Lego Video Game Developers Build First Wii To 3DS Port

Nick Ricks, Producer at TT Games, is making a Nintendo 3DS version of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game. What’s interesting is their handheld version for the 3DS is a direct port of the Wii game.

While presenting the portable game, Ricks mentioned the team used the assets from the Wii version for the Nintendo 3DS release. Ricks commented that the Nintendo 3DS has roughly the same power as a Wii and said lighting is actually better on the 3DS.

Being a port, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game for Nintendo 3DS has the same content as the Wii version. Well, with two differences. The game runs in 60 FPS (frames per second) and 30 FPS in 3D mode. The pop out effect from the stereoscopic screen is used to highlight collectables. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game also supports StreetPass with on the fly pirate battles. Think rock-paper-scissors with three kinds of sword strikes (low, mid, and high). StreetPass mode is the only way to unlock certain characters and alternate costumes for Jack Sparrow on the 3DS version.

Since the 3DS and the Wii, according to Ricks, are quite similar perhaps we’ll see other developers release 3D ports of Wii games or vice-versa in the future?