3DS StreetPass Groups–Increasing the Socailization of Gaming

Some feedback on my previous 3DS impressions post has led me to believe that perhaps I came off as a little too harsh... To clarify, though I am still not entirely impressed with the 3DS's launch lineup, I am very content with the capabilities of the system on the whole, and am excited for numerous games on the horizon such as BlazBlue Continuum Shift II (NA release May 31) and Legend of Zelda: Ocarena of Time in June. I've even gotten a little more play out of Nintendogs + Cats, and I have to admit that it is quite cute. It's always exciting to find, after having the system in my purse on sleep mode all day, that I've encountered another 3DS user and exchanged puppy pictures with them. 

Official image illustrating how StreetPass works

Which leads me into the meat of this post, where I'd like to talk a little more about the nifty StreetPass function of the 3DS. While considered a "useless" addition to some, I was intrigued by the idea of the StreetPass from the moment it was announced. Not only can you randomly exchange Mii data with other 3DS owners as you pass them innocuously on the street to fill your Mii Plaza, but you can send and receive game-specific information that allows you to trade items, battle, and more, depending on the game. Of course, the inherent problem with all of this is that you actually have to encounter other people who own a 3DS, have it with them, and have it in sleep mode, for the data exchange to occur. Some have criticized this function as being useful in an extremely densely populated nation as Japan, but not as much so in larger countries such as the US and Australia, where you might be one of a handful of people in your town to even own a 3DS.

With StreetPass Network, that problem has been solved. Gamers from all around the world have started creating their own grassroots StreetPass groups using the page function on Facebook, and they are all cataloged by the man behind the first StreetPass group to gain fame, Joshua Lynsen. Who said gamers weren't social? If you have a 3DS, or even just a DS, you can go to the network website, find your city, and there's a good chance a group has been made. If not, why not create your own?

In the Mii Plaza, you can view all the different Mii's you've encountered! (source)

That's what I did! Introducing StreetPass Brisbane, the first and only StreetPass group for Brisbane, Australia! Excited about meeting and trading data with other 3DS owners, I searched the StreetPass Network's website for a local group for me... Only to find that the closest one was in the Gold Coast. The kind owner of the Gold Coast StreetPass page suggested I create my own for Brisbane, and the rest is history. Don't mind that right now I'm the only one who "likes" it...

I contacted Joshua at the StreetPass Network and inquired about getting StreetPass Brisbane listed, and within an hour it was up on the site! His website is really much more informative than I could ever hope to be, so I really encourage you all to go check it out! I'm hoping that through some networking, StreetPass Brisbane will be able to grow and succeed like so many of the other groups around the world already have.

Besides joining a StreetPass group in your area, Gamertell has a nice article to help you get started with StreetPass, and hopefully exchange some data with other 3DS users.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that StreetPass Brisbane will be successful enough to do an actual meetup sometime soon! And I hope this post has helped anyone who is looking for more information on how to get involved with StreetPass. Let me know in the comments!