One of the less-discussed features of the DS is the downloadable demo -- probably because a lot of people just don't use it! Whether it's a matter of not being near a download station, or having a download station in an inconvenient location, most gamers we know who own a DS have never, or rarely, downloaded a demo to their handheld. Have you? If so, how often? In a perfect world, we could download our demos from anywhere (say, the wide world of the internets) and test nearly any game. Can you tell we're waiting (im)patiently? Over the past few months, which games do you think would have benefited most from a downloadable demo? With so many games to choose from, a few titles often get passed over, after all, because you just don't get to try them.
_thumbnail.jpg "Prince of Persia: The Fallen King")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-12-2008 @ 9:16AM
pas said...
Well, if Nintendo decides to FINALLY bring that Nintendo Channel over to the wii we will have our demos !
DSVision may also be a way and could work like Sony's PSP Downloading approach.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 9:17AM
Bluebreaker said...
The stations are convenient (usually electronics stores and such) but the greater question is who actually takes their DS outside and play? I heard sales make it better than sliced bread and the titles fly off the shelves but I have yet to see somebody play with it on a bus, or in a cafe or even in a car!!
I downloaded Phantom Hourglass because I was anxious to see what it would be like. They do need to update the games on the kiosks though.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 9:27AM
T-Patch said...
I actually use the download stations quite often. It helped me make the decision to get Elite Beat Agents, and gave me possibly the only taste of Ninja Gaiden I may ever have. And if I don't happen to have my DS, I use the old "hold Select + Start while turning on the system" trick on the store's kiosk DS to bypass the game and get to the menu. That's what I did to play the Apollo Justice demo at GameStop while waiting fir our Brawl Tournament to start.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 1:39PM
rikki said...
Dude, thank you. I never bothered to look at how to get back to the menu when the cartridge is set to "auto-play".
Next time I'm in a GS sans my DS, I'm totally trying this on one of their demo units.
3-12-2008 @ 9:54AM
Nigeria said...
I've never seen a working downloadable station.
I'd like to see a demo for for Partners in Time or Etrian Odyssey. You know, for a system famed for its RPGs, I really don't see that much RPGs.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 10:28AM
Michael K. said...
The only time I did was at the nintendo fusion tour (I went so I could try the wii before it came out), while waiting for the concert to let in, a girl came around that was wearing this harness thing that was a portable download station so people could download demos while they waited.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 10:33AM
Dayv said...
I don't make it into stores that have download stations very often, and I only have my DS on me about half the time, but I think it's a great concept. If only there was some way to download demos over the internet when I was at home!
Nintendo really needs to develop this idea, even if it can't be implemented until the next revision of the DS hardware... The one day I did try out some demos (when I knew I was going to be waiting around at the DMV in the mall, so I planned ahead), I ended up buying Picross the next day -- I *never* would have thought I'd like the game (it got a lot of Sudoku comparisons, which is never a good thing in my book), but the demo completely changed my mind.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 11:41AM
JKAntwon said...
i like to use the demos in walmart.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 12:55PM
Deona said...
I like the DS demo stations a lot. Without it, I would have never bought Brain Age.
However, all the stores never update the kiosks. They still have the very first demos with Brain Age, Tetris, and Mario Kart.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 12:59PM
Mike said...
I've never used a download station, but I did download the DS demo of Geometry Wars from the Wii GW disc. I'm pretty disappointed that all DS demos are not available through the Wii yet - hopefully very soon.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 12:59PM
Kevin Adder Snake said...
I'm a bit nervous to be hanging out in a game store with my DS Lite. I did download a demo of Cooking Mama. It just so awkward for me, standing around while creepy, undersexed gamers breathing down my neck. I wish they would send us the Everybody Nintendo channel, so I can try DS demos in the comfort of my own home.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 8:45PM
ArmorForVictor said...
yes me a 19 year old standing around awkwardly playing a demo on a ds lite is where i draw the line. i'll try out ds demos once everybody's nintendo channel comes out for the wii.
3-13-2008 @ 11:25AM
Sarah said...
Yeah the creep factor is high, I also get nervous that I'm going to be accused of stealing the DS I'm playing from the store, just because its so unnatural to be playing video games on your own system while shopping. I've done it once but I was so paranoid about it I probably did look like a thief!
3-12-2008 @ 1:42PM
CDog said...
I was traveling a ton last year so I'd hit the station in the Atlanta airport and download whatever looked interesting. It gave me something to do at the gate.
They need to update them way more frequently!
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 1:55PM
Linka said...
I've used the download station for Elite Beat Agents, before I got it, and for Contra 4. Greatest way to introduce me to the mechanics of Contra, especially seeing as I could basically redo the first stage again, and again, and again.
A game like Geometry Wars would be a good thing to have a in-store demo for, instead of just the Wii one. I mean, come on; what better to convince people to buy it than a few (read: many) gos at Retro Evolved on the DS?
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 1:59PM
C02M0 said...
none in israel ,,,
tho i whould never use it , ive got too many games to finish anyway ...
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 3:53PM
Deozaan said...
I've gone to Target, Wal-Mart, and even Gamestop with my DS and there's never a working Demo Station. The only place that was successful for me was Toys 'R' Us (which is about 150 miles away) when I went for the Manaphy Event.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 6:19PM
Dr_W@dsy said...
I don't have access to ANY demo's ever, since I don't live in the US. I wish I could d/l a Ninja Gaiden demo, just to satisfy my craving for ninja-style flipping-out-and-killing-everyone....
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 8:57PM
ThatFuzzyBastard said...
Love love love the download stations. I work in New York, so I find working ones in Best Buy and Gamestop, and pass plenty of both on the way to work. It's always a day of joy when a new pack of demos arrives, lemme tell ya.
Reply
3-12-2008 @ 9:21PM
Kade said...
DS Download stations are the best! I use them all the time. I have played Contra 4, Ninja Gaiden, CustomRobo Arena, Worms 2, Jam Sessions, Cooking Mama, Time Ace, Mariokart and many other games by downloading them onto my DS.
Walmart, Target, etc. usually have their Stations running, but Nintendo really does need to update their games more often. I think they're only on the 7th Volume of downloadable demos. Another really useful feature of the download stations that definitely has not been used to full potential is bonus content. I once saw some bonus content for Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales, but I didn't have the game so I didn't get to see how it worked.
Has anybody used the bonus content from the download stations yet?
Reply