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Nintendo & McDonalds Providing WiFi

redemtionboy writes "According to IGN, "Nintendo of America on Tuesday will announce a groundbreaking partnership with Wi-Fi provider Wayport to make available free Internet access to DS owners at McDonald's restaurants across the nation." " There are so many potential jokes here that I'm gonna just leave it to you guys to make your own.

296 comments

  1. If... by jamesgamble · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...it's free for DS owners, how long will they limit it from people using laptops or other WiFi enabled devices?

    1. Re:If... by KZigurs · · Score: 3, Funny

      probably they wont. Just filter out by MAC adress - that's the best they can do, I guess :)

    2. Re:If... by BushCheney08 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I believe you meant to say "just filter out by BigMAC address..."

      --
      Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
    3. Re:If... by elm3r · · Score: 0, Redundant

      or, "just filter by McMAC address". That'd work, too.

    4. Re:If... by Jrix · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Fat people

    5. Re:If... by BronxBomber · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I moved from South Florida a couple of months ago, and most of the local McD's all offered free WiFi already.

      You'd get a free hour to go along with your fries... although I never used it, so I am not sure what was involved in getting access to their network, or how time was regulated.

      So the McD's WiFi part isnt really new. I dont know what would have prevented any DS users then from using their service.

      --
      ...both interiorlly, and exteriorlly.
    6. Re:If... by OSS_ilation · · Score: 1

      Wi-Fi is already provided to people with laptops/BigMACs in 1,000 McDonald's locations, which just so happens to be the same McDonald's where the DS service is being provided.

    7. Re:If... by blahplusplus · · Score: 1

      It's McTendo! McTendo, it's a cerial now! McTendo...

    8. Re:If... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In my town, the McDonalds *does* provide free wi-fi for laptops and such.

    9. Re:If... by bram · · Score: 2, Interesting

      MAC's are spoofable.

      They can always shape the traffic they see, that's about it.
      When they see ssh sessions passing they can block them if they use something like Packeteer, layer 7 filter or other traffic shaping solutions.

      Fuck, my 3rd post in the last year(s), my average is going up again ;)

      --
      People using html in email should be shot.
    10. Re:If... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      coughlamecough

    11. Re:If... by Toloran · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually the DS has two different types of signals. It has the standard 801.11G and B signal. It also has their own special signal (often called Ni-Fi). The special signal only is compatable with DSs (at the moment). The Ni-Fi signal is normally used when 2 DSs are communicating with eachother. If they do deliver a free signal for DS owners only then they are probably going to use Ni-Fi instead of Wi-Fi

      --
      Speaking is NOT communication
    12. Re:If... by StocDred · · Score: 1
      You're correct in that the "Ni-Fi", as you call it, is used when 2 DSs communicate locally. So why exactly would McDonald's need to generate that? You can take two DSs anywhere in the world and have them connect locally.

      And I've never heard it called "Ni-Fi" before.

    13. Re:If... by |/|/||| · · Score: 1
      A:Hey, you dropped your serial in my cereal!
      B:Dammit, you got cereal on my serial.
      A:Hey... this shit is good!

      Seriously, though, I remember that commercial. I also remember getting the Nintendo cereal a couple of times -- it was cool, but it wasn't very good. Couldn't compete with Apple Jacks.

      --
      [javac] 100 errors
    14. Re:If... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      offtopic?
      the thread is about jokes, and he found this one funny! How is that off-topic?

    15. Re:If... by tempmpi · · Score: 2, Informative

      The DS always communicates using the physical protocol of 2mbit IEEE802.11b. It however doesn't always implement the full 802.11b protocol stack and IP. What you call Ni-Fi is just a subset of IEEE802.11b using a custom protocol instead of IP. It doesn't support 11mbit or 54mbit transfer modes. So while it is compatible with 11mbit and 54mbit equipment, you can really say it supports IEEE 802.11g.

      --
      Jan
    16. Re:If... by aichpvee · · Score: 1

      But why do you like Apple Jacks?

      --
      The Farewell Tour II
    17. Re:If... by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      Actually, there's a local McDonalds here that already has free Wifi, I've used it my laptop with it twice now.

      Twice, because that's the number of times I've been able to stand McDonald's lousy food. And my laptop always feels a couple of pounds heavier afterwards....

    18. Re:If... by assassinator42 · · Score: 1

      I though McDonalds was pay. I know SBC's freedomlink thing included the McDonalds hotspots. I know Burger King does offer FREE wifi though. At least, in 2 of 3 locations I've gone to around here. The third one is next to a McDonalds that also doesn't offer wifi.

    19. Re:If... by assassinator42 · · Score: 1

      I'd imagine just restrict the ips you can access without logging in to the Nintendo servers. I don't know if the DS actually hosts the games and needs to be connectable or not, but if it does, they can just block all ports but the ones needed for that without logging in.

    20. Re:If... by OhioJoe · · Score: 1

      How else can you eat something called "Apple jacks" and it not taste like apples or any guy named jack you might have known well in college.

      OJ

      --
      "Artificial Intelligence usually beats real stupidity."
    21. Re:If... by MilenCent · · Score: 1

      At the McDonalds around there, there's no password or username or code needed to connect. I've always paid to use it (and paid for that paying; ugh).

      There's a web-connected Burger King here as well. They have computer stations but I don't know if they have wireless. You need a password to connect there, however; it's printed on the receipt.

    22. Re:If... by cwelch · · Score: 1

      The largest Mc-f'ing-Donalds in the world is in Vinita, OK, and it sucks. It stretches across the Will Rogers Turnpike (Interstate 44), and is disgusting. I think it'd be fun to see how many people get pissed off because it starts working all of a sudden and then quits again after they pass under the building (assuming it'd even work well enough through that, probably not).

      Also, I want to see them get some picachu(sp?) in somoene's BigMac, instead of kangaroo!

  2. Jokes? by dsginter · · Score: 5, Funny

    Would you like a portscan with that?

