Nintendo offers DS rumble pack online

by Ross Miller { Nov 23rd 2005 at 6:00PM }

When Nintendo released Metroid Prime Pinball, it included a Nintendo DS Rumble Pack, which essentially plugged into the GBA port of the system and vibrated at key points in the game. Other DS games are reported to use this technology (Metroid Prime Hunters, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time), but how will you get the rumble pack if you do not want to buy a pinball game? What if you need to replace your original rumble pack? Nintendo has you covered.

Starting November 28, you can visit Nintendo's online store and purchase a Rumble Pack for $9.99 U.S. The price is very reasonable, but let us hope that Nintendo offers the Rumble Pack in brick-and-mortar stores, as well, or this feature will be abandoned faster than you can say "GameCube broadband adaptor."

[via 4 color rebellion]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Noga @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

The Gamecube Broadband adaptor didn't come packaged with Metroid Pinball.

sharpfish @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Why didn't nintendo implement this into Mario Kart DS? That would have been great. Though I did hear the rumble was more of a mild vibration accompanied by more noise than immersion ;)

I hope they do get it into shops and use it to good effect in future DS games!

tally ho @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Nor was it only available online. It has always been available in brick and mortar stores. There are several units available at a store locally in my town right now. I just saw them the other day. I own one and the games that support it (LAN) are very good, just not alot of them.

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

Noga = observant. ;)

Blueman @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

I'm so getting one! :)

fable2323 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

This is a great price for this device, but it needs to be in stores as well to take off. Plus more games need to support it. Too bad Mario Kart didnt, that game is already a blast.

kojo87 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

im glad Hunters id using it cause i dont really want pinball. Hunters will be amazing.

the GC broadband adapter was available in stores. i saw it at Target for $40. my friend had one for Phantasy Star Online. only then did he realize that he basically spent $90 for one game.

and the Wi-Fi adapter should be in stores too.

Zo? @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

I picked up both my 56k and broadband adapters from Best Buy and GameStop, respectively.

Maybe we're thinking the Dreamcast's broadband device, which was only available through the company?

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM

I meant the GameCube broadband, but I guess my motivation for so doing was not exactly accurate.

The broadband and 56k adapter as available; however, it was never pushed as a feature. I remember seeing it in stores, too, but not for a long period of time. Eventually, I know Nintendo stopped shipping the adaptor, opting instead to leave it as an online-only purchase (not so much a problem now as it was back when online shopping was still new). Nintendo, however, did lose faith in the adaptor, and could've pushed it harder and made it a more prominent feature.

My worries, while comparing a rumble pack to internet capabilities is hard in itself, is that the rumble pack ds cartridge will simply be a trial run that Nintendo does not put any effort into promoting. I do not think this will be the case, though - from how Nintnedo has responded with the current Wi-Fi network, it seems they are taking a more activist approach in everything (they even advertised the gameBoy Micro - and not just on cartoon network!).

So here's to the rumble pack, may you become more than a niche.