DS online! And... Revolution?

[Curt]

Source: Official Nintendo Magazine UK


16:09 Rumours have been doing the rounds since the Nintendo DS became available last year that the handheld would be able to play games online via its wi-fi connection. While tech-heads have been working their digital socks off to crack the problem, Nintendo has remained silent on the possibility of online DS gaming.

Not any more. "The DS does have online capabilities that Nintendo is exploring," a spokesperson for Nintendo confirmed to us today, "but plans for these capabilities have not been announced yet."

With our juices flowing from this tasty - and official - morsel, we pressed our unofficial sources close to the Japanese games giant for more information. We were informed that an online service for DS is definitely on the way, and that you'll be able to download/upload information as well as play games online. In addition, apparently at least two US and Japanese third-party developers have been trialling the DS online, and have even managed to get more than 16 DSs linked wirelessly at one time.

The likelihood is - and this is only speculation at present - that DS online would work is a similar fashion to the rumoured plans for PSP's wi-fi networking we reported yesterday (catch up here). You'd need to be in range with a wireless access point to the internet (a PC, a public wireless hotspot like a café or airport, or even a Nintendo Revolution...?), which would then upload and download information from your DS and send it across the network. In this way you could play against DS owners around the world.

While no final plans have been detailed by Nintendo for DS online, it seems we're extremely close to an announcement - possibly at Nintendo's unveiling of the European pricepoint and release date for the handheld on Thursday, January 27 in Paris. We'll be there.

These revelations follow more speculation about Nintendo's online plans for DS aroused by a reader's letter to IGN's DS subsite. Responding to a query about the DS's wi-fi capabilities Craig Harris, the editor-in-chief of the site, made the following statement:

"There's been rumblings at Nintendo that indicate that the company will finally unwrap its DS online plans very, very soon. If we've been hearing things correctly, Nintendo will finally and very, very soon, reveal its own "Xbox Live"-like service for developers to adopt. "

From the speculation we've heard today, it seems that Mr. Harris may well be right on the money. But what about games to exploit this new online capability in DS? Harris offers, "And the first game out of Nintendo to use this service will be one of those massively killer Nintendo brands that people have been wanting to play online for years..."

Mario Kart DS? A new Pokemon game? Consider speculation season open.

So that's the exciting DS news, but where does this leave Nintendo's next-gen Revolution? Rumours stemming from an alleged inside source at Nintendo we reported on yesterday mentioned that Nintendo were working on an online gaming strategy that would debut on DS and carry over to Revolution. Now it looks like that claim is far more reliable since it would make perfect sense for Nintendo to debut an online gaming network on DS, and then refine it for the arrival of their next-gen home console.

Good news, or what? The reality of the situation is that Nintendo needs an online gaming strategy for both DS and Revolution. While the company has argued in the past that online gaming is not an immediate concern, the success of Xbox Live and PS2's online component, coupled with the imminent threat of a PSP that looks to be preparing an online gaming onslaught, networking is going to be an essential element of gaming in the future.

Unfortunately it seems that we'll just have to wait for Nintendo to make the full announcement about the DS's online capabilities. We're optimistic, though - we know the Japanese giant has some surprises up its sleeve for the European DS announcement on Thursday, and details about the innovative handheld's online future would be the perfect way to hammer home its status ahead of a launch on this continent...

We'll be at the press conference on Thursday and we'll bring you all the latest first.
Hmm... does this mean that the Revolution will be some sort of wireless router, too?

[Behonkiss]

It would be odd for Nintendo to suddenly switch from their "We're still looking" approach to online to a full-fledged service, but it would also be very nice.

[chris3116]

I think we won't pay for a subscription. The build router/modem or something like that will be included directly on the Revlution. That could hurt X-Box Live if that happens.

I want a Super Smash Bros Melee Online for a very long time. It will happen.
Some interesting franchises that could be online:

A MMORPG Pokemon.
Advance Wars
Mario Kart
Mario Party
SSBM (Of course)
Mario Tennis / Golf
Metroid Prime
Zelda: four swords Adventures (A New One)

[silverwings]

Nintendo's never been "We hate online" they just never wanted to do it unless it was profitable. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they've been secretly setting up something for the Revolution..

I mean, isn't the thing supposed to be able to connect to computer monitors? Why would you have that if you didn't plan to have an online plan? ;)

I agree with chris3116, though, that the service will be free. And if it's not, it'll probably make Xbox Live look like a rip-off. :p

[Conekiller]

*drools at the thought of online Pokemon*:D

[Mynd Hed]

Personally, I'd be very surprised if wireless connectivity with the DS was included with the Revolution in-box. Wireless routers are expensive, and traditionally Nintendo has been wary of including features that will significantly boost the price of their consoles unless they're something that nearly all gamers will make use of. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I think it's more likely that it'll be an optional add-on like the Xbox wireless network adapter.

[Weatherman]

While they may be expensive now, by the time the Revolution debuts in 2006(tenatively), they may very well be within reach for Nintendo to include. This is very very interesting news indeed. It's about dang time that Nintemdo looked really hard at the online gaming community as they could make a huge splash if they do it right.