    --
    More
    1. Re:Jokes? by salparadyse · · Score: 5, Funny

      Would you like wi-fries with that?

    2. Re:Jokes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just need to re-enable my McNic.

    3. Re:Jokes? by surefooted1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sure, while I'm at it, can I supersize my DS connection to a PSP connection?

    4. Re:Jokes? by dosle · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm sorry sir, was that a Chocolate SSHake?

    5. Re:Jokes? by GweeDo · · Score: 1

      Yes, but you will then only be able to play for 20 minutes of your 1 hour due to battery life issues in the supersizing.

    6. Re:Jokes? by ninjakoala · · Score: 1

      I think I'd stay clear of the Japanese variant of that... wi-flies. Brrr.

      --
      Against the grain
    7. Re:Jokes? by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "I'm sorry sir, was that a Chocolate SSHake?"

      Would you like a hot Apple pIe?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    8. Re:Jokes? by dcapel · · Score: 0

      Serving up a million McPackets a day!

      --
      DYWYPI?
  3. A Joke by James+Kilton · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hmm, I would guess that you're jealous it's not in Taco Bell restaurants. Though frankly I don't see what's so funny about this. It's a step in the right direction. McD's restaurants cover about 10% of the earth. That's a lot of wireless.

    1. Re:A Joke by mwilliamson · · Score: 2, Insightful

      WiMax nodes at every McD's probably would cover about 10% of the earth! ;-)

    2. Re:A Joke by Jedmaster · · Score: 1

      um...that's not entirely accurate I work for a Taco Bell outside of Purdue University, and we have free and completly open wireless for anyone who shows up. You don't even have to buy anything...just come in(or around) and behold!

    3. Re:A Joke by KingRobot · · Score: 1

      Actually, I've used free wireless at Taco Bell's in Florida serveral times.

    4. Re:A Joke by iced_773 · · Score: 1


      I would guess that you're jealous it's not in Taco Bell restaurants

      No, he's jealous that it's not in The Commander Taco.

    5. Re:A Joke by The+Clockwork+Troll · · Score: 1

      Gives new meaning to 7-layer burrito, doesn't it?

      --

      There are no karma whores, only moderation johns
  4. 802.11x compatible? by zalas · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm a bit fuzzy with the DS specs, but if Nintendo is going to provide free WiFi and the WiFi follows one of the 802.11 standards, how do they keep people without Nintendo DSes from accessing it with a laptop? Will the DS have some sort of special software-based key?

    1. Re:802.11x compatible? by BlueOtto · · Score: 5, Funny

      Shhh! Don't say anything! They might not notice...!


      :)

    2. Re:802.11x compatible? by pureseth · · Score: 1

      I don't think they are trying to keep people from acessing it with a laptop, they just had the idea for DS's but not limitted to.

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      Add me as a friend!
    3. Re:802.11x compatible? by un1xl0ser · · Score: 1

      What about MAC addresss filtering with lists supplied by Nintendo?

      That's only the first thing that comes to mind.

      --
      v4sw6PU$hw6ln6pr4F$ck 4/6$ma3+6u7LNS$w2m4l7U$i2e4+7en6a2X h
    4. Re:802.11x compatible? by Bozzio · · Score: 5, Informative

      I thought this was mentioned on /. before, but McDonald's offers free Wifi for laptop users anyway. I don't know how widespread this is, but it's already offered in my small town.

      The funny thing is that they are supposed to give you a 30min user/pass for while you eat, but somebody screwed it up here. Right now they are giving out a single permanent user/pass combinations instead of temp ones... McDonald's, while out of my way a bit, is still a pretty convenient hotspot for me.

      --
      I just pooped your party.
    5. Re:802.11x compatible? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or perhaps they will just allow access to the service that allows DS users to play against other DS users online and not allow access to anything else. So, if that's the case there will be no point for laptops to connect to it.

    6. Re:802.11x compatible? by wossName · · Score: 0

      What are you going to do on their gaming network with a laptop ?

      --
      Someone is wrong on the Internet!
    7. Re:802.11x compatible? by somersault · · Score: 1

      What are you talking about? :p It said hotspots for internet access in the article. DSs can already connect to each other without need for any other equipment. I guess this is only in america just now but it'll be cool when it's over here :) I guess as well as internet access you're right in saying that it'll be a 'gaming network' with free downloads of demos and the like :)

      --
      which is totally what she said
    8. Re:802.11x compatible? by Wwolmack · · Score: 5, Informative

      From TFA:

      "Nintendo and Wayport will offer complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots... enabling DS owners ... to play online games with or against each other."

      The DS does not have a TCP stack and has no native support for IPv4 or IPv6 (from http://www.darkain.com/nintendo_ds/nifi.php):

      "The DS does not internally support a TCP stack or any IPv4/IPv6 communications at all. This is why the DS cannot be played online without the use of tunneling... Ni-Fi is a layer 3 protocol on top of 802.11."

      802.11x is a network layer, not a magical gateway to "Teh internets"

      So it goes to reason that the McDonalds hotspot for the DS won't support regular tcp/ip, as its a hotspot for DS users to play with each other. You probably won't be able to connect your laptop to it.

    9. Re:802.11x compatible? by wossName · · Score: 3, Insightful

      While the words "internet access" appear in the article, and in that order, there is no indication that you will be able to access the Internet through these hotspots. Think about it, why should Nintendo give you free Internet access (and risk all the legal trouble that comes with it) when the DS doesn't even have a web browser ?

      Yes the DS is already capable of ad-hoc connections, but these hotspots enable people across the country to play each other. And I'm guessing that's all they are for, as long as Nintendo doesn't say otherwise.

      --
      Someone is wrong on the Internet!
    10. Re:802.11x compatible? by JayJay.br · · Score: 0, Redundant

      MAC addresses?

      Just sayin'.

    11. Re:802.11x compatible? by JVert · · Score: 1

      McDonalds currently has a pay to play wireless for laptops.

