the whole validation service.

    For those who have no internet connection, it just means you'll need to stick the cart back in every so often when it asks you to; which is still a vast improvement over having to keep it in the console at all times.

    For those who share their games with other people who haven't validated them online; the worst that happens for nintendo is that somebody gets a free demo of the game for x days; which is not necessarily a bad thing. The person who shared the game may then return home to find that their friend validated their install as their own game - so they won't be doing that again!

    If you trade/sell/lose your games then the installs will eventually expire, unlocking themselves. If you lose your 3ds you can login at nintendo.com and invalidate your installs/downloads.

    Obviously I have no idea how nintendo is actually doing it. All I hope (as many do) is that downloads are associated to an account, rather than to a machine so you don't lose your games if you lose your console.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/10 @ 11:48

  • alcides #27 2 years ago

    THIS!

    It seems to me there is no way I'll ever switch back to cartriges, and at the same time, I love owning my games for real and forever.
    Please, PLEASE stop piracy. I'm not all innocent myself, but I can clearly see the damage it does to a console and overall software quality. My PS3, on the other hand, can't be pirated. Xbox users had better not either. These consoles are great and will last years onwards. PSP and DS... well I just don't enjoy them the way I enjoy games with real value.

    Strangely it's also related to the game being a physical copy or not. There is the same feeling of valuelessness with DLC and piracy. Because you get so many insignificant things, and never truly invest (yourself or your munnies). I mean even when you buy the thing on DS and PSP, you get this nauseating feeling that 40€ is a bit much compared to freebies all-round.

  • ryohazuki1983 #28 2 years ago

    Considering Nintendos past with online implementation to their consoles I doubt an online solution will be involved in copying games (although could be wrong of course). It also seems a bit restrictive to the masses. And of course what would happen if you lost the console, meaning you couldn't unlink the cartidge (unless theres some sort of online management - again seems unlikely).

    However there will no doubt be some sort of anti-piracy in place. Suppose writing to the cartidge to specify that its linked to a console seems most likely? But that also brings the problem off losing the console......

    No doubt the 3DS will get hacked but its just a case of making it harder to crack and delay the inevitable.

  • bad09 #29 2 years ago

    Smart move, ninty seem on fire with this one.

  • Demiath #30 2 years ago

    Great feature for an already almost stupidly awesome piece of handheld hardware, but I really hope that whatever inevitable DRM scheme they choose (they got to counter the enormous piracy problem of the currentgen DS somehow, right?) will not be such a nuisance that it effectively cancels out any convenience offered by the feature itself...

  • Schiraman #31 2 years ago

    Sounds great, if true.

    What I really want though, is the ability to store game saves on internal memory/SD card - in this day and age it's ridiculous to be limited to one or two save slots per game, when you've got GBs of memory just sitting there unused.

  • RobTheBuilder #32 2 years ago

    I imagine each cart would become locked to the 3DS while installed, and becomes unlocked when you uninstall.

  • AliRay #33 2 years ago

    This is SUCH a day-one purchase :D

  • JahB #34 2 years ago

    R4 built in? nice.

  • dfish #35 2 years ago

    Its brilliant this give you all the benefit of download media while allowing consumers to buy a packaged media product. I like it! Presumably there will be concurrent physical/download game releases also through 3dsware
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/10 @ 13:21

  • wizlon #36 2 years ago

    Will this lead to Nintendo offering full game downloads straight to SD card? I'd be up for downloading full games directly to 3DS, as long as they price the games properly.

  • Dylbot #37 2 years ago

    @L0cky

    THIS. As a bonus, this would facilitate cross-system multiplayer with one cart, without having to code a bastardised version of the game specifically for the purpose. And, of course, as an impromptu demo system. You copy the game from your friend's cartridge, tool about with it for 24 hours before it expires. If you like it, great, go out and buy it. If you don't, you haven't wasted money on a game you don't like. It does mean that non-connected users would have to reinstall every 24 hours, but hell, they can still run games straight off the cart anyway.

    God, I hate this E3. I came into it thinking that there would be nothing that I'd want, and my wallet could relax. Now everything Nintendo says makes the 3DS more and more of a day one purchase.

  • lavalant #38 2 years ago

    Does this mean it will let me move all my stuff from my R4?

  • kangarootoo #39 2 years ago

    "This will merely delay the inevitible"

    There is no "merely" about it. When it comes to protecting a loss of revenue, delay is great stuff. If the alternative is immediate loss of revenue, delay is music to the ears of any businessman :)

  • SpaceMonkey77 #40 2 years ago

    Don't mind the install option, so long as its not restrictive, especially with regards to import games. The import option is the icing on the handheld cake, and I'd seriously hate to loose that.

    As far as online accounts go, I'd like Nintendo to revise their dumb system with friend codes to something simpler, where I can choose my 3DS ID name etc.

    Question is, just how much space does 3DS have onboard for all this?

  • L0cky #41 2 years ago

    @Dylbot

    I didn't think about shared game multiplayer, that's an excellent idea.

    If nintendo took this approach it'd be incredibly progressive, and have a completely opposite impact on us than most DRM approaches.

    That's why I think it's unlikely, as it's too good to be true :/

  • devilmyarse #42 2 years ago

    I've got a load of DS games. I also have a few flashcards too. The 3DS having support for this kind of thing in an official capacity is a huge thing. It will save me money in the long run (IE not having to buy new flashcards when they get outdated/unsupported).

