Author Topic: Nearly Half of Mario Kart DS Owners Try Wi-Fi (Read 14661 times)

Bloodworth · « **on:** November 22, 2005, 06:17:42 AM »

In just the first week, Mario Kart DS has 45 percent of players linking up to Wi-Fi Connection.

NINTENDO NEWS: NEARLY HALF OF MARIO KART DS OWNERS PLAY VIA WI-FI IN FIRST WEEK

Nov. 22, 2005 - In its first week of availability, a whopping 45 percent of people who bought the new Mario Kart® DS racing game for Nintendo DS™ already have test driven its free Wi-Fi capabilities, setting a new industry standard. This remarkable play rate of Mario Kart DS demonstrates both the easy setup and access of Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's new wireless gaming service, as well as the fun game play that has always characterized the Mario Kart series.

On Nov. 14, Mario Kart DS became the first game to use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Through the end of Sunday, more than 112,000 people in the United States had purchased the game. In the same time frame, nearly 52,000 unique users had logged onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to play against people from all over the country.

Video game fans have high praise for the addictive fun of Mario Kart DS and the simplicity of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Many report that they can't stop playing.

"From the user-end, this is the easiest way to get online in video games," writes popular video game blog Kotaku.com. "The Wi-Fi integration is seamless. It's as easy as clicking multiplayer on the menu and joining the game."

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection lets users easily connect to the service at no additional charge using both home wireless networks and select Wi-Fi hotspots, without any complicated setup procedures.

Upcoming titles that use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection include Animal Crossing®: Wild World on Dec. 5 and Metroid® Prime Hunters on March 20. The buzz for Animal Crossing: Wild World already has reached a fevered pitch. Four notoriously difficult game raters at Weekly Famitsu, Japan's leading video game magazine, scored it 37 out of a possible 40 points.

JonLeung · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:07:13 AM »

Nearly half? That is impressive. Isn't it?

I bet it'd be even higher than that if the Wi-Fi USB Connector was included with the game, or at least available in stores!

I was on the fence about buying Mario Kart DS (I enjoyed the other Mario Kart games but I suck at racing, especially competitively) but I finally did on Sunday. However, despite ordering the Wi-Fi USB Connector the first day it was available on Nintendo's web site, I still haven't received it yet.

And no, I don't have a wireless router.

razorpit · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:07:38 AM »

What the heck are the other 55% waiting for? :-)

--Dave

joeposh · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:13:40 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: JonLeung
Nearly half? That is impressive. Isn't it?

Yup it sure is, internet enabled games rarely have such a high useage rate, especially early on.

As IGN pointed out:
"Comparatively, Microsoft reported last year that after three weeks on store shelves, just 18 percent of Halo 2 owners had played that game on Xbox Live."

Ian Sane · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:15:41 AM »

"What the heck are the other 55% waiting for?"

Their USB Connectors to arrive in the mail probably. I just checked it out on Nintendo's Canadian online store and it says "The USB Connector is currently on back order and will begin shipping on November 24, 2005."

45% is still pretty damn good but I wonder how high it would be if Nintendo offered the USB Connector in stores. I'll bet if they bundled it with every game the number would be like 90%. Still 45% is easily enough to encourage Nintendo to continue making online games and that's good enough for me.

JonLeung · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:27:26 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
I just checked it out on Nintendo's Canadian online store and it says "The USB Connector is currently on back order and will begin shipping on November 24, 2005."

Aw, man, seriously? I'm Canadian and I was thinking it would have to be in the mail today!

It's still two days until they even SHIP them. *whine whine whine* So that's why I'M not online.

More time to practice until I do, I'm sure I'd only have lots of losses if I was online right now...

Rize · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:28:51 AM »

I'll say one thing. As a non-wifi game, I had very low interest in Metroid Prime Hunters (not enough to buy immediately anyway). As a wifi game... I still didn't have *that* much interest... until I played Mario Kart. Now I can't wait for Hunters. I'll be buying it the moment it's released.

PaLaDiN · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:57:57 AM »

"What the heck are the other 55% waiting for? :-)"

I see your bait but I won't bite.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2005, 09:43:38 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"What the heck are the other 55% waiting for?"