      If they would make it free I might actually go there and eat something while I surfed.

      When they tested the idea they gave you a printed access code with your happy meal that you could redeem for wireless time. But that was just too good of an idea I guess...

    12. Re:802.11x compatible? by MAPBuH · · Score: 1

      I'm a bit fuzzy with the DS specs, but if Nintendo is going to provide free WiFi and the WiFi follows one of the 802.11 standards, how do they keep people without Nintendo DSes from accessing it with a laptop? Will the DS have some sort of special software-based key?

      From the nintendo's site, in the ds specs:
      Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format;

    13. Re:802.11x compatible? by xappax · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The article doesn't mention anything about being able to, use the web or other internet services using your DS, only to play games using Nintendo's proprietary internet gaming servers. So, while I don't know if they will, McDonalds certainly could implement an extremely restrictive firewall that only allowed communication through ports 8483 and 10554 (for example), and also restricted outgoing traffic to a handful of DS gaming servers.

      of course, if they've got the technical capacity to provide free wifi for all devices, it certainly seems like a worthwhile "value-added" service to offer, so who knows?

    14. Re:802.11x compatible? by macshome · · Score: 3, Interesting

      IIRC, the TCP stack will be carried by the game. So while the DS OS might not have TCP/IP, the games can.

    15. Re:802.11x compatible? by mmkkbb · · Score: 4, Informative

      You wouldn't even need a list. Just filter by the first three bytes (manufacturer).

      --
      -mkb
    16. Re:802.11x compatible? by jferris · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Yes. I believe the DS uses McWEP.

      --
      You are in a maze of little twisting passages, all different.
    17. Re:802.11x compatible? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      The Nintendo DS is absolutely capable of running standard TCP/IP. Someone just needs to write the code.

    18. Re:802.11x compatible? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linux allows you to trivially spoof MAC addresses. Members from our University's LUG regularly do so when they get a new wireless card and the IT staff has not manually updated their approved MAC lists yet.

      I expect other network stacks allow similar behavior.

    19. Re:802.11x compatible? by ninjakoala · · Score: 2, Informative

      All online-enabled games (like Mario Kart and Animal Crossing) will come with TCP/IP-stack on carts.

      The article you link to is about nifi - not wifi. DS can do both - nifi being the ad hoc-version that's used for normal multiplayer.

      --
      Against the grain
    20. Re:802.11x compatible? by Jonny_eh · · Score: 2, Informative

      They could also be used for downloading demos, like you can do at Japanese game shops now.

      Maybe you can get a free crappy McDonald's game with the purchase of a happy meal?

    21. Re:802.11x compatible? by zoeblade · · Score: 1

      "Nintendo and Wayport will offer complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots... enabling DS owners ... to play online games with or against each other."

      Aah, so this is about linking happy childhood memories with a brand of products. So it's really just an extension of them having other games available at their eateries in order to entice kids there. Just like the play areas and clowns, only with higher technology.

    22. Re:802.11x compatible? by EvilArchitect · · Score: 1

      I had the "privilege" of consuming mass quantities at a rural Alabama McD's on Sunday and noticed that they had a 6mbps connection to the internet, all open and all available. That's apparently thier plan. It's great because I can actually get a better connection at McDonald's than I can at my friend's parents down the street.

      Of course, all that new-fangled tek-naw-ladgy was mystifyin' to the locals...

      --
      I'm just a caveman programmer. I don't understand your strange, "modern" ways of thinking.
    23. Re:802.11x compatible? by maotx · · Score: 2

      Linux allows you to trivially spoof MAC addresses

      Linux:
      ifconfig eth0 down hw ether 00:00:00:00:00:01
      ifconfig eth0 up

      Windows:
      In Device Manager, open the properties for your network card, goto the Advanced tab, and on most NICs there is a value "Network Address" that you can assign a new MAC address.

      --
      I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
    24. Re:802.11x compatible? by Dolda2000 · · Score: 1

      I believe you meant to say "SSHhhh".

    25. Re:802.11x compatible? by Ghost_MH · · Score: 1

      Because you seem to be confusing things...The WiFi access spots a local McDonald's are REAL 802.11b/b wireless spots. McDonald's has been offering them for years for use with laptops or whatever other WiFi enabled device you own. Just go to their WiFi site to get info.

    26. Re:802.11x compatible? by Ghost_MH · · Score: 2, Informative

      I almost forgot...The reason you can't get on a McDonald's WiFi network is because you need to pay for a Wayport membership. If I understand this article correctly, what Nintendo is doing is making a deal with Wayport to give DS owners free WiFi access at Wayport access points at McDonald's restaurants.

    27. Re:802.11x compatible? by Demerara · · Score: 1

      McDonald's, while out of my way a bit, is still a pretty convenient hotspot for me
      Denver, while out of my way a bit (I live in the Caribbean), is still a convenient ski-location for me.
      Why wasn't the parent post moderated +5 funny? Or am I missing something here?

      --
      Backward%20compatibility%20is%20over-rated
    28. Re:802.11x compatible? by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      Yea but you have to pay. I would rather got to Atlanta Bread. Better food and free wifi.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    29. Re:802.11x compatible? by Bozzio · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ok. When I occasionally find myself at that McDonald's it's when I'm going to my once-a-month part-time job. I don't always have reliable internet at work, so I usually check my mail/news and download things before I go to work. Since these work shifts are up to 16 hours long, knowing for sure I can get online just before work is very convenient.

      --
      I just pooped your party.
    30. Re:802.11x compatible? by un1xl0ser · · Score: 1

      Yes. I don't think that they are concerned about the .01% of the population that may spoof MAC addresses to use free wireless at McDonalds.

