A real StreetPass encounter...finally!

So I get home from work one day and flip open my Nintendo 3DS case in order to put the system in the charging cradle, as I so often do. To my utter surprise, the notification light is lit. And...it's green. That's important, because it's not blue. Now I'm thinking wildly, 'Could this really be a StreetPass? Can a green light indicate something else? Nothing comes to mind. It must be a StreetPass! I certainly haven't arranged one. This is the real deal!' I flip the system open and, sure enough, I've had a genuine StreetPass encounter!

As usual, I get to use my newly acquired Mii character in the game Save Mii. But the real treat is that this encounter unlocked a whole new puzzle. There are seven in all, and each 3DS owner starts out with just one of them. The only way to get new puzzles is to StreetPass with other 3DS owners who have the missing ones.

So I had my 10 minutes of fun with my new friend. This got me to thinking about StreetPass as an application. I own Super Street Fighter IV, which is StreetPass able. Does the cartridge have to be in the system in order to have a successful StreetPass transfer? I hope that's not the case, because it is unlikely that I'll pass someone else who owns the game, let alone that they'll have it in their system. I own a second StreetPass-capable game: Ridge Racer 3D. I guess this particular 3DS owner doesn't have either game. I look forward to a day when the 3DS system is more common, and StreetPass encounters will abound.

Why Ridge Racer 3D deserves more attention: A Review

"Welcome to the next generation! Prepare to shift into...the next dimension!" These are the words gamers can expect to see when they start up Ridge Racer 3D, an Everyone-rated, Nintendo 3DS launch game from developer Namco Bandai.

I've never played a Ridge Racer game before, but I'm no stranger to arcade-style racing games. I've even been to an actual arcade before! And if you like arcade racing, Ridge Racer 3D is definitely worth checking out.

Two important gameplay mechanics come into play in Ridge Racer 3D. First, the ability to drift. Without this important skill, Ridge Racer cannot be fully enjoyed. Fortunately, the mechanic is very simple and easy to learn and practice: let off the gas as you approach a turn, then put it back on quickly. If the player chooses, he/she can opt for one-button drifting, which makes drifting as simple as a button press. Regardless of the way the player chooses to drift, it's when this skill is mastered that the satisfaction of it can be enjoyed. There's nothing quite like that motion of sliding through a tight corner, then steering smoothly out of it.

The second tactic is slipstreaming. Every competitor has a slipstream that extends behind them, and getting into it can increase your speed, giving you a crucial opportunity to pass opponents. Of course, opponents can enter and take advantage of your slipstream as well, so care must be taken.

The 3D effect in Ridge Racer 3D is very nice. Unfortunately, it cannot be appreciated as much as it should because that would mean being distracted from the actual racing. Still, it's a nice addition to graphics that are already quite beautiful without it.