HOT F'ING CRAP. This is incredibly awesome news.
Now all we need is online pictochat and DS will have achieved perfection

Anyone unlucky enough to face me in Metroid Prime Hunters will be hit with a barrage of strange sounds! =D

Damn, I've had my fanboygasm before the show even got started.

–SB

Good to see that they're improving on their online play with Metroid Prime Hunters. They're directly responding to a common complaint about Mario Kart.

"Starting next month, Nintendo will offer all DS owners free downloadable game demos and other downloadable content at thousands of participating retail locations around the United States."

Nintendo does realize they have an online system right? They must since they mention it in the press release. So why do I have to go to the store to get my demo? Why can't I download it online? The feature is there so use it. This is better than nothing but it's such an obvious idea to offer online downloads I don't know why Nintendo isn't using it.

Ian, local game browsing is part of the DS's built in software. Getting demo's off of the internet would be a completely different process, thus requiring either a firmware upgrade or for you to go out and buy a Demo Downloading 'game'. So the feature isn't necessarily "there" as you put it.

I'm guessing that they make you go to a store to ownload the demo hoping that maybe you'll like the game and hopefully make an impulse buy, especially since you are already within walking distance of(if not still in) the store.

If you could just download the games at you leisure at home you might just continue to download games everytime you wanna play instead of actually buying the game.

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Originally posted by: Pale
Ian, local game browsing is part of the DS's built in software. Getting demo's off of the internet would be a completely different process, thus requiring either a firmware upgrade or for you to go out and buy a Demo Downloading 'game'. So the feature isn't necessarily "there" as you put it.

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You can get special drivers for some WiFi cards that allow them to act like a DS download station but that makes them useless for WiFi. It requires the card to deactivate features that are usually built into the drivers, that's not possible without such a special driver. Updating the DS firmware to make it accept data via normal WiFi (if that's even possible) requires shorting that firmware upgrade contact and I doubt Nintendo is going to tell people to open their DS and short that contact. It's not a PSP, it's not meant to update the firmware with each game you buy.

On that note, a friend of mine had the program which emulated what Nintendo is pushing, only it was from E3 with the downloadable demos.

–SB

Sweet, voice chat. I usually don't like voice chat because it's usually in-game, and I don't want to listen to you yelling and farting while I'm playing. But before and after matches seems alright.

"Ian, local game browsing is part of the DS's built in software. Getting demo's off of the internet would be a completely different process, thus requiring either a firmware upgrade or for you to go out and buy a Demo Downloading 'game'. So the feature isn't necessarily 'there' as you put it."

You're right. I guess the question is "why wasn't it there in the first place?" That seems like a pretty limiting oversight. They KNEW they were going online so why didn't they take that into account? I guess offline Pictochat is the same sort of issue.

Though that idea of them forcing you to go to the store so that maybe you'll have an impulse buy sounds a lot like the sort of logic Nintendo would use.

"If you could just download the games at you leisure at home you might just continue to download games everytime you wanna play instead of actually buying the game."

That's Nintendo's arguement for why demos in general are a bad idea yet I've seen no proof that demos hurt sales. If anything something like the MGS2 demo helps sales. That probably is their logic but it's stupid and there's a reason Nintendo is only game company in existence who thinks that way.

"Why wasn't it there in the first place?"

That's a good question that no one really has the answer to. I want/wanted to browse the internet with the DS. That may still happen, who knows. The cool thing that we can look forward to is the tech that KDR (and many others) are using to convert home PCs into demo stations. We should expect our Revs to work in the same way, so hopefully by then, we'll be playing DS Demos in our homes.

How's this for an idea: the Revolution acting as your personal kiosk.

Yeah, it takes away from the impulse buy idea, but I'm sure it's possible with the rumored connection between the two systems.

I just might have to buy one of these DS thingies.

I'm sorry folks, but there is no way I'm going to be satisfy craving for a new game by just downloading the demo. A demo is a just that - a demo. Whether you download it from the convenience of your own home or at a store should make a difference. If you like the demo, you'll buy it regardless.