      --
      v4sw6PU$hw6ln6pr4F$ck 4/6$ma3+6u7LNS$w2m4l7U$i2e4+7en6a2X h
    31. Re:802.11x compatible? by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've heard they have created a new character to join Ronald McDonald et al. The Packet Pincher, who wears black and white and carries a sack with 'Bandwidth' written on it, is in a homosexual relationship with the Hamburglar and will be used to teach kids the danger of using bandwidth that they are not entitled to. McDonalds executives believe that the Packet Pincher will be a hit at birthday parties, as kids will be encouraged to boo him away when a costumed employee interrupts the party carrying the characters gold-coloured Laptop of Leeching and asks the kids for the latest torrents.

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
    32. Re:802.11x compatible? by feagle814 · · Score: 1

      For cards that don't have that property, you use the open-source Macshift. Works on all Windows network adapters, wired or wireless.

    33. Re:802.11x compatible? by jralls · · Score: 1

      Guess you're a newbie. "Internet" and "World Wide Web" are not the same thing. Hint: The Internet is how you connect to World Wide Web servers which aren't on your local network. There's a lot of other stuff that moves over the Internet which has nothing to do with the World Wide Web. Nintendo's games are one example.

    34. Re:802.11x compatible? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hi! Just read your nasty, pretencious comments to the chick who asking about bluetooth trackballs. I created an account just to tell you what a cokksukker you sound like in your posts, degrading her because she uses a trackball and you don't. You must feel like a big man for such comments, don't you @sshole? I'm guessing you're balding, about 5'3" & either 128LBS or over 300OLBS, with women-like wrists, because you try so hard to sound like a big, tough and self-righteous fuking know-it-all. In reality you have the authority of a office assistant, yes we can tell.

      Oh, and you're a fuking moron too. All the numbers and stats you spouted are incorrect, and you don't a damn thing about what you profess. Typical big-mouth-on-the-internet, mouse-in-real-life behavoir. Your kind are a dime a dozen on the internet, and the runt cheap end at that. Don't be pissed off at us because you failed out of college, you can't be fat & stupid your whole life either son.

      Why aren't @ssholes like you the victim of more random & pointless crimes?

      I shall follow you thread-to-thread until you bore me. I've got a lot of time on my hands and I know how to use it. Best thing for you to do is STFU!!!!!!

      You fuking PANSY!!!!!, beating up on women like than who ask simple questions to a forum. Just because you have the body of man doesn't mean you are one, especially while touting the brain of a very little child. Where's a dark alley when you need one?

      Signed, - people pissed off that jerk-offs like you in the world are wasting valuable oxygen. Go to Iraq & defuse some roadside bombs, ok? At least the you'll be useful to someone, besides being the current focal point of my free time from here on out.

  5. Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by ChrisF79 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    When I lived in DC years ago, all of our McDonalds had these little kiosks in them when the Nintendo 64 came out. There were 4 small TV's built into the thing with 4 consoles with 2 controllers each and you could try out the system there. I don't know if that was a national partnership with all McDonalds but they were in all of the ones I went in. The consoles were in there for quite a while (about 6 months if I recall correctly) and then were suddenly gone. Anyway, these two companies at least have some history of working together in the past so I'm sure that made it a little easier to get something like this set up.

    --
    Finance tutorials and more! Understandfinance
    1. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by grylnsmn · · Score: 1

      This McDonalds still has the N64 display there. My parents used to live nearby, and it was a good place to stop when my then-girlfriend (now wife) wanted some fries.

    2. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by oneiros27 · · Score: 1

      There was still one in one of the 'Play Places' in Rockville, MD, about a year or two ago.

      They had the 4-screen thing, and they also had a smaller 2 screen one with games for the smaller tots.

      (I don't normally stop at McDonalds, but I was with a friend, and we had his ~4yr old son with us, and he really wanted a 'play place' ... but as I don't typically go to them, I have no idea if it's still there, or for how long it was there)

      --
      Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
    3. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by immorak · · Score: 1

      Funny, they still have the N64 displays set up in my home town only now they have a game cube set up in the same box.

    4. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by AnswerIs42 · · Score: 1
      They still use em. I found a McD's friday morning that had a 4 game station Kiosk of Game Cubes.

      If your in Toledo, OH. It's is on I-280 the exit just before the Turpike entrance.

    5. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by se7en11 · · Score: 1

      Nothing goes better together than greasy fingers and controllers. *cringe*

    6. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by KlomDark · · Score: 1

      The one in Omaha Nebraska, right across from the baseball stadium (Where the college world series is) still has them.

    7. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by steveo777 · · Score: 1

      There was a McDonalds in Brooklyn Park, MN (or thereabouts) that had the same deal, only they never pulled them out. Last year I was playing WaveRace and decided to go buy it just for kicks (and it was three bucks or so at a used game shop). I haven't been back, but judging from how broken the controllers were, I'd say they weren't going anywhere for a while.

      --
      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
    8. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The McDonloads in Springfield Missouri on Battlefield road near Glenstone has had these Nintindo kiosks for many years.

      They worked for a few days, then they unplugged them and sat them in the corner of the inside playgound area. They have sat there for many years unplugged.

      Just like the batch of APC UPS's we sent to our Florida offices right before Katrina hit. They wondered why they lost power for 6 hours with UPS's...

    9. Re:Nintendo and McDonalds partnered before by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 1

      There was this one McDs I was at fairly recently (like... early this summer) that had a N64 with Pokemon Colloseum on it. Haven't been there since but I'd bet it's still there.

  6. WiFi from McDonald's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It'll be the healthiest thing on their menu :)

    1. Re:WiFi from McDonald's? by Chewbacon · · Score: 2, Funny

      damn, I haven't been to McDonalds in so long, I can't even remember what's on the menu besides the big mac. "I'll have a Big Mac combo. Supersized." "What would you like to drink?" "Diet coke."

      --
      Chewbacon
      The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
    2. Re:WiFi from McDonald's? by Bueller_007 · · Score: 0

      Yeah, kids'll get hand cancer instead of bowel cancer.

      Much better.

