Do you like free games? I do, I do, I do! To enlist in Nintendo's 3DS Ambassador program, unlocking 20 free games throughout the rest of the year, you have until midnight EST to log into the eShop.

That's all you have to do!

Even if you purchased a 3DS at a retailer who's already dropped the price, you qualify--again, so long as you hop into the eShop and say hello to Nintendo's digital marketplace.

Nintendo recently announced a substantial price drop for 3DS worldwide, spurred by disappointing sales of the handheld successor. In North America, the machine's going from $249.99 to $169.99.

President Satoru Iwata wrote a letter to consumers in Japan, apologizing if Nintendo fans felt burned.

"We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginning may feel betrayed and criticize this decision," said Iwata. "This unprecedented timing for a price cut is because the situation has changed greatly since we originally launched the 3DS. We decided it was necessary to take this drastic step in order to ensure that large numbers of users will continue to enjoy the 3DS in the future."

The company's olive branch to existing customers is 20 free games, with 10 of then coming from a lineup of NES games and another 10 culled from Nintendo's library of Game Boy Advance releases.

Do you like free games? I do, I do, I do! To enlist in Nintendo's 3DS Ambassador program, unlocking 20 free games throughout the rest of the year, you have until midnight EST to log into the eShop.

That's all you have to do!

Even if you purchased a 3DS at a retailer who's already dropped the price, you qualify--again, so long as you hop into the eShop and say hello to Nintendo's digital marketplace.

Nintendo recently announced a substantial price drop for 3DS worldwide, spurred by disappointing sales of the handheld successor. In North America, the machine's going from $249.99 to $169.99.

President Satoru Iwata wrote a letter to consumers in Japan, apologizing if Nintendo fans felt burned.

"We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginning may feel betrayed and criticize this decision," said Iwata. "This unprecedented timing for a price cut is because the situation has changed greatly since we originally launched the 3DS. We decided it was necessary to take this drastic step in order to ensure that large numbers of users will continue to enjoy the 3DS in the future."

The company's olive branch to existing customers is 20 free games, with 10 of then coming from a lineup of NES games and another 10 culled from Nintendo's library of Game Boy Advance releases.

Finally!!!!

They should really notify you when you've qualified, just logging in with no notification worries me.

Still not getting one!

We're not getting the Gameboy Advance games yet correct? What's available to be downloaded tomorrow?

@Zaapp1: That worries me too. I've logged in everyday and even bought something just to make sure they know I've made activity with it. Cause you never know.

We're not getting the Gameboy Advance games yet correct? What's available to be downloaded tomorrow?

@buft said:

@Brendan said:

We're not getting the Gameboy Advance games yet correct? What's available to be downloaded tomorrow?

nothing tommorow, 1st september

Oh, thanks.

Nothing tomorrow

We're not getting the Gameboy Advance games yet correct? What's available to be downloaded tomorrow?

10 NES games for free on the 1st of september and by the end of the year you get another 10 GBA games. Happy day.

Come oooooooon Wario Ware.

My DS Lite is still perfectly fine for me...until they release some really must have game I will not get a 3DS...hell I even still have my GBA to play some Gameboy Color games I have!

Thought about getting it, but without any actual 3DS games worth buying, still not worth it for me. Even with the lure of 20 games, most of which I have on my GBA already

My DS lite still works just fine, thanks.

People are being sort of short sighted as this is probably the best opportunity that there will be to get a 3DS for a while. Sure at the moment there isn't really anything that great coming for the 3DS but eventually software will come and you get these 20 free games. The price isn't going to go any lower than this for a while. Zelda is already out and Bit.Trip Saga and Starfox are on the horizon. If you have no interest in getting a 3DS at all then that is fair enough, but if you see yourself picking one up in the future, you may as well buy now.

Really curious about what the last 10 NES and Gameboy Advance games will be.

Would be really cool if they could strike some deals to maybe get a few Castlevanias in there.

@Zaapp1: I got a news alert that said "You are a 3DS Ambassador"

I did this last night.

My girlfriend gave me $60 to encourage me to pick one up in time, since she'll probably play the virtual console games more than I will.

Unless they add base wars.

That game was great.

It's time. I am now the most special kind of 3DS owner.

I hope the reason they're keeping half of the games a secret is because they are so awesome we just can't handle waiting for them.

That or they suck.

Either way free games!

