Nintendo has officially announced today that Wi-Fi access for the Nintendo DS will commence on the 17th November. The first wireless games are, as expected, Tony Hawk's American Sk8land and Mario Kart DS.

Nintendo Australia will be installing Nintendo Wi-Fi connection hotspots in a number of public places that will offer complimentary access to Nintendo's online world. The hotspots will also feature downloadable Nintendo DS game demos and a special Nintendogs function that allows Nintendogs owners to experience 'Bark mode' without having someone else physically there to play with.

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots will initially be available across 26 Australian retail locations, including selected Electronics Boutique, Myer and Dick Smith Powerhouse stores. The 26 hotspots will be rolled out from the 17th of November, and conclude by November 30th. A full list of participating stores will be available soon on www.nintendowifi.com.au.

When a user brings a Nintendo DS unit and a Wi-Fi-enabled game into a participating store, the user simply launches the game in Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode. No setup is required.

From home, if the user already has a Wi-Fi network, the Nintendo DS unit will connect directly to it with minimal setup procedures. Those who have a high-speed Internet connection such as cable or DSL, but no wireless network, can use the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB connector, which will plug into the USB port of a PC running Windows XP to create a wireless access point to connect a Nintendo DS to Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector will be sold exclusively through Nintendo Australia, at a price of $AU49.95. There will be no charge for postage and handling for deliveries in Australia. This can be ordered by calling Nintendo Australia on 03 9730 9822.

Finally, Nintendo DS owners who want to play games at Wi-Fi locations outside of dedicated Nintendo Wi-Fi connection hotspots or their home can use a laptop computer and the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB connector to access the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB connector enables the Nintendo DS to share an Internet connection established by a PC, providing a conduit to play games via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.