DS Goes Online
Iwata reveals the plan to connect players to the net, including the "killer app" we've all been waiting for.
by Craig Harris
March 10, 2005 - At the Game Developers Conference keynote speech today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed that Nintendo will be sending its Nintendo DS online wirelessly to enable gamers around the world to connect to each other in games written specifically for the protocol.
Once the service begins later this year, Nintendo DS users will be able to connect to the service wirelessly at universal Wi-Fi hot spots in use all over the world. Nintendo's in-house development team is already creating Animal Crossing DS to support global Wi-Fi connectivity.
During the speech, Iwata took part in eight-player wireless competition of Mario Kart DS with audience members to demonstrate the local-area wireless support already inherent in several Nintendo DS games. More details on the Wi-Fi service will be revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this May.
Iwata also used his keynote speech today to reveal that shipments of DS systems have surpassed four million units in North America and in Japan in the 16 weeks on the market. That number will approach six million when the system launches in Europe this March.
During the speech, Iwata demonstrated two key Nintendo DS games to spotlight the unique gameplay aspects and non-traditional gaming of the dual screen handheld. Nintendogs was highlighted to demonstrate the voice and touch controls of interacting with realistic puppies on-screen. Electroplankton also made its debut to show the innovative use of the DS' control properties. According to Iwata: "This is designed to produce harmony, not adrenaline."
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