3DS Finally Gets Messaging with Nintendo Letter Box This Week

Great! The 3DS is really vastly improved from launch now! Great Software, E-Shop, Messaging System, 3D Video Recording, Improved Streetpass Plaza... The 3DS should have been like this from launch, and now it's undoubtedly a far improved system to what it was on March 25th!

But we still can't send messages to people we've added on our friends list?

@dan563 probably via Spotpass... But since I'm from Canada (North America) I can't test it now...

@dan563

ehm that's what this programm is all about xD

fantastic!

at least this one kept its promised! be out by the end of year and with two Thursdays left bingo we got news

Oh this is pretty cool, hopefully NA will also get it.

@dan563 Fairly certain that "via SpotPass" means "to people on your 3DS Friends List" — otherwise who are you sending them to?

@dan563
The Streetpass / Spotpass are just the means that the message gets sent. It is still sent to people on your Friends List but depending on which you pass first, your friend (streetpass) or a wifi point (spotpass) is how it gets delivered. That way the program doubles as a mail system and a pictochat alternative.

I cant wait to get it and I will send EVERYBODY on my friends list a virtual 3DS christmas card.

Great! Finally.

The only promise left to release by the end of the year is hulu plus compatibility. Then Ninty will have delivered on all fronts on their promised content this year.

Sounds like a great update. Looking forward to getting Mario Kart 7 and getting some friends on there to chat with.

Has there been any confirmation on how this works? For instance, will a message you send to someone in the friend-list be sent immediately and show up on their 3DS if they're online at the time, or will it be delivered by Nintendo's online service at some arbitrary later point?

The name "Letter Box" certainly doesn't imply "instant messaging", like pictochat was.

Looks like the tables have turned.
Usually _{besides japan} NA gets things first, but now we have to wait until EU and AU get them.
Oh well, that's life.

I wonder if we will get random pics from people via spotpass, and/or if we will be able to send things to people on our friends list (not that I have anyone on that list since I don't know anyone with a 3DS).
Could be cool either way it works though.

@Burny I expect you're right; I imagine it'll be more like the WiiConnect24 system than Pictochat, to be honest. We should do some speed tests on it from Thursday!

Oh freakin' finally!

Nice one.

Grrreat!

While I'm glad they are putting in a chat app period, I still wish it was built into the firmware and not a separate app.

I would be nice to talk to people WHILE playing a game instead of closing the game then opening up chat.
Similar to how you can browse, take notes, and look at your friends list.... In fact I wish the text chat was IN the friends tab.

Finally! :3

@pntjr (15): This is an interesting point. I'm from EU and ALWAYS we got things as (one of) last region. Now I'm surprised that many things are here earlier... and although I enjoy not waiting long time, I believe it would be best for everybody to release things at the same time at most countries as possible.

@Hardy83 Absolutely agree

Neat! That's gonna be very useful

This is "SwapNote" in the US, correct? Swapnote makes me think it is "txting" over Streetpass, so it is the Pictochat replacement we've been waiting for with enhanced features like allowing photo attachments.
Now we just need a free Flipnote replacement and our DSi to 3DS upgrade will be complete.
We've only had our 3DSs for a week and I still get confused between Spotpass and Streetpass. I know I shouldn't b/c "spot" is for "wi-fi hot spot" and "street" is for passing people in the street, but I still have to stop and think about it every time. I don't think either name is helpful with 2 3DS under 1 roof about 10 feet apart and constantly hooked up to wi-fi. (Though my sons are very happy to come home from school every day to get their 3 new Pokedexmon) I don't think Nintendo took 2 3DS living together into account when they were working on Streetpass.

Awesome!
Hopefully their not much of a delay until everyone else gets this feature.

I usually don't agree with Hardy, but this time I do. Also, where have you been, man?

Yeah, PictoChat returns... sorta

o hai my name's NOE. I've picked up the pace in recent years, and am now superior to NOA.

