"Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost," reads Nintendo's press release.
I fired over some questions to Nintendo, as the press release hardly covered all of the key questions such a program raised.
When I asked for a full list of the program's NES and GBA games, as well as if there would actually be more than 20 to choose from, Nintendo simply said it would announce more details in the future.
While not knowing the full roster, I wondered what an "upgraded" NES title would feature. Were these titles becoming 3D Classics? Not quite. "These will be 2D games. They are not 3D Classics. When the NES games become available to the general public later this year, they will include additional features such as multiplayer simultaneous play. Ambassadors will then be able to download those updated version at no cost," a Nintendo spokesperson told me.
It's easy to get excited about the presence of NES and GBA titles on the 3DS, but Nintendo was quick to shut down my inquiry about whether the NES and GBA libraries could be considered eligible for routine eShop updates. "Beyond this offer, we have nothing more to announce at this time, although the press release does indicate that the NES games will eventually be available for sale to the public," Nintendo said.
Nintendo made sure to specify a deadline for becoming an ambassador - just before the price of the 3DS lowers - but would the free games only be available for a limited time? Would the program end? Nintendo wouldn't comment for the time being.
Lastly, I wanted to know if the price drop of the 3DS would affect Nintendo's pricing of the DS Lite ($99.99), DSi ($149.99) or DSi XL ($169.99). Nintendo said "No."