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]
Engadget
TUAW