February 9^th, 2006 (1:54pm) - Time are changing! Within the next few weeks, new and veteran DS owners will sample free games just by visiting their local game retailers, players will begin to experience real-time Wi-Fi voice interaction with their online gameplay, Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection service will see it’s one-millionth customer, and the Nintendo DS will get a lighter, slimmer makeover with a brighter screen.

And it just gets better from there. Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing Reggie Fils-Aime had this to say:

"Nintendo DS was the only video game system that exceeded expectations in 2005, simply because it dared to be different. By further enriching the ways in which players can compete, play and sample new games, that process is accelerating in the opening weeks of 2006."

Details, details!

DS Download Service:
Starting next month, Nintendo will offer all DS owners free downloadable game demos and other downloadable content at thousands of participating retail locations around the United States. An in-store kiosk will beam wireless demo versions of games and other downloadable content into a players’ Nintendo DS system. Users simply stop by the store with their Nintendo DS, click "DS Download Play" on their system and choose one of a variety of DS games they want to sample. The game will download automatically and users can play all they want (even if they leave the store) until the Nintendo DS is turned off.

Sequentially, players can try out as many games as they want, letting them test drive the wide array of games that can only be played on Nintendo DS. The first DS Download Service stations will include free demos of Tetris DS, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Mario Kart DS, Meteos, True Swing Golf and Pokemon Trozei, along with a Metroid Prime Hunters video clip. The selection of games and other downloadable content at DS Download Service kiosks will refresh quarterly.

Metroid Prime Hunters Gets Voice Chat:
The new Metroid Prime Hunters game for Nintendo DS will give gamers the ability to chat directly with one another before and after matches played via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Players in North America simply click the chat icon and say what they have to say. The microphone of the Nintendo DS picks up voice communication and transmits it to the people on their friend list. Players can use the chat function before a match to agree on settings or after a battle to relive their glories. This Teen-rated first-person adventure arrives March 20 and promises to open a dramatically fun new facet of gaming to Nintendo fans.

Nintendo DS Momentum:
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection now boasts more than 20 million different connections, representing more than 850,000 unique users worldwide. Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales worldwide, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide through December. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS there the fastest-selling video game launch ever.

In addition to Metroid Prime Hunters, Tetris DS also launches March 20. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, up to four players can compete in wireless two or four-player Tetris DS battles against friends or strangers, near or far.

Nintendo DS Lite:
The lighter, brighter Nintendo DS system goes on sale in Japan next month. Nintendo DS Lite is about two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter. Its availability in other regions will be announced at a later date.

GamersMark has an article detailing the Nintendo DS Lite which can be found right here!

It’s good to see that gamers are really getting attached to the Nintendo DS: When it debuted on the scene, it promised new and exciting ways to play games that have never been done before on a handheld system. It’s great that developers are behind the unique handheld, and hopefully their experience, like gamers in general, will lead toward high anticipation and expectations for Nintendo’s upcoming underdog, the Nintendo Revolution.

E3 this year... it’s going to be big!