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What Makes The DS So Popular?
Next Generation is running down the reasons why the Nintendo DS is so popular in Japan, by analyzing an article on the subject from Famitsu. From the article: "In any department store in Japan, there are DS demo stations. Usually the screens are scratched to high hell (I can't imagine what people are DOING with the stylus), and lately, there are a lot of games to choose from. On the launch day of Xbox 360, I recall seeing a line eight persons deep to play Super Mario Kart DS, and not one person even looking at the 360. This was in Shibuya Tsutaya, statistically the most foot-trafficked game retailer in all of Japan."
My kid wanted one....all his friends wanted one. All his friends are playing DS Wifi games. The McDonalds here is a Wifi hotspot for the DS and they go over there to play and I counted 11 people in there one day with DS systems. They're all over the fricken place!
Where do you live, out in a corn field or something? Or maybe the "fever" just hasn't hit your neck of the woods yet.
"Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
I love my DS, but I don't see anyone with them aside from a few friends. It's all spoiled brats with PSPs around here. In fact, the only people I've seen with a DS are likely over 18. Then again, I don't leave the house so much unless I'm going to work or a friend's, so I may not be the right person to ask.
It's like sex, except I'm having it!
Metroid Pinball comes with a rumble pack and Nintendo sells it online for 10 bucks.
It appeals to me (I'm 28) because of the innovative games, built in WiFi, and the touch screen.
Plus, I get a mild kick out of using the stylus for gaming...
You beat me to it. The rumble pack also works with Mario & Luigi Partners in Time I think.
My Xbox Live Gamer Card
Not only do you get a huge back catalogue, but you also get an explansion slot. How long will it be until you can buy a DS game that comes with a tilt cart, or a rumble pack?
As was mentioned by another poster, Metroid Prime Pinball comes with a rumble pack, and the rumble pack is also compatible with Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time. I expect this is the reason that DS cases have a GBA cartridge holder in them.
Not to mention the growing number of games that support GBA linking features.
I finished playing Castlevania DS the other night, and in reading a FAQ while looking for some things I had missed, I found out that if you start a new file with Aria of Sorrow in the GBA slot, you get a free Rare Ring. Since you can get that pretty easily later in the game, it's basically a free drop of cash, *plus* it helps you get more junk early on in the game, so it's super-helpful.
Megaman Battle Network 5 for the DS also supports a large amount of linking features. If you play it with any of the previous Battle Network GBA games inserted, the battle music and environments change to match those in the GBA game you used. They also each unlock extra chips for use in the DS game.
Even *neater* is the cross-company connectivity. The creator of MMBN (a Capcom employee) is good friends with the creator of Boktai (a Konami game/employee), and the two of them have worked together to put little tributes to each other in the games. You can unlock an extra Navi chip after you've finished the game if you play MMBN5 DS with one of the Boktai games in the GBA slot.
Also, there's a Japanese music game called Daigasso! Band Brothers which now has an expansion pack sold in GBA cartridge form.
"Mod, mod, mod...and another troll bites the dust."
*bzzt*
Wrong, it's coming out for GBA... doesn't really matter since DS people will be able to play it anyways.
This detail has been on his website for a while now.
Translated from his webpage here: http://forum.starmen.net/?t=msg&th=17861
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You might want to try Aaron Rogers's tutorial as a starting point. Links there to getting homebrew devkits and WiFiMe.
I haven't actually got any further than downloading a devkit yet, but I'm off to my local wifi card emporium tonight to try and get a WiFiMe-compatible card.
Registering accounts later than some other chrisb since 1997