    3. Re:WiFi from McDonald's? by Evangelion · · Score: 0, Offtopic


      Hey, some of us like the taste of Asparteme!

    4. Re:WiFi from McDonald's? by PhotoBoy · · Score: 1

      Well, at least when they screw the order up and you have to wait 10 minutes while they do it again you'll be able to pass the time on Mario Kart.

    5. Re:WiFi from McDonald's? by jskiff · · Score: 3, Informative

      I know you're intending this to be funny, but I find this a bit interesting (data is from McDonalds' website): Big Mac: 500 Calories Large Fries: 520 Calories Large Coke: 310 Calories Total: 1330 Calories Substituting a Diet Coke for the Coke lowers it to 1020 calories. Still a lot, of course (about half what you need for the day), but it does lower it by 25% or so.

      --
      It's "no one," not "noone." Who the hell is noone anyway?
    6. Re:WiFi from McDonald's? by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

      Nevertheless: jeebus, that's an assload of calories. And you believe some people (EMTs, construction workers, cops, etc.) eat that almost daily? This is all irrelevant, but I like poking fun at McDonalds. :)

      "McDonalds burger patties are made from truckers' armpits."

      --
      Chewbacon
      The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
  7. Typical order by Bananatree3 · · Score: 1, Funny

    [customer] I will have a number 1 combo with a Coke, please

    [17-year old cashier] Would you like to supersize your Wi-Fi Connection for only 2.99$?

    1. Re:Typical order by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't he/she know you can only order a number 2?

  8. Obesity by LaughingCoder · · Score: 5, Funny

    This could bring the obesity problem to a whole new level. Congratulations - you've reached level 4! You can go up to the counter and pick up your FREE icecream sundae! Level 5 wins a free value meal. Level 6 is a large softdrink.

    --
    The more you regulate a company, the worse its products become.
    1. Re:Obesity by Threni · · Score: 1

      Level 7 is free diabetes treatment and cosmetic surgery to give you a fighting chance of looking attractive enough for someone to want to fsck you ever again! Have a nice day!

    2. Re:Obesity by BushCheney08 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Valkyrie needs food, badly.

      --
      Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
    3. Re:Obesity by oc255 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sure make fun of me, but I'm a level 4 manager with a nametag that gives me +2 wisdom when I equip it.

    4. Re:Obesity by jimmytango829 · · Score: 1

      This is exactly why the partnership is "groundbreaking". ;) With all these McDonalds addicted video gamers in such a confined area, they are sure to do some damage.

    5. Re:Obesity by Landshark17 · · Score: 1

      Not just that, people don't have to leave their fast-food supplier to sit around and play games with WiFi.

      Can you imagine a law suit that not only alleges somebody's fat, sorry, "obese" because McDonald's sold them cheap food, but also because it provided them with free WiFi?

      --
      This sig is false.
    6. Re:Obesity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wisdom, as in you now know your name?

    7. Re:Obesity by geekboy642 · · Score: 1

      *pushes thick glasses up his face, and speaks in a nasal tone*

      Well, if you're familiar at all with the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing system, you'd be aware that a bonus of +2 on a normal wisdom score, i.e. 10, would put the individual up close to Solomonic wisdom. However, as the individual is merely a low-level wage-slave employed by McDonald's, they have a starting wisdom of 6, with the +2 bringing him to 8.

      Thus, he's only slightly less of an idiot.

      --
      Just another "DOJ fascist authoritarian totalitarian bootlicker" -- Zeio
  9. War-porking anyone? by Chilliwilli · · Score: 1, Funny

    nt

    --
    Cure cancer.. and stuff! www.team45.info
  10. Wow by Dekortage · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Won't the DS get all greasy and slippery when you try to each french fries while playing? I like the "Official photo of a DS gamer enjoying online play at McDonald's" -- all he has is a drink, and he appears to be holding the DS as if he's watching a movie.

    Does this mean kiddies are going to get free games in their Happy Meals? Just what we need: more crappy DS games.

    And, from the article: "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." Yeah, that's what I was waiting for: intense gaming at a crummy fast food joint. Thank God for McDonald's!

    --
    $nice = $webHosting + $domainNames + $sslCerts
    1. Re:Wow by ShadowMarth · · Score: 1

      So? You take a risk of spilling coffe on your laptop if you do it in a coffee house, so you just have to take care of your electronics. Besides, what's with your banging of the DS lineup. Seriously, several hundred thousand more hotspots and you're unhappy?

    2. Re:Wow by vrai · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I can't comprehend why anyone would want to spend more time than in a McDonald's than is required to purchase some food. The restaurants are smelly, thick with grease (even the air is greasy) and decked out in the cheapest plastic available.

      I am pretty much forced to go to McDonald's once a month (it's the only place open late in London's financial district that does take-outs). The food is better than going hungry (just) but I'd rather starve than actually eat in the "restaurant". I certainly wouldn't spend long enough there to play Mario Kart without a HazMat suit on.

    3. Re:Wow by pnice · · Score: 1

      I can't comprehend why anyone would want to spend more time than in a McDonald's than is required to purchase some food. The restaurants are smelly, thick with grease (even the air is greasy) and decked out in the cheapest plastic available.

      Because they don't have wireless access at home and they are to cheap to afford the wifi adapter for the DS? This way they can play for free without even having internet access at home (as long as there is a McDonalds in their town). I could see this making some of the younger kids want to go to McDonalds even more than they already do. When I was young I always wanted to go to McDonalds to play on the playground...not really to eat. Maybe this is the new version of the playground.

    4. Re:Wow by EmperorKagato · · Score: 1

      "intense gaming at a crummy fast food joint. "

      McDonalds Early 90s --> linked Gameboy tetris battles
      --> Birthday Parties --> More Gameboy fun!
      McDonalds's Nintendo 64 vs. Burger King's Neo Geo Systems

      "Does this mean kiddies are going to get free games in their Happy Meals? Just what we need: more crappy DS games."