Here's hoping.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

If Nintendo gives free online service sales will go up. Oh yes they will go up

[Ninja Murasaki]

I hope they do it. That would be so cool. It would be helpful if there were some kind of a way for the DS to hook up to a computer or modem so I could play at home and on the go. Maybe through the GBA slot? Well, time will tell, and I'm glad I've got my DS so if anything happens I will not be left behind. I would kind of like Mario Kart to be online because it's so easy to pick up and play, but it doesn't matter what games they pick, just as long as they pick some good games and make them fun. If this happens, Nintendo will really have a great chance to thrive.

[Demonic Raven]

Honestly, I'll buy a wireless router if it meant going online with the DS. I just doubt alot of other gamers will be that interested. Nintendo might need to find their own creative solution or this will only reach the most extreme of Nintendo gamers.

Of course, it isn't that hard to just go and hang at Starbucks to play. There's one every 3 blocks, you know....:p

[Mynd Hed]

While they may be expensive now, by the time the Revolution debuts in 2006(tenatively), they may very well be within reach for Nintendo to include.

I dunno. As of right now, Xbox's wireless router runs about a hundred bucks. Even if between normal price drops and cost-cutting measures involving building right into the box they were able to drop that by half, that's still a fifty dollar increase in the cost of the console. That's nothing to sneeze at. Unless Nintendo pulls a COMPLETE 180 and makes online play a central feature of the new console, I don't see it as likely. Not impossible, just unlikely.

[Fresh V]

Online Mario Kart........ *drool*

[Curt]

I dunno. As of right now, Xbox's wireless router runs about a hundred bucks. Even if between normal price drops and cost-cutting measures involving building right into the box they were able to drop that by half, that's still a fifty dollar increase in the cost of the console. That's nothing to sneeze at. Unless Nintendo pulls a COMPLETE 180 and makes online play a central feature of the new console, I don't see it as likely. Not impossible, just unlikely.
That's actually just a wireless adapter, not a router. The adapter lets your XBox connect to your existing wireless network. Though, Linksys' wireless game adapter will run you $30 less, and works on any broadband-enabled game system.

[Strollymonster]

I think that they should make EVERYTHING wireless on the Revolution...at least the controllers should come standard that way...

As for the net options, it looks promising. Hopefully they'll be willing to take it further than the failed GBA/GCN "connectivity" that fell through.

[Mynd Hed]

I think that they should make EVERYTHING wireless on the Revolution...at least the controllers should come standard that way...

I dunno about that-- some people would rather have the hassle of cords than the hassle of batteries, frequencies, and line-of-sight, and I can't say I blame them. Me, I love my Wavebird to death, but I think it's something that should stay optional.

Now, a reliable, first-party wireless controller like the Wavebird IS something that should be available from launch (or close to it) for all the next-gen systems. There's just no excuse not to. But I don't know that it needs to become the in-box standard.

[SNS]

I agree that Wavebird should be the standard for the Revolution but they should have the option for rumble on the controller (with a switch to turn it off & on to save battery power) & it should have rechargable batters (so when it runs low you can just charged it back up like a Game Boy). Line-of-sight wouldn't be an issue considering how good the Gamecube Wavebirds are with that (the signal even goes through solid walls).

[Mynd Hed]

I agree that Wavebird should be the standard for the Revolution but they should have the option for rumble on the controller (with a switch to turn it off & on to save battery power) & it should have rechargable batters (so when it runs low you can just charged it back up like a Game Boy). Line-of-sight wouldn't be an issue considering how good the Gamecube Wavebirds are with that (the signal even goes through solid walls).

When the batteries are fresh line-of-sight isn't that big a problem, but when they start to fade I've had signal problems just from having the Wavebird behind my legs.
Rechargable batteries and a rumble option would be nice improvements, though. I had a third-party wireless controller for a while with the rumble option and it worked fine-- it didn't even drain batteries that quickly-- but I eventually quit using it because the d-pad was the most poorly-made I've ever used. It got so that I had trouble even navigating menus with it, let alone playing Soul Calibur.
It's experiences like that with third-party hardware which make me wish Sony and Microsoft would get on the ball with their own wireless controllers. Third-party controllers are always a gamble; I think the last one I had a really positive experience with was the ASCII pad for the SNES.

[William C. Maune]

I really like the idea of wireless controllers being standard on the next system, however that's only if the controllers use a rechargable base station/have a built in rechargeable battery, etc. instead of replacement batteries. With a recharegeable battery you wouldn't have to worry about low signal strength as the battery runs out because the controller can always be charging when it isn't in use. Things in general are moving towards wireless and if this is really going to be Nintendo's "Revolution," then wireless controllers would be a nice touch. There would be no more having to position the couch based on the length of the cords, cords getting knocked out as someone trips in front of the television, cords to get tangled, cords to get split and frayed over time, no more cords for pets to chew on, etc., etc.

[Ninja Murasaki]

I agree that third party controllers are usually bad. I have a Interact PiranhaPad for my PS1 and it is poorly designed. The D Pad is bad and the 4 buttons are different feeling to press then the Sony controller. My brother always says it's unfair because he has to use that controller when we play 2 player games.

As long as the wireless controller has a rumble feature and a good battery life weather it takes regular batteries or rechargables I would like to have it out of the box. You won't have to worry about pulling the system down off a table if you get mad at a game.

[RAINMAN]

This still won`t change my mind on online gaming.

[Swonker]

Online Mario Kart........ *drool*
Why wait for the revolution? You can have online Mario Kart now! (http://www.warppipe.com/)