Today Nintendo finally launches a full-featured online gaming service, Nintendo Wi-Fi for the DS. The website for the service is up and running at http://www.nintendowifi.com. The site contains information explaining the service, how to set up your wireless connection at home and other FAQ/troubleshooting information, descriptions of the games that will be available on Wi-Fi, and a whole pile of real-time game statistics.
For those who haven't been keeping track, here's some info on Nintendo Wi-Fi:
Though the site is up and the service is apparently operating there aren't any games for sale supporting the service... yet. The first two games will be released next week: Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk. I don't have much to say about the Tony Hawk game...
Putting Mario Kart online is an obvious move. This version of the game will feature 32 tracks, 16 characters (8 available immediately, 7 unlockable, and 1- Shy Guy- playable only during single-cart multiplayer), all with Nintendo 64-quality graphics. The tracks are a mix of favorite tracks from all the old Mario Kart games and a handful of new tracks. Various game modes include the standard Grand Prix mode, Battle mode (both original "balloon pop" and the "collect the Shines" type from Mario Kart: DD), a new mission mode that requires you to run obstacle courses or fight boss characters to unlock stuff, and of course Versus mode. You can play Versus against computer opponents, or up to 8 players in a local wireless game (1 cart or multiple carts), or with up to 4 players on the internet through Nintendo Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, at this point, there's no online Battle mode (though you can still play it with local wireless).
Early demonstrations for the press showed the service is stable and pretty much flawless at handling four characters over an internet connection (though lag can be a problem for people in different hemispheres). The Wi-Fi service gives you the option to play against only regional opponents (North America, Europe, Japan) or against anyone in the world.
I have Mario Kart DS pre-ordered. I'll report my impressions of the game and the whole Nintendo internet endeavor sometime next week. If this works out I'm crossing my fingers for online Super Smash Brothers DS...
For those who haven't been keeping track, here's some info on Nintendo Wi-Fi:
- Wireless internet gameplay with certain DS titles. Currently the confirmed titles are Mario Kart DS, Tony Hawk's Sk8land, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and Metroid Prime: Hunters.
- The service will NOT support existing DS games. It's quite possible future games could have local wireless play but not online Wi-Fi.
- The service will be available from public hotspots around the country. McDonald's recently announced that all their wi-fi enabled restaurants will be offering Nintendo Wi-Fi. You can also configure most wireless routers to work with the service, and for those with broadband but no wireless router Nintendo will be selling a USB Wi-Fi Dongle for about $40.
- The service supports some features familiar to XBox Live fans: Online world-wide leaderboards, friends lists, a personal stats page, and more.
- Friends lists aren't persistent from one title to another. It appears that you can have different friends lists for each game you own.
- All for the low price of FREE.
Though the site is up and the service is apparently operating there aren't any games for sale supporting the service... yet. The first two games will be released next week: Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk. I don't have much to say about the Tony Hawk game...
Putting Mario Kart online is an obvious move. This version of the game will feature 32 tracks, 16 characters (8 available immediately, 7 unlockable, and 1- Shy Guy- playable only during single-cart multiplayer), all with Nintendo 64-quality graphics. The tracks are a mix of favorite tracks from all the old Mario Kart games and a handful of new tracks. Various game modes include the standard Grand Prix mode, Battle mode (both original "balloon pop" and the "collect the Shines" type from Mario Kart: DD), a new mission mode that requires you to run obstacle courses or fight boss characters to unlock stuff, and of course Versus mode. You can play Versus against computer opponents, or up to 8 players in a local wireless game (1 cart or multiple carts), or with up to 4 players on the internet through Nintendo Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, at this point, there's no online Battle mode (though you can still play it with local wireless).
Early demonstrations for the press showed the service is stable and pretty much flawless at handling four characters over an internet connection (though lag can be a problem for people in different hemispheres). The Wi-Fi service gives you the option to play against only regional opponents (North America, Europe, Japan) or against anyone in the world.
I have Mario Kart DS pre-ordered. I'll report my impressions of the game and the whole Nintendo internet endeavor sometime next week. If this works out I'm crossing my fingers for online Super Smash Brothers DS...
