DS Download Play

Anonymous Robot

One of the most interesting features of the DS is the capability for multiple players to download a game from a single cartridge and play over local wireless. I remember, back in the days of the GBC link cable, feeling a little ripped off that my friends couldn't play 2 player if we both had the consoles and one game. However, relatively few games actually make use of this.

Why is that? Is there some technical limitation? Or do game developers feel that offering a game over local wireless would keep consumers from buying the game themselves? I think that, if anything, it would expose and attract them to the game, generating customers from previously disinterested people. I know that I've only really played DS multiplayer with my friends on games that offer download play, because we tend to have different tastes.

Why don't more DS games offer download multiplayer? Most don't even offer stripped-down gameplay over local wireless.

TubularLuggage

Well I think there would be some kind of technical limitation for some games to transfer that much data wirelessly. Having a copy of the game means all the basic resources (maps, characters, etc) are already there.
I don't know, I could be wrong.

SilentCoconut

I was unaware that the majority of DS games neglected this feature. Every single quality multiplayer game I've picked up has had it, including Mario Kart, Metroid Prime Hunters, Tetris DS, and even Rocket Slime. I think the vast majority of multiplayer games, and more importantly, almost all of the ones worth playing, have it included.

Etch

It's a great idea, but whenever I go to wal-mart or something the demo download thing never works and I cry.

FyreWulff

You have to have the engineering in place to make it happen, since you must fit the entire client's code in the DS's 4MB of RAM.


Diddy Kong Racing DS probably has the fullest-featured wireless mode, but it's kinda irritating since it transfers data between EVERY PART OF THE DAMN SETUP.

LewieP

Marketting incentive could be some of the reasoning behind limiting download play -
"Why buy an additional copy of the game me and my buddy/buddies enjoy playing multiplayer when one person allready owns it, and we gain no benefit by all having a copy?"
Publishers don't want that to happen.

Maybe I am being a bit cynical, but considering some of the other legnths publishers will go to, even decisions that lead to cripping the game, just to ensure more sales, I think its realistic

Taya

I don't play my DS games multiplayer very often so I only buy them for the single player. Looking over all of my games, these are the ones that have single or multi card multiplayer.

My games that have single-card multiplayer:
Custom Robo Arena
Daigasso! Band Bros (import)
Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime
Elite Beat Agents
Lost in Blue 2
Mario Kart DS
Meteos
New Super Mario Bros
Sonic Rush
Super Mario 64 DS
Yoshi Touch and Go

My games that have multi-card multiplayer only:
Animal Crossing Wild World
Contact
DBZ Supersonic Warriors 2
Final Fantasy III
Lost Magic
Magical Starsign
Nintendogs
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon

LewieP

btw, there is a wikipedia article on which games have Download play -

wiki wrote:

# 1 Advance Wars: Dual Strike
# 2 Big Brain Academy
# 3 Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei
# 4 Bomberman DS
# 5 Brain Age
# 6 Burnout Legends
# 7 Bust-A-Move DS
# 8 Clubhouse Games
# 9 Daigasso! Band Brothers
# 10 Diddy Kong Racing DS
# 11 Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training - How Old Is Your Brain
# 12 Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
# 13 GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
# 14 Jump Superstars
# 15 Jump Ultimate Stars
# 16 Madagascar
# 17 Mario Kart DS
# 18 Metroid Prime Hunters
# 19 Metroid Prime Pinball
# 20 Monopoly, Boggle, Yahtzee , Battleship: 4 Game Fun Pack
# 21 Nanostray
# 22 New Super Mario Bros.
# 23 Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
# 24 Ping Pals
# 25 Point Blank DS
# 26 Polarium
# 27 Puyo Pop Fever & Puyo Pop Fever 2
# 28 Ridge Racer DS
# 29 Sega Casino
# 30 Sonic Rush
# 31 Star Fox Command
# 32 Super Mario 64 DS
# 33 Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll
# 34 Tetris DS
# 35 True Swing Golf
# 36 World Championship Poker
# 37 Worms: Open Warfare
# 38 Yoshi Touch & Go
# 39 Zoo Keeper
# 40 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

BTP

There has to be more than that list. They're missing Meteos for one. Also....

# 20 Monopoly, Boggle, Yahtzee , Battleship: 4 Game Fun Pack

.....only two of those four games support single cart multiplayer.

BahamutZERO

I think it's not included in everything because it's more work to program it in, not because the publisher says "oh noes they can play it for free." Any smart publisher would want the download multiplayer feature, since it's a pretty good way of convincing the game owner's friends to purchase the game themselves.

maximumzero

Sonic Rush is awesome because it's the same experience that you would get with a multi-card setup.

LewieP

maximumzero wrote: »

Sonic Rush is awesome because it's the same experience that you would get with a multi-card setup.

I really think sonic rush multi was teh-suck tho tbh. Its pretty much just like a time trail, except instead of beating a specific time, you have to beat the time set by your oponent. There is little/no interaction between the two players.

BahamutZERO

Yes there is, you can screw with them with item boxes. I forget if you can attack them, but I think you can.

LewieP

BahamutZERO wrote: »

Yes there is, you can screw with them with item boxes. I forget if you can attack them, but I think you can.

ooh, a box which randomly fucks with my oponent...

sorry, I'm just a bit bitter, G&T lead me to believe Rush was like a 2nd coming of the genesis games, and to be fair, it was the best sonic game in year, however, it emphisized the elements of the genesis games I disliked, and missed out alot of what i liked.

BahamutZERO

I kind of agree with you about it not living up to my genesis-era expectations, but that doesn't have anything to do with the multiplayer not just being a time trial vs. the other guy.