Autoblog

Toyota turning Nintendo DS into navigation system

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Technology, Toyota, Toys/Games

Video games are already an easy target for politicians, what with their amazing ability to turn both brains and muscles to jelly while also promoting violence and other sociopathic behaviors. So we can only wonder at the political grandstanding that might accompany this development: The Nintendo DS can now be used to control a Toyota navigation system.

Yes, that's right, if you can pull yourself away from drawing evil kittens on your DS - and you live in Japan - you can pair it via Bluetooth, and use it to input destinations and display a speedometer on the DS, according to Kotaku. The Kuruma de DS game card also gives your handheld gaming device the ability to broadcast its audio through the car's stereo system.

The software is designed to be used by passengers - of course - but we're sure it's only a matter of time before Japan experiences its first I-was-just-using-my-DS-to-program-my-nav crash. Kotaku says the game card is being sold by Toyota dealers for about $92.

Toyota turning Nintendo DS into navigation system originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boy saves family in car accident using Nintendo DS?

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, Australia

The Nintendo DS, a handheld video game system, can be a major time-suck for us kids of all ages. It's no surprise that the mother of seven year-old Christoper Miszkowiec wanted him to cut down on the amount of time he spends playing with one. What is surprising is that mom Kathleen has recently had a change of heart. What prompted this reversal? Christoper saved her life with his toy.

We may come across cattle, deer and a host of other animals when driving here in the States. Down in Australia, the Miszkowiec family was driving down a country road late one evening when a kangaroo hopped across their path. The car crashed into the creature, causing it to roll several times.

The father of the family was able to scramble out of the vehicle and rescue the couple's six-month old child, the youngest of three. Christoper unbuckled himself and then his five-year old brother, but Kathleen was unconscious up front. A country road is an especially dark place at night and it was impossible to see, so Christoper turned on his Nintendo DS. Using the light from the screen, he made his way to his mother and got her out of her seat to safety.

To honor the young man, Christopher Miszkowiec was part of a group that received Ambulance Victoria Community Hero awards for extraordinary life-saving acts. The award was presented at Melbourne's Parliament House.

[Source: News.com.au]

Boy saves family in car accident using Nintendo DS? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touch Mechanic video game coming to Nintendo DS

John Neff — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

Click above for gallery of Touch Mechanic screenshots

Video games have long since extended their reach beyond violent first-person shooters and fast paced driving games to include the more mundane aspects of life. In The Sims, gamers play by controlling people who just go about their daily business. A new game for the Nintendo DS by Kando Games is coming that takes a similar approach. That is, if your daily business is being an auto mechanic. Touch Mechanic uses the dual-screen display and stylus of the DS to put you in the shoes of an auto repair man working on and tuning classic and modern autos. In the video after the break you can see how the stylus is used to literally tap parts like mufflers and brake discs off a car. It looks interesting and may be a great way to get to know the inner workings of your auto better, but like many modern day sims, could be insufferably boring, as well. There's no word on what markets Touch Mechanic will be released for, but considering there's a lot of American iron in the game that needs fixing, the U.S. might be on the game's short list of regions. Check out screenshots in the gallery below and a video of the game in action after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Frankie!

Gallery: Touch Mechanic

[Source: DS Fanboy, Hobby Media]

Continue reading Touch Mechanic video game coming to Nintendo DS

Touch Mechanic video game coming to Nintendo DS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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