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DS download stations coming Stateside

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Feb 9, 2006 11:05 am PT

[UPDATE] Owners of Nintendo's handheld will be able to snag demos, trailers, and other media from Wi-Fi hot spots.

Some countries get all the neat stuff. On their way to work or wherever else they may be headed, gamers in Japan can approach special hot spots, in train stations, for example, and download demos, trailers, and other files to their DS. Unfortunately for North American gamers, such amenities have so far been limited to Japan.

Envious American DS owners were given some reprieve today. At the DICE Summit taking place in Las Vegas, Nintendo announced that DS download stations would be coming to the US "in a matter of weeks."

The company has commitments with retailers EB Games, GameStop, and Game Crazy to host download stations, and negotiations are under way with megaretailers Target and Wal-Mart. Nintendo envisions DS download stations at thousands of retail locations across the country.

[UPDATE] The first download stations will include demos of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Mario Kart DS, True Swing Golf, Pokemon Trozei, Meteos, and Tetris DS. A video of Metroid Prime: Hunters will also be available for download, with new content is expected to be added every quarter.

Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America executive vice president of sales and marketing, said, "We plan on expanding the market for interactive entertainment...for those who already buy our games and for those who don't buy our games."

The content will stay on the DS as long as it's powered on. Once the user shuts off the machine, the downloaded material will be lost.

For more on Nintendo's presentation at the DICE summit, see what company exec Reggie Fils-Aime had to say.

97 Comments

  • JoeSSJ3

    Posted Sep 22, 2006 7:41 pm GMT

    "another stupid attempt to take down the psp i feel pity "

    What do you mean attempt? The PSP can't do crap in the face of the DS, it was a failure at its launch and has remained one ever since.

  • wetdrop

    Posted May 25, 2006 6:43 pm GMT

    well I think it s great I already tried it out . It would be really cool if you could save them to the gba slot on a memory card or something.

  • drollia

    Posted Apr 11, 2006 6:04 pm GMT

    only see the DS doing better and better

  • Mit_Man

    Posted Mar 30, 2006 9:00 pm GMT

    These still aren't in Gamestops

  • Chilling_Fire

    Posted Mar 30, 2006 3:59 pm GMT

    *thanks Nintendo for adding a sleep mode*

  • conradt88

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 4:01 pm GMT

    Wow, I'm starting to like my DS more and more! The idea of cartridges to save is a good one.. AND the nds cartridges I'm PRETTY sure can hold 1 Gig of space... And I doubt that the UMD's can hold much more.. they could prolly hold a similar amount I'd think, as they are most -likely "DVD" format... Although I'm not sure of this...

  • Redwan0111

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 8:15 am GMT

    This good, but too bad the downloads go away when you shut down your DS.

  • Redwan0111

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 8:12 am GMT

    YES!!! I have NO regrets buying a DS!

  • HevendorKing

    Posted Feb 20, 2006 3:34 pm GMT

    It would be great if you could use a GBA cartridge to STORE the download *Looks behind himself to check if Iwata materialized in his computer room*

  • arignious2254

    Posted Feb 17, 2006 1:54 pm GMT

    HAHA! ,....but it sux, that ds doent have a memory card so you could save that stuff.... and i wish the DS played on discs not carterige cause discs hold more content

  • codyk117

    Posted Feb 17, 2006 12:24 pm GMT

    this is awsome! along w/ being able to watch tv and get on the internet too! PSP is going down!

  • sonic_xa

    Posted Feb 16, 2006 10:16 pm GMT

    I hope it goes worldwide.......[sigh]

  • Superbig

    Posted Feb 15, 2006 7:57 am GMT

    I hope it's also coming to Europe!
    (please Nintendo!!!)

  • kruegersc4

    Posted Feb 14, 2006 8:50 pm GMT

    I can now put my DS's sleep function to use to store my downloaded functions for days on end.

