This thread is for all information on the WiFi abilities of Animal Crossing WW. You will find info on WiFi, and Animal Crossing WW's WiFi abilities. Please continue to use this thread for any questions you have about it.

What is WiFi?
WiFi, short for Wireless Fidelity, allows you to connect to the internet, without the need of wires. WiFi enabled devices send out and recieve data signals anywhere within the range of a base station (defined below).

What do I need?
There are two common ways to use this techology:

1) A wireless Hotspot. A Hotspot is a public place where you can connect to the internet. Common places include cafe's, restaurants, hotels.
There are many hotspots around the world, to find the one nearest to you, check out JiWire Global Hotspot Finder.

or

2) A wireless home network. For this you will need a few things:
A broadband connection
A wireless Router

A wireless router is a device that allows you to connect many PC's or wireless devices to your one broadband connection. It will also allow your Nintendo DS to connect to any sevices that Nintendo make avaliable. You can buy them at any computer store, or many online retailers. The one you purchase is up to you, but as long as you purchase one that has a "WiFi certified" logo on it, you will be fine.

Nintendo will release a device that will allow users who have a normal broadband connection (non-wireless) to use the WiFi features.
The Nintendo DS WiFi USB Connector allows you to use your existing broadband connection without the need to buy a wireless router. You plug the device into a USB port on you computer, and the DS will then be able to communicate through that and access the WiFi service.

Where does the Nintendo DS come in?
The Nintendo DS has built in WiFi support, meaning that if you are within range of a wireless hotspot, (or other DS's) and the game supports it, you can connect to any other DS gamers in the world.
Many new games may support this feature including Mario Kart DS and Animal Crossing WW.

So what does this mean to me?
What this means is, where before you could only play against people in the same room as you, now you will be able to play against anyone, anywhere.

Where does Animal Crossing come into this?
Animal Crossing WW is the follow up to the succesfull Animal Crossing on the Gamecube, and has been named as one of the first games to support the WiFi capabilities of the nintendo DS. there are not many details at this time (more will be added when we recive them), but this is what we do know:

Players will be able to visit other players villages either by connecting directly with a DS nearby or by using the WiFi capabilities and visiting a village many miles away.

Up to four people will be able to be in the same village at the same time.

People can interact with each other by chatting to them, hitting them over the head with a net, walking around the village, and going into other animals houses.

The train Station that was in the GC version, has made way for a Giant Gate. Inside, you are confronted by a guard (quite possibly Copper and Booker) who will then give you the option to either change the flag (like on Animal Island) or visit another village either locally or via WiFi. Not much is know so far on the way this works, and this will be added when it is known.

What is all this going to cost me
Nintendo has stated that all it's own games will be free to play online.

When more information becomes avaliable, it will be posted here.

As far as we know, this is most likely to work with Broadband internet access only, unless Nintendo says otherwise. Dial up internet access works differently, and I don't belive that you can use routers with dial up.
Please try not to fill this thread up with 'Will my [insert internet connection name] work?' questions. As far as we know, all bradband connentions will work with the service. If you can get online with it, then you will most probably be able to use the DS online aspects.

queenzentar adding:
From Nintendo Power's August 2005

"...Eguchi explained that players will be able to will be able to room together four in the same house, and each will have the ability to rearrange furnishings. That, he said, "is to encourage plaers to negotiate among themselves, directly." Players will make a list of friends who are allowed to visit thier village and possibly invite others into thier group via a PictoChat-created transmitted to the village signboards..."


Found by queenzentar
Nintendo's US Wi-Fi Revealed

Nintendo's US Wi-Fi Revealed
Connect your DS to the internet this November. Full details right here.
by Craig Harris
October 5, 2005 - To coincide with the details coming from Japan, Nintendo of America has revealed the US plans for the service that will link Nintendo DS games wirelessly all over the world. Already revealed as the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, this internet service will go online starting November 14th in the US, with the first Nintendo-published games, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and Metroid Prime Hunters supporting the network. The first third-party game will be Activision's Tony Hawk's American Sk8land.

