DS Fanboy poll: Demos: do you dabble?
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Jun 11th 2008 at 2:00PM }
The Wii's Nintendo Channel, then. It's enjoyed a somewhat shaky start if you ask us, particularly where DS demos are concerned. Although we love occasionally receiving bite-size portions of games such as Arkanoid, most demos are ... well, to be frank, they're old. Not just regular old, either, but Jesus and his pet triceratops trekking across the ravaged plains of Pangaea old.
The situation is especially grim in Europe, where Tetris DS (original release date: April 2006) has just joined a list that includes (amongst others) the ancient likes of Big Brain Academy, Brain Training, Mario Kart DS, 42 All-Time Classics, and Sight Training. Needless to say, we've only downloaded a small handful of games since the service debuted. To us, a demo of Brain Training is about as useful as a plasticine climbing frame.
Then again, maybe we're being overly critical, grumbly bastards. Maybe some of you good people actually get quite a lot of use out of the service. So we thought we'd throw this issue open to you, our beloved readers, and ask: how often do you use the Nintendo Channel demos?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
eugaet @ Jun 11th 2008 2:14PM
Actually, I would have welcomed Tetris DS if not for the fact that I actually found a copy to buy recently, quite by accident. I didn't want to take my chances on eBay with a 'new' copy from overseas or the inflated asking price for a new copy shipped from anywhere else. Stumbling upon a rare, out-of-print DS game...one of the highlights of my recent vacation. :)
Nigeria @ Jun 11th 2008 2:19PM
Where's the option: I would love to download except for the fact all the demos are garbage training games.
Though, I remember there being a demo of Mario Kart, and you guys say Tetris; do Mario Kart and Tetris really need demos?
Hopefully us Europeans will soon get some interesting games, you know, games being released in the upcoming weeks. Not years old games we already own or have no interest in.
mian @ Jun 11th 2008 2:32PM
I declined to accept Nintendo's spyware bribe, so I don't have ds demos.
Roto13 @ Jun 11th 2008 3:22PM
Paranoia, paranoia, everybody's coming to get me....
Sonic_13 @ Jun 12th 2008 1:25AM
Spyware bribe? What the heck are you talking about?
If you're talking about the fact that playtime data and settings get sent to Nintendo, they ask you for permission about ten times before you actually get to use the channel and thoroughly explain how to opt out.
mian @ Jun 12th 2008 2:11PM
I have the channel, and I opted out. Opting out means no DS demos.
Roto13 @ Jun 11th 2008 3:24PM
I use it when I see something interesting. It's the reason I bought Crossword DS. :P And it's also the reason I might pick up Arkanoid.
MikeG @ Jun 11th 2008 6:21PM
I did the exact same thing. Tried out CrosswordDS and promptly bought it. So I'm very thankful for the demos.
bluezy @ Jun 11th 2008 3:45PM
I really enjoy the demos. I liked Flash Focus, and Arkanoid was pretty good, too, albeit a tad easy.
idk @ Jun 11th 2008 5:40PM
Ninja Gaiden demo was really fun. If Europe ever gets it you should download it.
Chris Greenhough @ Jun 11th 2008 6:30PM
I'm pretty hopeful we'll get it in 2013.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 11th 2008 5:18PM
i tried a couple to see how well it worked (pretty good actually) but there werent many games that interested me so i havent been back lately.
Hamster @ Jun 11th 2008 7:06PM
I may download some DS demos when there are actually some decent ones available. The current line-up (in the UK anyway) is appalling. Of the 8 games available, 4 of them are boring training games! Brain Training, Big Brain Academy, Sight Training (!?!?!), and Maths Training (!?!?!!!!!!). Utterly ridiculous. It makes the DS library look incredibly bland and one-dimensional, when it isn't. Hopefully they'll add some games for people beyond the casual retard demographic at some point.
Loren @ Jun 11th 2008 9:59PM
Where's the option for "I don't have a Wii because I *still* can't find one". :(
Sonic_13 @ Jun 12th 2008 1:27AM
I think I've downloaded just about every demo at least once (except the demos of games I already own).
I really like the service, but I would like to see the titles get mixed up a little more. The same Nintendo games have been available since the start and the 3rd party demos haven't been varied too much.
wud_e @ Jun 12th 2008 9:26AM
I'd personally like to be able to update the DS firmware so that it could use WAP instead of WEP security. I do like the service though. It has tons of potenial. This is GREAT for Nintendo considering how they usually skimp on stuff like this. They are finally trying to imbrace online.