Japanese Online DS Network Sees First Action
Nintendo's new direction becomes a reality.
The first examples of WiFi downloadable content for Nintendo’s DS console, aside from those pioneered at the E3 conference earlier this year, have been activated in Japan. At 326 ‘hotspots’ spread across Japan, lucky gamers will be able to download demos of Nintendogs and Jump Super Stars, perhaps one of the most anticipated DS titles yet to be released.
Once downloaded, the demos will be playable until the DS is powered off, when they will disappear. Those of you who already own a DS will already be familiar with this protocol – it’s like when you play a multiplayer game against someone else on a game that doesn’t require you both to have a copy – Yoshi’s Touch and Go for example.
This is exciting (for us at least) because Nintendo is now implementing what is to be a core policy for the company from now on. Of course, downloadable demos - whole games even - have been commonplace on PC for some time now. And many Xbox Live! games allow you to download new content for your games.
Nintendo has been criticised this past generation for their failure to acknowledge the inexorable march of the online gaming market. Nintendo’s response has always been that it is not yet widespread enough to be worth its while supporting it. That's debatable. But now we get the first glimpse into what is to come. Nintendo has promised that by the end of the year a completely free WiFi network will support online DS games like Mario Kart and Animal Crossing. And though Nintendo revealed precious little about the Revolution at E3, one thing was made clear: downloadable content is going to be a key feature. Not just old Nintendo classics either, attractive as they are. Are we to infer from the company's pledge to ease the burdens of beleaguered developers that new games will be available for purchase via the gratis Revolution online service? Just as publisher-less PC developers do now over the internet?
There was a time when it was rumoured that this would be the distribution model for the PS3. Sony has dropped that idea. Could Nintendo have adopted this discarded vision as its own?
Isn’t next-gen speculation fun? Join in - you know you have to - in the forums below.
Once downloaded, the demos will be playable until the DS is powered off, when they will disappear. Those of you who already own a DS will already be familiar with this protocol – it’s like when you play a multiplayer game against someone else on a game that doesn’t require you both to have a copy – Yoshi’s Touch and Go for example.
This is exciting (for us at least) because Nintendo is now implementing what is to be a core policy for the company from now on. Of course, downloadable demos - whole games even - have been commonplace on PC for some time now. And many Xbox Live! games allow you to download new content for your games.
Nintendo has been criticised this past generation for their failure to acknowledge the inexorable march of the online gaming market. Nintendo’s response has always been that it is not yet widespread enough to be worth its while supporting it. That's debatable. But now we get the first glimpse into what is to come. Nintendo has promised that by the end of the year a completely free WiFi network will support online DS games like Mario Kart and Animal Crossing. And though Nintendo revealed precious little about the Revolution at E3, one thing was made clear: downloadable content is going to be a key feature. Not just old Nintendo classics either, attractive as they are. Are we to infer from the company's pledge to ease the burdens of beleaguered developers that new games will be available for purchase via the gratis Revolution online service? Just as publisher-less PC developers do now over the internet?
There was a time when it was rumoured that this would be the distribution model for the PS3. Sony has dropped that idea. Could Nintendo have adopted this discarded vision as its own?
Isn’t next-gen speculation fun? Join in - you know you have to - in the forums below.
Read More Like This
Comments
ozfunghi 5 Aug 2005 14:00
1/7
"There was a time when it was rumoured that this would be the distribution model for the PS3. Sony has dropped that idea. Could Nintendo have adopted this discarded vision as its own?"
Nintendo has said time and again, for years now, that they would go online as soon as they could offer the service for FREE, which is what they're doing now. They didn't want the gamer to pay for the system, the game, and an online service as well. So i doubt it had anything to do with sony.
Nintendo has said time and again, for years now, that they would go online as soon as they could offer the service for FREE, which is what they're doing now. They didn't want the gamer to pay for the system, the game, and an online service as well. So i doubt it had anything to do with sony.
The_Moss 5 Aug 2005 16:35
2/7
Free Online service, yes. But a system of purchasing downloadable new games on that service. I don't think they've said that explicitly to date, though it has been hinted at.
more comments below our sponsor's message
Joji 7 Aug 2005 21:19
3/7
It's good that things are taking off for this part of the DS plan. I'd almost forgotten about it for a while when paying so much attention to the Rev.
If we could get these damn things into Game and Blockbuster next year then sweet things are gonna happen. Demos are common place for PS2 and PC but have never been done for hand helds so that's the best part.
If we could get these damn things into Game and Blockbuster next year then sweet things are gonna happen. Demos are common place for PS2 and PC but have never been done for hand helds so that's the best part.
SPInGSPOnG 8 Aug 2005 13:33
4/7
Joji wrote:
If we could get these damn things into Game and Blockbuster next year then sweet things are gonna happen.
Game are evil pigfuckers. It'd be better still if these things could be in your local independent retailer.
Game don't care about games or gamers - just profit.
Joji 8 Aug 2005 19:00
5/7
Then where do you suggest we download from? Surely not the likes of fast food chain and cinemas. Game might be evil, but that's where most people will go to buy games, so they can get a demo top up at the same time.
tyrion 9 Aug 2005 07:33
6/7
Joji wrote:
Then where do you suggest we download from? Surely not the likes of fast food chain and cinemas. Game might be evil, but that's where most people will go to buy games, so they can get a demo top up at the same time.
It would be good if Nintendo put download pods in indies. That's where most hardcore gamers go anyway.
However, I'm sure the closest we'll get is pods in a few Gamestation shops. I still consider Gamestation to be indies due to the attitudes of the staff and the setup of the stores, but they are owned by Blockbuster these days. So they gots the customers and they gots the corporate contacts.
scanman 9 Aug 2005 08:24
7/7
Joji wrote:
Then where do you suggest we download from? Surely not the likes of fast food chain and cinemas. Game might be evil, but that's where most people will go to buy games, so they can get a demo top up at the same time.
Why, your local hyperglobal gourmet coffee shop!
Star*ucks has WiFi in every one of its cafés I've visited in the last couple of years. Plus, you can get a really decent cup of Joe (for a chain - better than Costa, par with Nero) to fuel your next round of gaming.