Mario Kart date shifts, Wi-Fi Connection pricing and specifics

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 October, 2005

More European DS online detail.

Nintendo has updated Mario Kart DS's European release date and announced European pricing for the Wi-Fi USB Connector it unveiled in Japan this week, which will launch on the same day. Having mentioned this yesterday, we thought we'd go into more detail for you on how it all works.

Mario Kart DS is now set to be with us on November 25th and coincides with the introduction of Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection worldwide multiplayer service. Players will be able to play Mario Kart DS online against people all around the world - either through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Access Points located in high street stores, through Nintendo Wi-Fi-enabled public Wi-Fi hotspots, or through home computers equipped with the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, which will retail for £30.

Mario Kart's online play will allow for racing modes only, Nintendo recently confirmed, with Battle mode restricted to wireless LAN play. Those going online will be able to take advantage of a Friend Roster feature that allows players to keep in touch with their mates by swapping Friend Codes and inserting them into the game, which then keeps track of when they come and go. It's also possible to match your skill level to random strangers - something managed through Nintendo's centralised skill-mapping system.

Those who don't care to venture online will be well catered for too. As well as an expansive single-player game, featuring a mixture of old and new tracks and familiar elements like shoulder-button hopping and sliding, projectile power-ups, banana skins and the like, wireless LAN play will allow up to eight people to engage in multiplayer racing with one game card.

It's not explicitly clear from Nintendo's announcement whether one game card will be enough to support Battle mode, so we'll let you know on that one - the GBA Mario Kart, probably the best rule of thumb for this, offered those with just one cartridge limited multiplayer options and opened the full line-up of tracks and modes up to groups with multiple cartridges between them.

Over in the US, the Wi-Fi story's slightly different - Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk's American Sk8land (dear god) will launch on November 14th with the US Wi-Fi USB Connector, and they will be followed by Animal Crossing: Wild World on December 5th. We're still waiting on confirmation of UK dates for the latter two, so stay tuned for those.

Finally, it's worth adding that Metroid Prime Hunters, the multiplayer first-person shooter derived from the Metroid Prime series, will also support Wi-Fi Connection when it launches in 2006.

Nintendo Europe says further details of Wi-Fi Connection and public hotspots will be made available soon.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Huntcjna #1 6 years ago

    So do you have to have one of nintendo's dongle things or can you use your existing wireless network?

  • gizmo #2 6 years ago

    Friends list and skill matching. Where DO they get their ideas?

  • Darkedge #3 6 years ago

    friend matching through codes no less - that'll be use friendly...

  • Fozzie_bear #4 6 years ago

    Tony Hawk's American Sk8land

    I hereby challenge anyone to find a worse game title than that (not including colons. That's be too easy)

  • richardiox #5 6 years ago

    Where DO they get their ideas?

    Er, common sense?

    The idea of a friends list and matching players of equal skill is kind of universal, think its abit unfair to imply a theft of ideas on this.

  • gamingdave #6 6 years ago

    "Friends list and skill matching. Where DO they get their ideas? "

    PSO on the dreamcast?

    Seriously, do you expect them NOT to include common sense ideas, just because another company may have done so?

    Shame its been put back but hardly much of a delay.

    Im assuming US copies will work in the UK for the wireless networks fine anyway, and also hoping US copies can play against UK, unlike some of the other multiplayer DS games.

  • Hog-lumps #7 6 years ago

    @FluffyTucker

    Wat you talking 'bout, lewis?

  • Mr_Whacker #8 6 years ago

    Who cares where they get their ideas. As long as they are GOOD ideas.

  • MARKIV #9 6 years ago

    Nothing has been said about the security involved. What's to stop your next door neighbour connecting onto your broadband connection via your Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector.

    I wonder how Nintendo will describe 64bit, 128bit WEP encryption keys, ( will they support WPA encryption? ) in a way kids can understand. God forbid they support neither.

  • Hog-lumps #10 6 years ago

    What's to stop your next door neighbour connecting onto your broadband connection via your Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector

    No expert, but would imagine the DS would hold your identity/passwords and the WIFI USB connector would simply act the 'door' to the internet? Anyone got any thoughts?

    (edit for clarity)
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 11:25

  • smelly #11 6 years ago

    "What's to stop your next door neighbour connecting onto your broadband connection via your Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector "

    Usually as with all wifi stuff, you asign a password at both ends.. no-one can use yer connection without said password.. simple.

    Hang on.. i'll clarify that, as people seem to have problems understanding the simple concepts of how wifi works. If you use the dongle, at the pc end you assign your wifi connection a password. If any connecting device (another pc/your psp/your ds/you laptop) wants to connect to your internet connection via the wifi connection, you'll have to provide that password.. see?

    If you have a wireless router, you give that a password in much the same way.. and then a dongle isnt needed.

    how can something so simple be causing so many questions?!? I think i understand why nintendo havent got into online stuff before! If people using forums find something so simple this confusing, what hope does joe public have?



