Topic: Nintendo & Wayport Announce Wi-Fi Deal

[Robert]

Do you want fries & free online Mario Kart action with that?

NINTENDO AND WAYPORT JOIN FORCES TO BRING FREE U.S. WI-FI ACCESS TO NINTENDO DS USERS
 
 Players Access Free Wireless Video Game Service at Select McDonald's Hotspots
 
 REDMOND, Wash. and AUSTIN, Tex., Oct. 18, 2005 – Nintendo has signed an agreement with Wayport, a leading provider of wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access in public locations, to extend Wi-Fi service to Nintendo DS™ users at nearly 6,000 McDonald's restaurants across the United States. Through the agreement with Wayport, Nintendo will offer complimentary access to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, the video game giant's new wireless gaming service that goes online Nov. 14.
 
 "This agreement with Wayport will bring countless people together to play games in a single, simultaneous wireless community," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & 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."
 
 "By enabling Nintendo DS customers to access Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection via our Wi-Fi World® network and business model at McDonald's, we are continuing to drive more customers to the restaurants we serve and increase the relevancy of Wi-Fi to a broader customer base," said Dave Vucina, CEO of Wayport. "Nintendo is a pioneer in providing a new way for their customers to play the games they want to while away from home or the office, and McDonald's is the perfect venue based on their ubiquity and accessibility."
 
  Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection creates a welcome, inviting community where gamers of all kinds can log on wirelessly and begin playing favorite franchise games like Mario Kart® DS and Activision's Tony Hawk's American SK8Land, and future titles such as Animal Crossing®: Wild World and Metroid® Prime Hunters. Game play will be free, and users will be able to connect easily to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in a variety of ways.
 
 When a user brings a Nintendo DS unit and a Wi-Fi-enabled game into a Wayport-enabled McDonald's, the user simply launches the game in Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode. No setup is required.
 
 From home, if the user already has a Wi-Fi network, the Nintendo DS unit will connect directly to it with minimal setup procedures. Those who have a high-speed Internet connection such as cable or DSL, but no wireless network, can use the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, which will plug into the USB port of a PC running Windows XP to create a wireless access point to connect a DS to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector will be sold exclusively on Nintendo.com.
 
 Finally, Nintendo DS owners who want to play games at Wi-Fi locations outside McDonald's or their home can use a laptop computer and the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector to access Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector enables the Nintendo DS to share an Internet connection established by a PC, providing a conduit to play games via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
 
 Detailed information about Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, as well as a list of participating Wayport/McDonald's hotspots, will be available soon at www.NintendoWiFi.com.
 
 Nintendo DS is just the first Nintendo system to connect via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The same service will be incorporated into Nintendo's next-generation home video game console, code-named Revolution, which is set for release in 2006.
 
 About Wayport, Inc.
 Wayport is the largest provider of high-speed Wi-Fi wireless and wired Internet access for mobile broadband customers in the United States, offering service at more than 10,000 locations (including directly enabled and managed locations) in 28 countries, featuring major hotels in the U.S. and Europe; airports; Laptop Lane airport business centers; McDonald's, and Hertz locations; and other retail brands nationwide. To learn more about Wayport, please visit www.wayport.net or to see locations nationwide, visit www.wayport.net/locations.
   

[UncleBob]

"The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector will be sold exclusively on Nintendo.com."

And thus, it be confirmed.

[TJ Spyke]

Maybe they think that if they sell it in stores some people might think they have to have it to play online. I don't agree with their decision, maybe if retailers ask for it Nintendo will sell it in stores.

[Pale]

I think their decision is stupid as well, and they are going to try and spin it as a strategical step as Mario Kart is testing the online waters... but as Ian would say, they aren't testing, they are causing it to fail.

My guess is that the really reason is the same thing we have all been feeling, they aren't quite ready to go online but they refuse to push back this relesae, as the combination of Mario Kart and Animal Crossing is the only thing they have going for this holiday season.

On the complete other hand though, we (well I at least) didn't really expect this first party dongle to begin with and still thought it would succeed, so maybe we shouldn't worry so much.

[Artimus]

Quote
Originally posted by: Pale
I think their decision is stupid as well, and they are going to try and spin it as a strategical step as Mario Kart is testing the online waters... but as Ian would say, they aren't testing, they are causing it to fail.

My guess is that the really reason is the same thing we have all been feeling, they aren't quite ready to go online but they refuse to push back this relesae, as the combination of Mario Kart and Animal Crossing is the only thing they have going for this holiday season.

On the complete other hand though, we (well I at least) didn't really expect this first party dongle to begin with and still thought it would succeed, so maybe we shouldn't worry so much.

I think it's a bad choice but I don't think they aren't ready. Thousands will go online without it, they have to be ready.

[Bloodworth]

Well it better be sold ahead of time then, I don't exactly want to have Mario Kart in my hands and then have to wait for this thing to come through the mail.

[UncleBob]

That's one of my big concerns, BW...

