How are Streetpass puzzle panels distributed in Europe / Australia?

Question

In the United States, Streetpass puzzle panels appear to be distributed by state. That is, each state gets a particular puzzle, and to find other puzzles, you need to streetpass with people in other states. It tied to your initial region selection, so unless you reformat the 3DS's system memory, you will always get the same initial panel.

Does anyone know how the puzzles are distributed in Europe? Is it broken down by country, or is (hopefully) more granular than that? My wife and I both live in Berlin, and we've now both completed the Mario, Luigi, and Bowser panel.

Asked by Joe Wreschnig

Answer

With Nintendo's revamp of the Streetpass Puzzle system this question is irrelevant as-written, and the new way they're distributed is more transparent.

Different countries, and different regions in larger countries, still get different puzzles. These regions are identified in Streetpass Mii Plaza's map feature. On top of that there are special pieces you can't buy in particular regions at all and must Streetpass someone from another region to get; these are indicated by purple squares.

With the new system, new puzzles can also be distributed by Spotpass.

Answered by Joe Wreschnig

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Does StreetPass still work if a DS game is suspended/sleeping in a 3DS?

Question

I am playing Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (which is a DS title) on my 3DS, and I often just shut the 3DS while I am walking around (thus suspending the game).

It seems, however, that I never manage to pick people up via StreetPass while I have a DS game suspended in my 3DS.

Is this actually the case? Is there something about suspending a DS game that prevents StreetPass from working? Or have I just been unlucky?

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

No - StreetPass will not work if a (regular) DS title is suspended.

StreetPass will work if a 3DS title is suspended with the system on, closed, and transmitting wireless. (I've had this happen with Ocarina of Time.)

Answered by KatieK

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What are Special Miis?

Question

I was looking at the list of StreetPass accomplishments and noticed there are a few accomplishments that require you to StreetPass with Special Miis.

What are Special Miis? What makes them special? How do I find them?

Answer

Special Miis are Miis created for official promotions. Some are official game character Miis. For example, Capcom created Resident Evil: Revelations for Jill, Chris, Parker, and Jessica. Others, the kind StreetPass Mii Plaza gives achievements for, are gotten by StreetPassing special demo kiosks or Nintendo employees.

Special Miis are identifiable via their golden pants. You can't share QR codes for them, and apparently you cannot send them directly to someone else without losing them from your own plaza.

If you're trying to get that achievement, your best bet is to go to events like Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, or PAX.

(Special Miis are not new to the 3DS; the Wii also had them, but they were much less used given the poor state of WiiConnect24 outside of Japan.)

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3DS Street Pass Not Working

Question

Lately the Street Pass feature of the 3DS has not been working for me. A coworker and I will both have our 3DSs, at work, next to each other, with the wifi on and street pass never connects. Sometimes turning the wifi on and off will cause it to connect properly.

Anyone know if there are any better solutions? I'm worried I'm missing random street passes out there because most of the time it requires me to toggle the wifi.

Answer

I just wanted to add aside from the correct answer from Joe, I too have been having issues with the street pass function not working 100% of the time. When I first received my 3ds I would go over to my brothers house and it would instantly light up, but tonight when I went over it took a while and a little fiddling with to react. My honest opinion would be that it is still working out the little bugs and most likely be honed to perfect with a ninja update. Still a lot of features for this system to pop up.

My advice would be to just set the two down next to each other and let them sort it out.

Also, 100% correct on the "cooldown" for the data swapping, 8-10 hours. Although I haven't tried getting one swap, going out to get a different one, and then trying to swap again. That might be worth an experiment. Maybe you can't get the same data unless you get different data.. following me? Alright I'll go crazy professor laugh over here by myself.

Hope this helps.

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Does getting all the panels of a Puzzle Swap puzzle do anything?

Question

On Street Pass, one of the games you can play is Puzzle Swap, where you get pieces either by paying with Play Coins, or by meeting new Miis on Street Pass.

There is a large variety of panels/puzzles, and I was wondering if there was any bonus to completing one, other than just having a nice picture in your collection.

Is there some sort of bonus here?

Answer

The only bonus is that you get to look at a pretty picture that moves in 3D. For a Nintendo fan, they are pretty neat.

With that said though I would spend my coins on the find mii games before giving your coins to the puzzles, personally having all the different hats was a more worthwhile goal to achieve compared to the randomness of the puzzles.

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3DS street pass: How long do we have to be in range?

Question

How long do 2 3DSs have to be "in range" to download each other's information?

I was wondering this as I was driving in a car; will driving through the range of a 3DS for about 10 seconds be enough to download Street Pass information? What about a bike being in range for 20?

Answer

Wireless communication speed depends on many factors, not just distance, but also what's between the two things. A car is generally not a great thing to try to send signals through; a messenger bag on a bike is not much more difficult than air.

Streetpass also transmits a variable amount of data. If you have no games aside from Streetpass Plaza, it will finish faster than if you have to transmit information about several games. (I don't know if Streetpass can do a "partial" transmit - sending and updating each game individually.)

In ideal circumstances, 10 seconds is more than enough time. I have seen a Streetpass happen 2-3 seconds after closing my 3DS, if my wife's 3DS is also suspended and in the same room.

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