The StreetPass World Tour comic series begins here! Created by StreetPass Network artist Alex Satter, this project unites the eccentric cast of characters from website Mega Pirate Ninjas with people representing StreetPass groups across the globe. For more information about StreetPass World Tour, read this interview with Alex, then enjoy the story!
I remember reading Nintendo Power when I was young and thinking how cool it would be to work in the video game industry.
The skilled professionals who brought us the joyful surprises of The Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog and countless other games left an indelible impression on me. Long before the U.S. Supreme Court protected video games as an artistic work and the Smithsonian opened an exhibition that celebrated the medium, I appreciated the contribution of game makers. I longed to somehow — some day — join their ranks and share the joy of gaming with others.
And now that day has arrived.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m now working for n-Space, Inc. as the company’s Social Media Consultant. This newly created position will help n-Space amplify its messaging on various social networks, building the reputation and engaging the audience of an already vibrant company. It’s a role I’m thrilled to accept, especially since it means I get to help promote Heroes of Ruin, one of the year’s most anticipated Nintendo 3DS games!
But what does this mean for you? Simply put, it means there could be some very fun opportunities coming for StreetPass Network groups and members. My dual perspectives as company and community advocate will foster new ideas and conversations as I pursue exciting ways to unite game makers and players for the benefit of all. That’s why I encourage you to continue supporting your local group. The fun is just getting started!
Thanks again for being part of this worldwide community! I look forward to seeing you at my Plaza Gate!
Joshua Lynsen
Founder, StreetPass Network & StreetPass DC
Since the March 23 launch of Kid Icarus: Uprising on the Nintendo 3DS system, legions of fans have experienced the game’s action-packed multiplayer features. To make it easier than ever for fans to come together, Nintendo of America has created a Multiplayer Battle Day Meetup Everywhere community that people can use to organize their own local Kid Icarus: Uprising multiplayer tournaments, meetups and social gatherings.
Fans and Nintendo 3DS users are encouraged to get together and battle it out on Saturday, May 19, which has been designated as Kid Icarus: Uprising Multiplayer Battle Day. Using a broadband Internet connection or local wireless connection, players who own a Nintendo 3DS and Kid Icarus: Uprising can compete in the game’s frenetic multiplayer modes, whether battling it out in three-on-three Light Versus Dark mode or six-player Free-for-All mode. The 20 groups with the most participants will receive special Kid Icarus: Uprising premium items such as AR Card packs and T-shirts, while supplies last.
Meetup Everywhere is a simple-to-use online platform that enables followers to coordinate local, real-life meetups based on shared interests. Nintendo 3DS users who are interested in sharing Kid Icarus: Uprising multiplayer experiences, trading AR cards with others or exchanging in-game weapons using StreetPass are invited to visit http://www.meetup.com/nintendo3ds to find events in their area or to plan their own meetups.
For more information about Kid Icarus: Uprising, available now exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS system, visit http://kidicarus.nintendo.com/uprising.
Note: Meetup Everywhere events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by Nintendo or StreetPass Network unless stated otherwise. StreetPass Network group events are available here.
It’s certainly an exciting time to own a Nintendo 3DS! With so many great games reaching stores this month and more people journeying outside with their system in hand, StreetPass tags are more plentiful than ever!
That’s why we spent the weekend overhauling the Groups and Events page. We wanted to ensure that new and veteran Nintendo 3DS owners could easily find active StreetPass groups. Making it simple to identify and connect with such groups is especially important as new owners look to populate their Mii Plaza with Find Mii fighters and Puzzle Swap pieces.
In identifying the most active StreetPass groups for our revised listings, we considered two criteria: setup structure and member counts. Setup structure is important because we value community presence. Member counts are important because we want to highlight groups that have demonstrated clear community growth.
Our list includes StreetPass groups managing a Facebook Page or Facebook Group that 20 or more people have joined. We have expanded our listings to include Facebook Group communities because these setups work better than Facebook Page communities for many people. And we decided to slightly lower our previous member threshold — 25 — in acknowledgement of the hurdles that certain groups face in growing their community.
Using these requirements, we now list 141 StreetPass groups on our Groups and Events page. We see this rousing expansion of our directory as new evidence of the growing popularity of the Nintendo 3DS! It’s also a testament to the power of StreetPass and true motivation to keep our communities vibrant!
It’s epic. It’s fun. And it’s going to bring the world’s many StreetPass groups together in a whole new way.
StreetPass World Tour, a series of online comics starting soon at Mega Pirate Ninjas, tells a wild story that explores the strength of friendship and its ability to overcome great adversity. Inspired by the unique communication features of the Nintendo 3DS, it unites MPN’s eccentric cast of established characters with people representing StreetPass groups across the globe.
StreetPass Network artist Alex Satter, the creative force behind StreetPass World Tour, recently set aside his sketchpad to share his thoughts on the upcoming series.
