By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Sales - Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Tops 5 Million Users, 200 Million Game Sessions

NINTENDO NEWS: NINTENDO DS GAMING SERVICE TOPS 5 MILLION USERS, 200 MILLION GAME SESSIONS

May 30, 2007

Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection has crossed two huge milestones within just days of one another. Worldwide, since its launch in November 2005, Nintendo's wireless gaming service has now connected more than 5 million unique Nintendo DS™ owners, and those gamers have racked up more than 200 million game-play sessions. Worldwide, nearly 65 games can be played via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The five most popular globally are Animal Crossing®: Wild World, Mario Kart® DS, Metroid® Prime Hunters, Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon Pearl.

"Nintendo DS gamers globally use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as an easy, fun place to find fellow players, all without paying anything extra for the service," explains Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "The milestones represent millions of hours of fun and camaraderie despite miles between players."

Nintendo DS continues to enjoy record-breaking success. According to new figures from the independent NPD Group, DS was again the top-selling video game system in April, with more than 470,000 units sold in the United States alone. That's nearly 16,000 per day.

Nintendo DS also finds success beyond the stereotypical young male gamer. According to internal Nintendo demographic tracking studies, in less than 18 months, DS purchases have increased by 42 percent among women, 127 percent among people 30 and older and 212 percent among people 35 and older.


Around the Network

only 5 million unique DS, wow thats really low for 44 million units sold. but anyways good news for nintendo fans



 

 

narj said:
only 5 million unique DS, wow thats really low for 44 million units sold. but anyways good news for nintendo fans

 5 million is good.  There aren't a ton of online games, a lot of people don't have wireless internet, and a lot of people play either single player games or lots of local multiplayer.



LEFT4DEAD411.COM
Bet with disolitude: Left4Dead will have a higher Metacritic rating than Project Origin, 3 months after the second game's release.  (hasn't been 3 months but it looks like I won :-p )

I'm in that category. Single player or local multi for me.



I've played a little bit of Mario Kart and Animal Crossing online. Personally, it just seems... cold. Plus mario kart sucks because everyone just snakes and it's impossible to win anything. And when you do start winning everyone just quits. Nintendo need to improve their online system.



Help! I'm stuck in a forum signature!

Around the Network

It took MS about 6 years to reach a similar figure. Pokemon is the game that will really get people started with online - once it has been out everywhere for a year (released in Europe, etc..) I would expect this figure to reach around the 8-10m mark.

I have played my DS online a little - primarily Metroid Hunters. Still waiting for some awesome CO-OP RPG to come out (Crystal Chronicles?).

EDIT - as more "free" WiFi points are launched (we only recently got a decent set of free points here in Oz), this number will also start to significantly rise. Nintendogs II would be a killer app for online IMO.



Gesta Non Verba

Nocturnal is helping companies get cheaper game ratings in Australia:

Game Assessment website

Wii code: 2263 4706 2910 1099

I love playing my DS online. MP:H, MK:DS, Jump! Ultimate Stars, Pokemon. Plus the promise of DQ:IX online co-op. I agree iwth omgwtfbbq that friend codes blow, but so far the games I have played online I haven't cared about them too much.



i heard that DQ:IX wasn t going online



 

 

narj said:
i heard that DQ:IX wasn t going online


Been stated by SE many times it was.  http://ds.ign.com/articles/750/750590p1.html