Mario Caught in Bed With Ronald McDonald! Nintendo DS Hot-spot Near Fat Fryer
American fatties now have one less reason to move around.
We’re not quite sure what to make of the news that Nintendo have struck a deal with McDonalds in the US. The move will see WiFi facilities being set up in McDonalds restaurants, which will become another place you can go to play DS online titles like the forthcoming Mario Kart and Animal Crossing.
We have our misgivings – the screen’s going to get all greasy for one thing – but on balance you’d have to welcome any such move over here in Europe. The fast food chain’s customer services were unable to tell us whether we could expect Wi-Fries (sorry!) with our Big Macs in the UK. If they did, we’re almost certain you’d be able to pick up a signal outside, so you wouldn’t actually have to go in. There’s a nice spot with some benches round a fountain outside the one in Kingston, Surrey which it should easily reach. Incidentally, we’ve not been in a McDonalds for years, but we might soon. Justin Timberlake and Destiny’s Child love the stuff and they’re all pretty straight-up kinda peeps. We’re wavering: a word from Robbie Williams or Rachel Stevens and we’ll be in like a shot!
A conspiracy theorist we know once told us that the muzak and décor in Maccy D’s was designed by experts especially to make you want to vacate the premises after no more than 20 minutes. If Animal Crossing is as addictive as its GameCube predecessor, it could be counterproductive, with kids taking up valuable mushroom-shaped seats long after they’ve finished their food. As far as playing DS ‘on the go’ goes, anything that expands the UK’s network of hotspots would have to be taken at face value – begrudgingly in the case of McD's - as a good thing.
We have our misgivings – the screen’s going to get all greasy for one thing – but on balance you’d have to welcome any such move over here in Europe. The fast food chain’s customer services were unable to tell us whether we could expect Wi-Fries (sorry!) with our Big Macs in the UK. If they did, we’re almost certain you’d be able to pick up a signal outside, so you wouldn’t actually have to go in. There’s a nice spot with some benches round a fountain outside the one in Kingston, Surrey which it should easily reach. Incidentally, we’ve not been in a McDonalds for years, but we might soon. Justin Timberlake and Destiny’s Child love the stuff and they’re all pretty straight-up kinda peeps. We’re wavering: a word from Robbie Williams or Rachel Stevens and we’ll be in like a shot!
A conspiracy theorist we know once told us that the muzak and décor in Maccy D’s was designed by experts especially to make you want to vacate the premises after no more than 20 minutes. If Animal Crossing is as addictive as its GameCube predecessor, it could be counterproductive, with kids taking up valuable mushroom-shaped seats long after they’ve finished their food. As far as playing DS ‘on the go’ goes, anything that expands the UK’s network of hotspots would have to be taken at face value – begrudgingly in the case of McD's - as a good thing.
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Comments
Greg2k 18 Oct 2005 15:33
1/14
Now that's a smart move if I do say so myself. I first thought the whole hotspot thing would be a disaster. But if you put them in places like McDonald's, that's one sure bet.
bogfar89 18 Oct 2005 15:55
2/14
TERRIBLE idea, if they do that over here, their reputation is utterly SCREWED!! Very bad Move.
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kriv 18 Oct 2005 16:05
3/14
What so gamers are going to sit in Burtons or Specsavers in the highstreet? I think not. MacD's seems as a good location to me!
Pilot13 18 Oct 2005 18:44
4/14
It's a bit...well...
Sure, accessible hotspots are one thing, but it's just going to add to national obesity isnt it? That's a two pronged assault of games and crappy food.
Ah to be young again.
Sure, accessible hotspots are one thing, but it's just going to add to national obesity isnt it? That's a two pronged assault of games and crappy food.
Ah to be young again.
majin dboy 18 Oct 2005 18:50
5/14
i have a hot spot in my house so i wont need this,but its nice to have the option. slighty unethical move by nintendo.what about the hotspots in starbucks,will they work?northern ireland better get them
Dreadknux 18 Oct 2005 21:37
6/14
I don't see what the big deal is. McDonalds have Wi-Fi hotspots for laptops and stuff, I don't really see why adding a console to the mix (milk)shakes things up all of a sudden. Besides, McDonalds are, what, everywhere? Surely the thing Nintendo wants to promote is to go out and interact, or to go online wherever. Most people actually do go to McD's for whatever reason (as much as you all hate to admit it, it's true).
I wouldn't worry about the fact that it's "promoting fatty food". Last time I checked, not even Morgan Spurlock managed to dissuade the average chav from munching on fast food.
