Over six hundred new Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots and DS Demo-download points have been announced for retailers across the UK and Ireland! Rejoice!

Nintendo UK and BT Openzone have today announced the roll-out of over 600 BT Openzone / Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots to retailers across the UK and Ireland, allowing gamers to play online - for free! Timed to coincide with the European release of Animal Crossing: Wild World, over 500 of the Wi-Fi enabled stores will also offer gamers the chance to download playable demos of current and upcoming Nintendo DS titles via Nintendo DS 'Download Stations' � again, absolutely free. The roll out commences today and all 607 stores will go live by summer 2006! This news makes us very happy indeed.

So, where will you be able to find these new points of Wi-Fi wonder? Look out for them in your local Gamestation, HMV, Toys R US, Smyths Toys or other selected independent retailer across the UK and Ireland. The installation of these hotspots mean over 8,000 hotspots will be available across the UK, thanks to Nintendo's partnership with Wi-Fi providers such as BT Openzone.

Demos initially available for download will be one level demos of Polarium, Meteos and the chance to meet Shigeru Miyamoto's Nintendog 'Pic'. Upcoming downloads in April and May include playable demos of Pokémon Link (aka. Trozei), Trauma Centre: Under the Knife and Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?. Other Nintendo goodies downloadable to your DS will include special items for Animal Crossing: Wild World and a very special Metroid Prime: Hunters movie. New content will be added and refreshed by Nintendo on a monthly basis so there's always something new to experience!

To access the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service at a retail location all you need to do is walk into a store with your Nintendo DS console and any Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection compatible game, turn on your console and choose the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection option from the game's main menu. And to download demos via 'Download Stations' it's just as easy � turn on your Nintendo DS console and on the system menu tap the 'DS Download Play' button. The download will remain available and playable on your Nintendo DS console until the power is turned off.

Commenting on the rollout, David Yarnton, General Manager of Nintendo UK, said: "Nintendo are once again leading the way in bringing a significant, groundbreaking service to UK retailers and their customers. Nintendo has revolutionised Wi-Fi video gaming, removing all of the negative aspects whilst retaining the fun and diversity it offers and now anyone can join in with the one million other people across the globe currently enjoying our service. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service truly offers the mass market a great opportunity to fully embrace Wi-Fi."

Chris Bruce, General Manager of BT Wireless Broadband, added: "The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service is already proving extremely popular with users across the world. From our point-of-view, it's a strong proof-point that Wi-Fi is becoming mainstream. We'll really see Wi-Fi coming of age this year and this agreement is taking BT Openzone even further into the high street and retail parks by giving gamers access to Wi-Fi in an easy and accessible format at the point-of-purchase."

Nintendo's wireless gaming service has hit an all- time gaming record of 1 million unique users, in less than four months in operation. The 1 millionth user was a player in Japan, who logged on to play Animal Crossing: Wild World.