Nintendo Officially Announces DS Online Service

May 10, 2005, 5:25 am EDT
Total comments: 31

Nintendo and GameSpy buddy up for some online fun.

NINTENDO, IGN ENTERTAINMENT JOIN FORCES TO CREATE A NEW PORTABLE GAMING NETWORK

Nintendo DS Service Provides an Easy, Seamless Transition to Wireless Wi-Fi Gaming

REDMOND, Wash., May 10, 2005 – Nintendo is partnering with IGN Entertainment to create an innovative network for portable video games that is not only expansive but also extremely easy for everyone to use. Set to debut later this year, the wireless service for Nintendo DS™ will use IGN's GameSpy Technology to let people around the world link easily and wirelessly to play games, just as if they were playing face-to-face.

"With minimum setup procedures, Nintendo DS owners will be able to enjoy Wi-Fi gaming just as easily as if they were playing with their friends in the same room," explains Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "To realize this simple and seamless transition to Wi-Fi gaming, we're partnering with one of the leaders in the multiplayer gaming world. Accessing the service will require no added Nintendo subscription charges, whether users hook up using a home broadband Wi-Fi connection or access a Wi-Fi hotspot at a coffee shop, library or elsewhere. It doesn't get any easier than that."

The service will be used by a variety of upcoming games, including the previously announced Animal Crossing® DS. Other titles will be revealed in the coming weeks. When using the service, DS owners can choose whether they would like to play with friends or strangers, whether nearby or on the other side of the world.

The service represents the first foray by IGN's GameSpy into portable games.

"We're excited to bring the technology that powers more than 300 PC and console video games to Nintendo's innovative wireless platform. Now developers can easily and confidently add advanced matchmaking, community and other multiplayer services to their Nintendo DS games," says Mark Stieglitz, general manager of IGN Entertainment's GameSpy Technology Group. "We're honored that Nintendo is choosing IGN's GameSpy as their middleware partner, and look forward to a very long relationship."

Talkback

DasmosMay 10, 2005

MarioAllStarMay 10, 2005

Well, this is the U.S. confirmation I think we all expected. The only difference is that there seems to be no Nintendo-specific hotspots. As long as the setup for each hotspot is minimal, I think it's a smart move. Japan is much smaller, and more technology-saturated. It would be much easier to get special hotspots around Japan than it would be here.

DasmosMay 10, 2005

I find it surprising that the "Nintendo approved router" is an IGN service, and not a service offered by PGC

MarioMay 10, 2005

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Other titles will be revealed in the coming weeks.

More like in 614290 seconds

Can't wait to kick all you guys asses in Mario Kart DS.

EDIT: lawl I like how neither Gamespy or IGNs websites are loading for me right now, this is very promising!

MarioAllStarMay 10, 2005

Ummmm...they're working fine for me. IGN has posted more or less the same article as PGC, though.

RABicleMay 10, 2005

As I type this neither gamespy.com or ign.com are loading.

Grant10kMay 10, 2005

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that is not only expansive but also extremely easy for everyone to use.

First time I read through this, I thought it read "expensive". Nearly gave me a heart attack.

NotSoStuMay 10, 2005

I am a PC gamer, and only a console guy in my spare time. And let me tell you this: GameSpy isn't good. At all. If anything, the service is nothing more than a pain in the ass. And remember, this is run by IGN. They are the masters of advertisement. Every time you start up the DS, you'll be greeted with "OMG BUY IGN SUBSCRIPTION LOL."

I'm surprised Nintendo didn't team up with another company that already has online services *wink wink sega wink wink*

Bill AurionMay 10, 2005

You stupid Aussies broke the internet, both work perfectly fine for me!

MarioAllStarMay 10, 2005

Does Gamespy actually ever team up with the developers to get the best experience? The difference here is that Nintendo will be supervising and act as "quality control." I'm sure they won't let their entrance to the online market (aside from PSO) be a crappy one.

PaleMike Gamin, Contributing EditorMay 10, 2005

Gamespy/IGN is providing nothing more than the backbone...if you think Nintendo is going to let them plaster ads all over your DS you have another thing coming. The part of Gamespy PC that sucks is the front end... thankfully that will be the part that Nintendo provides.

mantidorMay 10, 2005

but... but... IGN is the devil!!1

Lets hope everything turns out ok, whats middleware? I assume its just the backbone as some of you have already said.

Ian SaneMay 10, 2005

"I am a PC gamer, and only a console guy in my spare time. And let me tell you this: GameSpy isn't good. At all. If anything, the service is nothing more than a pain in the ass."

This is what I've heard (I've never used Gamespy myself) so I kind of cringed when I read this news. I think Penny Arcade has made some jokes about Gamespy's service.

So what is the problem with it? Is it just ads or a poor interface or is the service itself buggy or laggy. My real concern is performance.

ulanshadMay 10, 2005

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I think Penny Arcade has made some jokes about Gamespy's service.

Prehaps it was this

ThanatosOmegaMay 10, 2005

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Originally posted by: MarioAllStar
Does Gamespy actually ever team up with the developers to get the best experience? The difference here is that Nintendo will be supervising and act as "quality control." I'm sure they won't let their entrance to the online market (aside from PSO) be a crappy one.

