Browse the Web, Watch TV on Your DS

DS conference yields new tchotchkes that expand the little-handheld-that-could even further. Games announced and release dates confirmed too. Full details.

The DS's WiFi capabilities always suggested that a Web browser would be announced sometime, and that time has come. Nintendo is teaming up with browser company Opera to bring the Web to DS owners.

The Opera browser will be a standalone application that comes on its own DS card. All you do is stick the card in your DS, connect to a hotspot and you're off, browsing on both screens.

There is, of course, a snag. So far Nintendo has only announced the browser for Japan, where it'll be priced at ¥3,800 ($32, £19). But when contacted by Kikizo, Nintendo confirmed that it should arrive outside of Japan soon.

When asked if the Opera browser is Europe-bound, Nintendo's Robert Saunders said: "Yes, in principle, but we have not yet made a final decision as to which countries we will sell this new product in, nor has the timing yet been decided. In addition various regulatory and contractual issues need to be cleared first."

Those "contract issues" probably involve chatting with the ISPs Nintendo currently has deals with to bring free online gaming to the DS, meaning that DS owners could soon find themselves with thousands of free hotspots for browsing the Web around the world.

Nintendo's move comes several months after Sony launched its own browser for the PSP. A free, bespoke browser allows PSP owners to get online and, at least in Japan, to even stream various media to their portables too.

To counter this, Nintendo also revealed that DS owners would soon be able to watch TV broadcasts - again, only in Japan for now.

Today's announcements came during a DS conference held in Japan on Wednesday. At the event, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata talked up the DS, which has sold more than 13 million units worldwide. Iwata said demand has been huge for the sold-out-in-Japan handheld and the release of the DS Lite later this year will bring a big boost. He said the DS is expected to hit 10 million sold in Japan soon.

Several new a known DS games were also shown at the event, including: New Super Mario Bros (set for release in Japan in May); Xenosaga I-II; Tetris DS (which will carry a budget price); Mario Basket 3-on-3 (in which the plumber hits the basketball court); Dynasty Warriors DS; Pro Evolution Soccer (playable online); Children of Mana; Final Fantasy III; and Calligraphy Training DS (for students of Japanese hoping to improve their technique).

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games