In an interview that was conducted with Japanese newspaper Nikkei Business Publications, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata focused mainly on the Wii, however he also confirmed that the Wii will be able to interact with the DS in the form of downloadable demos through the WiiConnect 24 service.
"Let's say your Wii is connected to the Internet in a mode that allows activation on a 24-hour basis. This would allow Nintendo to send monthly promotional demos for the DS, during the night, to the Wii consoles in each household. Users would wake up each morning, find the LED lamp on their Wii flashing, and know that Nintendo has sent them something. They would then be able to download the promotional demo from their Wii's to their Nintendo DS's."
Looks like we're batting 0 for 2 on news outside of the LA Convention center last week as another trusty reader, well aware of our fascination with all things Animal Crossing, sent us an email that was both informative and painful to read. Informative in the way that Mother's Day was another occasion where Nintendo let loose another holiday gift for all those Wi-Fi-connecting Animal Crossing: Wild World addicts out there and painful in the way that we failed to obtain it! His email reads:
"Hi there,
I'm not sure if this was something sent out over WiFi connection, but I opened my gates yesterday (Mother's Day) just in case.
A letter in my mailbox was waiting today. It reads:
"Buy low, sell high, and call your mom on Mother's Day. These are the keys to a regret free life. - Nintendo"
A dafodil was attached.
Just wondering if all the post-E3 stuff obscured this ostensible WiFi goodie. :-)"
Now, as awesome a reader as you are to let us know what we all missed, I must ask you just exactly where are the pictures man?! Hook it up!
During all the chaos that was E3, we totally neglected to check the New Super Mario Bros. site for updates. That's where trusty reader Jeremy swooped in, wet fish firmly gripped in hand, and waved the large tuna directly into our collective faces screaming "post it!" Not one to ever turn down a crazed madman fan, we happily report that the site has received a major overhaul, but if you're too busy actually playing the game to check it out, we'll understand and suffer our fate as best we can.
Unlike the intimidating, oblong towers that litter the streets of Japan, the American DS download station is a more understated affair, consisting of not much more than a seemingly innocent white box and an aura of mystery. Thanks to an impromptu photographer, we can now view the wizard behind the curtain without fear of deadly reprisals.
Inside, a plain 'ole phat DS equipped with a special game card sits and contentedly waits for a fellow DS to connect and download a demo. When Nintendo decides that it's time for some fresh demos, only the game card in the transmitting DS needs to be replaced. Seems like a simple and efficient system, provided some crazy person doesn't bust open the box, take some pictures and run off with the unit.
Capcom of Japan sends news that the soundtracks to all of the Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright to you and me) games will be hitting the Japanese iTunes store, each song fetching a price to the tune of about $1.25. Complete albums will go for between $8 and $20. (Converted to American currency for your convenience.)
The music in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney certainly spurred you on to point out that final contradiction just as the shady witness was cracking, but I don't think it would work as well when detached from the game. I think prolonged exposure to it in its seperate form is likely to result in feelings of elevator claustrophobia, along with a strong desire to play the full game.
Still, I'd like to see Capcom's musical endeavor succeed, if only for the reason that it might prompt them to throw some more Mega Man remix soundtracks on Apple's download service. I could listen to the Mega Man 2 title screen music or the theme from Ring Man's stage all day. Any other great Capcom tunes you'd like to have on your MP3 player?
Last month we told of the Nintendo Game Seminar that would result in the release of 4 downloadable games in Japan this month and fashionably late to the party is the information on these games and when they're releasing over in Japan. The first two games, which will be available in the next 2 weeks, are Nekosogi Toruneedo (Nekosogi Tornado), and KuruKeshi (Rotate and Erase). The first game focuses on the player grabbing items in the street and tossing them skyward to eliminate enemies falling to the ground. The second title is a puzzle game which tasks the player with creating triangles of the same color in order to eliminate them from the screen.
