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Nintendo Japan Starts Store-Based GBA Wireless Network

Posted by simoniker on from the close-proximity-only dept.

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."

3 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. Card Games? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The first thing that comes to mind is how card game stores work: It's not only a place to sell cards, it's also a place for social gatherings to play cards. This in-store network might work out in the same way.

    Imagine a store selling 'booster packs' to people, who then can scan them into their GBA, while arranging their game data to challenge others.. (which is technically feasible, if they upgrade the pokemon TCG game for CGB to be able to use the card reader..)

    1. Re:Card Games? by NonSequor · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The only problem is that you have to somehow ensure that people can't get rare cards by using Gameshark codes or whatever. Or you have to make sure that no one can capture the signal and replay it to get more cards.

      --
      My only political goal is to see to it that no political party achieves its goals.
  2. Re:NICE except by KyolFrilander · · Score: 4, Interesting

    For whatever reason, Nintendo decided not to implement the standard wired communications protocol through the wireless adaptor, so only games that are _designed_ for wireless will work. Brilliant, I know. I mean, the wired link is a nasty little interrupt based hodgepodge and not very friendly at all, but *supposedly* the same bright guys that brought you the Afterburner frontlight kit for the original GBA figured out how to make a functional wireless adaptor that actually works with existing linkable games. It just doesn't seem like it'll see the light of day.

    So yeah, the new Pokemon games and a couple of the famicon mini games support the new wireless adaptor, but other than that, bupkis.

    --
    Buddha says, "Shut your karma hole."