Seemingly not content with the global hardware dominance enjoyed by its
dual-screen DS handheld videogames console, Japanese gaming giant
Nintendo has this week announced the integration of special interactive
DS Centres into leading retail stores across the United Kingdom.
Set to further boost the exposure of the world’s best-selling games
console, the steady stream of 30 new DS Centres will be incorporated
into major high street retailers including the likes of Argos, ASDA,
GAME, HMV, Toys R Us, Woolworths and Zavvi.
The kiosk-style centres will allow store visitors not in-the-know
regarding the Nintendo DS to learn more about the diminutive clamshell
console, its touch-screen and mic-sensitive features, and also its wide
range of interactive software via video presentations, television
commercials and even playable game demos -- all for free.
Those consumers perusing the centres while equipped with their own
Nintendo DS will also be able to wirelessly download temporary DS game
demos directly to their waiting console. The downloaded demo content
will remain available for play as long as the console is turned off via
Sleep Mode, but will be deleted when and if the device is fully powered
down.
Current in-store demos available for play through the DS Centres include massive first-party hit titles
such as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Nintendogs, Animal
Crossing: Wild World, New Super Mario Bros., and Big Brain Academy.
Playable demos available via wireless connection through the centres
include Brain Training, Mario Kart DS and 42 All-Time Classics.
Nintendo notes that it will be looking to maintain a high level of
consumer interest by keeping both sets of demo titles updated
regularly, while the amount of interactive DS Centres spread across the
UK is also expected to grow throughout the year.
As of March 31 of 2008, Nintendo has sold approximately 70 million
units of its original DS and remodelled DS Lite consoles. The original
console was first launched to retail (North America) in November of
2004; it remains in high demand, outselling the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
and Nintendo Wii in 2007. Since 1983, Nintendo claims to have sold in
excess of 460 million units of videogame hardware and a staggering 2.7
billion units of videogame software.
