Got a DS dongle? The device will double as a Wii hotspot. Plug it into the USB port on your computer, and you're good to go. For the dongle-less, Nintendo will be releasing an Ethernet Kit, which will let users connect their consoles to a standard internet router. There were previous concerns that the console could only connect via WiFi due to the Wii's lack of an Ethernet port. Good to know, though why didn't Nintendo just add an Ethernet port? Brian Ashcraft

Wii Ethernet Kit [CAV, via 1Up]

I was asked whether I thought these Friend Code reforms sounded good: Exchange Friend Codes by posting them to a Nintendo-sponsored site Exchange Friend Codes directly over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service Have a single Friend Code that works for all games

Albert said Nintendo also asked abut ways to improve their website and have it work with NiWiFi games. Some of their ideas included:

Compare your game stats to your friends' game stats
Compare your game stats to stats from players around the world
Upload screenshots Post content you create, such as art or videos for others
to download
Rate user-created content
See what your friends are playing at the moment
Manage your Friends Roster Create and/or read blogs linked to the site
Schedule dates/times to play DS games against friends or players from around
the world
Form clans/guilds/crews with friends or players from around the world
Submit videos to the site
Submit strategy, tips and tricks to a game-specific forum
Participate in user-defined forums
Personalizing the way Nintendowifi.com looks

A final question raised the possibility of more widespread free NiWiFi access:

"Suppose finding a Wi-Fi hot spot was not an issue, so you
could play your Nintendo DS over the Internet anywhere outside your home. In this case, where would you like to be able to play your Nintendo DS over the Internet?" It listed dozens of restaurants among more interesting ideas like subway stations, subway trains, airports, and (gasp!) airplanes.

Play a little Animal Crossing: Wild World over the Easter weekend and Nintendo promises to deliver you a little letter and special present. I wonder if it will be a crown of thorns or a chocolate easter egg?

If you must get your virtual freebie for your little animal collective, make sure to log your DS into Wild World between Friday and the end of the weekend.

Animal Crossing: Wild World Gift for Easter [British Gaming Blog]

GAR0 has posted a little guide to NiWiFi play for Metroid Prime Hunters in the Nintendo forums. Here's a taste, hit the link for the full-on guide.

NOXUS
Description- An ice themed hunter with strengths to match.

How to use: Get your special gun and charge it. Get in close to an enemy and release it. Then fire at the head for better damage OR if you're quick, switch guns and hit in the head with that. Keep an eye on your ammunition. Your ammo runs out quickly if you freeze your opponents often. The regular shot of your special gun bounces off of walls, so if it misses on the first shot, you still have a chance to hit an opponent with that shot.
How to beat: Stand clear when you hear he's charged, and don't get in to close because if he freezes you, anyone with a powerful gun will come in and headshot you for a kill. You avoid his freeze by jumping and running, and you should be all right. Use your guns against him, his is slow.

ALT-FORM: VHOSCYTHE

How to use: Hold L when and watch the blade get bigger and more deadly. Hit your foes with it whenever you can, but it takes a second to reach full power. Use when you want ammo or escaping headshots. This is also good for people with slow guns if you can get in close.
How to beat: Get to higher ground, then hit him hard. He can't hurt you severely and quickly, but it does damage if he hits you. Jump and get to a ledge. He will switch to BIPED when he realizes he can't hurt you anymore, then hit him with everything you have.

UNIVERSAL TIPS REGARDLESS OF CHARACTER
Remember to keep your health up, always try to have it over about 80 unless you're about to kill and you're not taking much damage.

Get your special weapon whenever you can. It's the black orbs that beep when you get it.

To switch your third weapon, press the upper right part of the touch screen and drag thumb to the icon of your choice. Top icon is your character's special gun.
Find the character you're best with and excell with him/her.

When shooting, don't aim AT your foe unless that human is weak in the upper story and standing still. Account for the time it takes the weapon's attack to reach your opponent.

Metroid Prime Hunters Guide [Forums]

Taking a page from the Nintendo handbook, gaming accessories maker Thrustmaster has announced a new WiFi USB key for the PSP. It's a WiFi adapter that plugs into your computer, hooking players up with wireless internet and online gaming with out requiring a wireless router. The PSP USB key will go on sale this May, booking at $39.99. Ever wonder why some of the best PlayStation Portable products are third party?

Full Press Release [DigNews] Thanks, Kat!

The game drops today, but here's a clip that shows the different ways to play WiFi. Think of it as an instruction booklet, but all blurry and fuzzy.

Watch Here [YouTube] Thanks, Ben!

Oh sweet Mary, I've got myself a problem.

Tetris DS just landed on my doorstep. I've only played one game so far (a classic endless match) and I can tell this badboy is going to be robbing me of some sleep and eat and drink and work.

My first run through the single player standard marathon version netted me a score of 49,621. I cleared 81 lines and made it to level nine before just totally blowing it.

I haven't had a chance to really dig into the game yet, but once I do I'll make sure to post a review.

Now then, back to playing. Oh, my friend code is: 989519 876614

Nintendo's official NiWiFi site has launched an area for the hotly anticipated Tetris DS game. There's nothing really there yet besides a few pictures and this statement:

The greatest puzzle game of all time is reborn through Wi-Fi! Challenge your friends and others from around the world in an exciting new way. Time to get off your block and get online!

Log on with Tetris DS and dig in for some puzzling head-to-head action via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. When you're ready to take a break from your block battles, come to the Tetris DS gaming hub and see how you rank against other players. Whether you're competitive or casual, you'll find a way to reconnect with the most popular puzzle game in history!