Without spoiling the fun, can you give us an idea of will happen during StreetPass World Tour?
If you read the prologue comic, as a StreetPass fan you will see a familiar (and threatening) face. That face will also play a large part in the story. The basic premise is that MPN’s Pirate Ninjas will realize where Randy, a floating troublemaker, and Stench, their nemesis, went and devise a plan to get them back. Due to some unforseen circumstances, this will be a lot harder than they originally thought. Something is going to happen to StreetPass groups across the world, which will actually be very dangerous and threaten cities across the globe. That’s where the World Tour comes in as the Pirate Ninjas are following Randy and Stench as they hop from 3DS to 3DS but encounter bigger problems each time they reach a certain destination.
We’ll be introduced to StreetPass DC first and Joshua Lynsen, that group’s founder, will act as a liason between the Pirate Ninjas and the StreetPass groups. Josh will also be very important in the final “act,” but why that is I won’t reveal just yet. Also, there will be a plot twist for a Dubai story thread that will reach a boiling point once we arrive in New York City. And everyone stars as their Mii characters. Whatever is happening in the comic with the Nintendo Network is actually turning 3DS owners into their Mii, so it’s all connected. Pun intended.
You mentioned Dubai and New York City. What cities can we expect to see represented in the tour?
That mostly depends on which StreetPass groups want to join our little crusade. For now, we’ll see New York City, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Dubai, Calgary in Canada and I’m in talks with Alexander of StreetPass Germany, so hopefully I can add Berlin to the list as well. If there are StreetPass admins reading this who’d like to have their city represented (including a cameo in the comic as their Mii) please email me at megapirateninjas@gmail.com!
We really want to get a global feel for this “event” so we prefer StreetPass groups from regions that haven’t been represented yet, though I’m working on a way to make sure everyone gets at least a mention and cameo in some form. The main cities will actually play a bigger role in the proceedings and the final battle — which I hope will be as epic as I envision it.
So what is it you hope to achieve with StreetPass World Tour?
Actually, I just hope to create a fun comic that everyone involved will like. That’s the main reason I’m doing this. I also wanted to create a big storyline that will be a bit tighter than the three panel MPN comics I created. I love making those, but I also really like creating big stories that challenge me to be creative. I want to put humor in the story, as the cast of the Pirate Ninjas — especially Randy — really lends itself to that, but I think making the story really big and epic and involving the StreetPass groups in it will make it exciting and fun for everyone involved. Showing that all of these groups across the world are formed because of their love for Nintendo, for their 3DS and StreetPass, and then coming together to fight this huge threat is something that represents a feeling of unity. Which is the basic idea that StreetPass groups are founded on. It’s an idea I love and want to express with StreetPass World Tour.
And having Randy send out “naughty” Swapnotes was also a big selling point for me! Hahaha!
When does the tour begin and how long will it last?
I am currently outlining the story. I know where it begins, I know what sort of happens, and I know where it ends. “All” I need to do is work out the details of what happens exactly and where does this happen. Once that is done, I’ll start sketching and drawing the comic and hopefully be able to have a few comics ready before it “kicks off.”
How long it will last is trickier to determine. I always have one golden rule: “The story dictates the pages, not the other way around.” So that really depends on how well I can play everything out on paper. There will be a prologue that sets everything up and puts the players in place. Then we’ll have a few comics dealing with the Pirate Ninjas trying to figure out the situation and after that we really go off on our world tour. Each city will have a dedicated comic, some larger than others. As stated before, the Dubai and NYC comics will be big due to the events that happen in them. Once everything comes together, we move onto a secret setting where the final act will take place. But how long exactly? Not a clue. I do hope I’m able to keep the story interesting and entertaining for everyone who reads it.
How can people see the tour as it happens?
The comic prologue will be up at megapirateninjas.com first. Then I’ll send all the admins the comic through email so they can post it on their website, blog and/or Facebook page so their audiences can read it as well and learn the basic premise. After that, I’ll post the follow-up comics on the MPN site and mail a copy to StreetPass Network, so the comic can also be put up there. I’m aiming for a weekly release for the comic or, depending on how far ahead I’m able to work, twice a week.
Keep your eyes on megapirateninjas.com for all the latest Nintendo news and every installment in StreetPass World Tour!
There’s no shortage of Nintendo 3DS games in the U.S. that feature StreetPass functionality. (The total currently stands at 33.) But the great fun it provides has left many gamers hungry for more. So what games might feed that hunger? How about a new Monster Hunster or Professor Layton installment? Or perhaps another entry in the Dragon Quest or Gundam franchises? There are several games with great StreetPass features that remain exclusive to Japan. Perhaps a few will reach U.S. shores this year…
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
The newest installment in the critically acclaimed series, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle led the Nintendo 3DS launch lineup in Japan. Players use StreetPass to exchange data about their play style, such as time spent on various puzzles. Of all the games on this list, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle is likeliest to see U.S. release. Look for it to hit stores before year’s end.