Releasing in early May, the other two titles are bioum (which stands for bioform birth) and Chii to Fuu no Oishii Ehon (Chii and Fuu's Delicious Picturebook). The first title allows the player to draw life forms which multiply inside the DS to create ecosystems, while Chii and Fuu's Delicious Picturebook gives the player the chance to collect ingredients in the hope of making a scrumptious pancake. Snapshots of the games are available after the jump.
We just hope that Nintendo brings this outside of Japan so that we may get a chance at making a game on the DS. What kind of game would you make?
When you ask DS Fanboy readers to do something for you, they don't waste much time. This is a valuable lesson I've now learned after putting out a call to you guys to let us know where and when you stumble across one of the many Wi-Fi tendrils of Nintendo's download station network currently spreading across the world. My online persona was buried beneath an avalanche of tips, comments and the usual death threats, but it has now surfaced and is ready to start compiling the information in an epic list that's sure to inspire a major motion picture. This is just the second part of our ongoing quest and I hope to keep adding new locations on a weekly basis.
A big, slightly overzealous "thank you" to everyone that contributed to this round. If you don't see your highlighted area in the list, be sure to check back later in the month. A few brave souls have also added some new locations to the Frappr map--quite a feat given that working with that application is about as pleasant as a sturdy kick in the head. The format of this list is probably far from optimal, so please let me know how you'd like me to change it in the future.
Also, the information from readers isn't always exact, but if you see that one Best Buy (or another store) has a download station in your region, chances are decent that others will have too. You'll know you're close to one by either recognizing a small banner and a DS set in wireless mode behind some plastic or experiencing a lightheaded sensation as Wi-Fi beams scramble your brains.
Keep the details (we want street names!), pictures and experiences coming! The full list is but a click away.
Nintendo's Game Seminar managed to bear some fruit as several attending students created games that will be available for download. The games, titled Tornado, Nekosogi Tornado, Bioumu, and Kuru Keshi!, were recently trademarked by Nintendo and will be available in Japan come April via download.
Liranuna seems to be quite the homebrewer homebrewster, going so far as to release a complete RPG game for the DS. Titled Tales of Dagur, the game revolves around Alex, a young lad summoned by the King of Dagur to help find the missing queen and reclaim the coveted holy stone, an artifiact which also went missing, that helps protect the kingdom.
The team comments that the game lacks a magic system and the battle system as a whole wasn't as fleshed out as they would have liked, mostly due to time constraints. Regardless, this is an impressive first step toward what we hope are many DS homebrew games to come.
Though we still insist that the title of Mega Man is nothing but a blatant lie, what with the Blue Bomber actually being a little kleptomaniac, robot boy, we still can't help but froth at the mouth over this all-too-brief glimpse of his forthcoming DS adventure. It looks like crazy dashing, giant bosses and earth-shattering explosions will be the order of the day here.
Click the link, download and commence frothing.
[Via British Gaming Blog. Thanks JonathanEx, dwarpdesign!]
The nostalgic sight of plummeting Tetris blocks (or Tetrominoes, if you prefer) is sure to foster a warm feeling deep inside any gamer. Right now, we have an insatiable desire to give those L-shaped pieces a loving, yet slightly uncomfortable hug. Nintendo undoubtedly feels the same way, at least judging by all the love they're giving the upcoming touch-enabled Tetris DS.
The chaps over at British Gaming Blog have posted some videos of the game in action, including some showing the game's Push and Touch modes. Don't worry, they're safe for work. The latter mode is a more slow-paced affair, with Tetrominoes awkwardly stacked on top of each other and awaiting the player to spin them about, thus allowing them to slot into each other and disappear. As for the ingenious Donkey Kong-themed Push mode, it seems ideally suited for Wi-Fi multiplayer battles. Each player is relegated to one of the DS screens, with the opponent being mirrored in the bottom screen (i.e. his blocks move upwards). Each player slots Tetrominoes into a cluster of blocks that's initially right in the middle of the two playing fields. Performing well and racking up combos pushes the block cluster away and into your opponent's screen, lessening his maneuvering space and chances of survival.
