PAX 2012: 3DS Feature – Street Pass Addict

The best game on 3DS is free with the purchase of the system, and sometimes gets free DLC from Nintendo. It’s the Street Pass Mii Plaza. Since the launch of the 3DS in March, I have played more of Street Pass than any other game on the system. Thanks to the 3DS Activity Log I can tell you that I have put more than 35 hours of my life into the game, launching the title over 120 times with an average play time of 16 minutes per instance.

At every convention and every travel scenario I pocket my 3DS. Even when I don’t plan on playing any cartridge based games, it comes with me in hopes of encountering another 3DS owner as dedicated to Street Pass as myself.

My favorite parts of street passing are the geographical elements. The game keeps track of where each Mii is from, and which regions from which country you have already encountered. It’s very interesting to see where the gamers around you are from. With the most recent update to the 3DS, accomplishments were added to the Street Pass.

PAX is the best source for street passing I have discovered. Walking around the show floor I was picking up passes as fast as my 3DS could process them. Waiting in line for panels was also a great source. I found myself having my friend hold my spot while I walked to and from the end of the line to try and maximize my street passing potential. Even during the panels, sitting among all the gamers that sweet, sweet green light kept flashing.

While most Miis were from Washington or Canada, global travelers can still be found. If you are as big on street passing on me but can only go to one convention a year, you’d better make sure you attend PAX.

Here are some tips I have learned to maximize your street passing at a convention:

Keep your 3DS charged at all times. This might sound like a no brainer but you cant street pass if your 3DS is dead, and street passing can be draining. Keep a charger with you in your bag, or if you want to save on space buy a USB charger to use with another devices wall adapter.

Tune your settings to minimize power usage. Turn down the brightness as low as you are comfortable with; if you are going to be mostly indoors it will still be easy to see the screen. Also turn on the power save mode on, which dynamically adjusts the back light depending on what is being displayed on screen.

Don’t over check your plaza. The 3DS has a maximum of 10 new Miis it saves at once. Don’t think that just because you are in a 3DS dense environment that your plaza will fill up instantly. The 3DS can only be communicating with one other 3DS at a time. Wait at least 10 minutes between checks.

Bring your charger. You never know what your day will be like at a convention. You might wind up staying out later than you imagined, and to maximize street passing you want to have a charge for as long as possible. Consider purchasing a USB charging cable for the 3DS and a portable USB battery charger so you will always have power. It might seem like overkill, but it comes in very useful especially if you decide to take a break from street passing to play a more traditional game.

The first step to living a successful life as a street pass addict, is to first admitting you have a problem. Please remember to always street pass responsibly. Always leave a fantastic rating to your visiting guests, and remember to leave a personal greeting if you have time. If you see my green shirt, tired eyed Mii roaming your plaza give him a rehire. You know its me because my greeting is “Milk Steak!”