Nintendo’s Wi-Fi deal

• Nintendo and Internet provider Wayport will set up free wireless access for DS owners at almost 6,000 locations.
• The connection will be easy to use and will require no setup on the part of the DS owner.
• “We have removed one of the major barriers that have kept people from going online to play games,” said Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Reggie Fils-Aime.
• Gamer’s will now be able to challenge other gamers across the world while they enjoy their Big Mac.
• The first games to support Nintendo’s Wi-Fi connection are Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk’s American Sk8tland.

Wi-Fi Explanation

• Wi-Fi games are not the same as internet games.
• Wi-Fi games can only be played within a small perimeter in what can be considered a LAN (Local Area Network).
• The deal with McDonalds creates a very large LAN or WAN (wide area network) which will allow people who are at (or possibly even near) a McDonalds to connect to.
• Other future games for the DS will have Internet based gameplay which will allow gamers to connect and play through their own wireless networks at home.
• Those first games that will support Internet based gameplay are Metroid Prime Hunters and Animal Crossing: Wild World.