Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Euro date for Animal Crossing DS

Q1 '06, says Nintendo.

Nintendo UK told Eurogamer this morning that the DS version of Animal Crossing, newly renamed Wild World, is aiming for a first quarter 2006 release in Europe.

The date is no clearer than that, however, but import fans should note that the game will release in America on December 5th this year, according to schedules at the UK arm of Nintendo's operation.

The game, in which the player takes on the role of an animal living in a town, features full online play, the basic features of which were demonstrated for the first time at E3 in May.

Players will be able to trade items, chat with each other and so forth, when the game finally releases. Animal Crossing achieved cult status on GameCube with its unique styling and ability to keep people playing till near-death in an effort to fill that stupid bloody museum with dinosaur skeletons. Not that we're bitter, or anything.

Doesn't look like you're going to have to wait so long after all, eh?