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?
It's a depressing fact that cheating will always be a part of online gaming, regardless of your platform of choice. For some time, those of weak moral fiber have been able to grant themselves infinite energy, infinite ammo, and the ability to levitate in Metroid Prime: Hunters (encouragingly, Nintendo claims it is now taking measures to prevent this), while the whole Mario Kart DS/snaking debate has rumbled on for some time (though we know of at least one Nintendo representative who would argue that the method isn't actually cheating, and we're sure many of you would concur).
Today, we'd like to hear about some of your own experiences of cheating opponents. Which games do you find attract the most online cheats, and have any of you indulged in this dark art yourselves?
A listing for Lost in Blue 3 (when are these folks going to be found already?!) has emerged on EB Games' website, causing many to believe the game is bound for a North American release sometime soon. As it stands right now, the game is currently set to release in Japan next week.
Regarding a proposed release date outside of Japan, the listing at EB Games (which has since been pulled down) states the title will ship in March of 2008. Odds are this will happen, of course, considering the first two titles graced retail shelves in other territories. The real question is: do you care?
The Japanese website for Final Fantasy IV has updated with new goodies. First off, is an update to the character section, which describes a lot of the game's characters. There is also the download section, which has some sweet wallpapers available. Three of those wallpapers are of in-game characters, with the last new wallpaper available being one kickass piece of concept art. So, head on over and check the new stuff out.
Following its participation at Jump Festa, there isn't much of anything new to report on regarding the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the DS. That is, except that there is a new teaser site for the game. But, as with the game itself, there isn't anything new there ... yet. We're suggesting you get your bookmark on, as it's bound to be updated in the near future with juicy screens and tidbits of information.
The rumor from a couple of days ago is true: Nintendo's website has gotten itself a little makeover. And, just as we showed then, the front page has a lot of white space. But, it's very easy to navigate, so getting around there should be no problem for you. For those looking for the return of the Nsider forums, however, you can just get back to crying in the dark corner you've called home for the last few months.
Hudson has fired off some new screens for the upcoming Bomberman Land Touch! 2 and we're chompin' at the bit to get our horribly misshapen mitts on it. We've gone ahead and done the responsible thing, plucking the screens from the press release and situating them neatly into the gallery you see below.
And, for those who haven't kept up with bombing technology (they've made particularly impressive advancements in the realm of fuses), the game is going to have some sweet Wi-Fi Connect compatibility, all but cementing its place as a future theme game for Game Night.
Some folks are finding Nintendo's website to be loading a bit differently. We knew Nintendo was getting an overhaul (which is why they shut down the forums), but we didn't think it would be so soon. While it isn't loading in the new layout you see above for us, apparently it's working just fine for other folk. We suggest you head on over and give it a whirl.
We've been on this whole "best" kick lately with our morning questions, and we've got another one for you today: what are your favorite multiplayer DS games? But we're going to offer some restrictions on this, however. You know we don't like simple answers. Let's forget a lot of the games that are more popular, particularly at our weekly Game Night, and instead tout some that people may not know as much about. Instead of talking about Pokémon and Mario Kart, tell us about Worms or something else. Online or not -- no limits there -- so long as the game is (in your opinion) a little less well-known!
When Konami announced that its rumored remake would be for Track & Field, we had to excuse ourselves and spend some alone time in our cars, sobbing, coming to terms with the fact that we'll never receive another Boot Camp or Rocket Knight Adventures title. Our whimpering quieted a bit when we heard that the Olympic-themed game would have guest appearances from other Konami franchises like Silent Hill, and we might have even smiled a little when we saw that Sparkster was on the roster.
The most promising thing we've read in previews for New International Track & Field, however, is its commitment to providing a robust online experience. Players will be able to battle against up to three opponents, enter custom tournaments and official competitions, and grab downloadable content, all with Nintendo's WiFi Connection service. There will also be leaderboards and an in-game ticker tape that updates you on the progress of your friends and rivals. Developers, take note: This is how you add online support to your DS games.
