Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

The 3DS is down to $170 as of today, and that Ambassador program entry window has closed as well. You will hear me on podcast 192 waffling about whether or not I want to get a 3DS. I point out that the new price point is interesting, but that there isn’t really anything out yet that I want to play. Long story short, I bought one yesterday at a small used game shop that had a used one for $160, including Pilotwings Resort, a case for the system, all the original packaging and literature, and a $10 credit for another game (which I took as a gift certificate). I got the system home in time to wipe the internal memory, run a firmware update, and link up to the eShop to nab Ambassador status. Not a bad deal.

I really enjoyed the wireless DSi to 3DS transfer process, which involved groups of Pikmin tromping around in 3D carrying images representing the software and data from a region with a DSi silhouette on it to a region with a 3DS silhouette.

I’ve mailed off Pilotwings already for some Goozex points, and I’m still not sold on Zelda, so I’ve been spending some time playing Dead or Alive: Dimensions, which it turns out is a surprisingly fun fighting game. The 3D function has me a little mixed up, unfortunately. Playing last night, while tired, I felt queasy, but today it’s been ok, though sometimes I have trouble finding that “sweet spot” where the 3D looks good and the images are in focus. Most impressive to me is the system itself, as it seems to have taken the best design decisions of the DSi and the PSP to heart in its physical construction and in the interface. All of this is news to me, because until now the device was largely under my radar.

I’ll have more impressions as I start getting some games to review from publishers. Until then, I’ll be enjoying DOA Dimensions, and I may rewatch the neat 3D trailer for that Glee 3D movie that’s in the Nintendo Video channel.