I'm not sure if I've received the "you are now an ambassador" notice and I can't acces my 3DS right now. But I've logged in dozens of times before so I oughta be cool.

@Buckfitches said:

My DS lite still works just fine, thanks.

because that's the same thing.

@Buckfitches said:

My DS lite still works just fine, thanks.

because that's the same thing.

"As Ambassador to 3DS land I say do not come here, there is only saddness and death here!"

-Ryan Davis, Bombcast 8-2-2011

I waited this long. I will wait for the price drop.

I would but I want to save up for various other items that I would like to have so...

This always makes me nervous:) I've gotten a bunch of eShop DSiware games so far (how can you have a DS with the shop access and not have downloaded Shantae or Cave Story yet?), but I'm always questioning, "Should I get something NOW?". Just to make sure I qualify for this stupid program, for the "privilege" to replay many of Nintendo's oft-repackaged games. 

Look in the news section that's where it tells you

Im kinda hyped, I didnt have a DS (I went PSP... yeah, I know) and the allure of games like SSFIV and OoT got me, so I bought one.

I picked up a discounted 3DS at Target yesterday! And then I got the Ambassador notification last night! Hooray for dumb retailers!

I picked one up along with Ghost Recon Shadow War out of curiosity, and I have had a lot of fun with it so far.

@memo said:

I waited this long. I will wait for the price drop.

Just in case you hadn't heard, some stores are already selling at the dropped price, so you can get the games as well as the new price if you buy by tonight.

Can't believe this comment section wasn't spammed with HARD-ON

Okay, I'm on the latest firmware update, and I've been to the store several times but I still haven't got any message saying I'm an "Ambassador"...

If I don't get any games, I'll be really pissed off. Like, angry. And mad. At Nintendo. And the interwebs.

Totally called around last night and found a Target that was already selling the 3DS for $169.99 and my girlfriend couldn't argue with my "well there's probably not going to be another price drop for a really long time and I'm going to want one eventually so I might as well get it now and get all those free games" logic so we went there and she hid my wallet and bought me one o_O

I am now a price-cut ambassador! YEAHHH! but I need a game.

I saw this article and rushed out to Target to get a black 3DS since they have dropped the price early.  I'm doing a system setup/update right now.... this better work!  
 
update: system is updated and once I logged in to the eShop I got the notification that I am officially an ambassador and a recipient of the price drop! Thanks for the heads up, Giant Bomb!

Considering all the huge price cuts, they should have cut short the ambassador dead line. The things are being sold for £110 in the UK at the moment, that's less than half their original price!

@craigbo180: Unless you want an actual portable device...As of right now the 3DS is tethered to the wall due to the horrible battery. I don't even bother taking my 3DS away from my desk cause about an hour passes and half the battery is gone playing DS games. Some people may actually want a device capable of being away from a plug for longer then 8 hours.

I bought a 3ds today and updated it, so it looks like I'll be getting the same freebies as people who paid for the same thing at launch. I will still probably grit my teeth when the 3DSi is released next holiday. I suppose it's well enough, I haven't upgraded my DS since I got the original one. Now time to get Nintendogs+Cats.
 
I am impulsive and also a monster.

@craigbo180: Yes I fully charge it on the first day. I said playing DS games so how could 3D be the issue? Look at any review of the 3DS and you'll see what I've been seeing with mine. 3-4 hours of actual playtime while sleep mode lasts 6-8. I'm not going to argue for what your supposed battery life is but just pointing out that the majority of 3DS owners have problems with the battery life.

So if you're on the fence about a 3DS sure take the plunge now. After today, however, I cannot recommend the 3DS to anyone even people that are on the fence about it unless you really(and I mean really) want to play Zelda OoT.

I wasn't going to get the 3DS before the price drop, but since a local store here in portugal was doing a sales pack (Nintendo 3DS Black + Zelda OoT 3D) for 199€ I just had to buy it. I logged in during the afternoon (around 6pm) and registered my 3DS + Game, updated the firmware, went to the eShop, downloaded free stuff in case going to the eShop was not enough, but I still haven't gotten any confirmation that I'm part of the Ambassadors Program. 
 
I know the limit was 11:59pm (CET) of today, I logged in around 7:30pm (CET). Anyone here from Portugal / Europe who hasn't gotten the notification? Because all I see is Americans getting the confirmation. 
 
Cheers! Now I'm off to play some Zelda :D

Just updated on Wednesday night, it'll be pretty sweet to grab those games come September.