Nintendo today is beaming over the online success of its DS handheld system, with two significant landmarks to boast about. Firstly, since the big N launched its handheld wi-fi service in November of 2005, over five million unique users have logged on to bitch about snakers in Mario Kart. Not only that, but over 200 million online gaming sessions have now been enjoyed by DS owners globally.
While Nintendo is busy grinning and doing the cabbage patch, hopefully this tells the company that the online market is something that needs to be jumped on, and that this momentum has to be followed through on the Wii. There is much work to be done to bring the online capabilities of Nintendo's home console up to speed, and this should be a clear indication that such an endeavour is worthwhile.
Hit the jump for Nintendo's full press release.
May 30, 2007
Nintendo News
Nintendo DS Gaming Service Tops 5 Million Users, 200 Million Game Sessions
Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection has crossed two huge milestones within just days of one another. Worldwide, since its launch in November 2005, Nintendo's wireless gaming service has now connected more than 5 million unique Nintendo DS(TM) owners, and those gamers have racked up more than 200 million game-play sessions. Worldwide, nearly 65 games can be played via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The five most popular globally are Animal Crossing(R): Wild World, Mario Kart(R) DS, Metroid(R) Prime Hunters, Pokémon(R) Diamond and Pokémon Pearl.
"Nintendo DS gamers globally use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as an easy, fun place to find fellow players, all without paying anything extra for the service," explains Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "The milestones represent millions of hours of fun and camaraderie despite miles between players."
Nintendo DS continues to enjoy record-breaking success. According to new figures from the independent NPD Group, DS was again the top-selling video game system in April, with more than 470,000 units sold in the United States alone. That's nearly 16,000 per day.
Nintendo DS also finds success beyond the stereotypical young male gamer. According to internal Nintendo demographic tracking studies, in less than 18 months, DS purchases have increased by 42 percent among women, 127 percent among people 30 and older and 212 percent among people 35 and older.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:31 AM on 05.30.2007
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Similarly, nothing is to stop a predator trading friend codes online through message boards anyway. Besides which, the very arena that online console games inhabit would make it very dificult for a predator to go about its business.
While I really appreciate Nintendo's gesture with friend codes it does feel, at best, like a mere a gesture.
Friend codes are here, get used to them and stop moaning. Make the most of it. Yes it's not as functional or user friendly, but the points covered above completely justify them. Once those friend codes are in, they're in. It's not like you have to type them out over and over...
Ditto. I've had my DS for one year and I already own 26 games for it. =0\
Unfortunately, they already have
And I agree with Sterling... We even have a thread on the forums here for trading Friend Codes indiscriminately. There's no reason a sexual predator can't do that too. All Friend Codes do is make things a pain in the ass for everybody, but just because it's a pain in the ass, online predators aren't going to NOT do their predator thing.
Overall, DS Wifi is on point for only being a year-and-a-half old. I hear tons of people still on Animal Crossing, one of the oldest games on the DS.
what if the kid accepts a friend code from a predator then what?!or what if hes using forums and theres a 46 year old man pretending hes 13 and gets his friend code!? friend codes aren't any safer really only thing that helps is that its a hassle and the kid might not put in the code thats the only measure i see saving kids!also vid games cause cancer so kids shouldn't play them.
...Shame your DS WiFi is WEP and thus you need to leave an connected PCs vunerable just play a game of Mario Kart.
When they change it to WPA I'll start to give a shit. And yes, this is from a Nintendo Fan.
You could just stfuajpg instead though, or use a WEP access point that's hooked into a WPA enabled router. Not sure how the Nintendo Wifi Dongle works, all I know is that it does.
USB connector for the win.
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I hate friend codes. How is "74057037503475NUMBERSLOL" any harder for an online nutjob to use than "Onlinenamelol"? If they want to stalk someone, they'll do it. Besides, it's not like playing a game of Mario Kart, or a Pokemon battle makes them any closer to you. They don't get your damn home address from these games.
At the time that the DS was released you can find articles where even the FBI agree that basic tools freely available on the internet can be used to hack into WEP inside 3 minutes. WPA was infact the standard even then.
Fact is they went with outdated technology on the DS's inception and are too stubborn to admit they are wrong and refuse to change it. Don't blindly defend a company just because you like it's products.
I can provide links if you want but don't pretend to know about something without having first researched it. I spent a while looking into this as I didn't fancy changing router settings for DS if it would make my PCs vunerable.
And furthermore, "stfuajpg" and other such overly used internet acronyms are just pathetic and make anything you have to say seem like it comes from the mouth of a child. Don't do it if you want to be taken seriously.
USB connector I suppose is an alternative, but it relies on PCs being switched on and set up to use it, which to me kinda defeats the point of WiFi.
I AM interested to know the range of the device though, if I am forced to go down that route. Is it far?
mmm Custom Robo Arena!
Yeah, thanks. What makes matters worse is the fact that the Wii *does* support WPA, so while I could excuse the DS Phat for lacking support, why does the DSL suffer the same limitation?
It's sloppy, Nintendo, and I'm surprised at how you'd dropped the ball.
The range on the DS Wifi Connector isn't that bad in all fairness. Works in any room in my house and I can even go to the bottom of the street and log on. Whether that's hackable or not is another animal entirely.
My argument was not whether it sucks or not, just why it exists.
I can't believe this whole thread has gone without a 'Who the Fuck is Jim Sterling' comment.
WTF d'toid community. Do your fucking job.
Nintendo's online is built on random connections.
you only need a friend code if you want to play someone specific, if you are happy to play whoever is available then you don't need any code whatsoever. You can't communicate with the other guy though so there is no danger of them "grooming you" unless they manage to make their mii look like a dick or something.
i know this because i have been playing Mario strikers since it came out here on friday. it's actually a pretty cool game
Can't you just set your router to only accept connections from the MAC address of devices your regularly use? I know that's not exactly noob friendly, but it's not that hard either.
I use the Nintendo wifi dongle, and you do have to approve any incoming connections to it. Once you do that, it'll remember for that device.
Or with the Connect24/7 be able to access your Wii through your DS from any online hotspot to instruct it do download VC titles, or software, or even to go as far as to be able to access news, weather and voting wirelessly on your DS... Oh the possibilites.