Nintendo Japan Starts Store-Based GBA Wireless Network

Thanks to Planet GameCube for its article discussing Nintendo Japan's rolling-out of the store-based JoySpot service for the Game Boy Advance wireless adapter. According to the article: "Consisting of wireless base stations - also known as hot spots - at retail locations around the country, JoySpot acts as a miniature server and hub for GBA games supporting the wireless adapter." Although players can use the limited-range wireless adapter with friends separately of the JoySpot locations, "...players can download news from the JoySpot station in Pokémon Fire/Leaf via the virtual JoySpot kiosks.. [and] can also take part in special JoySpot challenge battles among other gamers within the station's range by talking to them in the [virtual] union room."

Comments

NICE except

[SmallFurryCreature]

Typing in a four word password? Maybe it is bad translation but geepers, unless the gba in japan comes with a keyboard that is going to be hell. Especially since japanese has more letters. Reminds me of the GBA games whose saves was a whole string of letters. Guess thats the high-tech super advanced console stuff I missed while I was gaming on my PC :-) (games like that should come with a warning "C16 level technology inside").

You can also chat via the gba with people in range of the wireless station. Mmmm, you mean unlike simply shouting accross the room?

Still it seems like a nice idea. Put it in popular kid hangouts charge a few bucks an hour and just rake the money in.

I am confused however why only the pokemon games would work. There are plenty of multiplayer games for the GBA, surely anyone with 1 braincell would have made a wireless adapter that works with all of them?