Nintendo DS Downloads Kick Off in Japan

Bag yourself some freebies at a kiosk today.

Nintendo has started a test of the download service for the Nintendo DS in Japan - using another of the multifaceted new portable's features. The first downloadable content includes playable demos for two games, Meteos and Chokkan Hitofude (Polarium in Europe and the US), and also a handful of extra songs for Nintendo music game Daigasso! Band Brothers (known as Jam With The Band outside of the Japan - and reviewed here).

Special kiosks have been set up at around 40 locations across Japan where gamers can take their Nintendo DSs and download available content. The first test update includes demos for the puzzle games Chokkan Hitofude and Rez-creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Meteos. Both of these demos are lost once the Nintendo DS is powered down. The extra songs for Daigasso! Band Brothers, however, are saved, though you will need to own the game itself.

The Nintendo DS includes a wireless network connection, which up until now has mainly been used for ad hoc-style multiplayer gaming. Online multiplayer is another option open to Nintendo but it has yet to be implemented.

Sony's new PSP handheld also features a wireless network connection and while UMDs will not be able to save data as the Nintendo DS cartridges can, PSP memory cards will store content downloaded from the Internet.

The Nintendo DS is set to launch in Europe on 11 March. It's not clear yet whether Nintendo will be implementing a similar download service in Europe or whether this is a feature that will be unique to Japan.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games