Importing Special Edition - thoughts?

[monicaleighn]

I'm really hoping that Nintendo America will release some kind of news (and soon!) on whether we will get the special edition New XL or not.. I was thinking if we don't that I would import the UK version. I contemplated the Japan one since it's already out but I don't understand Japanese. I know it'll be region locked, I'm okay with the fact that I'd only be able to play HHD on it and nothing else. Unless I can buy from the eShop? Which comes my question of concern.. I know the SE XL will come pre-loaded with the game but it needs to be downloaded from the eShop correct? Am I going to have issues with downloading it? Has anyone else ever imported a different region console and used the eShop?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jake]

You shouldn't have an issue downloading it, and I'm not too sure you'll even need to download it. The description says that it comes with the game pre-installed.

 

[monicaleighn]

I can't remember where I read it but the box says pre loaded but then it stated there would be a download code. In my experience my husband had a 2ds that came pre loaded with Mario kart 7 but he still had to connect to the eShop and input the code.

In all honesty I'm most likely just gonna wait and cross my fingers that it'll come to NA. Just bummed that we haven't heard anything yet :/

 

[Jake]

I can't remember where I read it but the box says pre loaded but then it stated there would be a download code. In my experience my husband had a 2ds that came pre loaded with Mario kart 7 but he still had to connect to the eShop and input the code.

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/201...mal-Crossing-Happy-Home-Designer-1037329.html

"New Nintendo 3DS XL Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Edition: a white New Nintendo 3DS XL system with a unique, game-themed cover design, a digital copy of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer* and one special amiibo card

*Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer is pre-installed on a 4GB microSD card as part of this bundle offering."

So I would assume it's already on the SD card when you buy it, 'cause with the Australian release, the XL comes with the game pre-installed on the SD card, but the regular New 3DS bundle makes a note to say it comes with a download code, and both the regular and XL EU bundles say nothing about a download code, so pretty sure it's already on the SD card. The reason with the MK7 one you said was because I'm pretty sure they differ between consoles. When I bought my MH3U XL bundle, the game was pre-installed on the SD card.


But tbh I'd just either wait until it's announced in NA, or not buy it at all. Getting the EU one seems like a waste, considering it's just a LE console. If you're really that desperate though, you can always pre-order it, and then cancel it if it ever gets announced for NA.

 

[monicaleighn]

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/201...mal-Crossing-Happy-Home-Designer-1037329.html

"New Nintendo 3DS XL Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Edition: a white New Nintendo 3DS XL system with a unique, game-themed cover design, a digital copy of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer* and one special amiibo card

*Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer is pre-installed on a 4GB microSD card as part of this bundle offering."

So I would assume it's already on the SD card when you buy it, 'cause with the Australian release, the XL comes with the game pre-installed on the SD card, but the regular New 3DS bundle makes a note to say it comes with a download code, and both the regular and XL EU bundles say nothing about a download code, so pretty sure it's already on the SD card. The reason with the MK7 one you said was because I'm pretty sure they differ between consoles. When I bought my MH3U XL bundle, the game was pre-installed on the SD card.


But tbh I'd just either wait until it's announced in NA, or not buy it at all. Getting the EU one seems like a waste, considering it's just a LE console. If you're really that desperate though, you can always pre-order it, and then cancel it if it ever gets announced for NA.

Thank you! I just think the HHD one looks so cute, I haven't bothered buying the red or black one cause neither colors appeal to me. And I wasn't able to get the Majora one and didn't want the Monster Hunter one either. And as much as I'd love this one I do agree it seems to be a bigger hassle to import one. I just wish they wouldn't have started the region locks

 

[EpicMeli]

You can get the english one, but then if you want to buy more games, you have to import those as well.

 

[monicaleighn]

You can get the english one, but then if you want to buy more games, you have to import those as well.

That's fine. You don't think I could buy them off eShop?

I'm just worried about the charger situation. I read I can use my old one but I worry about the voltage difference.

 

[EpicMeli]

Didn't realise we even had a voltage difference tbh. I've only been around europe and i just use an adapter where I go.

No idea about the e-shop. you might have to wait for games a week later like we do in the uk. but i suppose your debit card will still work... maybe.

 

[Jake]

That's fine. You don't think I could buy them off eShop?

I'm just worried about the charger situation. I read I can use my old one but I worry about the voltage difference.

USB chargers work regardless of voltage, so just get one fk those. I've also seen that using your regions charger works, but it might blow the bulb for the charging light, but it'll still charge, the light just won't work. So USB is safer

 

[BellGreen]

Cards from the United States work on the Japanese eShop, so you probably won't have many problems on the credit card regard.

