Ping Pals Hints XX (DS)

Ping Pals is an application made for the Nintendo DS by WayForward Technologies and published by THQ for the handheld console. It is a chat and accessory program, which focuses on players being able to freely interact and chat with each other by typing words in a chat room enabled by the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. The video game/utility was launched on December 8, 2004 but did not enjoy great sales because the DS already featured its own PictoChat service that allowed for a much more pleasant experience.

The program lets users customize their own Ping pal avatar and game interface by selecting things from the over 1000 different items, consisting of hairstyles, makeup, clothing, backdrop, and various music and sound effects. Up to 16 players can play wirelessly by using just one game cartridge but must be within a 100-foot or 30-meter radius in order to exchange text and picture messages.

Items for the avatars can be unlocked by trading them with other players or buying them in a shop. Players need to trade in order to get all of the possible items, as each cartridge's shop offers a different subset of items for the user. Players will receive a regular allowance of coins, via the date-keeping function of the DS, which can also be obtained by playing various mini-games with friends, typing certain secret words in a chat room and even displaying the ending credits screen more than once.

HINTS

Don't Lose Your Money

If you lose money in hi-lo, quickly press the mini-game button and click yes on “end mini game” and you won't lose your money. Note: Press this before they take your money.

New Items

Change the system date to a different time or date to get new items in the shop. This works well for going back and getting items you missed or going forward to items you can't wait for (for example, Christmas).

Here's a fan-made review of this game: