For those not in the know, the 802.11n standard is a step up from the plebeian 802.11g. The other piece of news, this new product was said to be tied to the Zune video store update on Xbox Live. So if GameStop's listing is correct, that's now on the clock for early November, too.

The unit is $99.99. As reported earlier, the original flavor 802.11g adapter is due for a $20 trim once its suped-up cousin hits.

Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter [GameStop, thanks TiKiMaN1]

The new adapter, and its ability to stream 1080p video, is tied to Microsoft's upcoming Zune video store update to Xbox Live later this year. Ars got no word on a specific release date for either, however.

Mole Spills Holiday 360 Bundle as Microsoft Begins $50 Rebate [Ars Technica]

Microsoft gave the statement to Joystiq earlier today but did not divulge a release date or a suggested cost. Reading between the lines of this statement, it appears Microsoft will sell it alongside its existing regular flavor wireless adapter.

Microsoft Confirms Xbox 360 802.11n Adapter [Joystiq]

This adorable little bunny is Microsoft's new wi-fi adapter, currently doing the rounds at the FCC. It supports the more recent wireless standard - read up on it here if you're scratching your head - so once it hits the market, you'll be good to go.

Provided, that is, you don't mind paying out your ass for a new version of the most over-priced accessory the video game industry has ever known.

Official Xbox 360 802.11n Wi-Fi Adapter Coming Soon [Gizmodo]

The PS3 has built-in wi-fi. The Wii has it. The PSP has it. Heck, even the DS has it, making the prospect of spending $90 on Microsoft's "add-on" as surprising as it is ridiculous.

But there's a way around it. A few ways, in fact. All of them involve buying routers or third-party adapters, and all involve more fiddling around than the official solution's plug-n-play, but does that matter? Every time you look at the setup hassles and baulk at the process, try and remember you'll baulk more at paying $90 for a wi-fi adapter.

Full, handy, helpful guide below.

How To: Add Wi-Fi To Your Xbox 360 Smartly and Cheaply [Gizmodo]

Billed as a 'real life treasure hunt', Treasure Troves will scan the area around your DS and alerts you to the presence of 'treasures' either by on screen display or an audio alert if the DS is closed - allowing 'passive' play when you are just wandering around.

Leingang says that testing the game has actually changed the way he experiences his home town.

"I take walks frequently," he explains, "and all of a sudden I'm doing stupid things, just laughing at myself because I'm walking ten more feet to the left this time, or turning down this different street, or walking down the opposite side of the road. Even though I'm going down the same street, I'm on a different side now, facing a different direction. It's so funny how much more I do actually see."

Aspyr's Treasure Troves To Use DS As 'Real-Life Treasure Hunt' [Gamasutra]

Each of the eggs will be available for download at a cost of one point each. Interestingly (to me, anyway - feel free to form your own opinions) the option of using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to download content is itself an unlockable ability within the game.

That list of downloadable Spectrobe beasties in full, after the jump.

Komanoto
Selected by Kentaro Hisai, Producer
“I used Komanoto during all the battles I fought during my global media tour this fall and took a liking to the creature’s battle skills and I fared well in those.”

Hapazoa
Selected by Yasutaka Kimura, Associate Producer
“He disappears and then strikes the enemy just like a Japanese ninja. Evolve him and train him into a master ninja.”

Zaamaru
Selected by Adam Evanko, Associate Producer/Localization
“At level 99, he is the most powerful Spectrobe in the entire game, even stronger than his evolved form, so keep him as is. I love power.”

Rygazelle
Selected by Tetsuro Hosokawa, Director
“He is so cool looking and easy to use for beginners. He makes up for any loss of power with his awesome speed.”

Masetosu
Selected by Agaru Tanaka, Planning Director
“He’s modeled after a fighting android, which I think is really cool. He’s a great distance fighter, but has a weak defense, which is why this one comes with defensive parts equipped.”

Sametosu
Also selected by Tanaka-san
“This is the most destructive and powerful Spectrobe in my opinion. Pair him with the Masetosu that I selected and you have a virtually unbeatable team.”

Montrados
Selected by Hayato Fukunaga, Battle Planner
“He’s fast, powerful and well balanced. He’s great for hit and run tactics and a great all-around Spectrobe for wireless battles.”

Inkaflare
Kouji Kiriyama, Art Director
“He’s armored like a tank. He may be slow but nothing feels better than mowing down enemies with his powerful punches.”