Well the DL service as it is is a cool start. Hopefully they'll expand it to home DLs someday. Clearly they thought limiting it was a good idea to encourage impulse buys. At least I'll have something to do while I am waiting half an hour for help at Best Buy. (God I hate that place.)

Wanna really get some impulse buys? Update the firmware to allow online purchasing. (protected for parents to approve, of course.) It still amazes me that Nintendo doesn't sell direct. That's cash on the table.

An iTunes Store styled DS download service? (they already intend to do it with the Rev...)

Holy crap...

–SB

I think the kiosks are about attracting traffic to the retailers. IT's Nintendo saying hey we'll give our customers a reason to visit your store.

Also most folks aren't online yet. And there's piracy and hacking issues online.

"Also most folks aren't online yet. And there's piracy and hacking issues online."

Well Nintendo doesn't have to take away the kiosks so people not online can still do it. I'm not online with the DS but I want that option becaue I'm going to be online at some point.

At first glance I thought "who cares if they pirate free demos" and then I realized that one could always hack things so that you can download roms of DS games. That would be a pretty damn good reason to not do it.

I can't wait, voice chat in huters will be so fun.

I don't know how true it is about Nintendo being overly cautious about what can happen with communication online, but Metroid Prime Hunters is likely rated T anyway, not like the E-rated Mario Kart DS and Animal Crossing: Wild World. I heard AC:WW blocks out bad words that are typed (I've never tried it or seen that in action) but controlling spoken language is harder if not impossible. But I guess they figure if you're old enough to play MP:H, you've probably heard all the words there are to know. But they put an ESRB disclaimer anyway...

I believe Einstein said it best, when he said, "\/\/007!!!11"

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Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"Also most folks aren't online yet. And there's piracy and hacking issues online."

Well Nintendo doesn't have to take away the kiosks so people not online can still do it. I'm not online with the DS but I want that option because I'm going to be online at some point.

At first glance I thought "who cares if they pirate free demos" and then I realized that one could always hack things so that you can download roms of DS games. That would be a pretty damn good reason to not do it.

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Originally posted by: JonLeung
I don't know how true it is about Nintendo being overly cautious about what can happen with communication online, but Metroid Prime Hunters is likely rated T anyway, not like the E-rated Mario Kart DS and Animal Crossing: Wild World. I heard AC:WW blocks out bad words that are typed (I've never tried it or seen that in action) but controlling spoken language is harder if not impossible. But I guess they figure if you're old enough to play MP:H, you've probably heard all the words there are to know. But they put an ESRB disclaimer anyway...

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Why wasn't it there in the first place?

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So, now that we know that...

1) MP:H will feature voice chat, and
2) that the DS Lite still has the same headphone plug-in to accommodate a headset...

Does this mean we'll see some headsets – possibly first-party – coming out soon? A headset with a mic right up in your face would provide for clearer communications and less background noise, I'd wager.

Look if you could download demos online than someway or another someone will
start to hack it. I don't want someone to hack Nintendo's website I download a new demo
and my DS is permantly broken because some guy with a PSP is angry he has crappy games so to get revenge he makes a virus.

I don't want a DS virus or Worm or whatever when gonline. If I have to go in store to download them
no big deal.

How much you wanna bet it will be similar to how they did that Nintendogs thing a while back.

I'll probably buy something if I have to go to Gamestop or reserve something.
God knows when I play mario kart at mcdonalds I usually buy food.

Metroid voice sounds cool to me. I can't wait to download Brain games.

I'm glad to see the option of voice chat has been considered at all by Nintendo.

If the Rev went without it, it'd be one more thing the MS fanboiz would bitch about the Rev not having. I know whining is inevitable, but don't leave dry sticks where you don't want fire.

I've heard Ty's and Super's Voices on the radio quiz show. What do the rest of you sound like?

I heard The Younger Plumber does a very good Peach impersonation. Or maybe it was Mario.....or....Toad? I can't remember.

gonna be funny, aussies talk fast
so were totally gonna own the voice chat since we can say so much more

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Originally posted by: ShyGuy
I've heard Ty's and Super's Voices on the radio quiz show. What do the rest of you sound like?