    "lol@innovators"

    Well it's the first console to offer FREE online play without a subscription... So that's fairly innovative isnt it? :-D
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 11:26

  • mattius30 #12 6 years ago

    Chu Chu Rocket was free...

  • MARKIV #13 6 years ago

    I'd like to say i am abit of an expert in the field, as I have a WIFI router, wireless laptop, wireless Xbox and PSP.

    The 'door' you mention to the internet will need security. As the DS is 802.11b(Wi-Fi) compliant. It will have to support WEP encryption for sure. I was just saying nothing has been mentioned about this yet. Everyone is talking you just plug your dongle in and away you go. True, you could do it this way, but you'll have no security in place. Meanwhile you've given your neighbours a free connection to the internet to play with.

  • renzo #14 6 years ago

    I feel like getting abused today, so I'll ask a question on here.

    Am I correct in assuming that with DS games, you'd be able to get away with a slower connection because there is less data being swapped with multiplayer, as opposed to say, Xbox Live games?

  • Hunam85 #15 6 years ago

    I think everyone should steal ideas from xbox live, and idea's in general, bf2 wouldnt be half the game it is if it hadnt stole a few idea's here and there

  • MARKIV #16 6 years ago

    Re "Am I correct in assuming that with DS games, you'd be able to get away with a slower connection because there is less data being swapped with multiplayer, as opposed to say, Xbox Live games?"

    I think it will be upto how many players are on-line, Halo 2 support's 16 players and I could play just fine on 256k connection. The most I've read about is 8 players online with the DS, so you should be just fine.

    Anyway broadband speeds are getting faster, in the last 6 months my 256k connection was upgraded to 512k, and then this week to 2mb and with no increase in the £17.99 per month tarriff.

  • renzo #17 6 years ago

    "Innovators" is a word, so no you didn't 'just make it up'.

  • Hog-lumps #18 6 years ago

    markiv, I misunderstood what you were saying. I thought you were worried about people stealing the DS's identity. There must be a password system as smelly points out like existing WIFI routers.

    Cronk, you don't think a handheld communicating wirelessly for free across the world is innovative? Christ you're a hard man to please!

    As for arguing about who invented what - that seems a little bit silly. You don't have to invent things to be innovative. You can apply existing technology in interesting and innovative ways. Innovation can be 'the method' not just the physical items themselves.

    I'm interested to know, if you think Nintendo aren't innovative in the games industry, who is?!

  • Scientist #19 6 years ago

    "There is no plural 's' allowed for 'innovator' so it doesn't exist."

    What are you talking about?

  • Hog-lumps #20 6 years ago

    was a post deleted or are you aiming that at me fluffytucker?

  • richardiox #21 6 years ago

    Cronk; I'm pretty sure Nintendo did innovate Rumble and Analogue control as far as games consoles go. They also pioneered the idea of shoulder pads.

  • renzo #22 6 years ago

    Hmm, so it was Nintendo that pioneered those dastardly <a href=http://www.gear2000.com/sitebuilder/images/youth-277 x273.jpg>shoulder pads</a>?

  • Hog-lumps #23 6 years ago

    'fucking awful day at work as well :-( '

    I'm not the only one having 'one of those days' then!!!

  • Fatfish #24 6 years ago

    Fluffy - another one of those days by any chance?? ;)

    Hog-lumps, I think the comment was aimed at Renzo if I'm not much mistaken.

    And I would personally back Fluffy's comments about Nintendo being 'innovative' [see what I did there! ;) ]. They were certainly viewed as being the leaders in new and innovative design in both their machines, peripherals and software for many years. Although I would say that they have slipped somewhat in more recent times. And I'm not sold at all on the Revolution dual-wield controller concept. Not convinced it will be all that user friendly for the more conventional style of games - FPS, racers etc. But then I remember saying the same about the N64 controller too and that seemed to work fairly well. Although the triggers on the GC controller are fecking aweful IMO. And with the dual wield controller, which one do you throw at the TV in frustration?!

  • smelly #25 6 years ago

    "Am I correct in assuming that with DS games, you'd be able to get away with a slower connection because there is less data being swapped with multiplayer, as opposed to say, Xbox Live games? "


    Well depends how much a game is chucking around isnt it? There's no reason why mario ds would be passing more or less around the internet than a racing game on the xbox would do?

    Depends on number of people playing/etc etc.. same as it would on the xbox.. but they both would be passing the same sort of info around.. so in answer to yer question.. "no".. but it depends... :-)

    animal crossing (im guessing) wouldnt need so much bandwidth as not as much is happening.. see?

  • Fatfish #26 6 years ago

    Yes agreed, they are most innovatividious in their design methods!............

    /digs deeper into scrabble bag hoping nobody realises that his 15 letter word for 250 points doesn't really exist/

  • Hog-lumps #27 6 years ago

    I'm anaspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericumbobulations.

  • Hog-lumps #28 6 years ago

    Best series ever!

    Felt sure no-one would get that reference! Mr Tucker, I don my hat to you. (woof!)

