Nintendo and McDonalds

[MDK]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4353480.stm

Nintendo has joined forces with McDonald's to offer free wireless internet access in the US for its DS handheld games console.

The service means McDonald's customers will be able to play selected DS titles against other gamers around the globe.

Rivals Sony and Microsoft already offer online gaming on their game consoles.

Nintendo's online gaming service is due to be launched in the US on 14 November, and then in Europe on 25 November.

'Removing barriers'

McDonald's already offers wireless internet access in many US restaurants, but charges a fee.

Image of Sony's PSP

Nintendo DS competitor, Sony's PSP, offers wireless online play

The access points are being supplied by US firm Wayport, which will receive an undisclosed sum from Nintendo.

"This agreement with Wayport will bring countless people together to play games in a single, simultaneous wireless community," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing.

"Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is simple to use. Beginning with free access at participating McDonald's, we have removed one of the major barriers that have kept people from going online to play games."

The first online games, Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk's American SK8Land, are due to be released next month.

Two more games, Animal Crossing: Wild World and Metroid Prime Hunters, are due to be available by the end of the year.

In its statement, Nintendo said that its forthcoming next-generation game console, set for release in 2006, would also connect to the online gaming service.

Interesting, wonder if it'll happen in the UK? Might actually make me want to go into McDonalds. Not to eat, obviously, I'd rather eat dirt.

[PkmnTrainerJ]

If they do this in the UK, awesome. If they do it somewhere better than McDonalds, even better. This however, once again proves that Nintendo loves me, as I'm off to the states soon and will be playing Mario Kart online now.

[MDK]

I want them to do it in my local kebab shop.

[Herr Matzat]

hmmmm

i like how the text tells me that US McDOnnalds contracts alow players around the world to play....

[FunkAsPuck]

Currently, I only enter McDonalds because of McFlurrys. Those things are gorgeous. This gives me another reason to go there now. That and there are shitloads near my house. A nearby town has 3 within less than a mile of each other, which is ridiculous.

[Summers]

I had a Happy Meal today, goddamn, those Nuggets were nice.

[Colly]

Doesn't this mean that McDonalds will be full of divs on DS's rather than people actually buying and eating food? Can't really see it coming to the UK.

Plus if they did it at Wolviston there'd be a world record speight of chav based handheld console theft. Youknowsit.

[King Ellis]

Doesn't this mean that McDonalds will be full of divs on DS's rather than people actually buying and eating food? Can't really see it coming to the UK.

Plus if they did it at Wolviston there'd be a world record speight of chav based handheld console theft. Youknowsit.

The majority of people don't buy stuff at McDonalds, if they do they'll buy a milkshake and nurse it for half an hour while they chat to their friends.