Get the latest Age of Conan news and views at Massively!
GameDaily
Add to: My AOL, MyYahoo, Google, Bloglines
Joystiq presents
Posts with tag download-station

Wet your wireless whistle at new Nintendo DS Centers

Nintendo is taking the whole portable connectivity concept one step further in the UK, with 33 brand-spankin' new DS Centers installed at various retailers. There used to be a bunch of creaky old "Download Stations" dotted about the place, but these latest models outstript the dated machines with their sleek superiority and high levels of rad.

The official website has launched, where you can learn what these white towers of fun can do for you and your DS. We love making generalizations around here, so we'll assume every UK citizen lives in a quaint little cottage in the countryside, always having scones and raspberry jam for tea. If you want to try one of these DS Centers, you'll need to crank up your old Reliant Robin and pop down to the local big-shot retailer to bust out some Wi-Fi fun.

These centers are a pretty good way to physically show UK gamers that their DS can do more than sit unloved at the bottom of a bag while waiting around for the next Coronation Street house party. You can download the latest demos, try a game you may have missed, and even get global with a worldwide network of DS players. It'll be just as fun as downing a pint at the Rub-A-Dub, right lads?

A more intimate look at the Nintendo Spot service


Click to enter gallery

Remember that story we ran about McDonald's recently? No, not the one about no more free Wi-Fi, the other story. The one about the download service in Japan. Got it? Good.

Well, Inside Games recently checked out the service and did a nice little write-up. Of course, some of you knew what the service looks like because you checked out our gallery of screens (below, if you're late to the party), but if you're looking for some additional screens depicting the service at work, hit up Inside Games.

UK getting new, superior DS Download Stations



Until recently, the UK supposedly had 600 DS Download Stations dotted about its high streets. Exactly where these were located will probably forever remain a mystery -- this blogger resides in one of the largest UK cities, yet still hasn't seen a single Download Station in the wild.

Fortunately, that could be about to change, and soon. The latest issue of Official Nintendo Magazine reveals that Nintendo has plans to launch a bunch of new 'DS Download Center' stands to UK retailers and supermarkets, including chains such as GAME, Gamestation, HMV, and others.

These aren't just any old DS Download Centers, either. With the old style of Download Center now extinct in British stores, this new breed will come equipped with a DS Lite for trying out demos (we give the styluses a week before they're swiped by ne'er-do-good street urchins), along with a video screen so that annoying curious passers-by can peek in at what's happening on your screens. Nintendo is also promising that many demos will be downloadable, and will feature some of the latest games; which should make a change from the drab offerings we currently have here on the Nintendo Channel.

The DS: McDonalds is lovin' it

Fast food chain McDonalds is to launch a new download service in Japan tomorrow, through DS download stations located in 21 Tokyo branches of McDonalds and train stations along the Tsukuba Express line.

The scheme, dubbed "Nintendo Spot," is currently in a trial period, and will give DS owners access to free downloads featuring the latest "McDonalds news" (this just in: you need to learn to cook for yourself), nutritional information, and menus, as well as actual news, weather reports, horoscopes, a Brain Training demo, and hotel/restaurant guides for Tokyo (though we assume that guides to rival restaurants won't appear in McDonalds). The trial ends on June 30th in McDonalds, and on December 28th at the railway stations.

Incidentally, our machine translation is picking up something about a "downloadable gift" related to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Here's hoping the service heads west so we can find out more. While you wait with us, make the jump for a look at Ronald McDonald's offspring as perceived through the eyes of Japanese advertising executives (warning: slightly NSFW).

Continue reading The DS: McDonalds is lovin' it

DS Download Auction


Sure, this is just a used DS Phat with a sticker on it, in a chipped lockbox, but it's the coolest used DS in a box we've ever seen. That's because this particular arrangement is a retail download station, of the sort set up in local stores (and at Safeco Field). It's intended to broadcast demos to anyone who brings their DS to the location that houses it.

As if it weren't cool enough to have a DS Download Station that is never supposed to leave the store, this set comes with two cartridges full of Download Play demos. The current bid is only $.99, but who knows how high the reserve is, especially given the $350 Buy It Now price. For that matter, who knows if Nintendo will see the auction and shut it down?

[Via GameSniped]

Classic Mega Man shows up in Star Force 2

While it's true that the original Blue Bomber makes an appearance in Mega Man Star Force 2, it's probably not in the way that you're hoping. In a promotion for the game, Capcom has allowed Japanese players to download a classic Rockman card at DS download stations.

It would definitely be cool if Capcom let other regions enjoy this content, too, but we're not getting our hopes up. This wouldn't be the first time Japan has gotten cool downloadables that haven't found their way elsewhere.


Rumor: Contra 4 and Ninja Gaiden coming to DS Download Stations?

