Nintendo WiFi Connection Revealed

The Nintendo WiFi Connection has been revealed. Head inside for the full story! Update How to connect to us later-on?

Nintendo of Japan is indeed holding a press conference about the Nintendo WiFI Connection as we reported between the lines earlier.

At the moment, we've learned that Nintendo will release a special USB dongle which players can use to connect their Nintendo DS to their PC. A picture of the USB dongle is placed below.

Once connected to the PC, the dongle will trigger a window to pop up on the PC (sorry Apple / Linux users, Nintendo's going MS Windows only for the moment). Clicking this pop-up will allow the Nintendo DS to recognize the PC and connect to the service through your PC and existing Internet connection.

On the Nintendo DS's screens, three steps have to be taken for the DS to succesfully connect. Although written in Japanese, the screens below give a nice idea of the concept.

Of course, the Nintendo WiFi Connection service is once again confirmed to be:

Easy, Safe and Free

Update How to connect to us later-on? Nintendo of Japan has also revealed how players can start a game together. First of all, Nintendo WiFi Connection allows you to build a friend-list. We already knew that, but we did not know yet how you can add your distant friends from DS-x2 to your friend-list. Nintendo came up with a simple, yet effective idea: 12-digit numbers. Since no username or passwords will be available in the service, we'll get to exchange a 12-digit long number which you can add to your friend-list to get a link to the player. We can start that Mario Kart DS-x2 Competition after all...

More information when it becomes available...

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Comments

• 

  Cheers Nintendo, I'm a Mac user! Why can't I just connect directly to the WiFi network in my home without having to route the DS through another piece of kit first?

  pinders, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  By the way, some routers are capable to work with the DS as well, however only NEC and Buffalo-brands are confirmed yet.

  Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Mario Kart DS-X2 cup... =¤ .....I'm in.

  J-Fox, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  With you pinders... I'm using Linux, and I just bought a wireless router (US robotics) exactly for DS. Why can't they just make it work like any other wi-fi device?

  zalbor, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Sing me in for the Mario Cart Cup :D Great idea =) @zalbor: As far as I know you can connect your DS to ANY Wireless-Network! The "Only-Windows-USB-Dongle" is only meant for people without wireless network-access (like me ;) )

  Sildorian, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Heh! Just read an interview with Jim Merrick on computerandvideogames.com. He talks at length about the WiFi connection service, and the news is that the usb dongle is apparently only for those users who have a broadband connection but not a WiFi router. If you've got WiFi already installed at home then the DS should be able to connect with relative ease. Hopefully that 100 quid I spent on a NetGear router won't be wasted on the DS!

  pinders, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Only if WPA is disabled... The DS can (most likely) only communicate unencrypted and using WEP.

  Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Any wi-fi router, that's good... I read the "only NEC and Buffalo-brands are confirmed yet" above as the possibility that not everything will work.

  zalbor, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  No, don't get me wrong: NEC and Buffalo have constructed routers capable of interacting with the Nintendo DS. Other brands and types are not yet <i>confirmed</i>. Some people already suggested that the text on the second 'screenshot' also reads 'manual' for inserting connection parameters. If true, that would imply that you could theoretically connect to any hotspot you want (as long as it's not WPA encrypted)

  Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Mario Kart DS-x2 Competition? COOL! I'm in!!

  Skitz, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  the only problem for me is money, im gonna have to get £30, to get this USB plugin. :( but sign me in for the tourny

  stefkov, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  To be honest, I'd wait a few weeks before deciding. Nintendo of Europe and America are still to announce the full details of the service. By then, more information could be available on using your own router or wireless network card.

  Dennis, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  @ stefkov: On Play.com, the USB connector is only £15....

  Skitz, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  I'll be in for a Mario Kart DS X-2 cup-y thing.

  Fish, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Im not a regular on the site, but i just wanted to ask... what to do if I DO have a mac os x vers. 10.3.9(the newest update).

  sinceps1, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  I detest this anti-mac sentiment coming from nintendo. appalling.

  sinceps1, 30-11--0001 at 00:00