While there are lots of DS games that support online multiplayer over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, there are also many titles that use the service for some other online content. Level sharing is becoming a more common feature, and even downloadable content is available in a few games (though sometimes, it seems to really just be unlockable content). While we know many gamers crave online mutliplayer to extend the fun and replay values of their games, we're finding that these other uses for Nintendo's Wi-Fi can be just as interesting. Sometimes, of course, they're mediocre, but that's par for the proverbial course with any feature. The question is -- do you enjoy these options? Do you remember to use them? Have you unlocked puzzles in Professor Layton and the Curious Village or check out Civilization Revolution's games of the week?
While there are lots of DS games that support online multiplayer over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, there are also many titles that use the service for some other online content. Level sharing is becoming a more common feature, and even downloadable content is available in a few games (though sometimes, it seems to really just be unlockable content). While we know many gamers crave online mutliplayer to extend the fun and replay values of their games, we're finding that these other uses for Nintendo's Wi-Fi can be just as interesting. Sometimes, of course, they're mediocre, but that's par for the proverbial course with any feature. The question is -- do you enjoy these options? Do you remember to use them? Have you unlocked puzzles in Professor Layton and the Curious Village or check out Civilization Revolution's games of the week?
Reader Comments (21)
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 9:58AM (Unverified) said
I've used the game of the week feature in Civ:Rev for the last couple weeks running.
I honestly think C:R is the best DS game ever, lol. It's perfect for a hand held, it absolutely gobbles free time. It has me taking my DS with me when I leave the house, which is something I never do. Yay!
I honestly think C:R is the best DS game ever, lol. It's perfect for a hand held, it absolutely gobbles free time. It has me taking my DS with me when I leave the house, which is something I never do. Yay!
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 12:39PM (Unverified) said
I'm inclined to agree about CivRev, but I've never tried the game-of-the-week feature and probably never will. In the back of my mind I'm aware of my DS's wi-fi capability, but it's not my thing--for any purpose. Whatever is not on the cart itself is something I'll likely never see.
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Posted: Aug 15th 2008 3:31PM APV said
i have played transformers: deceptacons, and it has a nintendo wfc, but it isnt online multiplayer, its daily battles where you get tokens and can unlock stuff in the game.
its fun. i go on every day to play them.
its fun. i go on every day to play them.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:14AM (Unverified) said
the only games i've even attempted to play wifi is mario kart and animal crossing. both were excellent.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:12AM (Unverified) said
I have around 25 games for DS, and most of them have some sort of Wi-Fi support. Never actually played through Wi-Fi or used any other features for anything except Pokemon Diamond. For one, I find Wi-Fi to be rather uncomfortable in general, with all the routers and stuff (which is why I bought Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, which doesn't seem to work half of the time; most routers are way too expensive). And besides, DS (AND Wii, for that matter) rarely has any worthwhile online features. Even so, they work much better than on Wii. We need an easier access to internet through the consoles. DS needs some memory for downloadable content, which would be great (especially if it's free).
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:14AM (Unverified) said
I want people all over the world to enjoy the online features of their handheld anywhere they want and at any time. This is troublesome, unless you have an access point or router (which is usually somewhere in the city (cafes and such) and your home respectively).
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Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:21AM (Unverified) said
Sorry for a third post in a row, but I would like to mention that I'm always glad to play with anyone online via my DS or Wii, in pretty much anything and almost at any time. For details on FC, games and such, please mail to skies.afire@gmail.com!
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Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:21AM (Unverified) said
Sorry for a third post in a row, but I would like to mention that I'm always glad to play with anyone online via my DS or Wii, in pretty much anything and almost at any time. For details on FC, games and such, please mail to skies.afire@gmail.com!
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Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:14AM oneplus said
I used to use the function a lot for Pokemon Diamond and Bleach: BoF and Mario Kart back when people still used it. As the game's online community sort of "died out", it got slightly less fun.
But I do download the weekly puzzles from Layton whenever I can. And I still Animal Crossing with friends when I can.
But I do download the weekly puzzles from Layton whenever I can. And I still Animal Crossing with friends when I can.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:23AM (Unverified) said
How's the online in Bleach: Blade of Fate? I'm considering to buy the game.
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Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:31AM aliquis said
If only Nintendo didn't used that friendcode bullshit so there was someone to play with to... Guess that would help.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:33AM (Unverified) said
I agree. It's really uncomfortable to find players online, since you always need to exchange friend codes, and for every game. We need more random options.
