PictoChat screenshot

PictoChat is a communication utility for the Nintendo DS. It is used to chat with up to fifteen other people connected wirelessly through a system-to-system Wi-Fi connection. [1] Screenshot of Nintendos PictoChat for the Nintendo DS. Fair use. ... Screenshot of Nintendos PictoChat for the Nintendo DS. Fair use. ... The Nintendo DS, (sometimes abbreviated NDS or DS), is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. ... Wi-Fi (also WiFi, Wi-fi, Wifi, or wifi) is a set of product compatibility standards for wireless local area networks (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802. ...

Functions

The touch screen is used to type in letters with an on-screen keyboard or draw and send pictures. The languages that can be typed in (as well as the languages the system itself can be changed to) are English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese (kana only). The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Japanese writing Kanji 漢字 Kana 仮名 Hiragana 平仮名 Katakana 片仮名 Uses Furigana 振り仮名 Okurigana 送り仮名 Romaji ローマ字 For other meanings of Kana, see Kana (disambiguation). ...

It would also be possible to type in any other language using the Latin alphabet that has no diacritics, or which has diacritics that are used in German, French, Spanish, and/or Italian. Four chat rooms are available at one time, each with a capacity of sixteen people. The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world today. ... A diacritical mark or diacritic, sometimes called an accent mark, is a mark added to a letter to alter a words pronunciation or to distinguish between similar words. ... A chat room is an online forum where people can chat online (talk by broadcasting messages to people on the same forum in real time). ...

If a person is unable to use one chat room it may be because the wireless channel is already in use by another machine. So, using any of the other three rooms means that there is a greater possibility of getting in because of the use of different channels.

PictoChat is preloaded onto all Nintendo DS units worldwide.

Using PictoChat

PictoChat has an easy-to-use interface. The first thing to do is simply draw the picture one wants to send with the stylus and pressing the send button (alternatively, the start button). One can also type a message by touching the on-screen keyboard or by using the Control Pad to select the letter and A to type it. In addition, one can drag letters from the keyboard to move them anywhere in the chat window. Pressing select or the retrieve button (the button under the Send button) will recall the image at the bottom of the top screen. To make a different picture recall itself, use the arrows on the touch-screen (alternatively, use the R button to scroll up and the L button to scroll down) to make that picture at the bottom. Pressing the far lower-right hand button erases the current chat window.

Clicking on one's name or another chatter's name will reveal his or her color and profile (which can be changed in the DS settings).

Other uses

Pictochat can be used to make animations. All one has to do is make a drawing and post it, bring it down, edit to make a new frame, post it, and so on. When all the frames have been made, viewing it is as simple as holding the left trigger, and the right one (in that order). There is a limit as to how many frames can be in a "chat", and once the cap is exceeded, the first frames start disappearing.

PictoChat can also be used to determine the version of firmware installed on a DS. The Nintendo DS will normally only boot programs digitally signed by Nintendo. ...

Imitators

A game called Ping Pals is based on PictoChat, featuring a more advanced slew of options and capabilities. However, both users must own the game, making it less useful and widespread than PictoChat. Ping Pals is a chat/accessory program for the Nintendo DS. The program allows the user to customise their Ping Pal avatar and game interface by selecting from over 1000 different items such as hairstyles, makeup, clothing, backdrops, music loops and sound effects. ...

External links

• PictoSniff - Linux (FreeBSD) application for viewing PictoChat conversations on a PC
• DS Pictochat Viewer - PictoChat viewer for Windows