in order to get the ds game, you'll probably have to order it online as it's not a major title so it's not coming out in stores anytime soon. As for a method, I use Rosetta Stone myself and find it very helpful. True, the writing portion of it kinda sucks but I had already learned kana from just finding a chart and writing each one like a hundred times. Tiresome, but repetition pounded it into my head. Rosetta Stone is effective in teaching you the basics, but nothing is ever as good as the source of japanese, japan. However, I do agree that the proper class taken is second to going to japan. One website that you may find useful is called sharedtalk.com. It's created by the rosetta stone website and you can chat with japanese people, either by text or voice. Sometimes, they'll ask you if you want to talk by skype, but that happens rarely. The website also allows you have penpals. Hope any of this helps.