Nintendo ups its game with DS promo

Nintendo has announced the launch of an initiative offering DS owners free downloadable game demos and other content at thousands of participating retail locations.

Starting in the US next month, in-store kiosks will beam demo versions of games and other content into the customer's Nintendo DS system.

The game of their choice will download automatically and users can play all they want until the Nintendo DS is turned off. Players can try out as many games as they like.

The first DS Download Service stations will include free demos of Tetris DS, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Mario Kart DS, Meteos, True Swing Golf and Pokemon Trozei.

Meanwhile, Nintendo DS Lite, a lighter, brighter Nintendo DS system, makes its entry into the market in Japan next month.

The DS Lite is about two-thirds the size of the original and more than 20 per cent lighter. Availability in other regions will be announced at a later date.

Nintendo claimed that its DS wireless community now represents more than 850,000 unique users worldwide. The Nintendo DS has sold more than 14.4 million units worldwide.