The service will be free to Nintendo DS owners, requiring no additional charge to play supported games over the internet. Households with Wi-Fi networks can access the service with only a minimal of setup procedures. For households with standard broadband internet access and no wireless router, Nintendo will sell separately the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector that will enable the Nintendo DS systems to connect to the internet.

Nintendo of America will also set up thousands of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots all over the US, and the company will soon reveal the details on where and how players can link up via these hotspots. Nintendo will also use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service for its next generation Revolution console when it ships sometime in 2006.

I have a question. Do you have to set up an account through the Nintedo Wi-Fi website to begin online play? What I'm saying is this:

I bought a Nintendo DS and a copy of Mario Kart DS. I have Broadband Internet Connection, and the Nintendo Wireless USB Connector. I get the devices set up, and I turn my DS on. Now what? What happens after that?

Question:

Can you visit a friends town without being at a hotspot? Can you just be near them like you can to do multiplayer features in other DS games or pictochat?

#1:yes

#2:no, yes

I heard that you could connect to another person's town with out being online. Just with them being within the 30 feet or whatever it is that the local wifi radius is.

yes that is true

edit: you can also use ds download play too

@Animalcrosser: You have to go to Nintendo WFC game menu option. or RTFM (Read the Manual). I don't have the game, but you just have to select the nwfc option in the menu and the you'll get a pop up on your computer (because you have the Nintendo Wifi adaptor)

For everyone that's going to buy a network card for the pc to get the DS online, be sure the network card support access point mode, because the DS can't connect with a wifi card in ad-hoc mode! A chipset that will definatily work is the rt2500 so a card with this chipset and these drivers will be able to be put in ap mode!

I was wondering if the nintendo router comes with the game

Nope, no wireless networking hardware comes with the game.

how does the wifi connector workbecause i am getting one with ac:ww

"how does the wifi connector workbecause i am getting one with ac:ww"

do you mean the usb adapter

A manual comming with the usb connector will explain how it works. And otherwise, just plug the thing into your computer and install the software and the software will tell you what to do

SOFTWARE FIRST! thats REALY important with USB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is? I _ALWAYS_ plug the thingy in before installing software. But you could be right , so don't follow my lead , as I do know enough to correct my mistakes. It can be quite a hasstle to get drivers installed when you first did it wrong!

well it really depends on the hardware

Indeed, but you are correct saying that most USB devices wants the drivers installed first and everybody without propper knowledge of computers/windows should install the drivers first. Unless ofcourse the manual states otherwise

I got a couple of questions

1. Can I do WFC with only the DS I Do wifi on (because im geting a new DS)

2. When you start up the thingy with all the DS peoples usernames how do you take there name off?

thanks

1. Don't get a new DS(unless it's busted). Any DS will work just fine. Yes, you can only do WFC with the DS you use to set it up, because your Friend Codes, and your WFC ID are on there. According to the Nintendo WFC Site, they say that once you have an WFC ID, you should play it on that DS only or you could mess up your game.

2. This depends on the game you're playing. Read the instruction manual of that game to find out how.

How acactlly would I connect with someone else?

How do I connect to someone elses town, with a router? And wich router
would I use? I don't wan't to go online, or only be able to connect to someone 30 feet away!

Most routers shall work although some dont...

If you have high speed internet, chances are you have a router installed although some dont use it.... A wireless router sends a signal that the Nintendo DS can pick up... You wont have to turn on your computer at all though so that shall make you happy The greatest thing is that you are connected to a network that can be accessed by anyone around the world!

So that means you can go to even my town from wherever you are all you need is a wireless router or the nintendo USB connector!

Would you exchange friend codes with me when the game comes out?

I have a question: Will all Mcdonalds in the US have WiFi? I used that website but my Mcdonalds wasn't listed

wifi is avalible "some" mcdonalds

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i tested some public hotspots with mkds and only ones gareteed
to work were the nintendo mcdonald ones