    Regarding the methods this could use. I hope it doesn't use an online system, mainly because, if you buy games when you're travelling or are away from secure internet access for a while you won't be able to take advantage of the feature. I hope it uses some sort of chip in the cartridge. After all, it's a cartridge and not an optical read only format (yes, I know mask roms are read only). It could have a very small amount of encrypted nand on each cartridge that manages the DRM. The 3DS writes a specific key to the cartridge when it has been installed preventing other 3DS from using it. When you uninstall the game, the 3DS erases that key from the cartridge and it's playable on all 3DS again.

  • jonsaan #43 2 years ago

    GENIUS. At last. Gotta love Nintendo.

  • SilentNinja92 #44 2 years ago

    Im guessing that the cartrages are rewritable or something so they can be locked to the system once installed. Just a guess though.

    Its a brilliant idea. Especially when the pspGo is centered around haivng all your games in the system, this is a nice way to combat that. I kind of with psp games came in memory stick duo form to install instead of downloading them which uses up bandwidth, Id get one then.

  • Lusterpurge #45 2 years ago

    I can't see them putting more than 8 GB of memory in the device, so while that is a few games, don't expect to put your whole game collection on the machine. I hate to see people get excited when this wasn't confirmed by Nintendo at all. These are the same people that will be calling Nintendo liars if it doesn't turn out to be true.

    Just saying that it doesn't seem like something Nintendo would do.

  • LazyDan #46 2 years ago

    I'll throw my guess in: Cartridge is entered into 3DS, option to install is presented, if installed then it's locked to that 3DS. Secretly the 3DS then communicates to Nintendo Central that the cartridge you entered is now locked.

    While playing with cartridges in, 3DS secretly occasionally contacts Nintendo HQ to check that it hasn't been locked. If it is, it cuts you the hell off.

    In the case of a lost/stolen 3DS, you'd have to send your cartridges off to Nintendo. Retailers will therefore refuse trade-ins and returns of opened 3DS games - just like they do (did?) with PC Games. Nintendo therefore have introduced a minimum-fuss method of keeping all your games on one 3DS, kept retailers happy by not making everything download-only, and also nailed the second hand market, making developers/publishers happy.

  • KillerMonkey #47 2 years ago

    That's awesome of them. There was a huge incentive to pirate for the DS, not just for the money but also the convenience of having a hundred games on one card. It's great they did the "right thing".

  • Superfast_Jellyfish #48 2 years ago

    Doesn't spell good news for the second hand market if things can only be installed once. Nintendo will probably have some work around though

  • Kami #49 2 years ago

    Goddamn spammers, here's a hint; we're gamers. The stuff you're selling, hate to say this, we don't really care.
    Edited by 1 at 19/06/10 @ 04:15

  • Lusterpurge #50 2 years ago

    I was waiting for a chance to use the ignore button!

  • cheekyjay #51 2 years ago

    I am genuinely excited by the launch of this machine far more than I have been for any previous handheld launch...

    However, some key questions still remain:
    - Assuming the games are on cartridges, what will the size restrictions be? I loved the original DS, but it's hard to argue that developers weren't crippled by the limitations of cartridge size and cost.
    - What is the backwards compatibility strategy? Obviously Gameboy games are out, but what about DS games - how will they work? Will the 3DS 'upscale' DS games into quasi-3D, or will they remain 2D-only? Will the slide pad be useable as an alternative to the D-Pad? Will the wider top-screen have side borders, or will the top image be stretched? Will DS games' online modes still work?
    - What is the data storage strategy? How much solid state memory will the actual machine have as standard? Will there be an SD card slot or similar to expand on this? Will save games be stored on cartridge (so that you still have your saves if you play the cart on another system) or on the system itself? Will you have a user profile, to which all your data is stored (meaning that if you lose, break or have your 3DS stolen, you can still retrive your data)?
    - What is the online gaming strategy? Will Nintendo stick with the annoying friend codes? Will you be able to use the cameras for video-chat? Is there a built in mic that we havent been shown yet, for voice-chat? Will there be a virtual console - and if so, what will it offer? Will DLC, demos and trailers become part of Nintendo's future, or will they continue to be largely ignored as on the Wii?
    -What is the movie strategy? We know that there is aready major studio support, but we need to know more... is this an international deal? Will it mean whole movies in 3D or just trailers? Will 2D movies be 'upscaled' into quasi-3D? Where do you purchase the movies, and how do you store them - Wifi download via the console, movies on cartridge (hope not - look what happened to UMD movies), unique codes that come free with certain BluRays or DVDs? Will Nintendo use a PC/Mac-based store to which you backup data and can access online features like a movie store (like Apple's iTunes)?
    -How will Miis work?
    -How much will it cost?

    It is an incredibly exciting machine, but one full of unknowns...

  • KingPepper41 #52 2 years ago

    I think that to get around the second hand market, with the 3DS, that they are going to have the same idea as EA & Ubisoft, pay $10 or £10 to get access to the online side of the games, which means that single player maybe pirated, but no online play will be available unless you cough up the money, real clever.

  • Grayvern #53 2 years ago

    This is now what excites me most about the device. Logically this is only a few steps away from nintendo straight up offering full 3Ds games for download especially if the installs required an account.

    And nintendo is only really incompetent when it comes to certain aspects of social online play, they seem to do a fairly ok job with their games download service.
    Edited by 1 at 20/06/10 @ 09:07