Nintendo Offers Free Wi-Fi at Mickey D's

Nintendo on Tuesday said that it had struck a deal with wireless provider Wayport to give free Wi-Fi access to Nintendo DS users at more than 6,000 McDonald's locations across the United States.

Users will be able to connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, a wireless gaming service from designed for the Nintendo DS, starting on November 14. All users will have to do is start a game in Wi-Fi Connection mode at any Wi-Fi-enabled McDonald's.

"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," said Reggie Fils-Aime, executive vice president of marketing at Nintendo.

DS gamers can also use the console on a home wireless network with "minimal" setup, according to Nintendo, and can connect to wired networks through a home PC with a special USB adapter. Connection to non-Wayport Wi-Fi hotspots would require a laptop PC and USB adapter in order to work.

Games that are compatible with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection include Mario Kart DS and Activision's Tony Hawk's Sk8Land, as well as future titles Animal Crossing: Wild World and Metroid Prime Hunters.

Users wishing to find out more about the feature, as well as what McDonald's restaurants will be participating, can go to NintendoWiFi.com, the company said.