Nintendo revealed some figures regarding the first week of sales for Mario Kart DS and let me tell you, the game is a total hit.

Beth Lewellyn, NOA Senior Director of Public Relations said this about the MKDS results:

“We are ecstatic with the results, and this definitely sets the standard for future Wi-Fi online gaming,Mario Kart should easily be a million seller in its life cycle, and we’d love for everyone with the game to touch the Wi-Fi experience. We’ve got Animal Crossing just around the corner, and Metroid Prime Hunters next year, with more to come.”

According to Nintendo the game has sold over 112,000 copies and 45% of the buyers have at least tried the wi fi connection. Great numbers for a first week, with the european release this week the numbers will go even higher.

Nintendo Australia announced today the launch of wi fi hotspots accross the country at 26 retail locations, including selected Electronics Boutique, Myer and Dick Smith Powerhouse stores.

Some of these hotspots will start workign right from Mario Kart DS launch date (November 17th) and other will have to wait a couple weeks. However, PlanetGamecube is reporting that australian hotspots might work “different”, meaning that they might need a laptop with the USB connector to work but this is not confirmed.

Just as in the UK and US wi fi hotspots you will be able to get free game demos and other downloads for your DS.

This commercial will start airing on the US tv soon. The wi fi connection launch is getting closer and Nintendo wants to promete with… ninjas? ok, go check it out yourself. I liked the “There´s an oponnent for everyone” line.

Link | GamePressure

Nintendo of Europe announced they also have plans to provide free Wi fi access across the UK. Over 7,500 hotspots are planned to be setup at places such as McDonalds, Hotels, Coffee houses, etc. These hotspots will start to work when the Wi fi network launches on November 25th.

If you live in the UK check out BT Open Zone to locate hotspots close to your location.

And if you don´t live in the US, Canada or the UK where hotspots have been announced, remember you will be able to connect to the network right from your home if you have a broadband connection and a wireless router.

Nintendo has published some details regarding the Wi-Fi connection. These are no exactly breaking news but it´s a good compilation of everything you need to know if you plan to play online with your consoles.

KEY INFORMATION:
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s wireless online gaming service, creates a comfortable, inviting environment where players of all skill levels can gather to have fun. The service removes many of the barriers that have kept people from going online to play games. These include cost, ease of use and the online culture of domination.

How to Connect:
From Home:
1. If the user already uses a Wi-Fi home network, the Nintendo DS unit will connect directly to it with minimal setup procedures.

2. Those who have a high-speed Internet connection such as cable or DSL, but no Wi-Fi home network, can either purchase a compatible wireless router or purchase a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, which plugs into the USB port of a PC running Windows XP to create a wireless access point to connect a DS to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Outside the home:
1. When a user brings a Nintendo DS unit into one of 6,000 Wayport-enabled McDonald’s restaurants nationwide, the user simply launches the game in Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode. No setup is required. A list of participating Wayport/McDonald’s hotspots will be available soon at www.NintendoWiFi.com.

2. When visiting other pay-service Wi-Fi hotspots, such as those at coffee shops or airports, players can use a laptop computer and the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector to access Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector provides a conduit to play games via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection by enabling the Nintendo DS to share an Internet connection established by a laptop running Windows XP (regular Internet access fees may apply at pay-service hotspots).

Via | 4cr

As expected, another partnership has been announced by Nintendo to offer free wi fi access to DS gamers. Nintendo of Canada and Fatport announced they will be providing free hostspots at several canadian locations such as shops and hotels. Check out the full list here.

Extra details and hopefully, other partenrships will be announced soon, Nintendo is making a great job and i think this is going to be very benefical for the DS, if the wi fi network succeds, more developers will want to join and we will start to see great online games.

Via | 4cr

Nintendo has made a deal with Wayport, a wi fi provider in the US to start offering free wi fi “hotspots” to DS owners at McDonalds restaurants.

This means you will be able to go to your closest McDonalds, get your food and play with your DS, not exactly what the doctor recommended for your overweight problem.

We will se more parterships like this in the future, Nintendo is making great efforts for the wifi network to succed, according to IGN the details of this partnership wll be published soon at Nintendo´s official wi-fi website.

The network will be launched on November 14th, i´m guessing the service at McDonalds will be available then.

Via | IGN

This picture was taken at the digital life show last friday by a guy named “Apreche”, here we can see some details of the interface wich will be used to connect to the Wi Fi network.The full set of images can be found here.

Joystiq has an interesting analysis of the pictures, apparently, security could be an issue if the network indeed uses the protocol showed on this pictures (WEP). Check out the comments too, you will find some useful info if you are planning on playing via wifi with your DS.

Nintendo made some announcements today, we will start with the unveiling of the USB connector wich they´ve already talked about.

Basically, this connector plugs into your PC´s USB port an Voila! you have a Wireless hotspot and you can start kicking the ass of some 13 year old located in the other side of the world.

If you already have have a Wireless router you might not need this connector, some of them are already compatible with the DS.

There was no word on the cost or launch date of the USB connector but these details will be revealed soon.

Nintendo has launched the official website for their wi-fi network, there´s not much to see right now but i´d recommend bookmarking it since we will see some info there soon.

Link | Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Via | 4 Color rebellion