      Actually, That doesn't sound like a bad idea!

      Now how do you define crappy: Sales or Opinion?

      --
      ----- You know you have ego issues when you register a domain in your name.
    5. Re:Wow by B11 · · Score: 0, Flamebait
      Wait, so even the British won't eat at MickeyD's?

      The food must really be bad.

      --
      insert inflammatory anti-microsoft comment here
    6. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I can't comprehend why anyone would want to spend more time than in a McDonald's than is required to purchase some food.

      Good point...pay, get your token and food, then head for your car for internet+privacy+quiet. Sounds like a better deal to me!

    7. Re:Wow by madgamer · · Score: 2, Funny
      I can't comprehend why anyone would want to spend more time than in a McDonald's than is required to purchase some food.

      because there are these little organisms called kids, and mcdonald's markets to them quite heavily. in the suburbs, most mcdonalds' have a mini playground called a "playplace", and kids can have a lot of fun in them. in some ways, it's better than a park because the parents can sit back and have a cup of coffee while watching their kids play. i can totally see my older son (9yrs old) playing his ds with another random kid that happens to be there with his ds while my youngest son (4yrs) runs around in the playplace with all the smaller tikes. me? i can enjoy a cup of coffee while i watch the boys play.

      of course, some slashdotters may not fully realize the concept of kids, as a prerequisite for having one is sex.

    8. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I am pretty much forced to go to McDonald's once a month (it's the only place open late in London's financial district that does take-outs).
      That sounds like a business opportunity to me!
    9. Re:Wow by tetraphonia · · Score: 1

      McDonalds was created on the principle of being a more family oriented restaurant, akin to your typical dinner sit-down type restaurant except with food served fast and at a counter. Just because the atmosphere isn't the same as what you've come to expect, and just because their food has been libeled as toxic (what's 10 Chicken McNuggets a week going to do to you?) doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself in there. The conditions of the greasy air would have to be situational: it's up to the cleaning staff and ventilation allowed by the edifice to decide that. The particular stateside establishments I attend (with excitement, might I add) tend to be well kept. As another said, they cover 10% of the earth, so worldwide consistency in that regard can't be expected.

      --
      You can only go as fast as the player with the key.
    10. Re:Wow by thesnarky1 · · Score: 1

      Sex! Of course, it all makes sense now! *thwap* And, with a partner... that explains what I've been doing wrong all these years! In all seriousness, I used to work at McDonalds, and a lot of parents had the same view as you. Let the kids play, and have a chance to relax a little (they don't have to clean up if the kids make a mess there, rather then at home).

    11. Re:Wow by usernotfound · · Score: 1

      The mcdonald's restraunts by my house have leather furniture in a coffee house style arrangement, possibly fake leather, i dont go it. One of them even has a baby grand piano and a fireplace. I doubt they're made of the cheapest plastic available.

      --
      You call it excessive, I call it ambitious.
    12. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but the park at the end of my road has a play area and a pub. So if I wanted to sit back and have a drink, I'd rather go there. Not that I do, as my daughter is too young to let play on her own, but it's a better option, as she won't have advertising encouraging her to eat crappy fast food there. Even if there isn't a place to buy drinks at your local park, you can always take a drink with you.

      Personally, I hate McDonalds so I will avoid it whenever I can.

  11. Super Mario Bros. 3 Happy Meal by Vandil+X · · Score: 1

    Perhaps the most well-known and well-received partnership of the two.

    I still have my bouncing Raccoon mario and Luigi-cloud...

    --
    Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, START
  12. Large softdrink by jurt1235 · · Score: 1

    And in the little print at the bottom: Diet drinks are excluded from this promotional offer.

    --

    My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
    1. Re:Large softdrink by hardaker · · Score: 1

      You know the sad thing is that I once had a guy at a gas station refuse to give me my free 20oz drink because the award, as printed on the cap, said "free coke". Thus, he said, he wasn't allowed to give me a diet coke. Sigh....

      --
      The next site to slashdot will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and start slashdotting it early!
  13. This won't last by troll · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It'll be good in the short run, but when the table turnaround (profit/table) drops because someone is occupying that space 'playing games' and a (new) paying customer has no place to sit, McDonald's may just decide to 're-evaluate' their position.

    --
    Official Pi Ambassador -- inquire for details!
    1. Re:This won't last by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It's a way to try and keep a younger generation eating there. Because of all this hype about eating healthy, they have lost a lot of their more youthful market-base. If you have seen Super-size Me, McDonald's tries really hard to get kids to eat there, because then they (and their families) eat there for life.

    2. Re:This won't last by terraformer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In most non urban (ie; suburban) areas (where all the little rug rats tend to inhabit), I bet the drive through is used far more regularly and the tables go mostly unoccupied. This will likely not hurt those areas as much say starbucks gets hit with the wifi.

      --
      Who are you? The new #2 Who is #1? You are #617565. I am not a number, I am a free man! Muhahaha.
    3. Re:This won't last by danpsmith · · Score: 0

      People actually bother to sit at McDonalds? I always figured you had to be so ashamed you are eating it that it was proper to eat in the car...

      --
      Judges and senates have been bought for gold; Esteem and love were never to be sold.
    4. Re:This won't last by oc255 · · Score: 2, Funny
      I'm looking at this deal from Nintendo's point of view. Everyone is always complaining that Nintendo is a cartoonesque kids platform (which I might agree with if I wasn't a fan-boy). If being a kids console is Nintendo's biggest market penetration problem, they need to get away from the Happy Meals to be taken more seriously and reach an older audience.

      By taken more seriously, I mean by an older audience and more mature themes (maybe not their intention). Related to this recent /. article. Staying in the light-hearted kid's land of casual gore-free gameplay must be their stra-tem-egy.

      Or maybe it's not related at all:
      1. I can play Super Monkey Ball with my g/f.
      2. I cannot play Halo with my g/f.
      3. I cannot take my g/f to McD's.

