When Nintendo announced Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, they also said that all Pokémon titles Generation VI onward will only be playable on the Nintendo 3DS platform, in order to kickstart sales of its flagship console lineup. The company also launched the Nintendo 2DS, a cheaper, non-3D (thank God!) model of the ailing Nintendo 3DS, to make the new games more accessible. But before Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, as one didn’t need the flagship Nintendo DS model to play the latest Pokémon games, a lot of people would do the practical thing and buy the cheapest models in lineup: Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite.
Now here’s the thing about Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite: they generally refuse to work with regular WiFi. The reason for this is that their operating systems only support open or WEP-encrypted WiFi networks, whereas virtually all networks today are encrypted using the more secure WPA and WPA2 protocols. Without WiFi connectivity, you can’t challenge your friends to battles or trade Pokémon with them or enter the Entralink or receive Pokémon from Nintendo giveaways. In fact, you can’t use any of the Nintendo WFC services. And even if you have a Nintendo 3DS now, you can’t use your old DS system to transfer Pokémon from your older games.
However, there’s a very simple solution to this problem, and it doesn’t require any fancy hardware or software, or expert skills. All you need is an Android smartphone with hotspot capabilities and an Internet connection (WiFi or 3G data plan).
Just follow the steps below:
- Open Settings on your Android handset.
- Under Wireless & Networks, click More…
- Now click on Tethering & portable hotspot.
- Now click on Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
- In the popup that appears, select Open or None under Security.
- Now toggle Portable Wi-Fi hotspot on.
- You’re done! Now connect your Nintendo DS/DS Lite to the access point you just created.