Having worked with GameSpy as a developer, I cringed when I heard this news. GameSpy's backend is a hackterrific bundle of bits of wire held together with chewing gum; it just happens to be so popular because (a) it's free and (b) it's a big name. If it works AT ALL on the first go, I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Poor, poor Nintendo.

vuduMay 10, 2005

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Prehaps it was this

Actually, I believe he was referring to this one.

EDIT:

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If it works AT ALL on the first go, I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Poor, poor Nintendo.

You have to remember, Nintendo takes companies with potential and clears out all the garbage and makes them into something worth caring about. Look at Retro and n-Space for examples.

Nile BoogieMay 10, 2005

Is it a given that this network will support both DS and Revolution?

KnowsNothingMay 10, 2005

VELY GOOD YES YES VELY GOOD

Hopefully I'll be able to play through my school's network, but I really have no idea about the security or whatnot.

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When using the service, DS owners can choose whether they would like to play with friends or strangers, whether nearby or on the other side of the world.

*adds to buddy list*

I'm assuming that you'll be able to download for single cart games...should I?

TheYoungerPlumberMichael Cole, Associate EditorMay 10, 2005

Actually, no, they only mention DS. Nintendo could be testing the waters before taking a full plunge with the Revolution. However, Nintendo and GameSpy have been working for years, as far as I'm aware, so I imagine only the biggest of GameSpy blunders would send Nintendo walking. Nintendo and GameSpy could build off of their DS structure for extra Revolution features, of course.

Kamek_XMay 10, 2005

According to Iwata, developers currently working on short-range wireless games should be able to easily expand many of their projects to include wireless Internet play. Gamespy will deliver software development kits to qualified developers before E3. My Hunch is there are going to be quite a few online enabled games at E3. Iwata always said it would be simple to set up and provide a seamless experience for users. I think things are going to be allright now. By the way PGC FORUM USER MARIO, You've never raced me, so just to let you know. Get used to seeing me dart out of nowhere and taking the lead while a red shell SLAMS INTO YOU!!! Causing you to Corrine into Lava!! (evil laugh) HA, HA, HA, HA, Ha Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Cough*Hack erhem excuse me.

NinGurl69 *hugglesMay 10, 2005

It doesn't matter what games make use of this new teknorojee.

IGN sez: 7.9, sry.

TheYoungerPlumberMichael Cole, Associate EditorMay 10, 2005

Actually, IGN has a huge conflict of interest. We may see inflated scores, or artificially LOW scores so they can say "see we're honset!"

gallyMay 10, 2005

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Originally posted by: TheYoungerPlumber
Actually, IGN has a huge conflict of interest. We may see inflated scores, or artificially LOW scores so they can say "see we're honset!"

As soon as I read that IGN was Nintendo's partner, it did make me wonder what would happen when a member of the video-gaming press was suddenly working with Nintendo.

The funny thing is, the gaming press seems to be largely against Nintendo, so I figured it couldn't hurt to create this conflict of interest in their favor.

ruby_onixMay 10, 2005

*IGN goes down*

*Nintendo smacks IGN upside the head*

*IGN goes back up again*

How does this affect IGN's opinion of the game, and Nintendo?

I've been saying for years that Nintendo needs to stop spoonfeeding IGN, because they keep turning everything to crap for Nintendo.

IGN defied Shiggy's wishes with the secret Zelda cel-shading unveiling, kicking off that stupid "Celda" BS. Then Nintendo switches back to that "mature" style, surprising everyone, which everyone said was a very enjoyable thing, except that Matt was supposedly blabbing on about "realistic" on the IGN Insider message boards for a week beforehand, because Nintendo told him about it and he couldn't keep his damn mouth shut, especially not around his precious paying customers.

IMO, NOA is making another mistake here.

mantidorMay 10, 2005

Thankfully Matt will never be involved in anything related to the wireless network, he will just b!tch endlessly about anything Nintendo related, just that. Or maybe Nintendo will force IGN to fire his ass ( I know how its very unlikely, but let me dream )

BloodworthDaniel Bloodworth, Staff AlumnusMay 10, 2005

I just love how many people seem to have forgotten that this was confirmed in Nintendo Power more than a month ago.

jromz03May 11, 2005

wonder how nintendo will handle australia?

oh who am i kidding, as always we'll get screwed because Nintendo hates us.

NephilimMay 11, 2005

I like gamespy
Never had a problem using there free service for Halo:custom edition and I play it nearly every day

"Other titles will be revealed in the coming weeks" YAY!

NephilimMay 11, 2005

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Originally posted by: jromz03
wonder how nintendo will handle australia?

oh who am i kidding, as always we'll get screwed because Nintendo hates us.

Toy R Us stores I would say, they still hold pokemon card tourneys in the one in adelaide

NinGurl69 *hugglesMay 12, 2005

OK, now IGN's teaming up with G4 for simultaneous E3 coverage. Madness.

Karl Castaneda #2May 12, 2005

Okay, everybody, let's play six degrees of IGN...

Nintendo is teaming up with GameSpy/IGN
IGN is teaming up with G4
G4 frequently features editors from Game Informer
Game Informer's online managing editor is Billy Berghammer
Billy was the founder of PGC

Yay, did it in less than 6 moves!

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