  • jester_88

    Posted Feb 14, 2006 9:51 am GMT

    Nothing can defeat the PSP it is to awsome. You can download lots of stuff to your PSP and keep it there.

  • qgames123

    Posted Feb 13, 2006 5:45 pm GMT

    thats cool but do you push the down load button on ds to do that

  • blackbladegr

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 10:32 pm GMT

    FYI the psp can do these sorth of thing i don't know why you hating on the psp We can listen to our Rss and podcast on our psp over the net and it wouldn't erased like the one on the ds and we can go online which is cool .
    You should try playing before talking crapped about .I never dislike a system that i never played or owned I take my time with it That why i fell in love with gaming in the first place.Psp and Ds are both great system .God get that straight.It so annoying to here it every time Fanboy=Annoying .And back to the topic this sound great for the ds I 'm glad they did bring this stateside it sound cool.

  • DefHalan

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 8:22 pm GMT

    Oh snap dawg
    Jk
    this is awsome
    I can't wait
    this is better than getting a DL or a freakin xbox 360

  • Froto12

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 3:53 pm GMT

    i think its official that nintendo has better online then sony now.

  • dieworm

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 10:26 am GMT

    Ok first of all, the PSP has been doing this in Japan, but wait Nintendo did it in Japan first. Another idea ripped off by Sony, like the rumble and analog stick, but anyway. This is pretty cool, when I go pick up a game at GameSpot I can just pick up a demo of a game or try out somes games and buy the most fun of them. The Revolution was also confirmed to be a "download station" so once that comes out we can all download those games from home!

  • LionsGate

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 8:03 am GMT

    This is great. I don't see it as an attempt to beat the PSP. The DS already is beating the PSP in most parts of the world and overall sales in the US are close. This was bound to happen since the launch of the DS, and Japan has had these downlaod stations for a while now. And you couldn't save a DS game on a GBA cartridge. The DS Lite definately will play gba games. I am certainly looking forward to downloading some demos at my local Gamecrazy. PEACE

  • mista_saki

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 4:42 am GMT

    oh - i forget to say ASTA LA VISTA PSP!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

  • mista_saki

    Posted Feb 12, 2006 4:40 am GMT

    this is totally awesome, though it wont affect me at all as i live in istanbul, turkey (it is NOT like a warzone!!!). hte thing about the downloaded material being lost when you switch off the ds totally sucks - as a countermeasure nintendo should make like a memory stick thing that goes in the gba slot to store downloaded material- that would be much better.
    P.S. HOW COME AMERICA AND JAPAN ALWAYS GETS THE GOOD STUFF? ITS SOOOOO UNFAIR!!!!

  • Agreb91

    Posted Feb 11, 2006 10:47 pm GMT

    That is........ an AWSOME idea

  • warbou

    Posted Feb 11, 2006 8:57 pm GMT

    Yea this better also be for Canada as well, were part of North America!

  • Brown_Sound

    Posted Feb 11, 2006 6:38 pm GMT

    so can u dl from the usb connector from home? or u have to go to the hot spots?

  • Riot429

    Posted Feb 11, 2006 5:14 pm GMT

    While the PSP offers way more compatibility with media. It lacks the whole Demo feature, but I don't care. It sounds like a attempt to take down the PSP which is sad cuase Nintendo is way more creative then Sony will ever be, but while Nintendo has the creativity Sony has the crowd. Thats why the ps2 has sold more. It seems Sony just tries to realse crap and call it good or great. Like why isn't the PSP a flip screen. It whould reduce scratches and where is the other anlog stick? I could fit. No sony had to put their logo in that spot. Phftt. It sounds cool but eh, I'll never do it.

  • markbridges

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 6:28 pm GMT

    If they make a memory card that fits into the GBA slot then we'd be all good now, wouldn't we?

    Still- Nintendo is always furthering its products functionality after it releases them. Go Ninty.

  • utahviking83

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 5:48 pm GMT

    I don't think a gba memory card will ever be realesed because the new DS lite can't even play gba games (I think). It will probably be a DS cartridge if at all.

