DS Games To Be Downloadable to the Wii

In a New York Times article generally discussing Nintendo's gangbuster success with the Wii and DS, Reggie Fils-Aimie reveals that in the future the DS will more tightly integrate with the console. Full games will be downloadable to the Wii platform, and then transferable via wireless to the handheld. "In Japan, the DS's functionality extends beyond its game-playing ability. There the device is used to give information during museum tours, and to download content from the Wii. Some of those features will eventually be introduced into the North American market as well. 'To aggressively drive DS business we need to provide other forms of entertainment to excite the consumer,' said Mr. Fils-Amie."

Nintendo getting non gaming right

[theatrecade]

it's cool to see such a small device able to pack so much punch. It seriously behooves me to understand why other companies can't get this right. I give credit to Nintendo not just because of their longevity but their total ability to think outside the box and give the public something worth oggling

Re:Sony did it

[poot_rootbeer]

The integration between a PS3 and a PSP (both abilities available at launch and things that have been talked about coming around int he future) is what made me want to get a PS3...

I agree that there's some exciting potential there, but what I've seen so far has been underwhelming. Why can't I download content to my portable through my existing home PC and Wifi network? Why do I have to buy and use a set-top console from the same company for what should be a simple

It stunk of vendor lock-in when Sony did it, and if Nintendo is going to require me to own a Wii to get downloadable content for my DS, that shall stink too.

It sounds silly, but Nintendo definately needs to get DVD playback on the Wii going

I agree that it sounds silly, because it is. Nobody's refusing to buy a Wii because it doesn't have DVD playback. Most households have a DVD player hooked up to their TVs already, and those that don't yet can get one at K-Mart for under $30 now. It's not worth Nintendo's time to add the feature.

Re:Sony did it

[bigstrat2003]

I want my consoles to have DVD playback because I want to have as few boxes sitting by the TV as possible. A DVD player is cheap enough, but adds unnecessary clutter. Thankfully, I have a PS3, which plays DVDs beautifully.

Re:Nintendo needs to fix the VC accounting first..

[Chuck Chunder]

if my Wii is stolen/lost/destroyed I have no way of recovering any of the games or apps I have bought and downloaded from Nintendo

Isn't that what insurance is for?

Do you refuse to buy normal games because if they are stolen/lost/destroyed you are screwed?

The VC just buys convenience. Sure, perhaps it could be a bit more convenient but it's not that bad.

Re:too late

[Toonol]

But paying for the games on the virtual console is the right thing to do.

Yeah, I know, mod me down... I'm kind of speaking out the side of my mouth, because I do have emulators with thousands of roms on my pc. But I still have bought about six or eight VC games, even though I already had the roms, because:

1. A little less hassle. None of my PCs are in the living room.
2. If it's such a great game I'm still playing it a decade later, somebody deserves an extra six bucks.