Take on up to three others in the Standard Tetris DS game or duel an opponent in the tug-of-war battle that is Push Mode. Both come to life with classic Nintendo themes and will challenge you to be the master of the online domain!

Tetris DS [Nintendo WiFi]

Adding to the already extremely long list of reasons why we love the DS, Nintendo Japan today announced a bundle of good news for the wi-fi portable including a touch-screen version of the Opera web browser.

During the same event (the DS Conference Nintendo), team Ninty announced that they would be putting out a TV card designed to pick up over the air television broadcasts. The card comes with an antenna and plugs into the DS game slot.

While the announcements took place in Japan and should be considered "Japan only" for now, when coupled with NOA Reggie's recent hints about DS browser software we expect (and hope) to see these add-ons announced for the rest of the world soon.

Update: We just posted pictures of the web browsing and the TV add-on here.

More Here [Nintendo Japan]

The always-vivacious Nintendo Gal recently linked to Nintendo's new WiFi Connect ad campaign for Europe.

Here's hoping it's better than our cruddy slipped-on-a-banana-peel campaign. (Sadly, it isn't.)

NoE WiFi Connection Trailer [Nintendo Gal]

In an effort to promote Animal Crossing: Wild World, Nintendo's WiFi site has a Blanca-face roundup. The character is a cat, sporting an erasable mug. When you meet Blanca, you draw a face on her head, which she then thanks you for and wanders off. Nintendo is listing a few exceptional examples, such as the one pictured above. Fine and dandy, 'till you scroll down, that is.

Some guy named Dave has created a "Bamboozled" face. Yeah. I know. Maybe, just maybe, Nintendo might want to reevaluate its selection process.

Full Story [iknowwhatimdoing] Thanks, Matt!

It looks like the NiWiFi bits of Animal Crossing: Wild World is acting a bit wonky for some DS owners. A thread popped up over on the official Nintendo forums discussing the issue. It s not clear what s causing the issue, but gamers on the thread have come up with some workarounds. I wonder if Nintendo go do patches over their network?

Stuck at the "Connecting to WiFi" screen in animal crossing [Nintendo Forums]

Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb shot me an email yesterday clarifying his blog post and Flickr tag about the NiWiFi meet and greet with Reggie that he attended. He mentions that he is in fact a fan of the DS and that he just went to the event to get his signed and to see what the event would be like.

That got us into a whole discussion about smack talk. I personally view smack talk as something that is both adversarial and friendly. But judging by the response on this site and his, not everyone feels that way.

Major Nelson, who's the director of Xbox Live, also updated his blog post with more details.

Major's Day at the Mall [Random Thoughts]

The Regginator will shake some hands, sign some stuff and then kick some ass in Mario Kart DS. Nintendo will also be giving away some cool stuff after the tournament. You have to be in-person to win, but you may be lucky enough to catch Reggie in-game on your own DS as well. Make sure you do some racing tonight and keep your fingers crossed. I'm told that you will definitely know if you are racing Reggie. Here's a rough schedule (all in PST):

o 3:45pm start signing players up for game play
o number of players will determine tournament structure
o 4:00pm start tournament play
o 4:15pm Reggie arrives
o 5:00pm finalize tournament (championships)
o 5:15pm award prizing

Great, I've got that friggin song stuck in my head now.

Bust-A-Move DS hits stores today with more 500 puzzles to complete, some new stylus action and NiWiFi support for worldwide play.

The game's only $20, so unless it completely sucks it's probably worth picking up.

Hiawatha Bray has a solid write-up on NiWiFi and its availability at McDonald s nationwide. (Love the lede) While the story does a good job of recapping how it works, what games you can play on it and Nintendo s lack of Gamecube online play, he totally misses digging into the McDonald s only thing.

Maybe we re all just ingrates, maybe we should just shut-up and enjoy the free WiFi, but dammit I want mine at Starbucks.

Mario Kart and more come to McDonald's [Boston Globe]

Alice points out that a slew of Walk Throughs have already hit the net for Mario Kart DS. Hey Luke, maybe you should check them out before we play again.

Mario Kart DS [Gamefaqs]

I forgot to mention that Animal Crossing: Wild Word landed on my doorstep Friday night. It came in a box with an eclectic mix of ... um ... schwag? I'm told the cleaning products, wicker basket and animal cookies are in fact a house warming present for my new digital home.

I played enough on my DS Friday night to start to set things up, but haven't had the chance to really get into it yet. I hope to do so this week and will post my thoughts.

Don t forget to drop a comment over on the official contest thread for your chance at winning a swank Hot Rod Red DS bundle (that s a red DS, checkered wrist strap, stickers and the Mario Kart DS game), or one of five Mario Kart DS styluseseseseses. The contest ends today, so don t pull a me and put it off till Thursday when it s too late.

Contest Thread [Kotaku]

We kinda feel bad about pushing back the Friend Code contest for weeks when all you get to win is a Mario Kart Stylus. So we asked Nintendo if they could pony up something worthwhile and they delivered.

The grand prize for the contest will be a Hot Rod Red DS bundle. For those of you not in the know on this tricked out Nintendo goody, it comes with a red DS, racing stickers, racing wrist strap and a copy of Mario Kart DS. To make this a bit more fun, you no longer need to enter a friend code to enter. Just hop to the link and create a
comment with your city and state or your friend code.

We are still giving away five stylus and the winners will still be determined by random drawing.

Entries end at midnight on Wednesday. So if you ve been slack, or didn t own a DS, get to commenting. If you need commenting privledge make sure you request via tips@kotaku.com early so we can get it to you in time.

Good luck.

Enter here to win [Kotaku]