GoNintendo's "inside guy" is usually spot-on with his scouted information on upcoming Download Station games, but keep in mind that this tally is anything but official. According to the mole's report, this Version 7 update to the in-store wireless stations will feature a total of twelve game demos and five videos, all of which you can see after the post break.

Playable demos for Contra 4 and Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword top the gossip, promising to bring run-n-gun shootin' and ninja-of-the-night flippin' to our handhelds soon. Once this update hits, we are going to be on these two titles like gravy on mashed potatoes. Who knows, we might even eat some mashed potatoes with gravy while we play the demo. These are crazy times we live in.

Continue reading Rumor: Contra 4 and Ninja Gaiden coming to DS Download Stations?

Finally, DS demo downloads via Wii

Among the other megatons Nintendo dropped at its Tokyo conference late last night, the company revealed that the Wii will soon support a feature we've been speculating on for some time now -- enabling the console to act as a DS demo download station. At last, you can finally try out games like that new Nancy Drew release without ever leaving the comfort of your own home!

Much like with the download stations that are already installed in game stores and airports across the country, Nintendo Wii owners will eventually be able to download video game trailers and demos wirelessly to their DS through the newly announced "Everyone's Nintendo Channel." A concrete date hasn't yet been set for the channel's launch.

Features
Another Week in ... (46)
Bury the Shovelware (1)
DS Daily (471)
DS Fanboy Lite (40)
DS Fanboy poll (41)
Friday video (68)
Game Night (143)
Gaming to Go (1)
Items of Import (0)
Metareview (53)
Promotional Consideration (54)
Show and Tell (60)
The DS Life (53)
What are you playing? (88)
Bits
Accessories (135)
Downloads (63)
Fan stuff (1389)
Features (265)
GBA (127)
Hacks (80)
Homebrew (205)
How-tos (67)
Imports (873)
Interviews (146)
Meta (120)
Mods (16)
News (3076)
Nintendo Wi-Fi (180)
Reviews (181)
Sales (185)
Screens (894)
Video (649)
Rumors (175)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Featured Galleries

Hungry DS Case
Theresia
Chocobo and the Magic Storybook: The Witch and the Girl and the Five Heroes
Cid and Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: Maze of Time DS+
Show and Tell: Antoinette's Mario Bros. Room
Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero
Princess Maker 4

 

Most Commented On (14 days)

Recent Comments

Weblogs, Inc. Network

  • Autos
    • Autoblog
    • AutoblogGreen
    • Autoblog Spanish
    • Autoblog Chinese
    • Autoblog Simplified Chinese
  • Technology
    • Download Squad
    • Engadget
    • Engadget HD
    • Engadget Mobile
    • Engadget Chinese
    • Engadget Simplified Chinese
    • Engadget Japanese
    • Engadget Spanish
    • Engadget Polska
    • Switched
    • TUAW (Apple)
  • Lifestyle
    • AisleDash
    • DIY Life
    • Gadling
    • Green Daily
    • Luxist
    • ParentDish
    • Slashfood
    • Styledash
    • That's Fit
  • Gaming
    • Joystiq
    • DS Fanboy
    • Massively
    • Nintendo Wii Fanboy
    • PS3 Fanboy
    • PSP Fanboy
    • WoW Insider
    • Xbox 360 Fanboy
    • Big Download
  • Entertainment
    • Cinematical
    • TV Squad
  • Finance
    • BloggingBuyouts
    • BloggingStocks
    • WalletPop
  • Sports
    • FanHouse Main
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • MLB
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NASCAR
    • NHL
    • Golf
    • Fantasy Football
  • Also on AOL
    • African-American Culture
    • Cars
    • Games
    • Maps
    • Money
    • Movies
    • Music
    • News
    • Radio
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Travel

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in:

PS3 Fanboy
  • PS Nation Podcast 068 - Gooey Independence
  • Admit yourself to Sarah's Emergency Room
  • Take your own holiday with Aquanaut's Holiday screenshots
WOW Insider
  • Guildwatch: The thread you are looking for has been deleted
  • I Play WoW on Facebook
  • 3D touch interface for WoW due later this year
Xbox 360 Fanboy
  • New Banjo Kazooie videos and screens
  • Halo 3 Series 2 figures now available
  • You like Sin City's visual effects? So did Ubisoft
Nintendo Wii Fanboy
  • Logic 3 opens preorders on keyboard peripheral for Wii
  • Watch this Active Life trailer from your desk chair
  • More like Complicated 2000
PSP Fanboy
  • Meet with PS fanboys in LA next week
  • Star Wars Battlefront III could be heading to PSP
  • Tales of the World 2 is a 'RPG made for you'
Big Download Blog
  • Crysis Warhead to be sold for $29.99
  • GCube Ventures hopes to fund game related start-up companies
  • Gamers: go vote!
AOL Sports Blog
  • What Can the Clippers Do Now?
  • Denied by Brand, Warriors Grab Maggette
  • Elton Brand Spurns California, Verbally Commits to Philly