Monster Hunter 3G
A game atop many localization wish lists, Monster Hunter 3G also boasts some robust StreetPass functionality. Not only can Guild Cards documenting play time, quests cleared and related data be exchanged, but other Hunters you meet will appear within the game. For a fee, you can ask these Hunters to complete for you any quest they’ve done, giving you that quest’s reward. Rumors of this Monster Hunter Tri remake’s release outside Japan abound, so watch for confirmation.
Slime Morimori Dragon Quest 3: Daikaizoku to Shippodan
Roughly translated as Dragon Quest Heroes 3: The Great Pirate Ship, this game follows Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime for the original Nintendo DS. (The Nintendo DS game was the sequel to a Game Boy Advance game never brought to U.S. shores. How this numbering discrepancy might be resolved is anybody’s guess.) Details of the game’s StreetPass features are scarce, but Square Enix has long supported Tag Mode and StreetPass with solid offerings. A release of this title outside Japan might happen this calendar year.
Gundam: The 3D Battle
There’s not nearly as much love for Gundam outside Japan as there is inside the country. But maybe the Mobile Suits can find a new home on the Nintendo 3DS. Gundam: The 3D Battle uses StreetPass to facilitate Mobile Suit and pilot swapping between players. Newly acquired Mobile Suits then appear as enemies within the game. Localization might be a long shot, but as Nintendo of America once said about Xenoblade Chronicles, “never say never.”
Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-Kun Special
Known as Renegade in English markets, Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-Kun Special is a 25th anniversary version of the game. This prequel to River City Ransom features a StreetPass mode with one-on-one card battles. It’s unclear whether the functionality is comparable to the StreetPass battles in Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition or something else entirely. While the game would provide a great throwback to the tough-as-nails gaming era, chances of it seeing release in the U.S. are low.
Other titles with StreetPass functionality that remain exclusive to Japan include baseball game Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2011, the unbelievably quirky Bikkuriman Kanjuku Haoh: Sanmi Douran Sensouki, outdoorsman adventure Fish On, pet sim Mameshiba, and soccer games Inazuma Eleven Go: Dark and Inazuma Eleven Go: Shine. As fun as these releases would be to play, their collective chances for U.S. localization are lower than the odds of getting a StreetPass tag in Alaska.
It’s fun to finish Find Mii. But you know what’s better? Playing a whole new version of the game. And collecting tags in Super Mario 3D Land. And seeing all the support that’s emerged for StreetPass.
Two months ago, I voiced concern that StreetPass had lost its momentum. Few games were using the cool functionality built into every Nintendo 3DS system — and it was unclear whether Nintendo was making the feature a priority. In its products and promotions, the company seemed to be forgetting StreetPass.
What a difference two months can make.
Nintendo and others are now demonstrating their support for StreetPass in ways I never expected. I laughed when the producers of Street Fighter and Tekken gave us the most epic StreetPass encounter ever put to film. I cheered when StreetPass functionality was added to Super Mario 3D Land. And I was amazed to see the warm reception you gave PassID.
Here’s a look at just some of the overwhelming support that’s emerged for StreetPass in the last 60 days:
• This month’s Nintendo 3DS system update was scheduled to provide us with new puzzles and a new dungeon in the StreetPass Mii Plaza.
• Super Mario 3D Land was revealed to support StreetPass, letting us play “mystery boxes” and exchange them via StreetPass.
• A promotional trailer for Tekken 3D Prime Edition strongly emphasized StreetPass in its opening scenes.
• PassID launched with great success, drawing more than 3,000 registered users to its StreetPass service in the first week.
• GameStop and Nintendo partnered to hold Nintendo 3DS Connect + Play events across the country.
• StreetPass functionality within Mario Kart 7 was shown to exchange ghost runs and facilitate online races.
• The untitled Animal Crossing game for Nintendo 3DS was revealed to enable players to view the homes of other players tagged in StreetPass.
• Nintendo announced Swapnote, which will give Nintendo 3DS owners the ability to send messages via StreetPass.
• Freakyforms, the first Nintendo eShop game to feature a StreetPass component, was confirmed for release this month.
• Eight games featuring StreetPass functionality were released, including Cars 2, Centipede: Infestation, Driver Renegade, Frogger 3D, Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns, Pet Zombies, Pokémon Rumble Blast and The Sims 3 Pets.
And there’s even more goodness coming in the weeks ahead. Another half dozen games featuring StreetPass — including such marquee titles as Sonic Generations and Shinobi — will hit stores before Christmas. Add to this the holiday surge in Nintendo 3DS ownership and you can be assured the system’s green notification light will shine often in 2012.
It’s been a great thrill to see so many people champion StreetPass. Now that the momentum is back, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Joshua Lynsen
Founder, StreetPass Network & StreetPass DC