      So either way I'm playing Monkey Ball with my g/f and having a real meal. *shrug*
    5. Re:This won't last by flamingdog · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree completely, but I've noticed some strange things lately about McDonalds. There have been about 3 or 4 recently built around me that I've been to, and there are some noticeable differences in modern McDonalds. They all have comfortable atmospheres. They have a giant LCD TV. They don't have the standard fast-food "eat and get the hell out as quickly as possible" kind of atmosphere inside. They also have a lot more seats than you'd think they'll ever need. Maybe this is just around me (say, for example, that it's just the same owner in this area doing these things or something), but I think they may be trying to get customers to stay IN the "restaurant" instead of ordering and getting the hell out. Having an obnoxious amount of seats, and really nice, huge LCD TV's would seem to back this up.

      (For those of you who think this is senseless drivel, try to recall Long John Silver's before 1995. Great family restaurant that was relaxed and encouraged you to sit around inside and eat and be merry. Whenever I'd eat at one, it was packed to the brim. Around 1995 they changed to the standard fast food get in/out, and now whenever I stop at one, there are 5 people inside at most.)

      --

      ---------------------------
    6. Re:This won't last by Skim123 · · Score: 1
      You brought back some greasy memories. I haven't been to a Long John Silvers since like '98. I don't think they have him out here in SoCal, but there were plenty of them back in the Midwest.

      Yummy, hush puppies, fried fish, and fries. YUM-MY. :-)

      --

      I could not justify my existence if I were a turkey farmer. Would I terminate myself? Undoubtably, yes.

  14. Greasy by jurt1235 · · Score: 1

    They provide napkins, and you can wash your hands at the toilet! It is more that in a busy MD they want to keep the flow of the customers going, so if some people take up a few tables with their DS, MD will sell less in the long run in the rush hours (customer thought: No table again, next time I will go somewhere else: PizzaHut, YEAH).

    --

    My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
    1. Re:Greasy by stanmann · · Score: 2, Funny

      I much prefer to wash my hands at the sink, but I guess in MD you do things differently.

      --
      Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
    2. Re:Greasy by jurt1235 · · Score: 1

      Err, I meant the sink provided at the toilets.

      --

      My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
  15. wait wait wait by tomstdenis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    pushing crappy food and inactivity all at once? What a combo!

    What they need to sponsor are DDR competitions. Get enough people dancing and bopping, and bipping and hopping and they'll get in shape soon enough.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    1. Re:wait wait wait by frank378 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Agreed, they've started selling salads and healthier offerings (what isn't healthier than a mound of fried greasy stuff) but I have to think it's going to be a tough sell to their regular customer base. The people that already go to McGrease go there for...the grease. People that don't subscribe to the fast food diet wouldn't be caught dead in this place.

      Anyway, to the topic at hand, video games for the kids is just an attempt at winning hearts and minds to get another generation addicted to McGrease and we all know it.

    2. Re:wait wait wait by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      No way, I thought the clown was just a tax writeoff :-)

      Besides, we all know subway is better... unless you check the sodium in the bread...

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    3. Re:wait wait wait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is, anyone who NEEDS to play DDR should not do so in public!

    4. Re:wait wait wait by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      bah, I'd rather see fat people [myself included there] doing something active then just sitting there getting fatter, taking up more room on public transit.

      Only reason I don't play DDR [other than lack of a DDR machine within 30km of my house] is that I suck at it and it's embarassing. If I had an ounce of co-ordination I'd be a DDR master.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    5. Re:wait wait wait by somersault · · Score: 1

      I thought that people went there for convenience rather than the grease.. anyway I try to avoid McDonalds, their fries are crappy and rubbery.. give me a good ol Burger King any day *drool*. Though even saying that, I only go to BK once every few months these days. I still like the idea of being bored in town, seeing a McDonalds and having a quick network game. Though presumably I can just stay inside and get this over my own wireless, so I could just stay at home all the time and save the hassle of walking around. And I'm not fat by the way =p

      --
      which is totally what she said
    6. Re:wait wait wait by abaddon3k · · Score: 1

      ACTUALLY, at a McDonald's in my area that was recently re-done, they put a DDR machine in. I have yet to go there, but you would think that it would be bad for business, attracting all of those DDR rats in.

    7. Re:wait wait wait by Zombie · · Score: 0

      Call Subway with that idea...

    8. Re:wait wait wait by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      Subway has their own problems though, like the 50% DV of sodium in their subs bread.

      They really should encourage people to have smaller subs (e.g. 6" or 9"), etc... On the whole though I'd rather be at a subway then a mcdonalds, but given the choice I'd rather just make something myself ;-)

      But yeah, DDR in subway would be cool too.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    9. Re:wait wait wait by Zombie · · Score: 1

      Well, that's where the commercial value is for them, of course. Just how much do you want to drink and eat after half an hour of uninterrupted DDR?

    10. Re:wait wait wait by Rirath.com · · Score: 1

      Simple solution, get one of the home versions. It's out for everything from PS2, Xbox, even the PC with an adapter and Stepmania. I've got a homemade hard pad from a cheap $5 softpad off ebay, some cheap board, and a bit of floor covering stapled over it.

      And DDR master is quite some boasting, watch a competition sometime.

    11. Re:wait wait wait by Danse · · Score: 1

      Agreed, they've started selling salads and healthier offerings (what isn't healthier than a mound of fried greasy stuff) but I have to think it's going to be a tough sell to their regular customer base.

      Have you looked at the nutritional info on their salads? They aren't what I would consider healthy. When you count in the salad dressing, they really aren't much better than a Big Mac.

      --
      It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
    12. Re:wait wait wait by frank378 · · Score: 1
      Have you looked at the nutritional info on their salads? They aren't what I would consider healthy. When you count in the salad dressing, they really aren't much better than a Big Mac.

      You know what, I just took a look at the nutritional information on McDonalds website and it looks like between adding the greazy chicken parts and the dressings you can really max out on saturated fats and sodium.

