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Official DS Website Launched
H0NGK0NGPH00EY writes "Nintendo today launched the official DS website (all flash). Included are additional details about the rumored online capabilities: "Nintendo DS technology also provides for a wireless LAN connection, which could allow a theoretically infinite number of players to connect at a hot spot and compete at a central game hub on the Internet...""
I can see myself chatting and gaming with strangers at bars, movie theaters, coffee houses, etc... But that's only if the DS reaches critical mass. It'll make for a better social device than the PSP, thanks to the touch screen and pictochat. I think Nintendo has a winner on their hands.
the cosmos in 20 words or less: thumbuki.com
I was thinking that this is conceptually one of the best uses of flash in my opinion. The whole ad campaign is all about good touches, and the non-intuitive website encourages groping your way through, which is one of the benefits of flash, in a sense.
Sadly, I'm not even sure if I'm serious anymore, but I still think it's a fun site if you've got the patience to be advertised to.
Maybe Nintendo has some sort of intelligent website creator that checks for the plugin and if it doesn't find it automatically loads a non-flash site meaning the end-user doesn't need to bother with plugins and such.
I read this article about some of the things that are being done by companies. Notably, the fact that companies have linked 32 handhelds together.
Another thing that piqued my interest is that internet browsing protocols (I'm assuming http and such) are in development. I can't really see the DS actually displaying regular web pages, but this opens up a whole new possibility: MMOARG- Massive Multiplayer Online Alternate Reality Games. ARGs just like the recently finished I Love Bees. Except these could be longer and have more to do outside.
Here's an example: You know that you have to meet with an agent of some spy organization to get a password to allow you into the enemy's internet organization. However, the spy is afraid of getting caught, and as such, does not stay in one place. Armed with a GPS device (or, hell, even one that plugs into the DS,) you wirelessly connect to a pre-designated website (or even something else that has a DS-only protocol) and use that to track the location of the spy, and try to locate him. You'll have other visual clues, of course. Once you do, he gives you a DS card (or even something you load onto the DS card in your system,) and you're off.
The more I hear about this device, the more I wish I had preordered one. Unfortunatly, I didn't have the funds. Hmm, I have a semi-regular paycheck now, and I've been wanting to go on a diet for a while...