"The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector will be sold exclusively on Nintendo.com."

And thus, it be confirmed.

Maybe they think that if they sell it in stores some people might think they have to have it to play online. I don't agree with their decision, maybe if retailers ask for it Nintendo will sell it in stores.

I think their decision is stupid as well, and they are going to try and spin it as a strategical step as Mario Kart is testing the online waters... but as Ian would say, they aren't testing, they are causing it to fail.

My guess is that the really reason is the same thing we have all been feeling, they aren't quite ready to go online but they refuse to push back this relesae, as the combination of Mario Kart and Animal Crossing is the only thing they have going for this holiday season.

On the complete other hand though, we (well I at least) didn't really expect this first party dongle to begin with and still thought it would succeed, so maybe we shouldn't worry so much.

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Originally posted by: Pale
I think their decision is stupid as well, and they are going to try and spin it as a strategical step as Mario Kart is testing the online waters... but as Ian would say, they aren't testing, they are causing it to fail.

My guess is that the really reason is the same thing we have all been feeling, they aren't quite ready to go online but they refuse to push back this relesae, as the combination of Mario Kart and Animal Crossing is the only thing they have going for this holiday season.

On the complete other hand though, we (well I at least) didn't really expect this first party dongle to begin with and still thought it would succeed, so maybe we shouldn't worry so much.

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Well it better be sold ahead of time then, I don't exactly want to have Mario Kart in my hands and then have to wait for this thing to come through the mail.

That's one of my big concerns, BW...

My cynical theory: Wayport feels that Nintendo is indebted for allowing the DS on its network for free (which probably cost a pretty penny for N despite the inherent benefits for Wayport/McDonald's). Now they want to see some immediate return in exchange for their 'generosity.' Selling the adapter on the website immediately limits the options of those not well versed in WiFi. Now they can coerce those people to the 'sponsored' hotspots.

"So why not stop by our biggest client, McDonald's? And pick up one (or two!) of the all new Premium Chicken Sandwiches while you're there. A sandwich for the totally dope, hip, fresh and fly lifestyle of today's youth."

It isn't a trial, but a stipulation of their contract with Wayport. I'm lovin' it.

I doubt that entirely.

You honestly think that Nintendo thinks McDonalds is gonna increase its user base enough to warrant delaying the dongle?

I think Wayport thinks that. Wayport also offers access for your (mom's/dad's) laptop/PDA/phone, at a price.

The dongle is online only?! Oh man. This company just frustrates the hell out of me sometimes. Why did they stop making Cubes with component outputs? Because no one bought the component cables. Why did no one buy the component cables? Because Nintendo sold them ONLINE ONLY. Damn, it's like they never learn. There's no way they're going to reach this 90% goal if they're going to make people run through hoops to get online. The average person doesn't have a wireless network and they don't want to have to drive to McDonalds just to play on online game. Plus what about here in Canada? This deal only talks about the US. Hotspots is a good idea but it should not be the "main" method of going online with the DS. They should be promoting the F*CK out of the dongle.

And how is this going to work for the Rev? Isn't the Rev wi-fi only? I can't bring a whole console and TV to McDonalds. The dongle HAS to be in stores for the Rev or the Rev's online will be incredibly niche. I think the Rev should come with the dongle because wireless internet is not that common and if they include the dongle then everyone with an interent connection is going to try some form of online play just because they can for free. Plus the download feature requires online users. Therefore it should be in Nintendo's best interest to have damn near every Rev and DS owner playing online. In order to do that the dongle has to be readily available.

Ian, the Rev has never been confirmed to be WiFi only....

Also, it is important to stress that "initially" has been thrown around too. As I said before, I just think they aren't ready to ship a million of these suckers out.

Also...

Circuit City has Linksys G router up for 50 bucks after rebate...

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Linksys-Wireless-Router-v-2-1-WRT54G-/sem/rpsm/oid/69086/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

On the chance that the dongle could be as much as 40, I think you'd be silly not to get this instead.

"Ian, the Rev has never been confirmed to be WiFi only...."

There was no ethernet port in the back of the system at E3.

Of course that's not confirmation but it does seem like pretty compelling evidence.

and you can't purchase a usb ethernet adaptor? I know that I know Iwata said you could use one.

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There was no ethernet port in the back of the system at E3.

Of course that's not confirmation but it does seem like pretty compelling evidence.

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Nintendo hasn't talked abou the AA batteries. But they have talked about nothing but Wi-Fi for the Rev. That's the term they always use. "Wi-Fi". It's never "online" or "internet" but "Wi-Fi". They couldn't use that word so damn much if there were planning on putting on ethernet jack on the back of the Rev. Maybe they'll change it due to backlash but I imagine the intial plan anyway is Wi-Fi only. It would make no sense to burn that word into our heads otherwise.

Why do you people hang on the "No Ethernet Port at E3"? It was a prototype tech demo used to show Industry Heads how the controller worked. It had no need to go online. Think of the Rev you saw at E3 as version 0.6

The dongle being sold "Online Only" is stupid, yes. But don't expect the Rev to be wifi only.

Hell, the Rev could act as a wifi router for the DS, so they want people to have one more reason to buy the Rev.
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And the reason Nintendo keeps saying Wifi is just marketspeak. It will probably be wifi enabled at the very least, in addition to having an ethernet port.

It wasn't even a tech demo, wasn't it IGN that said it didn't even have a disc drive? just an empty slot?

Well, it did have those primitive games on it, that allowed people to use the controller and see how it worked. I think IGN had descriptions of them?

That would be pre-TGS, and I don't believe IGN (or anyone else at that matter) handled a "new" version of the Revolution...