 

[monicaleighn]

Thank you everyone, I think I'm gonna go ahead with it and preorder. If America gets it I'll cancel but I really want this special edition I've done some extra reading and a few people have indicated that an American charger will work perfectly fine on a Europe or Japan system, just not the other way around without an adapter. It may seem silly to some to get it just for one game but either I'll buy on eShop, or import. And keep my US one too.

I'm excited either way, but I definitely would prefer America to get it.

Ok I'm done rambling lol

 

[kiti_in_wonderland]

I'm not entirely sure, but I think you can use the e-shop fine, it will just be the European shop so whatever games you get you can not transfer to a different DS that is from another region

And I can confirm that an American charger works perfectly fine on a UK DS, and a UK charger works perfectly fine on an american DS. Anyone who says it doesn't work or may cause problems more than likely brought a cheap one . If you make sure your charger is an official nintendo one you'll be fine ^-^

 

[Sidewalk]

Erm.. I thought having the physical copy will be better? Seeing that many have their game crash due to soft copy in NL ...

 

[BellGreen]

Erm.. I thought having the physical copy will be better? Seeing that many have their game crash due to soft copy in NL ...

The fact that a game is digital does not make it anymore vulnerable to corruption than physical. The reason why digital games corrupt is mostly due to physical damage to the console or SD card; the reason why physical games corrupt is exactly the same, damage to the cartridge. Both have the same chance of corruption and it's all up to the player as to whether or not their game crashes/corrupts.

 

[monicaleighn]

I've never had issues with any games physical nor digital. I take great care of my electronics, of course that doesn't mean there can't be bugs that could cause crashing. Normally I would prefer a physical copy but I'm okay with the digital since it comes preinstalled but I might eventually get the physical copy imported. Or since I'm keeping my American XL I'm still going to preorder the one at GameStop with the nfc reader.

 

[katysu]

Well I hope/would expect a special edition to be released in the US, wish they would say one way or the other tho.

I've never bought a console from another country so I'm not sure - but I do know the power is different between the US & the UK (haven't checked what Japan uses)

United Kingdom (UK) 230 Volts 50 Hz
United States of America (USA) 120 V 60 Hz

You are saying a charger will work in any of the 3 consoles(US, UK, Japan)? But won't you need an adapter to get the voltage right?

I am in the UK, going to buy both game, reader & a few amiibo cards - but I would never contemplate buying a special edition, truly not worth the money
And buying from abroad - ugh no - what happens if you get dead pixels or worse - you are not going to be able to send it back easily. Far too much hassle.

 

[monicaleighn]

Well I hope/would expect a special edition to be released in the US, wish they would say one way or the other tho.

I've never bought a console from another country so I'm not sure - but I do know the power is different between the US & the UK (haven't checked what Japan uses)

United Kingdom (UK) 230 Volts 50 Hz
United States of America (USA) 120 V 60 Hz

You are saying a charger will work in any of the 3 consoles(US, UK, Japan)? But won't you need an adapter to get the voltage right?

I am in the UK, going to buy both game, reader & a few amiibo cards - but I would never contemplate buying a special edition, truly not worth the money
And buying from abroad - ugh no - what happens if you get dead pixels or worse - you are not going to be able to send it back easily. Far too much hassle.

I was confused about the charger issue too. But here's how it works. Yes, any charger will work on any console no matter the difference in region. The input voltage is the same regardless. But the output is different between countries. I can use a UK XL just fine without an adapter. Now if I brought a U.S. XL to Europe and wanted to use my US charger I would need an adapter because the difference in output voltage. The U.S. Charger runs 110v and since its 220v in Europe plugging my charger in without an adapter would fry the charger or my XL. Or both.

- - - Post Merge - - -

I do agree it's definitely a hassle to get a foreign system imported. But I hear of people doing it quite often with no issues. I'm gonna order it through Amazon UK so it might not be the most convenient to return or exchange if I absolutely had to. But in all honesty I'm still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it'll just come to America :/

 

[katysu]

monicaleighn - I'm still confused over charger/voltage - but if you understand that's all that matters.
Yes I know a lot of players do import - but not often from UK as we are so expensive compared to the US.
It might be worth looking at what amazon France/Germany are offering the bundle for (if they are, sometimes cheaper than the UK) - will be in Euros rather than pound sterling. You can google the sites to show in English, but any problems, needing to speak to someone and you might hit language problems.
I've bought most of my consoles from Amazon UK, never had a problem. I make sure I am buying direct from Amazon, not an amazon market place seller.
Would Nintendo UK store ship to the US - they are offering the console together with a kit and the card album, but more expensive than Amazon. (I'll check)
No, for Nintendo UK store, frustratingly you have to be resident in UK and ship to a UK address.
I can't believe the US won't sell the special edition, just seems inexplicable. Keep your fingers crossed!