Nintendo unveils Wi-Fi Network Adapter for Japan

by Ross Miller { Sep 8th 2008 at 2:10PM }

It's not a hard drive. It's not a portable air conditioner. Nintendo has unveiled a wireless router/bridge for sale (in Japan) that works to connect your Wii, DS and/or PC to the interwebs. Famitsu has more shots of it, including -- gasp -- ethernet ports and a router/bridge switch. The router costs you ¥5,800 (US$53). No word on a release outside of Japan, although the Wi-Fi USB Connector has reportedly been discontinued, so it'd make sense to have this as a replacement. The Wi-Fi Network Adaptor will be available via Nintendo Japan's website on September 18.

Tags: bridge, network-adapter, nintendo, router, wii-network-adapter

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DEEZNUTZ @ Sep 8th 2008 2:15PM

Yet another useless add-on... brought to you by Nintendo.

loof @ Sep 8th 2008 2:21PM

Useless? I use my Nintendo Wi-Fi connector all the time.

Erik Stroud @ Sep 8th 2008 3:04PM

By useless he means it is basically what we have had for years now. Its a Nintendo Brand wireless router. Linksys is better and support *gasp* all things without having to have a computer.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Sep 9th 2008 2:58AM

Saying Linksys is better than *anything* is a major insult, too.

Brian @ Sep 8th 2008 2:16PM

Pointless product is pointless.

Falcon6 @ Sep 8th 2008 2:20PM

I'd actually get it, for two specific reasons.

1. My Wii connection sucks right now. I spent around 4 or 5 hours trying to get it connected so I can get Super Mario RPG. So you know, my 360's connection is virtually lag-free. A router designed for the Wii might actually help improve it. I'll have to look at tests first, though.

2. My DS is without a connection. My current wireless router does nothing for the DS, so I haven't played online since my USB connector stopped working. I didn't get another because my computer acted really weird with it installed. Sound turning off, graphics messing up, and what-have-you...

Again, I'd have to check the connection tests before I make a decision in the long run...but if it truly makes the Wii's online work better, along with the fact that it'd work for the DS, I'd essentially be sold.

DanB91 @ Sep 8th 2008 2:23PM

So instead of improving their connection service they make you buy an add-on? Ah how I love Nintendo :)

Mark C @ Sep 8th 2008 2:25PM

My Wii's network connection is a little finicky as well (not as bad as yours, by the sound of it)...But we shouldn't need to buy a Nintendo Network Adapter just so that the Wii's online capabilities will work properly.

loof @ Sep 8th 2008 2:31PM

He didn't say whether his 360 is using a wired or wireless connection. Sounds like he has a router problem not a Wii problem.

Zertoss @ Sep 8th 2008 2:32PM

Of my consoles and handhelds, the 360, Wii and PSP work fine. The DS has no WPA support but otherwise works fine and the PS3 is just slow as hell all the time.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Sep 8th 2008 2:39PM

My Wii and DS refuse to hold a connection longer than 5 minutes. At times, on the Browser for the Wii, I'd just keep shuffling through "Connection Lost" "Connected" messages constantly popping up, I eventually just said fuck it.

Other wireless hardware (laptops and such) work fine when put in the same area/spot.

Falcon6 @ Sep 8th 2008 2:42PM

Yeah, it's most likely my wireless router. My 360 uses a wired connection, which works just perfectly. I suppose I could put in the money for the wired connection, but I never really saw the point.

Again, I'd have to test the different connections for this. If I find out I'd actually get a better connection through wired, I'd do it.

But again, my other selling point would be the fact that I can play my DS games online through it, which I cannot do on my current wireless router.

...

Essentially, my router sucks. Guess it'd make more sense to get a better one than this.=P

bm @ Sep 8th 2008 2:47PM

LOL, clueless retard makes an anti-nintendo comment, gets voted up despite being proven wrong. Ah, kids.

bm @ Sep 8th 2008 2:49PM

LOL, clueless idiot makes an anti-nintendo comment and gets voted up, despite being proven wrong. Ah, kids.

samfish @ Sep 8th 2008 3:12PM

I would just buy that Wi-fi USB dongle thingy instead of this or a new Wireless router. It's cheaper and gets the Wii AND DS online.

Dracula Jones @ Sep 8th 2008 3:21PM

Change your router's broadcast channel. My Wii's connection was awful until I changed the wireless channel.

DangerMouse @ Sep 8th 2008 3:31PM

Sometimes updating the router firmware helps. When i first got my ps3, wifi worked fine for a week, then started disconnecting after a minute or so. After updating the firmware on my router, it's been working fine since. The PSP, DS and PS3 all work with out any problems on my router.

Falcon6 @ Sep 8th 2008 3:51PM

@Samfish:
Well, that is a thought. Problem is, the last time I used the USB-dongle thing, it completely screwed up my old computer. Let me say that it didn't mess up before the adapter was installed and stopped it when the router was uninstalled. Actually, I recall a lot of trouble uninstalling it, too. I would be happy to not go back to that one.

