Nintendo Reveals USB Connector

DS News | This is how you may be able to play online?

Nintendo of America has revealed its wi-fi to USB connector. This handy little device allows Nintendo DS owners to use their handhelds online. That is, those who don't already have a wireless router. It seems that Nintendo have tried to make it simple enough. All you'll need to do is pop it into your USB port and it opens a window to establish a connection between your PC, DS and Internet Connection. Further aiming to simplify matters, we're informed that you'll only need three option screens on the DS itself to set up the connection.

Nintendo has also clarified as to how you'll be able to play against your buddies online. Users will be able to play friends online by using 12 digit "Friend Codes" rather than names or nick-names. All users need to do is send their Friend Codes to one another and add them to their respective lists. Nintendo are looking to support a system where players are matched by rating so that servers don't become too unbalanced.

Nintendo will be building several thousand Nintendono Wi-Fi Connection hotspots all over the US. Nintendo will also use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service for its next generation Revolution console when it ships sometime in 2006 (or possibly 2007 for PAL regions).

Unfortunately, this information is only currently relevant to America. There has yet to be any announcement as to what will be happening in the PAL regions. However, the USB connector will most likely be the same for us and games like Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk will be wi-fi compatible when they are released later this year, with Animal Crossing: Wild World and Metroid Prime: Hunters released early 2006. For now, you can view the connector in our media.

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32 Comments

Cerebral

6 years ago

Quite possibly the most useful Nintendo peripheral I have ever seen, considering people are much more likely to own a PC rather than a Wireless router. Simply buying one of these suckers makes online play sound like the easiest thing in the world to set up.

Capoeira

6 years ago

Um, where is the USB port on the DS...?

It's not that thing at the back is it? My memory key didn't fit in there, nor anywhere else, so where the heck does that adapter go?

838 La

6 years ago

Capoeira wrote

Um, where is the USB port on the DS...?

It's not that thing at the back is it? My memory key didn't fit in there, nor anywhere else, so where the heck does that adapter go?

...
your kidding right?
Wireless? You plug the Connector to the USB port on your Comp & then it connects wirelessly to your DS..

Cerebral

6 years ago

838 La wrote

Capoeira wrote

Um, where is the USB port on the DS...?

It's not that thing at the back is it? My memory key didn't fit in there, nor anywhere else, so where the heck does that adapter go?

...
your kidding right?
Wireless? You plug the Connector to the USB port on your Comp & then it connects wirelessly to your DS..

What he said. The DS already has WiFi connectivity built in, so it's be a tad redundant to have a WiFi adapter for the DS, wouldn't you say?

tullyano7

6 years ago

The List of Wi-Fi games has grown rather quickly, it now includes:

Mario Kart DS
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Tony Hawk: Amercian Sk8land
Sonic Rush
Metroid Prime Hunters
Bleach
Contact
Lost Magic
Mario Basketball 3 on 3
Castlevania Online

Hyperworm

6 years ago

Bleach DS online =

*waves Shinsou in Cer's general direction*

Sonic Rush too, eh... I've not heard anything about that being online-enabled, I must have missed it...

ZNMS

6 years ago

Unfortunately, this information is only currently relevant to America.

The device better be released down here, due to the fact that the broadband adapter for the Nintendo GameCube didn't reach these shores.

realitybites

6 years ago

Good idea but most home networks are wireless anyway.

Maybe in Japan its different.

Infested Jibbs

6 years ago

Man im glad to here they've made this stuff simple to use.

The words wireless, ethernet, router-all that queer **** confuses the hell out of me.Im just so glad its basically gunna be 'plug n play'.

Question?

Could this lil online service prove to be some sort of kiddies pool for nintendo to wet their feet in the online gaming scene and familiarise themselves with and build it up then integrate it with the rev?Cause the article states it will have buddy lists and skill matches and all sorts of jazz, and we know nintendo arent quite knowledgeable in this regard.Hmm.....interesting.

Cro

6 years ago

Hopefully it works well.

Will broadband internet be required??

EvilHayama

6 years ago

ZNMS wrote

The device better be released down here, due to the fact that the broadband adapter for the Nintendo GameCube didn't reach these shores.

I hope so, considering the games are coming out here and the number of home Wifi routers isn't that big.

You could probably use dialup, you'll just be laggy.

Gtpod

6 years ago

I suppose this means Pictochat won't be online? Maybe a firmware upgrade coming our way?

Cerebral

6 years ago

What would it install onto though?

Also BleachOnlineOMFOMOGjjj

I believe it's being developed by Treasure too, which is excellent, as they seem to have their **** in order.

Edit: Zabimaru > Shinsou

Gtpod

6 years ago

Cerebral wrote

What would it install onto though?

Don't get what you mean... Install onto?

To add to what I said, I'd imagine there'd be some way you could totally re-flash the firmware, possibly using some sotfware that might be with that wireless USB device.

NismoR34

6 years ago

I haven't given any attention to the DS going online as I don't see the point when I don't have mine yet. So I ask now, with this USB Connector, does that mean that I all I will literally need is a PC, internet connection and DS to play online against anyone in the world? (providing it reaches our shores that is)

Or will I need certain programs or whatever on the PC too, because of this WiFi thing? (that I don't understand other than it's wireless) Apologies for my stupidity.

Hyperworm

6 years ago

If you have a wireless network already installed (instead of using this USB Wi-Fi device), you wouldn't even need to turn the PC on, so I wouldn't have thought the USB connector would require you to install programs... (though the PC will need to be on of course).
Oh, and I'm sure it will be released globally.

They seem to be very confident that now's finally the time to start their online-play drive.

Not so sure about dial-up ...

I guess you'd have to wait for info.

Fugie!

6 years ago

Oh it does look ever-so-classy

I can't wait to play mario kart DS over ze internet, which brings me to the question, will the USB dongle be apple Mac Compatible? ... as there is no way i am switching back to windows... ahhhh!.. the flashbacks... ahhh

ObsoletE

6 years ago

Cerebral wrote

What would it install onto though?

i might be wrong, but i think you simply plug it into the back of your PC (or front, if you have front USB ports) and it becomes the transmitter/reciever for your DS to connect to.

this seems to be for people without an existing Wireless router, although it's possible even those with a wireless router will need it too, if it requires anything to be installed on the PC being used.

Cerebral

6 years ago

What I meant by installing onto, was that the DS doesn't have any RAM that can be written to on the system (to my knowledge). Therefore you can't install a firmware upgrade since the firmware doesn't have anywhere to go (I imagine the current firmware is stored in ROM, which can't be written to).

ObsoletE

6 years ago

ah, i see.

no idea.

Andronicus

6 years ago

So, if you already have a wireless router in your house, you don't need this new periphersl, correct?

DancesInUnderwear

6 years ago

Doesn't look like it.

GroovySamurai

6 years ago

Cerebral wrote

Completly agree. I personally dont have a wireless router and now with all these handhelds coming out with online gaming, this could really save me some bucks. And the ease of just plug and install is awesome.

realitybites

6 years ago

Andronicus wrote

So, if you already have a wireless router in your house, you don't need this new periphersl, correct?

Thats correct. Unless here is some whiz bang authentication methodology.

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