If that explanation doesn't make sense (and we don't blame you), just check out the videos. A word of warning, though: Turn off the sound. Those catchy old-school remixes will become lodged in your brain for the rest of the day.
You can now get VOIP service on your DS via HelloDS. The platform is still in a very early iteration, but here's hoping it turns out nicely. From the official site:
"Q: What Is HelloDS?
A: HelloDS is a simple VoIP application for Nintendo DS, created by Alias-Zero It makes use of Stephen Stair's Wifi Lib Q: Where Can I Get HelloDS?
A: The latest HelloDS builds are available from the download section, or on the forum where latest build information is posted. Q: Can I have the source code?
A: I will release the source when I release the final version of HelloDS, no sooner no later. Sorry! Q: Can I help you work on HelloDS?
A: Sorry it's kind of a project I'd like to work on alone, however you can offer me suggestions to improve HelloDS, see the forum section."
For what it's worth, apparently the Japanese DS Demo Kiosks do not work with non Japanese DS systems. Brandon Piltcher writes: "I took my American DS to the booth, and it gave me the option to download Mario Kart demo and a Dragon Quest demo. I had a good connection, but when I went to download, the connection dropped out... After a few times, I got help and according to the store employee, [kiosks] wont work with non Japanese DS systems."
Regional coding is pretty standard with electronics, but could a truly international DS have a place? Bummer if you're going to Japan with an American DS, but hey, you're still in Japan.
In an interview that was conducted with Japanese newspaper Nikkei Business Publications, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata focused mainly on the Wii, however he also confirmed that the Wii will be able to interact with the DS in the form of downloadable demos through the WiiConnect 24 service.
During all the chaos that was E3, we totally neglected to check the New Super Mario Bros. site for updates. That's where trusty reader Jeremy swooped in, wet fish firmly gripped in hand, and waved the large tuna directly into our collective faces screaming "post it!" Not one to ever turn down a 
Unlike the intimidating, oblong towers that litter the streets of Japan, the American DS download station is a more understated affair, consisting of not much more than a seemingly innocent white box and an aura of mystery. Thanks to an impromptu photographer, we can now view the wizard behind the curtain without fear of deadly reprisals.
Capcom of Japan sends news that the soundtracks to all of the Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright to you and me) games will be hitting the Japanese iTunes store, each song fetching a price to the tune of about 
Last month we told of the 
When you ask DS Fanboy readers to do something for you, they don't waste much time. This is a valuable lesson I've now learned after putting out a call to you guys to let us know where and when you stumble across one of the many Wi-Fi tendrils of Nintendo's download station network currently spreading across the world. My online persona was buried beneath an avalanche of tips, comments and the usual death threats, but it has now surfaced and is ready to start compiling the information in an epic list that's sure to inspire a major motion picture. This is just the second part of our ongoing quest and I hope to keep adding new locations on a weekly basis.
Nintendo's Game Seminar managed to bear some fruit as several attending students created games that will be available for download. The games, titled Tornado, Nekosogi Tornado, Bioumu, and Kuru Keshi!, were recently trademarked by Nintendo and will be available in Japan come April via download.
Liranuna seems to be quite the 
Though we still insist that the title of Mega Man is nothing but a blatant lie, what with the Blue Bomber actually being a little kleptomaniac, robot boy, we still can't help but froth at the mouth over this all-too-brief glimpse of his forthcoming DS adventure. It looks like crazy dashing, giant bosses and earth-shattering explosions will be the order of the day here.
You can now get VOIP service on your DS via HelloDS. The platform is still in a very early iteration, but here's hoping it turns out nicely. From the official site:
For what it's worth, apparently the Japanese DS Demo Kiosks do not work with non Japanese DS systems. Brandon Piltcher writes: "I took my American DS to the booth, and it gave me the option to download Mario Kart demo and a Dragon Quest demo. I had a good connection, but when I went to download, the connection dropped out... After a few times, I got help and according to the store employee, [kiosks] wont work with non Japanese DS systems."
_thumbnail.jpg "Matchman")
