One of the features of the Nintendo DS is a built-in microphone. Some games call for players to speak into the microphone or blow into the microphone to affect game events.

The microphone can also be used to communicate (Voice Chat) with others while playing certain DS games via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. A person can only speak to another player with whom they’ve shared a special numeric Friend Code. Because of this, your child will not be able to talk via Voice Chat to anyone whom he does not know.

Many Nintendo DS games feature Single-Card Play, enabling wireless multiplayer activities even when only one player has a Game Card. One way to find out which games support Single-Card Play is to look up the title in the Games section of this website. Also, the back of each retail game box displays the number of players the game supports and if the game can be played via Single-Card Play. 

PictoChat lets you communicate with up to 15 other Nintendo DS users within range of your DS (approximately 30 feet to 100 feet of distance) by writing text or drawing pictures on the Touch Screen. In addition, some games may also have similar communication features programmed into the game. However, PictoChat is not an Internet application.

The Nintendo DS's wireless communication (including PictoChat) offers a fun and unique way to communicate and play with other Nintendo DS owners in the immediate vicinity. We do encourage parents to educate their children on privacy issues regarding communications with people whom the child does not know. Children should be warned about receiving messages from, or communicating with strangers.

To help ensure your privacy and your family's privacy, tell your children never to give out personal information, such as surname, phone number, birthday, age, email or home address, when communicating with others.

If you feel that your children should not use the chat feature, you should instruct them not to use it. PictoChat is not functional unless it is selected when the system is turned on.

Games compatible with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection are denoted with the service’s blue, circular logo found on the front of DS game boxes. The DS connects wirelessly to the Internet. You’ll need either a wireless broadband connection or be in the vicinity of a hotspot to log on to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. (A hotspot is generally a public location that offers wireless connection to the Internet.)

For more information on how to connect to the Internet with your DS, click here to go to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support page.