Streetpass Day? Seriously?

Ever since the launch of the Nintendo 3DS system, users around the U.S. increasingly have been seeking each other out to plan in-person meetups and exchange fun content via the system’s built-in StreetPass feature. To make it even easier for fans to connect and come together, Nintendo of America has created a Meetup Everywhere community that people can use to organize their own local StreetPass-themed meetups and social gatherings*. To mark the launch of this community, Nintendo 3DS users everywhere are encouraged to hold StreetPass meetups on Saturday, June 25, which has been designated Nintendo 3DS StreetPass Day.

Meetup Everywhere is a simple-to-use online platform that enables an organization’s fans or followers to coordinate local, real-life meetups based on shared interests. Nintendo 3DS users who are interested in sharing content with others via StreetPass are invited to visit http://www.meetup.com/nintendo3ds to find events in their area or to plan their own StreetPass meetups. Users are also encouraged to use the “#streetpass” hashtag within social media to promote Nintendo 3DS StreetPass events throughout the year and attract even more participants.

While gathered together in the same location, anyone can use the Nintendo 3DS system’s built-in StreetPass feature to share content such as Mii characters, game stats and custom characters. Users can control which kinds of information they exchange, and they can trade data from multiple games such as nintendogs + cats or Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition at the same time.

For more information about StreetPass, StreetPass-compatible games and Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo3ds.com.

* Meetup events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by Nintendo.

-Nintendo PR

I find this is hilarious. They are going to declare a ‘Streetpass Day’. And what are people supposed to do once they get together? Share Nintendogs information? Oooohhh. Share Street Fighter IV information? hahaha.

I looked up my city where the PR directed me. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States (and growing rapidly). Yet, only 6 3DS members were available. Sounds about right.

Of course, what is going on here is that this is marketing without spending money. Nintendo is very good at doing marketing that doesn’t spend money. Unfortunately, free marketing can be the most expensive marketing. This makes the 3DS look incredibly weak. At least Nintendo isn’t pushing the 3d elements of the system anymore (because no one cares about them).

If people actually showed up at these events, I would schedule my own event called ‘MalstromPass’ where a group of awesome people would gather across from the Streetpass people. We would bring our DS systems, cool games and play them merrily with great laughter. Meanwhile, the 3DS people would look sad and sour as they attempt to trade their Nintendogs data and wonder why the hell are they doing this.