DS and Google
So recently Nintendo has taken the task of making a world wide wireless network for their Nintendo DS. The America version has a very unlikely sponsor for the plan though – McDonalds. It seems that Nintendo believes that because of the vast amount of McDonalds around the country that they are the best hub for them to launch this idea. They aren’t the only place you can get the wireless link though. You can still do it through most wireless networks, including Case’s. Also, Nintendo recently unveiled a new WiFi USB connector as part of their latest attempt to release a line of Nintendo-branded wireless products. As soon as you insert this dongle into your PC, a window will open to establish a link between it and your DS. The dongle is jointly developed with Buffalo Technology, which will also release Nintendo WiFi Station access points to stores in Japan, to create instant DS “hot spots.”
In an effort to get there name out they made a rather nice website showing everyone how to get hooked up. Nintendo recently launched the Nintendo WiFi portal which is the way for all Nintendo DS owners who want to play online. Many regions do not yet have a full completed site but the United States one is up. On the site you’ll be able to see the status of the service and find a list of games that go online. By registering an account there will be special features available for download. At the moment it says the service is full operational even though most games aren’t out yet.
At the moment, these are the games that go online:
• Mario Kart DS
• Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land
• Animal Crossing: Wild World
• Metroid Prime Hunters
It’s very interesting to see that Nintendo has already set up this wireless linked community even before Google. Even though Google has been trying to set up various networks around the country it seems the Nintendo slipper right past them and has created this network all by themselves to connect all the Nintendo DS players. So it will be interesting to see if Google will now run even faster before the Nintendo network begins to extent to computers.
Comments
Posted by: zach newman
Posted on: December 1, 2005 06:37 PM
nice blog. i really like the idea that people can play with people in other parts of the world. gives people the opportunity to communicate and interact with people they probably never would have come across otherwise