Seriously, though, NOE is really rocking. NOA didn't even announce the VC games for Ambassadors last Friday, how was anyone who didn't frequent NL supposed to know?

Youtube anyone?

Bleh.

Woot! :3 Can't freaking wait! About time Nintendo! About time...

Finally,

@bahooney You've uncovered our plot! We tell NoA not to release news so that we can get there first and suck up all the Internet's traffic. It's working well so far!

Awesome @James I knew you were up to something! LOL. I can't wait for this to be released in North America. It would just be nice to be, like, 'notified' when it's released, but that's probably asking for too much. haha..

@Hardy83, I'm glad you think like I do. If the messages are not realtime then it's a step back in handheld evolution and should not even be included to avoid serious mocking by haters and fans alike.

I think its a good way to be connected with your friends. I hope it`s tested good and it`s not a huge bug!

But, I looking forward to it!

Hoping that this means Swapnote is coming. It will help us get in touch with our Strettpass group members we have not seen in a while

yes, it`s swapnote but they call it different (search on google...)

come on north america

for those in us want day your e-shop updates. got news for you, you will also get swapnote this week. (letterbox for us in europe helping out B-Ray 97 at the same time)

this is fine and dandy for europe, but what about swapnote?

Finally! Now we just need that NA Announcement!!!

That sounds great. I would love to see how it works, can't wait.

North America is a modest big brother

This is great news! Not perfect but definitely a step in the right direction. I'm glad that I will finally be able to chat with my 3DS friends.

Wooh!! Thaz it!! Yatzee!! My 3DS fulfilled its promise and is now the system I saw could change portable gaming( and camera/video playing/music playing/messaging thingys)
yeah.
ok.

About flippin time, need NA release now.

Maybe we'll get it soon... if we do, I better find my 3DS (I lost it the other day in my room ).

nice but where's our demoes?

@milkman12 Letter box is swapnote. But here in EU its named Letter Box. And in NA its named Swapnote.

Nice add, but it's not complete yet! DLC and Flipnote memo, please! (This is my first post! )

Been waiting for this for a while. It will be cool.

As far as NoE vs NoA, I think it was Chuggaaconroy who said "Japan gets something cool, (America) gets it a month later, Europe gets it by the end of the year and Australia is lucky is Nintendo remembers they exist." or something like that while talking about how even Australia got Pikmin 2 NPC. Looks like it might be starting to change a bit.

Don't understand the reason why they didn't just add it as a firmware update instead of a separate app...

I wonder if this will be like the Ambassador GBA games.
"Europe and Japan will be getting this on Friday. NA release TBA.
No, wait, Australia got it Thursday. Still no NA release date.
(Finally Friday) Alright...everyone gets it now."

Looking forward to the NA release. I could use this app.

FINALLY !! > no need to waste money on messaging on my phone :3 i r entertainer!

Can't wait to spam my pals.
On a side note, I can't believe Monster Hunter Tri G sold 1,000,000 copies already. It came out like 10 days ago!

Great news since I'm about to buy my 3DS too :3 woot

Couldn't say it any better than Hardy83 (22.).

37 @goldgin
With it using Streetpass and Spotpass I think the Spotpass features would work like wiiconect 24 so not so instant but I cant see why the Streetpass wouldnt work as quick as posting as it would be direct mail rather than going to a server. Surely that would be more or less instant. Well only have to wait until tomorrow although it will probably be Sunday until I get to test it face to face.

cant wait for swapnote.Hope it comes to NA soon if not the same day

It seems to me like Nintendo is "Re-Launching" the 3DS with all the stuff gamers were promised. Games, Messaging, Video, etc.

5,000 buck$ it comes out tommorow in North America

Updating ...

@56 "and Australia is lucky Nintendo remembers they exist."

True. Very true.

Did anyone get that update when they logged into the eShop? I updated but got nothing... HELP!

@71 Relax! The update for the Eshop dosn't come until like noon, shouldn't you know that by now?

Nope, it's just Chuck Testa.