StreetPass meetup reportedly drew bigger crowd than the other gathering
A tweet claims more than 400 people attended a StreetPass meetup and compares it with another gathering. We explain what StreetPass is and why it is used as a yardstick.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
A tweet claims that more than 400 people attended a StreetPass meetup and describes the turnout at another gathering as dismal. The figure has not been verified by any independent source.
The social network X was the showcase for a comparison that has been making the rounds among video game fans. A user claimed that more than 400 people had attended a StreetPass meetup and then went on to call the attendance at another gathering dismal. The post, brief and with a link attached, offered no official count or source to back up the figure.
## What StreetPass is and why it is measured at meetups
StreetPass is a wireless communication antiestéticature of the Nintendo 3DS console, launched in 2011, which exchanges data between nearby consoles without needing an internet connection. That mechanic turned in-person gatherings into regular events: attendees walk around with their console switched on to rack up exchanges.
The community organizes regular meetups in cities, often in public spaces and with open invitations. Counting how many people show up has become an informal way of taking the pulse of a fan base that, over the years, has seen Nintendo shut down online services tied to the 3DS.
## A figure with no independent verification
The figure of more than 400 attendees comes from a single post, and there is no record of any organization having carried out a count. Comparisons of this kind usually rest on the impressions of the organizers themselves or on photographs of the event, methods that are not very reliable for establishing an exact number.
The other gathering referred to is not quantified in the post either. Without figures for both sides, the comparison rests on a perception, not on data.
## Why these comparisons go viral
Niche community events work as an emotional barometer: if turnout is strong, fans read it as a sign of vitality. When the response is weak, the laments and the comparisons with better times appear.
It is wise to take those figures with caution. Counting attendees at an open, free meetup is hard to audit, and the figures circulating are usually estimates from an interested party.
The social network X was the showcase for a comparison that has been making the rounds among video game fans. A user claimed that more than 400 people had attended a StreetPass meetup and then went on to call the attendance at another gathering dismal. The post, brief and with a link attached, offered no official count or source to back up the figure.
## What StreetPass is and why it is measured at meetups
StreetPass is a wireless communication antiestéticature of the Nintendo 3DS console, launched in 2011, which exchanges data between nearby consoles without needing an internet connection. That mechanic turned in-person gatherings into regular events: attendees walk around with their console switched on to rack up exchanges.
The community organizes regular meetups in cities, often in public spaces and with open invitations. Counting how many people show up has become an informal way of taking the pulse of a fan base that, over the years, has seen Nintendo shut down online services tied to the 3DS.
## A figure with no independent verification
The figure of more than 400 attendees comes from a single post, and there is no record of any organization having carried out a count. Comparisons of this kind usually rest on the impressions of the organizers themselves or on photographs of the event, methods that are not very reliable for establishing an exact number.
The other gathering referred to is not quantified in the post either. Without figures for both sides, the comparison rests on a perception, not on data.
## Why these comparisons go viral
Niche community events work as an emotional barometer: if turnout is strong, fans read it as a sign of vitality. When the response is weak, the laments and the comparisons with better times appear.
It is wise to take those figures with caution. Counting attendees at an open, free meetup is hard to audit, and the figures circulating are usually estimates from an interested party.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (3 replies).
More summaries
-
La Sexta and the sewers: the extreme housing claim that falls apart
La Sexta claimed people are living in sewers. A sanitation technician debunks it: collectors are 2.5 metres wide. Residential exclusion is the real issue.
-
The overwhelmed beach police officer: the photo was AI-generated
The leather shorts and distorted baton reveal that the overwhelmed police officer on the beach is an AI-generated image
-
Imam: Voting PP or Vox is a sin, Spanish mosques say
An imam claims that religious leaders in Spain consider voting for PP or Vox a sin. We analyze the implications of these statements.
-
Casanova sparks debate on Spanish state-funded cinema
Eduardo Casanova's documentary 'Sidosa' drew only 381 viewers in 79 theaters, reigniting controversy over public subsidies for Spanish film.
-
Toronto shuts down comments on its 30 km/h tweet
Toronto disabled comments on its tweet about 30 km/h zones, citing terms of use violations after the conversation turned into personal attacks.
-
Feijóo reopens abortion debate in Spain and his party fears the cost
Alberto Núñez Feijóo has reopened the abortion and euthanasia debate in the middle of Spain's election campaign, while his own voters warn of the political cost of relitigating settled issues.