McDonald's to offer DS Wi-Fi access that's free and easy

by Dan Choi { Oct 18th 2005 at 9:45AM }

DS Wi-Fi comes to the land of Ronald McDonald Nintendo is announcing today that it will be offering free Wi-Fi hotspots in nearly 6,000 McDonald's locations for DS online multiplayer action when the service launches this November.

The best part of the deal (next to it being free and all) is that there will be no network setup necessary to get your Wi-Fi game on with your DS. Non-MickeyD's Wi-Fi spots may still require fees and the official USB port adapter to be made initially available on Nintendo.com. (If they can extend this to the upcoming Revolution, kids might start bringing some portable TVs for LAN and true Mario parties come 2006, too. The mind reels…)

Surely gamers will bring a few DSes with them when online-enabled titles such as Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk, and Metroid Prime: Hunters arrive on store shelves, but how long will local McDonald's franchisees give young and old gamers alike until it's considered loitering to keep playing and not buy more food (or any Happy Meals at all)? Hopefully, some sort of official policy will be hashed out by Nintendo of America and Ronald McDonald soon, and we can get back to shooting shells online.

[Thanks, vrf and Anand]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Martez @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Aw. Couldn't they have made a deal with Burger King, instead?

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Yeah, a deal with BK would've been nice, but McDonald's has already got the wireless infrastructure up, right? At least kids will be able to get their Kart/Crossing groove, even if they don't have Wi-Fi at home.

Martez @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Fair enough, I still wish I could play a Mario Kart race while waiting in line at the BK drive thru.

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Heh, the drive-thru wait is sometimes long enough, I guess. =)

winston @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Happy meal will come with styled stylos?

GlitchCog @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

I want Wendy's Wi-Fi.

GlitchCog @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

I want Wendy's Wi-Fi.

OTAM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

I live in like east bumblefuck Pennsylvania,so this service will probably exclude me........as with everything else.

Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

"Aw. Couldn't they have made a deal with Burger King, instead?"

Why? There are more McDonalds locations then there are BKs. This is a VERY smart move b/c if you live near a McDonalds (and if they don't lock down the network with encryption)...you got yourself free access to Nintendos Wifi network.

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Wow, really awesome. I don't quite get how Nintendo WiFi excludes normal WiFi though...? Other ports disabled or something? Still, really sweet integration of lazy american habbit + lazy american diet. Shame I can't eat McD's food without feeling like dying... Those McGriddles are delicious.

Also, why McDs? Well, they already got their family image with Ronald, Grimace, Playlands, the creator of Happy Meals, etc. BK has Dane Cook. Makes more sense for Nintendo to go Nintendo.

Besides, I'm sure Nintendo is paying McDs's(wow, McDS...) a nice lump sum for this, which will make up for loiterers, but just as well bring in more revenue. Kids going up there and buying a small fry/drink with their piggy bank savings while playing some Mario Kart.

ryan lukens @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Like another poster wrote earlier, I think that Nintendo chose McDonalds simply because they are the most ubiquitious restaurant on the PLANET, not just the US. I am currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina and every McDonalds I walk by has a huge WiFi sticker on the door.

McDonalds has apparently been quietly adding hotspots worldwide for awhile now. It's yet another way to try and entice a new generation of potential customers. I wouldn't eat their food, but I'll definitely buy a Coffee for access to free internet (and now DS play) - I can't think of a better way for Nintendo have nationwide (and technically, global) accessibility - hats off to them!

Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

"Wow, really awesome. I don't quite get how Nintendo WiFi excludes normal WiFi though...?"

OMG...why do people keep saying this? Mario Kart DS WORKS ON A NORMAL WIFI NETWORK!!! I know this b/c I have played it...we have a version of it where I work.

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Thats not what I meant Jago. I'm asking, why is this article saying "DS WiFi" in the title?

Is there a specific network that disables other things? Why is this different from Panera's WiFi? Why don't they just say "McDonalds is offering WiFi"? They way it's stated makes it seem like it's SOLE purpose is to allow DS users to kart-frag online while eating a burger, which is quite different from just offering WiFi and creating a net diner feel to it.

Don't quite get how I gave the impression that I thought it wouldn't work on a normal network... My question was how does other networking stuff not work on THIS proposed network.

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

"I'm asking, why is this article saying 'DS WiFi' in the title?"

Er, because McDonald's will be offering Wi-Fi service for the Nintendo DS? =) Moving on...

"Why is this different from Panera's WiFi? Why don't they just say 'McDonalds is offering WiFi'?"

It's different because you don't have to pay any fees or change any DS network settings at MickeyD's. Here's an excerpt linked from the original post on how the service is different from that of Starbucks:

"Well, you can still use the DS anywhere there's a Wi-Fi connection. You just would have to set it up through a laptop and use the USB port adapter. So, if you're in Starbucks and have a laptop, you would still have to perhaps pay the service fee to get that access. But the beauty of working with Wayport and having the service available at McDonald's is that you literally walk into McDonald's, you turn on your game, there's Mario Kart, you click on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and you go. It's very simple."

http://ds.ign.com/articles/659/659017p1.html

Hope that helps!

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Yeah... That's why I said Panera, not Starbucks. No charge for access at Panera, and lots of other internet cafes that are WiFi ready. Starbucks / FedEx Kinkos are the only places I know that charge / have encryption.

So, put bluntly, McD's is having open access WiFi. Not just Nintendo capable WiFi.

chad @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Eather ay its still awsome :) !!!thumbs up to the BIG N

Sean @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Christopher, no McD's is not having open access WiFi. Wayport isn't free(I don't think that changed)

So, if you have a labtop or a PDA that is wi-fi enable, you have to pay to use it in Mcdonalds for one hour. It's only open access if you have a Nintendo DS.

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

You may be right, Sean, depending on who's providing McDonald's local service:

"Connectivity and/or usage fees may apply and be required for Wi-Fi services. Access details, fees and availability subject to change without notice."

http://www.mcdonalds.com/wireless/general_info.html

As you noted, however, DS access will be free. I wonder whether they'll make it so Pictochat will work on Wi-Fi as well. That would actually be pretty useful (especially for kids or whoever without access to cell phones or free long distance).