Internet Connection
The Nintendo DS is an IEEE 802.11 device, and a player can access the service via any compatible wireless network. This includes public hotspots as well as personal 802.11b or 802.11g wireless routers, but does not yet include most public hotspots that use a captive portal. Entering the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection setup allows players to configure access to three different networks. A connection can be automatically detected on some routers, especially those that are AOSS-compatible. A user can also manually enter network settings. The Nintendo DS supports WEP encryption but not WPA. In addition to the three connections, the Nintendo DS can connect through the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector.
Nintendo's USB connector supports Windows XP-based PCs only; however, some users have reported success with the Mac OS X. Broadband Internet access is not required, but as a common courtesy it is highly recommended to prevent network lag.
The USB connector is based on a Ralink chipset. Some hackers modified the official drivers so that many other adaptors with similar chipsets can act like an official Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector. The chipset also means the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector can be used for Wireless Multi Boot.
There is no charge for connecting to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or for playing any Nintendo first-party games. Third-party developers are free to decide whether to charge fees for playing their games through the service. Nintendo is working with hotspot providers to allow free access in public for Nintendo DS users and has already reached such an agreement with Texas-based firm Wayport to provide access in McDonald's Restaurants. Wayport currently provides 6,000 Wi-Fi hotspots (which are not free to non-Nintendo DS users). Connecting to these hotspots does not require configuration on the Nintendo DS, bypassing Wayport's standard login. Nintendo also confirmed that the Wii will use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in this press release.
A similar partnership with FatPort to create free hotspots in Canada was announced by Nintendo of Canada on October 19, 2005.
25,000 hotspots will be created in Europe, according to Jim Merrick, former Director of Marketing for Nintendo of Europe. These include 7,500 in UK alone, thanks to a partnership with The Cloud and BT Openzone.
Nintendo Australia announced on November 17, 2005 that they would roll out 26 hotspots across the country, in partnership with selected Electronics Boutique, Myer and Dick Smith Powerhouse stores. The sheer lack of hotspots came as a surprise to gamers in Australia, with many confused about whether the press release referred to 26 chains of stores, or 26 individual locations. It turned out to be the latter, meaning that many gamers would have to travel long distances to reach an official hotspot. Currently, all 26 points are active, but with no official announcements regarding an expansion with to the service or a partnership to allow access in McDonalds like in the US, most Australians have to purchase the USB adaptor, use a home wireless router or find an unofficial wireless hotspot.
Functionality
Games designed to take advantage of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection offer Internet play seamlessly integrated into the game. After selecting Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in the game's menu, the device connects to the service. Simplicity and speed of starting a game appear to be Nintendo's focus. For example, in Mario Kart DS, players choose the online multiplayer option, then the player chooses to play with people at his/her skill level, play with friends, play with people in his/her region, or play with people around the world. Then the game immediately starts searching for available players. The user can also have a different game name for each game he or she plays online.
Friend codes
Friend codes are game and cartridge specific addresses assigned to every player that uses Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Each friend code is a combination of the game and the Nintendo DS that game is in. If you use your game over Wi-Fi in a different Nintendo DS, your friend code will change, and it will change to a new friend code every time you use a different Nintendo DS. The codes are usually assigned one per player, per game; the codes allow a player to store a list of friends with the same game and play with them when both parties are online. The codes come in different formats for different games. For example, the codes of Mario Kart DS and Tetris DS are six digits followed by another row of six digits, while Animal Crossing: Wild World's codes comprise three groups of four digits separated by hyphens. Friend codes in Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk's American Sk8land allow the player to search for opponents that are in their friend list and are also searching for a match against "friends" with the same game. In Animal Crossing: Wild World, friend codes are absolutely required to visit another’s town via the Wi-Fi connection, perhaps due to Nintendo’s privacy concerns or the potential in-game vandalism that could occur from unauthorized visitors to the player's town. Adding a friend can also allow text and/or voice chat, as in the case of Metroid Prime: Hunters and Animal Crossing: Wild World. In "Animal Crossing Wild World", every Wi-Fi users codes of which you obtain, are stored in your "Friend Roster" so you can keep a record of whose town you visit.
On July 18, 2006, a page was leaked on Nintendo's official website stating that Wii would use the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection in much the same way as the Nintendo DS does, with a Friend Code system and no charge to play.
Rivals
The Rivals concept was first introduced in Metroid Prime Hunters. The "Rivals" feature eliminates many problems of friend codes. After each game, players have the option of adding each other as "Rivals." If both players agree, they are added to each others' rivals roster. In the future, the Rivals have the option of playing with each other again. In Metroid Prime Hunters' case, Rivals can play game modes and access advanced features that are not availble in regular online multiplayer. One disadvantage of Rivals is the fact that they still cannot chat with each other. Otherwise, Rivals connect and play like friends can.
Note that although there is a "Rivals" mode in Mario Kart DS, this does not perform like the above; instead, the player is matched against players of similar skill level, as determined by their progress through the game's single-player modes.
Official Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Website
Nintendo has created the Official Nintendo Wi-Fi connection web-site as a portal for gamers looking to access the service, in need of troubleshooting assistance and much more. The website has live statistics and data from the service's servers and records high scores, and service status. It also allows a user to link their WFC ID to a My Nintendo account.
The website went live on Monday, November 7, 2005 — one week prior to the key Mario Kart DS launch in North America. On March 7, 2006 at 1:31am PST, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection passed the milestone of having its one millionth unique user log on. The Nintendo Wi-fi Connection passed the two million unique user mark on August 28, 2006.
Visit the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Website |