  • Fatfish #29 6 years ago

    Me'thinks someone has been overdosing on Countdown re-runs........

    I've heard that quote somewhere before, but I can't remember where it comes from. What is it?

    No wait, it's just come back to me. Agreed, best series ever.

    Blackadder: What begins with a B?
    Baldrick: Honey.

    Classic.
    Edited by 4 at 06/10/05 @ 13:00

  • Hog-lumps #30 6 years ago

    'Lord Flasheart per chance?'

    Its from B'ladder you are correct, not the same episode as lord Flashheart though.....

    edit: yep FT's got it!
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 13:01

  • Hog-lumps #31 6 years ago

    Sausage.... SAUSAGGEE!!

    If anybody reads this thread now it'll look extremly geeky! Oh well cant stop it now I suppose: I like it firm and fruity!

  • Fatfish #32 6 years ago

    What would you do if I gave you a thousand pounds Baldrick?

    I'd buy a large turnip in the country......

  • Hog-lumps #33 6 years ago

    Hyoushi's comment seems out of place now.....!

  • Fatfish #34 6 years ago

    ROFL

    More off-tangent than a fox that's just graduated from Oxford University with a degree in off-tangentness........

    /adds off-tangentness to dictionary/
    Edited by 2 at 06/10/05 @ 13:15

  • Hog-lumps #35 6 years ago

    /adds off-tangentness to dictionary/

    Better tell doctor johnson first!

  • Fatfish #36 6 years ago

    BA: Baldrick, what starts with "come here" and ends in "ow"?

    B: Don't know sir.

    BA: Come here.

    As much as I loved Blackadder, I have to admit I was much more of a Python man (and boy). Films were great, but their live and original stuff was classic. Still has me in tears to this day.

  • Hog-lumps #37 6 years ago

    'Albatross, get your albatross 'ere sonny!'

    now you've lost even me!

  • Fatfish #38 6 years ago

    Live at the Orange Bowl in LA. Please don't start with this - I'm already giggling like a fool in the corner of my office - people are starting to look at me!

    ....I like chinese,
    Their waiters only come up to your knees.
    Just think of the many things they've done to impress,
    There's maoism, taoism, I-ching and chess...

    Was Cleese not meant to be the interval ice-cream seller, but all he had in his basket was an albatross.

    Got any choc-ices?
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 13:33

  • Fatfish #39 6 years ago

    ROFLMAO - weeping like an inane idiot at this present moment.

    Finland, finland, finland,
    Is the place I'd quite like to be.
    Pony trekking or camping,
    or just watching TV.

    Number 37 - The elm.

    I'd like to make a complaint. This parrot, what I bought ere not alf an hour ago, is dead.
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 13:37

  • Fatfish #40 6 years ago

    Here you go - pure nostalgia!

    http ://www.ibras.dk/montypython/justthewords.htm

  • Fatfish #41 6 years ago

    First Bruce: This here's the wattle - the emblem of our land. You can stick it in a bottle or you can hold it in your hand.

    All: Amen!

    This bottle has a message in. The message is 'Beware' - this is not a wine for drinking. This is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

  • varsas #42 6 years ago

    MARKIV: I think that it's possible that the dongle only allows the DS to connect to it i.e. it's all hardware encoded keys used for encryption?

  • Fatfish #43 6 years ago

    What the hell is varsas on about Fluffy? I thought this was a 'greatest British humour' thread? Talk about going off on a tangent, sheesh!

  • Fatfish #44 6 years ago

    Stone him!

    Two pointy ones, a flat one and give us a bag of gravel.

    ...No, I'm Brian and so's my wife!

  • Fatfish #45 6 years ago

    Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can `nee' at will to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land, nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.

    http://www.rit. edu/~smo4215/monty.htm

    Scene's 1 & 3 are two of my favourites - African or European?

  • Fatfish #46 6 years ago

    Now go away before I taunt you a second time.......!

    GUARD 1: Faites chier la vache …quoi?
    GUARD 2: Faites chier la vache!
    [moo!]


    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 16:28

  • Fatfish #47 6 years ago

    Absolutely priceless! There isn't one comedy from recent years that has made me laugh so much as the Pythons did. They were so ahead of their time - parodying society with such bizarre and off the wall humour whilst maintaining an incredibly high level of wit and intelligence. It's never been done since and I doubt will ever be done again. Who else do you know that can write such an eloquent song based on the over indulgent drinking habits of the greatest philosophers in history....and make it funny!!

    And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart,
    I drink therefore I am.
    There's nothing Neitzche couldn't teach 'ya 'bout the raising of the wrist......
    A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he's pissed!
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/05 @ 16:44

  • #48 6 years ago

    Great Boo's UP!

  • Bitkari #49 6 years ago

    give me pictochat online and i will be a happy bunny.


  • ACiD #50 6 years ago

    what are the chances of this sucking my download limit dry? cos i have capped internet thingy usage :(

  • ACiD #51 6 years ago

    that woulllld be 1gb. an upgrade to 15 perhaps.