Nintendo has big plans to push the DS portable in the UK, despite the considerably sales success already witnessed. The new Nintendo DS Centres that are set to roll out across the whole of the UK soon will allow anyone to Touch! Try! DS through movies, TV commercials, playable and downloadable demos and the free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Nintendo’s UK branch has today announced that it has already successfully rolled out over thirty new Nintendo DS Centre’s at retailers across the nation, including the likes of major players such as GAME, Argos, HMV, Zavvi, Toys ‘R Us, Woolworths and ASDA. Whereas the old DS download pods, which have been absent from retail for a considerable amount of time now, only offered a few titles for sampling, these new centres will offer anyone the opportunity to learn more about Nintendo DS and its exciting range of software through a number of new and exciting ways including videos, TV commercials, demo games to play on the DS Centre itself and (’most exciting of all’, as Nintendo says), current DS owners will be able to download demo software to play on their own Nintendo DS.

“A full list of Nintendo DS Centres currently in operation can be found at http://ms.nintendo-europe.com/dscentre/index.html and the list will be updated as more go live. In-store demo games for anyone to play at a DS Centre right now include Sight Training, nintendogs, Big Brain Academy, New Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Animal Crossing: Wild World. Downloadable titles DS owners can play on their own DS consoles currently include Brain Training, Sight Training, More Brain Training, Big Brain Academy, Mario Kart DS and 42 All Time Classics.

It should be noted that if consumers bring their own Nintendo DS Console with DS software compatible with Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, they will be able to enjoy Nintendo Wi-Fi connection games over an online connection. Also, if they bring their own Nintendo DS Console, they will be able to download one demo game from this unit. The data will not disappear as long as they keep the DS in Sleep Mode. Once they switch off the power, the demo game will disappear, though.

Both in-store and downloadable demo games will be updated regularly to encourage people to see what’s new for Nintendo DS. Nintendo will aim to increase the number of installations of Nintendo DS Centre’s throughout the year.

Be sure to share your experiences with these new Download Centres by posting below…