Buena Vista has announced some nifty new features for its upcoming DS title
Spectrobes. In addition to the wireless features you've come to expect from the DS, the game will also feature a code input system that uses the touch-screen.
The system will enable players to access new content by purchasing trading cards from games retailers. We'll let Buena Vista describe it to you:
'Once players unlock the special ability in the game, they can fit a code input card over the Nintendo DS touch screen and use the stylus to consecutively tap numerical holes in the cards, unlocking new content, which includes creatures and minerals. Along with inclusion in game packages, additional trading cards will be available after the game's release.'
SPOnG had a quick word with Buena Vista about the new system who told us, "We actually applied for the patent last year. The reason we haven't said anything about it is that it's taken this long for the patent to come through."
The cards will come packaged individually but will be tradable. Initially the content they unlock will be contained within the game, but as more cards are introduced the content will be delivered via the wireless network.
If you have a scary memory you may remember something similar coming out for the GBA waaayyyy back in 2002 in Japan. That was the
E-Reader. But where the E-Reader provided entire NES games to be played the emphasis here is elsewhere. Buena Vista hope to prompt players to engage with the title (and each other) like they would with a collectible card game such as
Pokemon.
For more on the game itself mosey on over to SPOnG's
Spectrobes page.