DS Has 2 Million Wi-Fi Users Play 70 Million Times

Wowzer writes "Nintendo's wireless gaming service has reached two million unique DS players online. Together they logged more than 70 million individual game sessions in just more than nine months of operation. From the article: 'To put that number in perspective, the population of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection users now surpasses the population of 15 different U.S. states, including Montana, Nebraska and New Mexico.' The more you know, right? Also mentioned are the DS online games released so far: Mario Kart DS, Tony Hawk's American Sk8land, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Tetris DS, LostMagic, Metroid Prime: Hunters, Tenchu: Dark Secret, and today Star Fox Command."

Comments

Re:Match making service

[dividedsky319]

If you choose to play against "Rivals" instead of "Worldwide", the system will select rivals with similar records as you so you won't be thrown into a match with someone with thousands of wins and no losses...

I actually wish all games had this... My rating in Tetris hovers somewhere between 6500 and 6800 usually, and when I get put up against someone with a mid to low 5000 rating I almost feel bad about beating them, heh.

I really like DS wifi, but...

[vertinox]

I hope future games have better player communication and lobby rooms. As it is now, most Wifi games just feel like you are playing a really smart AI (or not smart depending)

I think more communication between players would make the online experience more enjoyable, but although having communication allows people to scream and curse at each other.

Not like we have a ton of obscene Mario Kart logos as it is....

Re:I really like DS wifi, but...

[dividedsky319]

Unfortunately, I don't really see Nintendo going to this sort of system. As much as they try to shy away from the label of "kiddy", they want to make the WiFi connection kid friendly.

There was a story a few weeks back about a patent Nintendo filed dealing with converting speech to text... I could actually see this being worked into future Nintendo software, because that way the "conversation" could be monitored and censored. Swearing would be converted to text, then ****'d out so kids couldn't be exposed to "vulgar" language.

I agree, it's annoying that Nintendo feels this way... I hate using "friend codes" as much as the next guy... but there's a reason behind it.

Re:I really like DS wifi, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

One benefit of using a real computer opponent is that they won't quit if they start losing. MarioKart has soured me on the whole experience really. I have had my ass handed to me more often then not, fair enough. But those few times that I do wind up winning almost invariably everyone quits before I finish thus I don't get credit. I once even played against someone whose user logo said something along the lines of "anti disconnect" or something like that. Guess what he did when he started to lose? If they can't prevent people from acting like asses without reprecusions then I see no reason to continue to play internet games on my DS.

WPA Support

[wampus]

I really dig the free WiFi play, but I can only use it sitting in one corner of my house to get on my neighbor's "default" network. One of these days I guess I will hang an old AP off of my router and lock it to my DS's MAC and nothing else, but I don't understand Nintendo's complete lack of WPA support.

Re:StarFox Command!

[|/|/|||]

OFMG!

I'll pass, but it's nice to see someone so generous with their god. :)

Re:What should I get besides Elektroplankton?

[Rude Turnip]

New Super Mario Bros. is great. I like to think of it as a "Super Mario Brothers 4" done in the style of SMB and SMB3, but with much better graphics and lots of fun new features. I haven't touched a platformer in years since this game. I also have lots of fun with Worms for the DS...nothing like a Scorched Earth-ish artillery game before bedtime to get rid of stress. I would kill for a wifi-enabled version since I don't have any friends with a DS.

A great service or desperation?

[Admodieus]

While 2 million users usually depicts a great service that is worth coming back, part of me believes that so many DS owners are gaga over it due to it being the first real online infrastructure they've ever had. I've played online with my Dreamcast, XBox, XBox 360, and PC. These are all great online platforms, whether it be to play Phantasy Star Online, Rainbow Six 3, Halo 2, or GRAW. I was excited for Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection last November and played many games of Mario Kart online before snaking became rampant. In fact, I own six Wi-Fi games for the system (Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk, Metroid, Tetris, and Starfox) but I rarely play them online at all. Why? Lack of communication, poor matchmaking features, and that horrible system known as the friends list. While the ease of use and price, or lack thereof, have certainly helped Nintendo reach this milestone, I also have to wonder if not having any substantial online for their previous systems have prevented users from knowing exactly what they're missing.