Gaming News Round-Up: February 25th, 2005

Today's round-up includes news of digital distribution on the DS, and speculation regarding the nature of the fix for the recent Xbox recall. - Nintendo Japan is forging bravely down the digital distribution trail, and using the Download Game feature of its Nintendo DS handheld system to host nationwide download programs, available via the DS WiFi connection when the player visits specific store locations. The first three games to benefit from the feature will be Chokkan Hitofude, Meteos, and Band Brothers. Players will be able to download demo versions of the two puzzle games, which will only be available until the machine is turned off, but the download for Band Brothers is more interesting: six new downloadable songs will be available, and these will be permanently written to the cartridge once obtained. - Consumer game site Joystiq is reporting that the recent Xbox power cord recall may have been intended as a low-cost measure, in lieu of a more expensive recall of entire older Xbox models. According to these unconfirmed reports, the older units may have problems with loose power connections within the Xbox itself, which cause overheating and occasional consumer hazards. The main evidence for this theory is the nature of the replacement cord Microsoft has been shipping out, which has an attached dongle allegedly meant to prevent the hazard situation from arising without addressing the internal mechanism. The new cords feature a notice advising users to call a Microsoft phone number should the unit overheat and the switch cutoff mechanism kick in. However, it's also possible that the new cords simply provide a more general safety mechanism.