I’m psyched! The Nintendo DS is getting more and more cool features, but I’m amazed to hear rumors that it’s going to actually have wireless Internet access and even let you download games from the Internet, totally unlike the Sony PSP, which blocks just about every cool Internet capability. Is the DS really going to allow this feature?
We here at Ask Dave Taylor really wish we had a couple of these little gizmos in the office, but, alas, we haven’t gotten our hands on them yet. Fortunately, though, we are in communication with the Nintendo team and they sent us a press release that neatly answers these questions, even if these capabilities aren’t actually available yet.
Here’s what they say:
“In a matter of weeks: DS owners will sample free games simply by visiting their local game retailers; players will enjoy live, real-time Wi-Fi voice interaction with their portable game play; the 1 millionth DS owner will log onto Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s wireless gaming service; and a new lighter, brighter DS will make its debut in Japan.”
The download service is apparently called DS Download Service and is described this way:
“Starting next month, Nintendo will offer all DS owners free downloadable game demos and other downloadable content at thousands of participating retail locations around the United States. An in-store kiosk will beam wireless demo versions of games and other downloadable content into a players’ Nintendo DS system. Users simply stop by the store with their Nintendo DS, click “DS Download Play” on their system and choose one of a variety of DS games they want to sample. The game will download automatically and users can play all they want (even if they leave the store) until the Nintendo DS is turned off.”
And continues:
“Sequentially, players can try out as many games as they want, letting them test drive the wide array of games that can only be played on Nintendo DS. The first DS Download Service stations will include free demos of Tetris® DS, Brain Age™: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Mario Kart® DS, Meteos™, True Swing Golf and Pokémon® Trozei, along with a Metroid® Prime Hunters video clip. The selection of games and other downloadable content at DS Download Service kiosks will refresh quarterly.”
So you can see, it’s not quite allowing you to download games directly off the Internet since you have to find one of these DS kiosks, but it’s still darn cool and a much better solution for sampling games than having to buy ’em for $40-$50 per unit, just to find they’re terrible!
Other features aren’t quite so cutting edge, but are still worth knowing about:
Metroid Chat
“The new Metroid Prime Hunters game for Nintendo DS will give gamers the ability to chat directly with one another before and after matches played via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players in North America simply click the chat icon and say what they have to say. The microphone of the Nintendo DS picks up voice communication and transmits it to the people on their friend list. Players can use the chat function before a match to agree on settings or after a battle to relive their glories. This Teen-rated first-person adventure arrives March 20 and promises to open a dramatically fun new facet of gaming to Nintendo fans.”
Nintendo DS Momentum
“Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection now boasts more than 20 million different connections, representing more than 850,000 unique users worldwide. Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales worldwide, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide through December. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS there the fastest-selling video game launch ever. In addition to Metroid Prime Hunters, Tetris DS also launches March 20. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, up to four players can compete in wireless two- or four-player Tetris DS battles against friends or strangers, near or far.”
Nintendo DS Lite
“The lighter, brighter Nintendo DS system goes on sale in Japan next month. Nintendo DS Lite is about two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter. Its availability in other regions will be announced at a later date.”
There. That’s a lot of marketing-speak, but it points to the Nintendo DS being a highly capable and darn interesting handheld gaming device with its two small screens and touchscreen technology.
Can you play online games or d/l from the net games on nintendo d/s?
please i neeeed help i am really stressed with all these sites what say free ds downloads but they just go on and on the kids are waiting for mum to put on new games
Hi, I’ve managed to connect my DS to the wi-fi connection in our home but how do I download games, like the additional weekly puzzles in Professor Layton?? Please help!
Thanks! =^.^=
give me the’links to download free games online to my nintendo dsi plezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
hi can u plz download my baby on my nintendo ds plzzzzzzzzzzz and plz tell me how to do that
hi my name is Sally and is there supose to be such thing as free downloads to nds games? cuz every site i went to said FREE but that wasnt true and my ndsi needs more games
hi how can u download free ds games straight to your ds
My question is about the computer.
See, I love the Sims 2. It’s my passion, only, we can’t play on the computer because we have a Windows Vista.
Any Tips?
can u please, help me find free download game sites for nintendo ds lite pleeeeeeeeaaaaaassssssseeee…
hi.. give some links to download free nintendo DS lite games…
thankyou!
hey why dont you all stop whinging and look on the net i downloaded 3 ds games yesterday and they were free but man if you know a site easier email me the difference is im not begging for the sites thanks bj out
hi dave, my name is ne-ne but my friends and family call me k baby but i heard that u can get people a free games for the’er nintendo ds can you really do that because i want a free game my self the game i want is called my secert life it’s only for girls can u send that to my nintendo ds please i don’t mean to take up all your time i just want to know can u send the game my secert life to my nintendo ds? thanks for all your time dave i really thank you for your time.
Need Nintendo DS Games for a cheap prize
Just Click
http://zonagadget.blogspot.com/2008/02/nintendo-ds-games-software-for-sale.html
hi but what does the wifi connector really does. can it be use anywhere or do you have to be in a pacific place to use it?
ih there i have the nds internet con allready up as im on it now but i would to know where to go to get free/game down loads help plzzzzzzz
many thx kerry
hey i just bought this games n music thing for my DS lite, i can’t find where you can download games to put on there? can anyone please send me soome links where i can download games and put them on my DS memory card.
charles, u can get NDS games at http://www.romulation.net/NDS. u can register for free and you can DL the games =D the website is rather updated wif the games
please help me find the site where we can download free games for nds lite..plsssss
Nintendo has released the Nintendo DS Browser (seemingly just for the Lite) where you can browse the internet using the Opera system (http://www.opera.com) anywhere with a wireless connection, i.e. your home with a wireless router, Australian EB Games (Electronics Boutique) stores, some McDonalds stores worldwide, most shopping centres you walk into, and lots more. It’s easy and is the price of a regular DS game. For more see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS_Browser.
dear dave
“will you help me to find nintendo ds game for free i know that nintendo 64 games can be downloaded free in http://www.coolrom.com but nintendo ds game is not free i have search more then 1000 web sites”
please help me find the site where we can download free games for nds lite..plsssss
it is very nice to play dave.
Dear Dave Tylor,
Whould you help me to find free download from internet for nintendo ds lite or GBA
Hi dave my name bin and i wood like you too tell me how downloads ds game’s !!!!!!
If they do PLEASE E_MAIL ME @ bee_mckinley@Hotmail.com okay BYE!
Yes hello,
When or if the D.S has internet capibility then when will it come out?