  • hscream13

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 4:12 pm GMT

    another stupid attempt to take down the psp i feel pity

  • lebanese_boy

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 4:11 pm GMT

    too bad the content goes away after you shut it down, but when the REV will come out, you will be able to download demos for free at home and that would be cool

  • Plumer_man

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 12:18 pm GMT

    This rocks! Sony is going down!

  • sword_of_swords

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 12:12 pm GMT

    Dang Nintendo is really going all out with the DS and Revolution (hopefully).

  • Creapy_team

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 9:41 am GMT

    Holy choclatecrackers, Batman!

  • Mista_Sal

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 9:04 am GMT

    Within weeks eh? This sounds pretty good. Can't wait for this to happen.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 6:02 am GMT

    SWEET. good move N.

  • bioniccommando1

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 6:01 am GMT

    I think it might be a health risk trying to play a DS while drinking coffee. Might cause considerable redness and swelling too LOL. I hear that Nintendo is making a coffee dispersion device that connects to the DS. The object is you hafto rub the screen really fast to heat up the coffee.Once it hits a reasonable scaulding temperature it sprays it straight down your throat. Also looks like some hacker Nintendo fans have modified this to detect and spray any unawares PSP owners in the area. Because Nintendo so owns SONY noobs!! LOL!! Seriously folks save the fanboy stuff for the System Wars forum and the Forum of your system of choice. I know I for one don't want to see that stuff here.

  • sofy

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 5:27 am GMT

    Indeed, hope they dont forget Canada.
    I got my DS ready!
    Better make canadians happy too!

  • Alunanite

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 2:03 am GMT

    XlpranksterlX

    Taking your DS into a starbucks might not get you noticed, but it would allow you to have fun while you drank coffee. I know, I know.... Handheld Gaming Decks are about the games, they are about how many people you can get to ask what it is. I however buy a gaming deck for the games and gameplay. Call me crazy.

  • MrPuzzlez

    Posted Feb 10, 2006 12:19 am GMT

    Give it time and sombody's going to make it. 3rd parties just mainly sit around and wait for opportunities like this to happen...

  • yanks43215

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 10:14 pm GMT

    thats awesome

  • vgmkyle

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 9:39 pm GMT

    Really cool feature shame the demos are gone when you turn the DS off though.

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 9:01 pm GMT

    I wish that Nintendo would embrace the wifime technology and put these demos online so that people from other parts of the world can play the demos. Alternatively they could release their own PC networking software that would do the same thing, which would be a great idea considering that wifime only works with specific cards.

  • MikelBakaBaka

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 8:29 pm GMT

    now, if only I was still in the USA. O:

  • Breakfast_Clubber

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 8:20 pm GMT

    DS needs lasting internal memory greater than required for single downloads of a game for this kind of capability to take off, but then off course there's copywrite issues and modding and all sorts of things that gaming companies shouldn't even have to deal with; but the power hungry others have brought upon themselves as a substitute for inovation.

  • GreenFire123

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 8:16 pm GMT

    thats pretty sweet

  • sinceps1

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 7:58 pm GMT

    "Zeke129
    This sounds like exactly what Sony was doing in Japan."
    This is also something Nintendo does in Japan as well, And it must be quite widespread. Sounds that way according to this article.
    P.s.One beef- They should let you buy something for saving. Some of you said a gameboy cartridge. It would be cool if they let you use a cartridge to retrieve data from the ds download. Hey third parties, Whoever it is that makes all those damn accesories that break easy, do this.

  • sinceps1

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 7:53 pm GMT

    Wow, sure glad I live in Minnesota. LOL. This is cool, I have a game crazy 20 minutes away.

  • kakashi_00x000

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 7:35 pm GMT

    umm, is it coming to Canada? becaus that sounds cool, gettin' demos and all.

  • forever_blank

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 7:35 pm GMT

    That is cool! But theres more... will it ever reach australia or WORSE TASMANIA!!

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