While we teach our kids the importance of patience, I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t love immediate gratification that comes with certain shopping online experiences. Downloading another great title mere seconds after finishing a book on my Kindle is simply fabulous, ordering on Zappos and getting next day delivery thanks to VIP treatment is another luxury I love as a consumer, and being able to download games for our Nintendo devices thanks to the eShop is truly convenience at it’s best.
The Nintendo eShop allows us to buy and download games directly on our Wii U or 3DS/2DS devices or wil the eShop on Nintendo.com. Being able to download games as they’re released saves me a trip to the store or anxious kids waiting for the delivery truck to pull up on release day.
Downloading Games on your DS from the Nintendo eShop
Locate the Nintendo eShop icon on the Home menu of your Internet connected DS. Browse featured games, new releases, best sellers, free demos, and search for specific titles. Tapping a title will provide you with more information about the game, including a trailer or description. Kids can also add games they’d like to by to their Wish List for future purchase. On-screen instructions prompts guide you through the purchase process and downloaded games can be found on the Home menu of your DS. Once you’ve purchased and download games from the eShop, they’ll always be available on your gaming system.
Take a look at this kid-created video on how to buy things on the Nintendo eShop for a quick how-to!
You must enter a credit card or have stored Nintendo eShop Card credit to make purchases. While it may seem inconvenient for kids to have to wait for you to enter in credit card information before they can play their new game, this safeguard helps eliminate the worry of automatic downloads being directly charged to your account.
Purchasing Games Through Nintendo.com’s eShop
If your DS is charging or lost somewhere in the house, browsing and purchasing games from Nintendo.com’s eShop is just as easy. The online store features the ability to look at all available games or those just for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U. Shop new releases, pre-order anxiously awaited titles, or test out demos that allow kids to try before they buy, a great way for them to think about whether the investment in a new game is worth the money.
Benefits to the Nintendo eShop
Teach kids to budget and manage funds. Setting up a Nintendo eShop account allows families to teach kids to budget and manage funds since credit has to be available to purchase games. eShop Cards make great gifts because they can be instantly added to an account for shopping. Even younger elementary ages can learn to become savvy consumers and to make good choices about investing in gaming content.
Exclusive digital content. Games like Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse and Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move are only available through the eShop.
Special offers available through the eShop allow families to get more for their money. The current offer for Super Indie Connection allows fans to get 60% off all other participating titles when they own, or purchase, one at full price during the promotion.
Make Sure Content is Just Right for Them
As great as immediate gratification is through content from the Nintendo eShop, do make a rule in your house to stop and read the game reviews on Common Sense Media to ensure the game your child is about to download is really right for them.
I am part of the #PlayNintendo team and received Nintendo eShop gift cards for my kids to try downloading content from the eShop. All opinions are my own and those of my kids and based on our personal experiences.
I love that there are demos available. My kids seem to make much smarter choices when they’ve had a chance to actually try out a game.
What a great idea! Not having to go to the store is super important! I’ve done the same thing with movies and it makes my life so much easier not having to worry if they will be in stock when I get there.
Our kids have it so easy! I remember only getting new games at Christmas and birthdays!
I love the demos– my daughter plays them as if they are real games!