Swapnote/Nintendo Letterbox loses the Spotpass option.

[Tual 152]

So, I'm not sure how many of you know this, or even use the program..But Swapnote (known in other regions as Nintendo Letterbox) is a letter-type messaging program on the 3DS. You can use it to draw and write letters to people on your friends list and send pictures/recordings (since about April of this year, I think). It'd use the Spotpass/Internet option for sending (for instance to your friends overseas, or even friends here. Just over the internet, which allowed single friend messaging), and Streetpass ( which allows you to send a note to any of the people on your friends list that you happen to pass by). 
   I found it highly enjoyable to use ('specially when I got my berrrfrend to use it). I could send silly pictures and comics to my friends. I made some letters in the morning yesterday, and quite a few hours later (after I got back from taking a bunch of kids trick or treating (it was awful, to say the least, and I just wanted to check for notes)) I went to see. I open the program, and it says something like "Swapnote has been discontinued for this program, blah blah blah". I was confused, and tried the Spotpass check. Didn't work, as the same message popped up. I phoned a buddy, who had the same thing happen, so I decided to look it up.

"

Notice about service for Nintendo 3DS software Swapnote

2013-10-31

Thank you for your support.

 

Nintendo has learned that some consumers, including minors, have been exchanging their friend codes on Internet bulletin boards and then using Swapnote (known as Nintendo Letter Box in other regions) to exchange offensive material. Nintendo has been investigating ways of preventing this and determined it is best to stop the SpotPass feature of Swapnote because it allows direct exchange of photos and was actively misused.

 

Nintendo always wants to provide a positive experience for all consumers and limit the risk of any inappropriate activity or misuse of a service. We feel it is important on this occasion to take this action.

 

We are very sorry for any inconvenience to the many consumers who have been using this service responsibly; however this decision was made considering the point that many minors also use this feature of Swapnote. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Nintendo will continue to work to ensure more consumers are aware of our Parental Control features, which allow parents to manage their children’s experience on our systems. For more information, please click here.

 

• Service stop date: Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, 7 p.m. PT
• Service being stopped: Nintendo 3DS software Swapnote – Sending and receiving notes using SpotPass
• Affected regions: All regions where the service was offered

 

Special Notes services are also stopped"

So, Nintendo just got rid of the software without ANY prior warning, because of people sending bad things to each other. I know that this is bad, and could possibly hurt Nintendo's reputation with parents a little.. But what about the people who responsibly used it? What about the people who actually used it for a form of communication? I read on a bulletin board that someone's sister moved to Japan, and they highly relied on it to talk to each other. It should of been expected that people would do this stuff, because people are people. I just find it unfair and uncalled for, and I think they should of taken a different approach/action on the situation. Maybe send an update with parental controls? Or maybe the parents could watch what there child does more or something? I don't know. I'm not blaming the parents, or anyone really, but I'm just an eensy bit annoyed.
http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/UHQZFP2Jxcll_Vm-PsZpxNIK5920bRRK;jsessionid=5846E57D48B7161F164109D07DBFC7C8

 

[Radiance64 7,053]

What? Oh jeez, that's a huge bummer. I used that feature a lot to check for and send messages to my friends online sometimes, this is just a crying shame. I can see Nintendo getting a huge amount of backlash for this though, so I don't see it lasting for long honestly, hopefully, because Swapnote is one of 3DS's best features and they shouldn't be gimping it because of a few idiots.

[Outkin 35]

Up next: Nintendo bans all rated T and up games. Afraid kids might bribe others into buying rated M games for them, and we can't have that....

...the sad part is I can totally picture them doing this. *sigh*

[vanished 46]

It's a really big disappointment for me. I loved to practice my drawing abilities by drawing ponies on the 3DS and sending them to my friends when I was bored. Can't do that anymore. Really sucks.

[Tual 152]

What? Oh jeez, that's a huge bummer. I used that feature a lot to check for and send messages to my friends online sometimes, this is just a crying shame. I can see Nintendo getting a huge amount of backlash for this though, so I don't see it lasting for long honestly, hopefully, because Swapnote is one of 3DS's best features and they shouldn't be gimping it because of a few idiots.

I really hope they bring the option back. I agree with you, too. Swapnote is one of the best features on the 3DS/2DS, and it's such a downer that they'd do that (without warning, too).

 

There are probably a bunch of people who have raged to Nintendo, but..I dunno.. I mean, Nintendo cares about their customers and fans, so maybe they'll realize how truly liked Swapnote (with Spotpass) was, and will bring it back? Or, they may not, so they don't gain any possible bad reputation from parents..

Bleh. Twas those kids' faults for passing out their codes randomly, anyways.

[Troblems 5,617]

Honestly, I can't say I'm terribly surprised, but at the same time, it's extremely unfortunate. I've never personally used it, but I think it's a nifty feature. I think once the pokemon hype calms a bit it may be reimplimented.