[Renny]

My cynical theory: Wayport feels that Nintendo is indebted for allowing the DS on its network for free (which probably cost a pretty penny for N despite the inherent benefits for Wayport/McDonald's). Now they want to see some immediate return in exchange for their 'generosity.' Selling the adapter on the website immediately limits the options of those not well versed in WiFi. Now they can coerce those people to the 'sponsored' hotspots.

"So why not stop by our biggest client, McDonald's? And pick up one (or two!) of the all new Premium Chicken Sandwiches while you're there. A sandwich for the totally dope, hip, fresh and fly lifestyle of today's youth."

It isn't a trial, but a stipulation of their contract with Wayport. I'm lovin' it.

[Pale]

I doubt that entirely.

You honestly think that Nintendo thinks McDonalds is gonna increase its user base enough to warrant delaying the dongle?

[Renny]

I think Wayport thinks that. Wayport also offers access for your (mom's/dad's) laptop/PDA/phone, at a price.

[Ian Sane]

The dongle is online only?!  Oh man.  This company just frustrates the hell out of me sometimes.  Why did they stop making Cubes with component outputs?  Because no one bought the component cables.  Why did no one buy the component cables?  Because Nintendo sold them ONLINE ONLY.  Damn, it's like they never learn.  There's no way they're going to reach this 90% goal if they're going to make people run through hoops to get online.  The average person doesn't have a wireless network and they don't want to have to drive to McDonalds just to play on online game.  Plus what about here in Canada?  This deal only talks about the US.  Hotspots is a good idea but it should not be the "main" method of going online with the DS.  They should be promoting the F*CK out of the dongle.

And how is this going to work for the Rev?  Isn't the Rev wi-fi only?  I can't bring a whole console and TV to McDonalds.  The dongle HAS to be in stores for the Rev or the Rev's online will be incredibly niche.  I think the Rev should come with the dongle because wireless internet is not that common and if they include the dongle then everyone with an interent connection is going to try some form of online play just because they can for free.  Plus the download feature requires online users.  Therefore it should be in Nintendo's best interest to have damn near every Rev and DS owner playing online.  In order to do that the dongle has to be readily available.

[Pale]

Ian, the Rev has never been confirmed to be WiFi only....

Also, it is important to stress that "initially" has been thrown around too.  As I said before, I just think they aren't ready to ship a million of these suckers out.

[Pale]

Also...

Circuit City has Linksys G router up for 50 bucks after rebate...

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Linksys-Wireless-Router-v-2-1-WRT54G-/sem/rpsm/oid/69086/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

On the chance that the dongle could be as much as 40, I think you'd be silly not to get this instead.

[PaLaDiN]

"Ian, the Rev has never been confirmed to be WiFi only...."

There was no ethernet port in the back of the system at E3.

Of course that's not confirmation but it does seem like pretty compelling evidence.

[31 Flavas]

and you can't purchase a usb ethernet adaptor? I know that I know Iwata said you could use one.

[vudu]

Quote
There was no ethernet port in the back of the system at E3.

Of course that's not confirmation but it does seem like pretty compelling evidence.

There were also AA batteries in the controller.  It doesn't mean they'll be in the final product.

[Ian Sane]

Nintendo hasn't talked abou the AA batteries.  But they have talked about nothing but Wi-Fi for the Rev.  That's the term they always use.  "Wi-Fi".  It's never "online" or "internet" but "Wi-Fi".  They couldn't use that word so damn much if there were planning on putting on ethernet jack on the back of the Rev.  Maybe they'll change it due to backlash but I imagine the intial plan anyway is Wi-Fi only.  It would make no sense to burn that word into our heads otherwise.

[TMW]

Why do you people hang on the "No Ethernet Port at E3"?  It was a prototype tech demo used to show Industry Heads how the controller worked.  It had no need to go online.  Think of the Rev you saw at E3 as version 0.6

The dongle being sold "Online Only" is stupid, yes.  But don't expect the Rev to be wifi only.

Hell, the Rev could act as a wifi router for the DS, so they want people to have one more reason to buy the Rev.
===
And the reason Nintendo keeps saying Wifi is just marketspeak.  It will probably be wifi enabled at the very least, in addition to having an ethernet port.

[Pale]

It wasn't even a tech demo, wasn't it IGN that said it didn't even have a disc drive? just an empty slot?

[TMW]

Well, it did have those primitive games on it, that allowed people to use the controller and see how it worked.  I think IGN had descriptions of them?  

[Bill Aurion]

That would be pre-TGS, and I don't believe IGN (or anyone else at that matter) handled a "new" version of the Revolution...

[Artimus]

The version at E3 was empty, they inserted a disc and it fell inside. The games they played at TGS were running off development kits (GCN-based) not consoles.  

[Polyethylene]

What's the big deal people? It's not like it is impossible to buy it online, and the last time I checked there're another ways to take the DS online you know, like routers, wireless network cards and usb adapters (yes, the nintendo one is not the only one in the market).

[PaLaDiN]

The big deal is that the "ease of online" Nintendo was touting is now revealed to be a bunch of garbage.

It's no longer easy to go online if you have to know what you're doing.

[31 Flavas]

So just buy the Nintendo adapter and be done with it. You can't tell me that you can play a DS or any video game and not be able to surf a webpage (Nintendo.com).