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Posted: Aug 15th 2008 1:06PM aliquis said
I can understand how they want to protect kids or whatever, but have some sort of skill management to fit people with similar skills vs each other then or only use friend kids on games where one can talk to each other if they are so fucking afraid of pedophiles or whatever the big deal is. But I guess it may be skills as well as I said. The only game I've played online is one game of metroid prime vs some young kid and he totally owned me.
Friend codes are killing the online experience.
Also this stupid bullshit to trust the software and not look for cheats, such as people cheating in tetris on flashcarts, why make such things possible? If they had told the game which 100 blocks if should use and in that order and then checked if the movements was possible after each brick was layed of it would be a non issue.
I can just imagine how disappointing it is to have paid for the game and then some retarded pirate connect with his patched game and don't play fair.
That's how I _LIKE_ that Blizzard is so hard on cheaters / people running bots / .. I want to play the fucking game as it was intended to be played.
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Friend codes are killing the online experience.
Also this stupid bullshit to trust the software and not look for cheats, such as people cheating in tetris on flashcarts, why make such things possible? If they had told the game which 100 blocks if should use and in that order and then checked if the movements was possible after each brick was layed of it would be a non issue.
I can just imagine how disappointing it is to have paid for the game and then some retarded pirate connect with his patched game and don't play fair.
That's how I _LIKE_ that Blizzard is so hard on cheaters / people running bots / .. I want to play the fucking game as it was intended to be played.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 11:43AM Roto13 said
I think I would rather be able to unlock those "downloadable" puzzles in Professor Layton ingame since they're not actually downloaded. :P But whatever. I do check out the downloads every few weeks, but not religiously. They'll still be there when I get around to it. :P
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 2:27PM (Unverified) said
I never have.
Unfathomably, the DS does not even support WPA encryption. My home network is WPA2 TKIP+AES, and I don't intend to drop back down to a deprecated, incredibly insecure protocol so I can...what, sit and wait for hours to get rescued in Shiren? Download 5 x 5 puzzles in Picross...y'know, since I finished all the 25 x 20 ones?
What's worse is that I've actually tried to connect to WEP and unprotected networks (on the relatively rare occasions that I'm in range of one and have my DS on me) with no success. I'll keep trying, but every time my PSP connects and my DS comes back "error 5xxxx" I lose a little bit of my willingness to do so.
Unfathomably, the DS does not even support WPA encryption. My home network is WPA2 TKIP+AES, and I don't intend to drop back down to a deprecated, incredibly insecure protocol so I can...what, sit and wait for hours to get rescued in Shiren? Download 5 x 5 puzzles in Picross...y'know, since I finished all the 25 x 20 ones?
What's worse is that I've actually tried to connect to WEP and unprotected networks (on the relatively rare occasions that I'm in range of one and have my DS on me) with no success. I'll keep trying, but every time my PSP connects and my DS comes back "error 5xxxx" I lose a little bit of my willingness to do so.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 4:33PM Jacksons said
I got a few of the Picross packs, but they're not as fun without the goofy animation when you win for some reason.
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 4:48PM MrTyzik said
I like silly Wi-Fi features. For some reason it was fun to go to shops in Castlevania :D
Posted: Aug 15th 2008 10:33PM (Unverified) said
"While we know many gamers crave online mutliplayer to extend the fun and replay values of their games..."
How much replay value do you get out of on-line modes that get dropped or have zero traffic after a couple of months?
I don't think the internet is the future of gaming as long as games are so disposable.
And God help us if games stop being disposable, and they want us to pay for the game, then pay the subscription fee just to play the fucking things.
How much replay value do you get out of on-line modes that get dropped or have zero traffic after a couple of months?
I don't think the internet is the future of gaming as long as games are so disposable.
And God help us if games stop being disposable, and they want us to pay for the game, then pay the subscription fee just to play the fucking things.
Posted: Aug 16th 2008 12:45AM Jacksons said
I like it to play with friends, but you're absolutely correct on random matches. I don't know how many DS games have game lobbies (none of mine do!), but that would be so much more ideal compared to the horrible luck-of-the-draw matching. Sorry, but Bomberman isn't fun against 1 other person, which is the max I've ever been able to get.
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Posted: Aug 16th 2008 8:06PM (Unverified) said
I've played against others via wi-fi with MarioKart DS and Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS. Every time I venture into the wi-fi space I get my but kicked! But I totally love the gaming against total strangers via wi-fi. My DS totally ROCKS because of it!
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