Nintendo announced today that the Nintendo 3DS messaging system will be released this week worldwide, its called "Swapnotes", which is basically an eShop application like any other but its free and its an official messaging system (i don't think any other company is allowed to make one anyways) so we can keep contact with the people in our friend list and set-up game matches, or anything else really

I'll fill here the latest details about the so-waited feature, letting you know everything i know about it.

You can draw messages in 3D or 2D and send them to your friends. i don't remember seeing anything about actually writing (digitally) any messages so i guess it will be drawing only, well honestly this will not be a problem for me. Its a nice way to communicate, its not faster than writing like i am doing right now but it is not meant to be anything serious or instantaneous, right?

Just letting you remember, games that are to come like Heroes Of ruin already include a built-in communications system, in this case its voice chatting. (4 player co-op WiFi gameplay with live voice chat)

3D image

Also, taking in consideration this feature is an eShop application you will not be able to use it while running a software in the background, unless its some sort of special eShop download which i don't think it is.

This probably was done to not discourage developers to make communication systems for their games, or was done to put as many fun features as possible into that software.

Swapnotes makes use of sounds you have recorded in the Nintendo 3DS Sound software, well thats finally something useful to use this feature in... And please don't mistake "recorded sounds" with "musics in your SD card", i'm referring this to the 10 second sounds you can record with it.

Nintendo is making amazing steps towards online play and connectivity, thats undeniable, since the company unlike its competitors, doesn't have a very "socially" open online network, you can't voice chat unless the game itself allows you to and this voice-chat works only with friends, which i don't think its a bad point, seeing the impressive amount of Moms fighting 13 year olds in the other side of the Xbox live COD match screen, and general cussing.

Swapnotes will not be an usual messaging system, since until now all i've seen was drawing (remember, 3D!) and not actually typing, but its a nice step, helping the 3DS be a more social gaming console.

This week! Do not forget!

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