The homebrew browser OKiwi is a step closer to competing with the official DS browser and other homebrew offerings -- it can now go online! Which is a pretty important feature for a browser, no? And there's more good news to boot: creator Pedro J. Estébanez promises that now, updates should be more frequent. Considering the number of requests in the comments on this latest release, he's got his work cut out for him, but it looks like we're not the only ones excited by this project. Next up, we'll guess, is text box functionality, since search engines are a pretty big part of navigating the internet.
The more we learn about Ecoris, the eco-centric RTS, the more we're planning to riot if the game doesn't get an English-language release. Get Atlus on the project right now!
The latest updates on Ecoris focus on the beginning of the game, and there are some new details on online play as well. As the story opens, our fruity hero, Durian (sometimes Dorian in non-Japanese articles) begins to notice that not all is well in the forest. Development and pollution are destroying the ecosystem. He's not alone in his observations; the squirrels have noticed the same thing. On their own, the forest creatures are too weak to fight back ... but if they team up, anything is possible.
Some other interesting facts about the game: apparently, there's a level-creation mode (we can only guess this comes in as you start to rebuild the forest), and once created, you can utilize those new stages in online battles. Our translation here may be a little rough, but it also seems as though Durian can either summon some sort of ancestral spirit, or take on its form, and you will need that power to pass certain sections.
Ecoris is sounding more fascinating every day. For those gamers for whom the language barrier isn't a barrier at all, this one is looking like it may just be a must-import title.
Posted Jun 28th 2007 9:50AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News
We haven't been this excited about Mortal Kombat since the first time Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 came out, and we've never had any reason to be excited about a portable Kombat. But this is just too cool. Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon told IGN that a version of the classic fighting game will be coming to the DS-- with online play. Attention, developers: this is how you do a port on the DS.
It'll also include Puzzle Kombat, the Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo clone found in Mortal Kombat Deception, which will also be playable online. The game will be out in November, and we look forward to eviscerating all of you at Game Night.
In the game, we mean. We aren't planning to come to your houses and eviscerate any of you. We wouldn't even know how.
To those of you who were less-than-pleased at the idea of a RTS title with a bacteria flavor, it looks like Ecolis is now known as Ecoris. The good news is that the game is still adorable, and it looks like the Wi-Fi capability will in fact be online multiplayer. Now if only someone would explain exactly what the hero, Dorian, is. Jeux-France likens him to a Totoro, but we remain unconvinced. You can ponder his origins while perusing the new images in our updated gallery below.
Ecoris is scheduled for an August release in Japan, and we're crossing our fingers for a localization some time after that.
Online support seems like a prerequisite for any decent RTS release, but it's never safe to assume with DS and Wii games. Thankfully, the boxart for Ecolis indicates that the InterChannel title will make use of Nintendo's WiFi connection in addition to its "download play" features. We're not sure if that means online duels, item shops, or a near-useless messaging system, but it's something -- a quantity that's arguably better than nothing.
If you haven't been properly introduced, Ecolis is a strategy title in which you command an army of woodland creatures against the pollution and deforestation taking over their homes. You'll also be tackling issues like global warming and recycling while you plant new trees to restore damaged forests. The eco-friendly message doesn't end there; as evidenced by the panda stamped on the game's packaging, a portion of Ecolis' proceeds will be donated to Japan's World Wide Fund for Nature.
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.
We've been on this whole "best" kick lately with our morning questions, and we've got another one for you today: what are your favorite multiplayer DS games? But we're going to offer some restrictions on this, however. You know we don't like simple answers. Let's forget a lot of the games that are more popular, particularly at our weekly 
When Konami announced that its 
To those of you who were less-than-pleased at the idea of a RTS title with a bacteria flavor, it looks like 
Online support seems like a prerequisite for any decent 
