I am heavily considering preordering the Animal Crossing 3DS XL. Here's the problem; I already have a 3DS, and will be using a system transfer to save my character and such. Will I lose the downloadable version of Animal Crossing at that point, since I'm replacing the data? Thanks to anyone who knows!
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3DS XL System Transfer Discussion!
- Thread starter Fjoora
- Start date
No you'll just have to redownload it from the eShop.
I bought the MH3U bundle and did the system transfer, all you have to do is redownload it again (it's in the eShop i your purchase history along with everything else) - just don't play it before you do they system transfer or you'll lose your data.
I bought the MH3U bundle and did the system transfer, all you have to do is redownload it again (it's in the eShop i your purchase history along with everything else) - just don't play it before you do they system transfer or you'll lose your data.
tigereyes86
Senior Member
Ah, I spent many hours Googling this yesterday (inadvisable, I found out so much stuff that would put me off even buying a 3DS, so please don't google this!).
The answer you got is correct. System transfer and then once it's complete, pop your existing SD card into your new 3DS and you're set. It's at this point that you can upgrade to a bigger card if you wish, I'll include a couple of links that I kept for use.
System transfer:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/3ds/en_na/ht_apps.jsp?menu=transfer%20games&submenu=ctr-ht-software-transfer
If anyone wants to upgrade SD card, this is helpful too:
http://lofi-gaming.org.uk/blog/2012/01/19/how-to-upgrade-your-nintendo-3ds-sd-card/
I heard it can take up to 45 minutes for a system transfer and the same again to download the game. The system transfer will delete all the data from your old 3DS and transfer it to the new one but keep the eshop account info, so it'll see that NL was on there and let you download it again for nothing onto your 3DS!!
Do you mind if I add some questions I have into here too??
The answer you got is correct. System transfer and then once it's complete, pop your existing SD card into your new 3DS and you're set. It's at this point that you can upgrade to a bigger card if you wish, I'll include a couple of links that I kept for use.
System transfer:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/3ds/en_na/ht_apps.jsp?menu=transfer%20games&submenu=ctr-ht-software-transfer
If anyone wants to upgrade SD card, this is helpful too:
http://lofi-gaming.org.uk/blog/2012/01/19/how-to-upgrade-your-nintendo-3ds-sd-card/
I heard it can take up to 45 minutes for a system transfer and the same again to download the game. The system transfer will delete all the data from your old 3DS and transfer it to the new one but keep the eshop account info, so it'll see that NL was on there and let you download it again for nothing onto your 3DS!!
Do you mind if I add some questions I have into here too??
Have at it lol
tigereyes86
Senior Member
Cool thank you 
I do have one (this is a lie, there are more than one) question though... System transfers keep everything from your system and move it over to the new one so I can keep friend code, streetpasses, swapnotes, eshop demos/Colors 3D etc, but my worry is if something should happen to my SD card and I lose my save. How big are the risks of this happening?
Also, would it work if I backed up my saves each time I saved so I could restore should anything happen?
Finally, if I had backed up my SD saves and had to redownload the game for any reason (eg 3DS breaking), would I be able to use the save info on the SD card or is there some kind of code that means the game has to match the save in some way?
I do have one (this is a lie, there are more than one) question though... System transfers keep everything from your system and move it over to the new one so I can keep friend code, streetpasses, swapnotes, eshop demos/Colors 3D etc, but my worry is if something should happen to my SD card and I lose my save. How big are the risks of this happening?
Also, would it work if I backed up my saves each time I saved so I could restore should anything happen?
Finally, if I had backed up my SD saves and had to redownload the game for any reason (eg 3DS breaking), would I be able to use the save info on the SD card or is there some kind of code that means the game has to match the save in some way?
Punchyleaf
森森森森森森&#
Nothing should happen to your SD Card whilst doing a transfer unless you decided to lose common sense and take out the SD Card as its transferring. You can also back the data up to the computer before hand of the transfer if you're very worried about anything being lost- which is very unlikely to happen
Yes. That's precisely what you should do, especially if you tend to be more rough with an SD Card (constantly pulling it out, playing baseball with your 3ds and SD Card)
Not sure about that last one.
Yes. That's precisely what you should do, especially if you tend to be more rough with an SD Card (constantly pulling it out, playing baseball with your 3ds and SD Card)
Not sure about that last one.
it took me about 1 hour to download MH - AC is less than MH so AC about take 30 min depending on your internet speed
JKDOS
Senior Member
Beings the eshop doesn't have user accounts, you may only be able to re-download on the same 3DS. You must go to settings and transfers the game Wireless to the newer 3DS
I believe once that is down, the older 3DS will lose the privileged of re-downloading the game or even playing. <-- The newer one will get the privileges
tigereyes86
Senior Member
I just came in to say the same thing and add another question!!
