So, we've seen the beta hardware, have an epic list of games, but we know very little about the system core features other than 3D and the analog slider. So, what do you think the 3DS is going to have as it's built in "channels" and other hardware features.

3DSWare is a 1:1 odds bet. I'm actually thinking they will put a full gigabyte of flash on the unit, so that they can really push firmware updates and a lot of downloadable games. They expect this system to last at least 6 years, so by that point almost everyone will be into downloading.

I'm also going to guess it will have Miis. The Pilot Wings screenshots seem to indicate a Mii. It might just be a list of selectable characters, but they really helped get people into the Wii since the caraciture is simple enough to very easily make something that looks like you quickly.

I'm also guessing the new Pictochat will actually show your Miis in the interface, and they will have a Talk channel similar to the Wii Speak one that actually works across WiFi to keep gaming friends in touch.

Virtual Handheld will be a no show. Consoles are basically dealing with two aspect ratios since 1985 when the NES came out, so emulation is simple. But handhelds have vastly different aspect ratios and resolutions, and although you or I might understand unusual black bar positions (or even a complete black frame) it won't appeal enough to Mom and Dad. Also, the VC on Wii was partially to keep the parents happy about the number of systems sitting on the TV shelf (and the piles of cartridges and disks), this is less of an issue with a handheld.

We will however, see classic games (some of them handheld) released as dowloads anwyay. They won't present themselves as emulation, it will be more like the ports on XBLA with native control tutorials. Most of these will maintain classic visual style (we will get 1980 Pacman I am sure). NIntendo might update some of their NES / SNES games to 3D planes (similar to the tech demos from E3) but that will be so they can charge $8 for Super Mario Bros. without gamers thinking we've paid too much.

(This is just a speculative thought experiment, unlike Pachter I don't pretend my guesses shape the industry. I'm not even betting sig control.)

Anyone else have guesses?

I don't see black bars as a big barrier to VC. GBA games played on the DS don't use a full screen, and I'm sure DS games played on the 3DS will have some black space.

Nintendo says that it wants to push online functionality with the 3DS, so I'd love to see some kind of user profile system emerge that would facilitate transferring downloaded titles to newer platforms, not to mention address some of the inelegance of Nintendo's online environment.

Has anyone heard if the 3DS games are going to be cartridges like the previous DS games? I wonder if they might be downloadable games in a 3DS online shop. If they do use cartridges again I hope they do have a 3DS online shop too. It would be awesome for main and independent developers to be able to release downloadable 3D games on the download service as well, and It would be a good place to possibly download 3D movies and media.

@Saruk

Nintendo's E3 site seems to point to Game Cards.

Click on "features"

http://e3.nintendo.com/3ds/

Ohh I see, thanks.

2 GB (assuming they don't actually mean 2 Gb) is very impresive for launch. That's enough to easily handle any of the squaresoft games pre-PS2.

Actually its enough to handle any GC/PS2/PSP/Xbox game ever created. Its a cart, the resolution of the screen is smaller, you can compress more into a cartridge etc... 2 GB is more then enough for the 3DS

The RE demo was amazing, tough it was not playable. But judging by games like KI, it seems that the 3DS will probably be able to do anything the GC was capable of ( probably even more later on ) and if developers will push it correctly, we might whitness some visual wonders. Im certain that its more powerfull then a PSP, and I still havent seen any of those games beating visually Ghos of Sparta... so think about it, just how amazing the game will look for it in 3 or 4 years

I'm just hoping it retains the music-playing abilitys of DSi. Through DSi Sound Nintendo inadvertentlycreated one of the best audio players I have ever owned (I had 4 mp3 players prior to DSi and they all broke, I don't want an Ipod as I have poblems with Apple as a company and I refuse to pay over £20 for an audio player that is just an audio player). It does have an SD Card Slot (confirmed in the specifications Nintendo released) so there is a good chance. Regardss of how amazing the 3DS is without 3DS Sound (or whatever they call it) I won't be buying one.

Another interesting feature could be Mii logins, having the layout of your 3DS personalised for you. Your 3DS could be shared with your loved ones and it would have a personal touch every time you boot it up.

EDIT: Also the given Video Conference Channel you always think off when there is a camera facing you. But the posibility to feed 3D images to other 3DS is big using the exterior cams. Will they use it? If 3D pictures are thought of as fun, imagine any kind of amateur 3D movies streamed... why isn't the inside camera also dual? Couldn't you be able to control depth with that, making face traking easier?