Their USB Connectors to arrive in the mail probably. I just checked it out on Nintendo's Canadian online store and it says "The USB Connector is currently on back order and will begin shipping on November 24, 2005."

*whimpers*

I'd have it today but I still have a bunch of work to finish up here at school... =\

vudu · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2005, 10:26:01 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: razorpit
What the heck are the other 55% waiting for? :-)

I'm waiting for my new router to arrive. I should have it hooked up by this weekend.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2005, 01:57:51 PM »

I'd be playing it online if I had Mario Kart and broadband.

Artimus · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2005, 01:59:59 PM »

Urgh, I want mine to ship already! I have half a mind to just go buy it in a store, but I need a dongle anyway. One more week...

31 Flavas · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2005, 02:44:21 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"What the heck are the other 55% waiting for?"

Their USB Connectors to arrive in the mail probably.

I don't get why everyone thinks the USB thing is so necessary. If you're going to be playing from home... where your PC is.... Just go to the store and pick up a WiFi router for $20-$30.

Quote
I just checked it out on Nintendo's Canadian online store and it says "The USB Connector is currently on back order and will begin shipping on November 24, 2005."

All the more reason to just pick up an inexpesive WiFi router. You'll probably pay more for the USB dongle then you will for a WiFi router.

Quote
45% is still pretty damn good but I wonder how high it would be if Nintendo offered the USB Connector in stores. I'll bet if they bundled it with every game the number would be like 90%. Still 45% is easily enough to encourage Nintendo to continue making online games and that's good enough for me.

I'm still sticking by the idea, that the USB dongle isn't in stores (at least until Hunters arrives, according to reggie) because they want people to know (or at least want to be able to inform those ordering the dongle) that you don't NEED the USB dongle just a local McDonalds or an inexpensive home wifi router.

Bloodworth · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2005, 03:48:25 PM »

weird, I got a USB adapter as a back up and it got here in two days

nickmitch · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2005, 03:50:27 PM »

I'm waiting on someone to sell me a wireless router that WORKS!!!
Best Buy and Circuit City phail.

Caliban · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2005, 04:25:29 PM »

Me order dongle few days ago, still wait to go DS online and play fellow canucks and pgc'ers. Go Nintendo!

Vrgin X1 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2005, 10:13:03 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: razorpit
What the heck are the other 55% waiting for? :-)

--Dave

Having problems logging in at my hot spot location

nickmitch · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2005, 04:57:18 PM »

It's been testing the damn connection (step 3 in the setup) for 20 minutes. I'm getting ready to just give up.

Mario · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2005, 04:58:49 PM »

Nintendo Australia wins, they shipped me my Dongle less than 24 hours after I ordered it, but yeah they should have included it in the game, as well as Broadband and Windows XP.

Artimus · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:38:42 PM »

Shipping it with the game would be a COLLOSAL waste! Most people won't even need one.

ruby_onix · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:12:00 PM »

Quote
Shipping it with the game would be a COLLOSAL waste! Most people won't even need one.

55%? Yeah, I guess that's technically "most" people. But if you gave them free dongles, what are the chances they'd stay in that category?

You don't give out add-ons with every game that uses them. That's just crazy. But if you want them to succeed, you should give them out for free with the first killer-app. Doing otherwise is just half-assed.

Fortunately, half-assed seems to be working for Nintendo right now.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:14:36 PM »

Microsoft and Sony are giving FULL ASS.

ruby_onix · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:23:07 PM »

Xbox360 Retard Pack + sold seperately Hard Drive?

Hmmm... not quite full-assed, because they still have the "normal" units. But it is close.

(The fact that it's the console itself and not just an add-on definitely helps the case for giving it "full-assed" status though.)

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:26:57 PM »

I want free stuff for nothing, please! If Nintendo doesn't give me free stuff they are half-assing it! >=|

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:27:47 PM »

I got a free hat with Super Star Wars it was the greatest day of my life the end

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Author Topic: Nearly Half of Mario Kart DS Owners Try Wi-Fi (Read 14661 times)