OK, so I do a System Transfer to the AC XL to transfer my current data/codes/swapnotes etc. BUT I don't want the digital copy of the game so I don't bother downloading it to my SD Card once I've transferred the system data across. Can I play the physical copy in it instead (as the digital copy would not be installed anywhere apart from show in the eShop)?
Nintendo have the Save game transfer tool anyway so if they can implement a better account system I'll "redownload" the digital game that I never downloaded in the first place and transfer the save data from the physical copy at that point.
(Until Nintendo have a proper online account system, I'm against digitals unless I definitely have to so if this is an option then I'd do that instead)
I read that fat and I stopped....
It's a digital copy there's nothing wrong with it. You're wasting your money buying a physical copy when you already have the game. You're literally paying the full price of a 3DS game just for the box art and contents....
I mean this in the nicest possible way, but you've got about 7 weeks until release, just think about what you're actually doing before you make any decisions.
tigereyes86
Senior Member
I know that, and the good thing about having all the time between now and then means I can look into it. But I'm trying to weigh up the risks and Nintendo can't get their heads round having a proper account system so I'm unwilling to go digital until such a point is reached. I'd stick with just the digital copy included if I could be sure that if I backed up my SD card weekly and for whatever reason had to download the game again at some point in the future (if the 3DS breaks) that my save data would still be fully protected and accessible, especially for a labour intensive game such as this.
At least with the physical, I can stick the cart in any old 3DS and pick up where I left off if my system breaks. That really is my only issue right now!
I have to agree with Jake. It is really really stupid to disregard the digital copy that comes with the system. Why would you even bother buying the XL at all? You're just wasting your money if you aren't going to touch the digital copy.
Accounts system, shmemounts system, there are so many people who have downloaded the game (and were forced to buy it due to lack of cartridges!). You should at least play the digital copy for a while and see how you like it before you go and buy a physical. I know there are plenty of people who want the physical as well so they have 2 towns, but not touching the digital copy out of fear is really silly.
Accounts system, shmemounts system, there are so many people who have downloaded the game (and were forced to buy it due to lack of cartridges!). You should at least play the digital copy for a while and see how you like it before you go and buy a physical. I know there are plenty of people who want the physical as well so they have 2 towns, but not touching the digital copy out of fear is really silly.
JasonBurrows
Senior Member
I purchased myself a USB stick quite a long time ago where you put Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS cartridges in and it will backup all of my game saves to my PC.
Punchyleaf
森森森森森森&#
Your SD Card will be fine, dude. Seriously. I back up my SD on a weekly to biweekly basis. It is incredibly pointless to buy the bundle if you're not even going to play the digital version. Unless you don't care about spending money like that, then go right ahead, but I agree with PP's about it being incredibly silly to not play a game just because its digital.
tigereyes86
Senior Member
I know what you're all saying and I know all of this (also have an external hard drive to back data onto as well as my PC and the SD Card itself-your data isn't backed up unless it's in 3 separate places), but if I lose my data should my 3DS break and I have to redownload the game to a new 3DS, I'd want to know that my save data would remain should I need to download the game again and this is the point that no-one can answer.
Also backing up the save data weekly is also not guaranteed to protect the save because the save is tied to the game and if the game is lost, the save is lost, redownloading would mean starting again.
In the event that my 3DS was so far gone that a System Transfer was not possible, I would lose the game AND the save data associated with it-cartridge would be better in this instance as I could shove it in any old 3DS and progress would resume.
I'm only trying to protect my progress-I don't think that's "really really silly" at all... To put 100+ hours into this game in a couple months to lose it all-I'd personally not go back to the game if that happened-that would be the waste of money you were talking about. I want the limited console either way so that's why I'm buying it (just got my annual bonus in an already well paid job, plus it's out during my birthday week, so it's going to cost me very little personally).
I'm noticing some of you talking about wasting/spending money have more than one console-I wouldn't as I have a buyer for my current XL lined up already as I wouldn't justify having 2 consoles when I can only play one at any given time.
Also backing up the save data weekly is also not guaranteed to protect the save because the save is tied to the game and if the game is lost, the save is lost, redownloading would mean starting again.
In the event that my 3DS was so far gone that a System Transfer was not possible, I would lose the game AND the save data associated with it-cartridge would be better in this instance as I could shove it in any old 3DS and progress would resume.
I'm only trying to protect my progress-I don't think that's "really really silly" at all... To put 100+ hours into this game in a couple months to lose it all-I'd personally not go back to the game if that happened-that would be the waste of money you were talking about. I want the limited console either way so that's why I'm buying it (just got my annual bonus in an already well paid job, plus it's out during my birthday week, so it's going to cost me very little personally).
I'm noticing some of you talking about wasting/spending money have more than one console-I wouldn't as I have a buyer for my current XL lined up already as I wouldn't justify having 2 consoles when I can only play one at any given time.