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My voice varies from deep, resounding and almost gruff to high pitched or kid-like or completely weird, depending on current mood and company present.

I say "struth", "mate", "blimey", "koala", "flamin' mongrel", "vegemite" and "g'day" a whole lot.

"OMG! I'M PLAYING METROID WITH CROCODILE DUNDEE!!!11!"

I share Hostile's problem. Voice ranges from "Scary Trucker" to "Laughing Child".

And I also do a fantastic impression of the weapons dealer from RE4.

"What are ya' buyin', strange-a? Hyeh, hyeh, hyeh, THANK you!"

lol, i filled out a survey on mario kart, and specifically thats what i said i didnt like, and now they added it. SCORE!!!

If this supports my theory in any way, don't expect to see it in an E-rated game. Prime Hunters probably got away with it because it's rated T and it's audience is expected to be more mature. Whether it is or not is a whole other story.

Any game that offers voice chat (or any chat) with strangers typically has the ESRB warning of "Rating may change during online play" stamped on it.

Basically, "We can't control what strangers are going to say to you."

"Experience may change during online play". Prolly because some ratings can't go up a lot.

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If this supports my theory in any way, don't expect to see it in an E-rated game. Prime Hunters probably got away with it because it's rated T and it's audience is expected to be more mature. Whether it is or not is a whole other story.

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Any game that offers voice chat (or any chat) with strangers typically has the ESRB warning of "Rating may change during online play" stamped on it.

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Originally posted by: Avinash_TyagiAlso will MP:H allow you to play with people outside your friends list minus the voice chat or will it be resitricted?

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all online games come with the "experiance may change during online play" so E rated games can have voice chat and whatnot. my only concern for this is the power of the mic and the sound quality we're going to get out of it. might be hard to understand anyone.

A lot of folks are hoping for a headset for exactly this reason.

DS has replicated my voice almost perfectly whenever I heard it (Nintendogs, Electroplankton). I'm just shocked that a handheld with a mic like that can manage that sort of task.

been away for a few days and just read the awesome news. I must say I am shocled that Nintendo is actualy getting agressive with thier onlione plans, but I was hoping for it all along, because it shows me that they ARE taking MS seriously and doing everything they can to match everything MS has. Thats good news indeed.


As for Voice chat in games, well Im a little iffy on that anyways. I dont know how I feel about talking to total stranger while playing a game, its bad enough getting online and 'talking' to people I dont even knwo but actualy voice chatting is totaly different.



But its an experience i plan on trying at leat to see what its like. I also look forward to hearing what some of y'all sound like in person. I wont try and describe my voice instead I will post a link to a song I recorded that will have my voice recorded on it for those who are interested. cuz I DO talk alot better than i type for all your haters.


I still cant wait for Tetris DS and now I have to chose between that or Metroid. What to get first thats gonna be a tough one for me.

I'm guessing this is the DSpeak program being implemented, so that sort of stuff shouldn't be a problem. Go read IGN's impressions of DSpeak, the quality is supposedly cell phone-like, which is good enough for me.

The limit is probably bandwidth rather than recording quality...

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Originally posted by: ~*Adolph*~
Look if you could download demos online than someway or another someone will
start to hack it. I don't want someone to hack Nintendo's website I download a new demo
and my DS is permantly broken because some guy with a PSP is angry he has crappy games so to get revenge he makes a virus.

I don't want a DS virus or Worm or whatever when gonline. If I have to go in store to download them
no big deal.

How much you wanna bet it will be similar to how they did that Nintendogs thing a while back.

I'll probably buy something if I have to go to Gamestop or reserve something.
God knows when I play mario kart at mcdonalds I usually buy food.

Metroid voice sounds cool to me. I can't wait to download Brain games.

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Downloading demos from the net would still require a way of sending them to the DS. Since an unmodified WiFi card can't send the right signals that wouldn't work and you'd need to change the DS to accept some signal a WiFi card CAN produce.