I really ought to look into getting my router installed on my computer instead of my brother's laptop. Fixing the channels would help me more than the other computers, really.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Sep 8th 2008 3:53PM

For the record, it is set on the recommended broadcast channel.

time @ Sep 8th 2008 4:17PM

I seem to be the odd one out here. I've never really had much of a problem getting my Nintendo stuff online, but trying to get my 360 to work with my wireless network is a nightmare.

samfish @ Sep 8th 2008 5:11PM

^I never had any problems getting my Wii or DS online, either. Took me all of 10 minutes total for both.
The 360 was a PITA for me too, though...but admittedly I was trying some rather unconventional methods to get it online...but I got it!

FOXHOUND @ Sep 8th 2008 2:23PM

This just strengthens my resolve to make a better storage solution for the Wii than just simply using secure digital(SD)card backups. Especially since some game save files are unable to be copied to SD.

Zertoss @ Sep 8th 2008 2:23PM

I don't see it anywhere in the source article, so I'm just gonna take a guess and say this thing is 802.11b only.

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Sep 8th 2008 10:29PM

While the DS only supports 802.11b, the Wii is b/g. Wouldn't make sense to make it b-only, as that could hamper your Wii's connection a bit.

emirabal @ Sep 8th 2008 2:23PM

What the hell is that, another console next to it, good god, nintendo really does not care about its enduser, PS3 - built in, 360 - small antenna, WII - Extra console atttached. GOOD GOD.

Zertoss @ Sep 8th 2008 2:33PM

That's a wireless router. It doesn't attach to the Wii.

jumpshot @ Sep 8th 2008 4:19PM

And to be fair, it's not that big when compared to other routers, rather than wireless cards.

Kristof @ Sep 8th 2008 4:34PM

It's amazing how stupid some people are. You're talking about Wi-Fi which both the PS3 and Wii have always had, it's the retarded XBox that doesn't have it which MS makes you buy separately.

This is just a Nintendo branded router ... that's all

Buckshot @ Sep 8th 2008 2:30PM

Useless...How about wpa2 on the ds (and psp for that matter)so they can be used on modern wireless networks.

Ordeith @ Sep 8th 2008 2:47PM

+1000 to you!

Zertoss @ Sep 8th 2008 2:51PM

Yes! The DS needs some WPA support! I'm sick of borrowing my neighbor's unsecured connection just for my DS.

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Sep 8th 2008 10:30PM

The only way to bring WPA support to the DS would be through a firmware upgrade of some sort... Nintendo COULD do such a thing (there are multiple versions of the DS firmware... though changes made were only to block piracy), but there are no signs that they WOULD...

Wait for DS2. :/

Christian @ Sep 8th 2008 2:46PM

I like the title of Engadget for this article better...

I must say though I might get this as my DS can't connect to the level of wireless security that my current router is set up with. Well we'll see if this can catch my attention when it finally hit store shelves.

mr mobius @ Sep 8th 2008 3:12PM

Would have made more sense to have it be a miniature replica of a Wii.

I assume this is just a Nintendo branded wireless router.

Quit complaining people. You can either buy this or use your own router. It'll not be a must buy but only another option.

SadCookie @ Sep 8th 2008 3:14PM

Nah, this is good! For the DS especially - it's limited to 802.11b so it can't be used with the newer, faster wireless protocols.

samfish @ Sep 8th 2008 3:15PM

So close yet so far, Nintendo! This is not an HDD!

...ok, so maybe not that close. Not even in the same ballpark, really...but at least it's the same sport.

/twisted analogy

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Sep 8th 2008 4:04PM

It IS a box, just like an external HDD would be...

Dan CiTi @ Sep 8th 2008 3:38PM

That thing is pretty. If it comes out in the US I'd buy it. It'll allow me to do a lot.

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Sep 8th 2008 4:04PM

Like... connect to the internet.

Dan CiTi @ Sep 8th 2008 3:45PM

Oh wait, what are the specs? That usually turns me off of nintendo products. I've seen the back and it looks ok so far.

Wah-hah-ha! @ Sep 8th 2008 4:21PM

Not pointless if its been optimized. But it'll probably be overpriced

IGLAW @ Sep 8th 2008 6:49PM

Um... doesn't the Wii connect to Wi-Fi out of the box?

Burnt Meatloaf @ Sep 9th 2008 3:02AM

This product is designed for people still living in the 80's, who think that you can only get things working with "official" adapters.

DangerMouse @ Sep 8th 2008 7:34PM

Wow, crappy timing. This could've blown everyone away at E3.

DoomPlague @ Sep 8th 2008 9:26PM

Basically this is a simple Wifi router, much like the typical routers people have in their homes but probably with fewer options and obviously with only one extra Ethernet port.

You can get better products for that price, no doubt, but a lot of people may just have their PC attached to their cable/dsl modem and may want a simple solution to getting their DSs/Wiis online.

JRM @ Sep 9th 2008 6:50AM

PEOPLE, THIS DEVICE IS MADE FOR JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Japan, homes can be so small that ethernet is good enough for most cases. There is hardly much need for wifi.

This is only for Japanese who want to take the plunge and connect to Nintendo Wifi but have never gotten a wireless router. I don't think it will be a big seller.

Also, they still make wifi dongles in Japan, except they're now made by third parties and they're also compatible with PSP.