To ensure that anyone really can play against others from all over the world with their Nintendo DS, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection can be accessed in any one of three ways:

Gamers will be able to visit any one of the nearly 600 Wi-Fi hotspots at locations across the Netherlands. These include hotels, airports, gasstations, all McDonald’s restaurants, bars and grand cafes. To find your nearest hotspot log onto www.nintendowifi.com and enter your town or postcode. (The list on the website will be complete within the next two weeks).

Nintendo will also be installing Nintendo Wi-Fi connection points into major video games retailers across the Netherlands, meaning it really is possible to game anywhere!

Gamers with a broadband internet connection at home will be able to enjoy the free*, simple and safe Wi-Fi gaming service. You simply need a Wi-Fi access point or hotspot, like a Wi-Fi wireless router, and an active broadband internet connection. If you do not have a wireless access point, you can purchase a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector (available 25th November for around 40 euros) which plugs into a PC and automatically sets up a connection for you.

Nintendo’s Wi-Fi gaming service is free - there are no fees or subscriptions to pay. It’s incredibly easy to use - you simply turn it on and select Wi-Fi. There are no complicated menu screens and minimum configurations required and most importantly Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection service is a safe environment for players. Players have the option to select to play with just friends, or people of a similar skill level around the world without fear of harassment. Players do not have direct communication with each other when playing anonymously and therefore personal details or inappropriate comments cannot be exchanged.

“Nintendo has revolutionized Wi-Fi video gaming with the launch of its Wi-Fi service. Anyone that has a DS can simply use the Wi-Fi possibilities of Mario Kart DS, including all the fun and diversity it offers. Nintendo’s aim is to create a Wi-Fi game surrounding that encourages DS-gamers to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection without the costs or configuration procedures or psychological barriers they can encounter with other forms of Wi-Fi gaming. The Nintendo Wi-Fi connection service offers anyone who enjoys playing games a real reason to use Wi-Fi gaming for the first time” said Jim Merrick, Senior Marketing Director, Nintendo of Europe.

“As part of our strategy to become market leader in mobile broadband services, T-Mobile supplies the largest hotspot network in the Netherlands. Nintendo DS gmaers can use all these hotspots to play Mario Kart DS via Wi-Fi and to compete with players all across the world. Nintendo and T-Mobile add a new and fantastic online dimension to mobile gaming. I can imagine especially the T-Mobile HotSpots at all McDonald’s restaurants in the Netherlands, will be a favorite meeting place for Nintendo DS gamers that are looking for a new challenge”, said Pim van der Feltz, Marketing Director T-Mobile Netherlands.

Nintendo is negotiating with large internet provider across Europe to ensure that all Nintendo DS gamers can use Wi-Fi hotspots for free to play the Mario Kart DS videogame online.

The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo system to connect via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The same service will be used for Nintendo’s next tv-console with codename Revolution.

The launch of Nintendo Wi-Fi coincides with the return of infamous Nintendo title Mario Kart DS. Mario Kart is the first in what looks set to be a long line of titles to fully benefit from the Nintendo Wi-Fi offering. Also launched for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on 18th November and designed to take full advantage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, is ‘Tony Hawk’s American SK8Land’ from Activision.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection launched in the Netherlands on 25th November 2005, at no cost to users. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector was launched on the same day for a cost of 40 Euros.

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