In a recent Q&A session, Nintendo
revealed the possibility of automatic
firmware updates for the 3DS, which they
hope to use to deliver additional
features and functionality to the
handheld.
Yawn. Firmware updates aren’t
anything new to videogame platforms, so
you’re probably wondering why this
is noteworthy. Well, the fact that
the updates would be automatic could
give Nintendo a huge advantage in their
fight against piracy.
Pirates abused the DS like a small town
sheriff in the last year of his term, so
Nintendo has to be putting a lot of
effort into making sure that
doesn’t happen again.
They’re looking into using the
handheld’s new networking systems
to download firmware while in sleep
mode, which means you could be eating
lunch in a Wi-Fi hotspot while your 3DS
silently downloads an update. Or you
might even get one from another 3DS
owner riding on the same bus;
likely preferable to anything else
you could catch from someone on a
bus. And even if pirates manage to avoid
downloading anything, Nintendo is
looking at including the updates on game
cartridges.
The only concern the average gamer might
have is that we’ve seen firmware
updates break systems in the past. If
Nintendo is making these updates
involuntary, they had better be careful
about what they put out.
Seeing as how the 3DS won’t be out
for months, no one knows exactly how
this will all turn out, so you might
want to temper any nerd rage for now. If
we’re lucky though, this system
will work as intended and will curb
piracy without negatively affecting
everyone else.
by: gamesradar
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