The version at E3 was empty, they inserted a disc and it fell inside. The games they played at TGS were running off development kits (GCN-based) not consoles.

What's the big deal people? It's not like it is impossible to buy it online, and the last time I checked there're another ways to take the DS online you know, like routers, wireless network cards and usb adapters (yes, the nintendo one is not the only one in the market).

The big deal is that the "ease of online" Nintendo was touting is now revealed to be a bunch of garbage.

It's no longer easy to go online if you have to know what you're doing.

So just buy the Nintendo adapter and be done with it. You can't tell me that you can play a DS or any video game and not be able to surf a webpage (Nintendo.com).

You could also buy a Buffallo router and use the AOSS feature.

This is great news

BTW retailers will proberly stock the wifi anyway, I dont know why your paranoid
*example: play-asia is exclusive to nintendo japan site, yet webstores stock it*

DeadlyD, I think the point people are making is that not everyone shops (or even KNOWS to shop) online for such a product. Nintendo *should* have the USB connectors alongside the game in stores, or at least sell copies of their first online titles optionally bundled with the USB connector (like they did with PSO and DKJB).

Yeah, the main issue here is that this could cause WiFi to not take off.... which would make us all very very sad.

"BTW retailers will proberly stock the wifi anyway, I dont know why your paranoid"

Retailers, as in brick and mortar stores, didn't carry the Cube component cables (or even third party cables since Nintendo didn't permit it) which also was only available from Nintendo.com and ended up selling poorly enough that Nintendo removed support of it outright from new Cubes a few years ago. So there's concern because the last time something was Nintendo.com exclusive it flopped big time.

I have to ask this question.

Why buy the Nintendo USB wireless dealio when wireless routers are routinely $20 or less after rebate at all these electronics stores?????????

I don't understand it. The USB wireless dealio is surely going to be at least $20. PLus it takes up a usb slot.

And you'll have to have your pc on everytime you wanted to play a DS game on the net.

Make it easy on yourself and just buy a wireless router.

Tho I guess some of just have 56k or something. But if you have 56k you probably live in the boonies and aren't near a store anyway.

Also it's not you're not on the internet anyway if you want the USB dongle.

I don't understand all that router mumbo jumbo, and I shouldn't have to learn it just for this!

Here's the deal...

First off, I dislike ordering online. I hate waiting for stuff and I dislike paying in advance for stuff.
Second, if the USB Adapter was sold in stores, I'd have a good chance of picking one up for a cheaper price - as likely someone would have it on sale. With it only being sold on Nintendo's webstore, it likely won't be on sale.
Third, I don't have a high speed internet connection - therefore, I don't have or need a router. However, with the USB Adapter, I'd have a quick and easy option when I go to friends/family house's who do have high speed connections. Just pop it in go - no set up required - wherever I'm at (including being at work, if it works!)
Fourth, I have to justify the purchase to my wife (Yeah, I'm whipped). Since I can't really use it at home - unless I find a deal on it, it'll be a hard sell. However, if I could even use my 10% discount on it, then perhaps I could swing it.
Fifth, I don't use my USB ports anyway and generally, my computer is on all the time. So if I ever *did* get High Speed (I'm somewhat looking into Verizon's DSL for $15 a month... It's hard to convince my wife we need that when we have free Dial-Up access right now...)

I think Nintendo wants to just sell it online for two reasons.
First being the assumption that anyone who actually knows what the thing is, how to hook it up and use it almost certainly is capable of ordering it online. So it's not like it's going to be inaccessible to potential customers. The second being that Nintendo doesn't want to confuse the general public into thinking it's needed for the DS to go online when all they have to do is go to any place that has wi-fi access which is going to be a much easier task after this McDonald's deal.

Just think of the disaster on Nintendo's hands when thousands of stupid kids would have coerced their stupider parents into buying the USB adapter only to take it home and have no idea what to do with the thing. So they call Nintendo's complaint department to find out they can't do anything with it because they don't have broadband. It's just better to make the thing accessible to those in the know and leave the simpler alternatives for the I LOVE HALO 2s and the echnologically impaired.

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Originally posted by: Michael8983
I think Nintendo wants to just sell it online for two reasons.
First being the assumption that anyone who actually knows what the thing is, how to hook it up and use it almost certainly is capable of ordering it online.

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>So they call Nintendo's complaint department to find out they can't do anything with it because they don't have broadband.

You know, it seems to me that the simple solution of "High Speed Internet Access Required For Use" printed right on the package (as many current products/games do) would be a quick and dirty solution for this. I mean, what happens if someone orders the item from Nintendo's webstore only to find out they have to have broadband to use it... Then they have to pay shipping to mail it back in to get their money back, etc., etc..

YOu know do you need hi-speed internet to use that thing? I think it could work with dial-up.

Also it will be a pain to bring to a friend's house because you need to install software on your friend's pc.

A wireless router is probably going to be about as easy to setup as the USB thingie. They are getting pretty-idiot proof nowadays.

>Also it will be a pain to bring to a friend's house because you need to install software on your friend's pc.

Umm... The software is probably on the Adapter (something like a Jump Drive, if you've ever used one) - I'm assuming...

The wayport deal is getting mention in the (fake) mainstream press....

Stephen Colbert: "McDonald's will offer free wireless hookups for Nintendo's DS game system, so you can sit at McDonald's and play Nintendo. All you need to know: You're gonna need bigger pants."

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Originally posted by: wandering
Stephen Colbert: "McDonald's will offer free wireless hookups for Nintendo's DS game system, so you can sit at McDonald's and play Nintendo. All you need to know: You're gonna need bigger pants."

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