Pictochat will be the first of its kind; it will be the very first chat system ever to be used on a handheld. Making use of the great touch-capable lower screen of the DS, the user gets to use the stylus pen to jab at the keyboard layout presented or instead simply draw or write within the large box shown on the bottom of the screen.

 

The great thing about the stylus (not just the fact you get two, just in case you lose one) and in-fact Pictochat itself is that they both come bundled with the Nintendo DS. The stylus hides itself at the back of the console, whereas Pictochat can actually be found in the options menu as you turn the DS on.

To turn the system on you must first hold down the power button for a second or so and on pops the Nintendo DS logo and the Epileptic Seizure warning. If there is not a game card inserted into either of the game slots (DS or GBA), then the options menu will start up by itself. When you start playing around with options, eventually you will find the option which will allow you to choose a personal name for your new DS. Once it has started up, the name you have given to the DS will appear in the corner. This will allow other users to recognise who is talking to them and everybody else. Before anything has been typed/drawn in, the top screen will display two blank boxes. What will be displayed on the lower screen are two things. The first being a box identical to the ones shown on the top screen, and the other will be a keyboard layout which will allow the user to type in words.

 

Now it may seem pointless really, and in all honesty its functionality is very low, but the fun factor should be very high and should prove to be great fun to play with. To send your friend across the room a picture or a message without anybody else knowing what's going on, will be indeed captivating, and very addictive. Also remember, this is a free package so you shouldn't complain, especially when the chance to spend a few hours sending drunken messages to each other comes along, well simply I can't wait.

This will be the first thing for me try out as soon as I get my Nintendo DS, even if any other of my friends don't have one, I will simply have to draw a picture and send one to myself. How childish am I?