Nintendo eShop… Your one gaming stop for everything Nintendo… and a bit more.

 

The Nintendo eShop is, as its name suggests, an online marketplace available through the Nintendo Network for its console Wii U, and handheld device the Nintendo 3DS. It was originally launched on the 3DS by way of a system update a couple of years ago, and is accessible through the 3DS’ Home menu, as long as you are connected to a wireless internet. Unlike the 3DS, Nintendo eShop will be available immediately on your Wii U, but you will have to complete a system update to access it.

 

The eShop features a range of downloadable games and applications for your device, as well as virtual console gaming. Virtual console gaming, or VC for short, allows you to play games from other consoles or platforms right on your 3DS or Wii U. For example, the previous Gameboy’s and Sega Game Gear games will be available on 3DS, and platforms such as Nintendo 64 and Sega Mega Drive, as well as some really retro gaming machines like the commodore 64, without the need of a tape deck.

 

Previous online shops launched by Nintendo, such as The Wii Shop Channel and the DSi shop used their own currency system, called Nintendo Points, for purchasing the available content. The eShop facilitates a pricing structure that displays the price of the content in the relevant countries currency, for example pounds sterling in the UK, and Dollars in the US. This gives the user/buyer a better picture of how much things cost, as opposed to seeing a points value. Purchase credit is applied to the users account by way of a debit/credit card, or by purchasing a pre-paid card from various retailers. All purchases on the eShop are made through a user account, which stores the download history on the account. This allows the account holder to re-download any title previously purchased on the Wii U, or 3DS assuming it is still available through the eShop.

 

The cost to download the games from the eShop is similar to the purchase price for the games in stores. However, what you have to remember is that you are not just buying the game, you are purchasing a re-usable game. If you buy the game from a shop and lose it, or break it outside of its warranty, you have to buy it again. If you buy the game from the eShop, and delete it, you can re-download it at no extra cost.

 

As well as having more knowledge over the pricing of the available content on the eShop, it also has a user rating function, allowing all users of the game to submit a rating of the game in the form of stars, which by now most people are familiar with, particularly those who tend to shop online. The star system will work as an “out of 5” rating with one being the worst possible, and 5 being the best it can be, again, allowing the prospective buyer to see how the game/application etc has been received by other users. The Wii U also has Miverse, which allows people who have used a particular game, or application purchased through eShop, for at least one hour, to submit a review on the product which will provide even more information.

 

The eShop also has a multitasking functionality, although this is not fully enabled on the 3DS, it does allow users of the Wii U to download up to 8 items in a queued system, in the background while continuing to watch videos, listen to music and even play games simultaneously. The 3DS will allow you to continue and queue downloads while it is in “sleep mode”, as well as when the eShop is the active app.

 

Also in development for the eShop, is a new offering called Deluxe Digital Promotion (USA), or Nintendo Network Premium (Europe, Australia and Japan etc). This will basically be a subscription based rewards system. Essentially, the user of the eShop will purchase the Deluxe package, or Premium Pack which will give them a 2 year subscription to the service. During this 2 year period, any purchase made on the eShop will receive 10% back in the eShop accounting, in the way of Nintendo Points, which can then later be spent on other items in the eShop itself. This promotion is not yet available, and current plans are to launch it around December 2014, so watch this space. The other reward system available now, is Club Nintendo. With Club Nintendo, any purchase made on the eShop is automatically registered into the Club Nintendo account, this then allows the user to complete surveys etc to earn coins, which can later be redeemed for prizes.

 

In addition to all the glory of gaming, demo’s and applications available, you will also have (through the eShop) the availability of various TV/Film services such as Netflix, LoveFilm, YouTube and TiVo. These services will allow you to stream video, across your wireless internet connection, through your Wii U in 720p, the 3DS only allows video streaming of 240p, but as a handheld, that is still pretty good quality for your money. With the 3DS however, many of the video services available, also offer video in 3D, whereas the Wii U only offers 2D.

 

All round the Nintendo eShop is an excellent entertainment experience, for both the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U. We will be taking a closer look at some of the games available through the eShop, and will be providing more information on those very soon.