One one hand, it brings the freedom of PC-style mouse control into gaming, but using it also tends to block what's going on in that screen. For example, while playing the Metroid Prime: Hunters, you could use the left thumb pad to move, the left shoulder button to fire, and the touch screen to look and jump. As you track foes on the bottom-screen map, however, your view will be partially obscured by your own right thumb. The good news is that Nintendo has stressed a lot of comfort options, both in the operating system and in their games. Want to play Metroid without the touch-pad? Select a different control scheme in the game's option menu, which also includes configurations for lefties. You can even customize your DS to automatically play the inserted title or to start with the main menu, choose which screen to display your GBA games, to add a nickname for wireless play, and more. Up to 16 players can connect wirelessly within a 100-foot radius. That's right, the DS is wireless-enabled. Say good-bye to that daisy-chain of network cables that was previously necessary for portable multiplayer gaming. Nintendo's proprietary wireless format has a radius rated at 30 to 100 feet depending on environmental interference with its signal. Surely, it's more than enough for friends to game from one end of the bus to the other. We experimented in a small, nearly empty parking lot and got great reception at the upper end of that rating. The DS network can handle up to 16 users, though you can expect the maximum number of players to vary from game to game. Also, unlike all but the earliest video game systems, the DS comes with a built-in application. It's called PictoChat, and it allows people to write and draw pictures in a chat-room format. Since it's built in to the DS operating system, you'll always be able to interact with other DS users. The built-in program PictoChat lets you write and draw with others. But not all is new; Nintendo has re-invested some favorite features of older platforms into the DS. It's backward compatible to the Game Boy Advance, which means that older Game Boy and Game Boy Color games won't work in this machine but GBA games will run fine (sadly, the wireless feature doesn't extend to GBA games). Like the GBA SP, the DS is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides approximately 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge. Old timers might recognize the A/B/X/Y face buttons from the Super Nintendo controller, though they're not in the same positions. The standard headphone jack and wide-body comfort of the first GBA model is back, coupled this time with the SP's screen-saving clamshell design. In terms of its ability to display graphics and sound, the DS is a little better - and a whole lot smaller - than the Nintendo 64. Overall, the Nintendo DS represents a rather large leap in portable gaming. With some mystery shrouding the future abilities of its internal microphone (voice recognition) and its IEEE 802. 11 wireless network, the DS may have left some surprises up its sleeve. -Porter B. Hall Pros: Great design marries innovative new features with great features of old systems and lots of customizable options Wireless up to 100 feet Built-in PictoChat lets you write and draw pictures with up to 15 other DS users Cons: Sometimes hard to see and use the touch screen at the same time Wireless multiplayer feature won't work with GBA games Can't connect to other wireless devices. yet The Nintendo DS is going to transform the portable gaming world. It's a complete portable entertainment and communications unit that lets you see the game action from a new perspective. The two screens offer touchscreen control for a groundbreaking control style that sets it apart from other systems. Access items, move characters or navigate menus by touching a stylus to a screen. The built-in voice recognition lets you command your game by voice, while the wireless options let you send text messages, drawings and IMs. This combination of new gaming features and portable communications will shock and impress you. Comes with Rechargeable Battery Pack, AC Adapter, Stylus, Screen Cover, Wrist Strap and playable demo of Metroid Prime: Hunters - First Hunt. Create a local wireless network with up 16 players, with a 30-foot range 1GB of built-in memory for faster gaming and shorter load times Dual slots support both GBA and DS games.

W 1 & 2 Battlefield: modern Combat Many more.

It is as simple as that! Wii FreeLoader is 100% unofficial, and requires no modifications to your console. As well as letting you play Wii games from all regions, Wii FreeLoader also works with imported GameCube games when played on your Wii. It will not work in a GameCube console, though for that, you need Freeloader for GameCube. Features Play ANY region of Wii or GameCube game on ANY Wii. Easy to use. No console modification required. Play games never released in your region. Play local games on your imported console. 100% unofficial.