He added that it was a Nintendo initiative to avoid misleading consumers into thinking they can buy games that can be played entirely free when they cannot (whether or not this implies an initiative to begin charging for multiplayer content was unclear). To aid in a clear cost presentation, the blue WFC logo will be joined with a similar red logo featuring the line "Pay & Play."

While we were offered no additional details, we understand that the red stands for danger.

Wi-Fi Play [Smash Bros. DOJO!]

About 25 percent of the WiFi McDonald's gives away at their restaurants is being sucked up by DS gamers, according to Computer World.

While I find that single stat fascinating the story never returns to the whole Nintendo hotspot issue, instead going on and on about WiFi and its use in restaurants.

Funny enough, McDonald's said the impetus for installing the WiFi was so their employees could use wireless handheld devices for taking orders and tracking inventory. Brian Crecente

Forget the burger; soon you'll be ordering McWi-Fi [Computer World]

On May 25th, Europe will get its first Wii-enabled Mario Strikers: Charged Football. Multi-player lets four players kick it out in one game. Nintendo WiFi serves online games, and multi-player includes ranked and unranked modes, leader boards and games with people across the world. Sounds a bit like real online multi-player. What's the catch?

Friend Codes. Oh, right. Brian Ashcraft

Mario Strikers Wii [British Gaming]

Doesn't matter if your Japanese airplane looks like this or not, you won't be able to get your wireless gaming on. The country's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is aiming to ban using wireless functions on portable game devices like the DS and the PSP on the basis that it can interfere with the aircraft's instruments. Passengers are still able to play their portables on the planes. That is, with the wireless function off and when the seatbelt sign is turned on. Thought that was pretty much standard everywhere and has been for a while now. Does this mean before it was perfectly alright to play wireless games on Japanese airplanes?! Brian Ashcraft

Wireless Gaming Banned [Game|Life via Go Nintendo]

Good news, North Americans! Square Enix's real-time strategy RPG Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana will hit stores late summer. Bad news: Wi-Fi battles are a no-go. While it is possible to go proxy with a nearby buddy, the Wi-Fi is actually used to submit scores to a ranking board for weekly missions. That's pretty neat, for like, the 20th century. Brian Ashcraft

New Mana [1Up]

We're hoping to incorporate that functionality in the very near future - from a local level at the moment to a global level probably within the next six months. If I have my MP3 Walkman or my iPod, or digital camera connected to PS3 then I can access those devices, too.

Okay, cool. Since I'll probably have my iPod with me when I travel, what about a USB hard drive? Can I access my hundreds of gigs of porn when I'm in Tokyo this September? Michael McWhertor

The rise of the handheld console [BBC]

The dirty details, including video are linked below. Michael McWhertor

Playing Xbox Live over Google WiFi While Driving [via Major Nelson]
Xbox Live Goes Mobile As We Play Rainbow 6 on Google Wifi [XHYD.tv]

At only $12 a set, DS Buttons can make avoiding those awkward introductions when asking strangers for a game of Tetris DS or Mario Kart DS on the train very affordable. Michael McWhertor

DS Buttons

Let's face it, the Wii is just too pretty for its own good. The thing is actually smaller than the Xbox 360's HD-DVD appendage and it's quiet and it's cute. And that just won't do. Not when you can add this bag-ass honking antenna to the thing to make sure it can pick up WiFi signals from space.

While the Informit article about hacking an external WiFi antenna to you Wii is informative, it seems a bit pointless to me. The Wii already has an embedded wireless network card with two built in antennas. My Wii is down in the lounge, which is half underground, while my WiFi hub is up on the second floor and I have no problems at all. I suppose this could help if you go camping with your Wii. Oh, and did I mention, the big antenna, it doesn't really boost reception. Worst. Hack. EVER! Brian Crecente

Wii Hack [Informit]

The video explains it best, but if you've ever wondered, "Can I control my MIDI enabled devices with a portable gaming system?" the answer is "Yes." Use your DS(es) as a keyboard, simulated Korg KAOSS effects pad, a MIDI synthesizer and—would you believe it?—so much more. Very cool stuff. Michael McWhertor

DSMIDIWifi

You know, that Pokemon Diamond WiFi chat system seems to work pretty well. Of course, you know it's going to take absolutely no time for the air of camaraderie to devolve into hysterical "FUCK YOU!"/"NO, FUCK YOU AND YOUR PIKACHU!" screaming matches between ten year olds half a world away. Florian Eckhardt