I wouldn't worry about the fact that it's "promoting fatty food". Last time I checked, not even Morgan Spurlock managed to dissuade the average chav from munching on fast food.
warbaby 19 Oct 2005 02:47
7/14
I really don't think you get much more of a blanket DS coverage in t3h states than sticking a Wi-Fry in every McDonalds. Really, besides Wal-Mart what else is around every corner, promoting laziness and unethical animal treatment as well as ignorance for what goes into our bodies? If this means I get some DS hotspots every few blocks, I'm down with that, It won't be the first time i do some wardriving, DS style this time around.
But really, good deal for both parties, Ninty gets large coverage in a known company, and the clown gets people thinking, "I wanna play some Animal Crossing, I need to get to MacDonalds... Whoa, now that I'm here, I'm gonna pick up that ub3r shake for 93 cents."
Next thing you know, Sony will start foreplay with bottled water companies...
But really, good deal for both parties, Ninty gets large coverage in a known company, and the clown gets people thinking, "I wanna play some Animal Crossing, I need to get to MacDonalds... Whoa, now that I'm here, I'm gonna pick up that ub3r shake for 93 cents."
Next thing you know, Sony will start foreplay with bottled water companies...
LUPOS 19 Oct 2005 05:03
8/14
bogfar89 wrote:
TERRIBLE idea, if they do that over here, their reputation is utterly SCREWED!! Very bad Move.
yeah,,, cause parents who let their kids play video games ten hours a day are really going to be apaled by the golden arches.
plop em in front of the tv or plop em in the ball pit... now its just one more way to get those pesky responsibilities to leave you alone.
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VastikRoot 19 Oct 2005 09:45
9/14
Will the DS wi-fi work in any hotspot? If so there are plenty of cafes and bars where I live that offer it, far outnumbering McDonalds. As much as I hate the golden arches I suppose it means wi-fi accessability for everyone. I can go to Nero's, the kids can go where they always go.
ozfunghi 19 Oct 2005 10:22
10/14
As great as the innitiative is from a gamers point of view, i'm having some issues in the ethics department here. Now I'm the last one to believe Nintendo will be "to blame" for obesity because of this, but videogames get a bad enough name as it is, and this will only add fuel to the fire. It's the wrong message to send out.
They should at least make the same deal with... say a huge gymnasium chain of sorts to even things out. I'm worried about their image and that of the videogames industry as a whole...
next thing you know, Sony will pop up with that workout game they have, as the "true savior".
They should at least make the same deal with... say a huge gymnasium chain of sorts to even things out. I'm worried about their image and that of the videogames industry as a whole...
next thing you know, Sony will pop up with that workout game they have, as the "true savior".
ozfunghi 19 Oct 2005 10:22
11/14
As great as the innitiative is from a gamers point of view, i'm having some issues in the ethics department here. Now I'm the last one to believe Nintendo will be "to blame" for obesity because of this, but videogames get a bad enough name as it is, and this will only add fuel to the fire. It's the wrong message to send out.
They should at least make the same deal with... say a huge gymnasium chain of sorts to even things out. I'm worried about their image and that of the videogames industry as a whole...
next thing you know, Sony will pop up with that workout game they have, as the "true savior".
They should at least make the same deal with... say a huge gymnasium chain of sorts to even things out. I'm worried about their image and that of the videogames industry as a whole...
next thing you know, Sony will pop up with that workout game they have, as the "true savior".
LUPOS 19 Oct 2005 10:44
12/14
VastikRoot wrote:
Will the DS wi-fi work in any hotspot? If so there are plenty of cafes and bars where I live that offer it, far outnumbering McDonalds. As much as I hate the golden arches I suppose it means wi-fi accessability for everyone. I can go to Nero's, the kids can go where they always go.
i believe any where you can go online you can play, providing you have access... so pay hot spots you will have to pay for unless, like is the case with Mcy D's, they have an arangement for free service. i assuem we will be hearing alot more of these anouncments heading up to launch.
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DoctorDee 19 Oct 2005 15:51
13/14
As soon as I heard they were going to be "Free", I thought "That doesn't make sense, I wonder how they'll fund that". I should have realised that they'd fund it by selling out to corporate interests. Let's face it, McD's care nothing about games or gamers, just catching 'em young and force feeding them fat.
Nice move Nintendo.
Nice move Nintendo.
LUPOS 19 Oct 2005 16:00
14/14
DoctorDee wrote:
Nice move Nintendo.
they are in direct competition with the likes of microsoft and sony... high ideals unfortunatley only get you so far in this world... and besides... its not like discracefull marketting is new to nintendo... im sure nintedo ceral was very healthy... and i don't remeber the wizard winning any oscars.
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