McDonalds to Host Nintendo Wireless Gaming

By Geoff Duncan Published October 18, 2005

You want fries with that cart racer? Game-maker Nintendo has reached an agreement with fast food titan McDonalds to provide free Wi-Fi Internet access for its Nintendo DS handheld gaming console. Using the service, McDonalds customers will be able to play selected Nintendo DS titles interactively with other gamers around the world in real time.

Nintendo announced its new Wi-Fi Connection initiative earlier this month and says the service will be online in the U.S. November 14 and in Europe on November 25. The McDonalds deal is the first arrangement which would create public wireless hotspots for Nintendo DS gamers. Under the deal, Nintendo will pay an undisclosed sum to Wayport, who currently provides wireless access in many McDonalds restaurants around the country for a fee.

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Nintendo DS systems will also be able to reach gamers worldwide through wireless home networks, and Nintendo’s forthcoming Revolution console system will also enable online interactive gaming.

The first Nintendo DS titles to support the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will be Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk’s American SK8Land, both scheduled to be available in November.

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