      I'm not a dietician but as I understand it the best kind of salad is where you replace the watery iceberg lettuce with spinach (a superfood) and go for a lighter oil dressing instead of slathering on the "white goo" dressings.

      Only upside to all this that I can see is a salad at McD's is going to be a lot better for you than eating the fries/burgers/nuggets. Also I've heard (and agree that) portion control goes a hell of a long way in helping you reduce your weight and intake of bad fats and such. In fact I read a decent article about it right here. (warning: free sub required)

      Happy eating/gaming, McFriends!

    13. Re:wait wait wait by drsquare · · Score: 1

      What they need to sponsor are DDR competitions. Get enough people dancing and bopping, and bipping and hopping and they'll get in shape soon enough.

      Bad idea, it would probably reduce the MTTV (mean time to vomiting) of McDonald's food from 30 minutes to 5 minutes.

    14. Re:wait wait wait by Xyde · · Score: 1

      It's not McDonalds' responsibility to make sure you exercise properly, it's no secret their food is unhealthy so they're hardly being underhanded. People who are sloths will always be that way (and they will probably always shift the blame to somebody else - McDonalds, the TV, Burger King etc.)

    15. Re:wait wait wait by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      DDR rats who play arcade machines

      A) carry money
      B) get hungry and thirsty while playing

      i'm not seeing the problem here. looks more like a possible replacement for "3. ????"

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    16. Re:wait wait wait by cubicle_cowboy · · Score: 1

      OMG, the aftermath of eating an extra value meal and then playing DDR is too horrible to imagine. Blowout comes to mind though.

    17. Re:wait wait wait by dirtsurfer · · Score: 0

      Yeah because DRR players are all in excellent shape

    18. Re:wait wait wait by geekbastard · · Score: 1

      hey i resent being called a rat, in animal terms i would say i'm more of a sloth. at least us "DDR rats" get up on our feet from time to time to play a game, unlike those EQ2 bastards . . . . . . . damn i guess i just called myself a rat bastard there . . . . . . .

  16. Can America get any fatter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is great! Kids are getting fatter and dumber, and this is the only obvious step forward Nintendo and McFat to join forces. The next handheld is going to have bigger buttons that blink when you should press them so that the morbidly obese kiddies can still make donkey kong jump up and down with the tapered fat fingers. The blinking lights will guide them by appealing to thier rampant ADD.

    1. Re:Can America get any fatter? by winsomecowboy · · Score: 1, Funny

      There could be a pavlovian response. You could sidle up to a fat kid at a bus stop, look him in the eye and say N-i-n-t-e-n-d-o and watch him drool uncontrollably.

      --
      Quantifying chaos since 63
    2. Re:Can America get any fatter? by GammaKitsune · · Score: 1

      I would have read that, but my rampant ADD made it too hard. And my tapered fat fingers make it far too difficult to type out a more suitable reply.

      --
      Gamertag: WyleType
  17. It's bad enough taking children to McDonald's... by IronChefMorimoto · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...for exercise on the playground AFTER a greasy Happy Meal. Now we're just taking out the exercise and letting the kids wallow with their WiFi and Nintendos after their Happy Meals. Nice...

    IronChefMorimoto

  18. Perfect way to find other players by Alcimedes · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This would be pretty good a providing a pool of other players in about the same age group etc. for kids to play with. The only thing that bothers me is that rather than going to eat shitty food then running around in the play area, these little tubs of soon to be lard will be eating shit then sitting on their asses playing video games.

    Knowing the average parent today, as long as little Timmy shuts up, that will work just fine.

    1. Re:Perfect way to find other players by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Kids already are little tubs of lard, now they'll be eating shit and sitting on their asses playing video games at McDonalds instead of at home.

  19. The biggest joke by Colin+Smith · · Score: 5, Funny

    Using the words McDonalds and restaurant in reference to one another.

    --
    Deleted
    1. Re:The biggest joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's the "meal" part.

    2. Re:The biggest joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you may call it a meal, I call it a cheap hit of salt n fat

  20. a truly sad day by jkind · · Score: 3, Funny

    Before: Take children to Mcdonalds and put them in the bouncy ball room for 10 mins, before giving children Big Mac combo.
    Now: Take children to Mcdonalds and give them Big Mac combo, then let them surf..
    The world is slowly getting so fat it's going to spin out of orbit..

    --
    ~jennifer.k~
    1. Re:a truly sad day by elm3r · · Score: 0

      honestly: I'd rather sit and get fat, then be subjected to the unknown horrors of that bouncy-ball pit...

    2. Re:a truly sad day by meringuoid · · Score: 1
      The world is slowly getting so fat it's going to spin out of orbit..

      No, not the world; just one particular landmass in the Northern Hemisphere.

      That won't spin us out of orbit, but the imbalance of mass with so much blubber concentrated on one continent might well lead the axis to wobble all over the place. Keep an eye on Sirius, it's your new North Star...

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    3. Re:a truly sad day by jskiff · · Score: 1

      Not according to the World Health Organization

      According to WHO estimates, more than 75% of women over the age of 30 are now overweight in countries as diverse as Barbados, Egypt, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States. Estimates are similar for men, with over 75% now overweight in, for example, Argentina, Germany, Greece, Kuwait, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United Kingdom. Notably, the Western Pacific islands of Nauru and Tonga have the highest global prevalence of overweight where nine out of every 10 adults are overweight.

      --
      It's "no one," not "noone." Who the hell is noone anyway?
  21. Does the DS even have a web browser? by DrXym · · Score: 1

    Or is this sufficient to allow you to download extra content from nintendo.com + partners with all other domains being offlimits?

    1. Re:Does the DS even have a web browser? by wed128 · · Score: 1

      The DS has no web browser, this is only for over-the-internet multiplayer.

    2. Re:Does the DS even have a web browser? by grumbel · · Score: 1

      The NintendoDS doesn't even have a TCP/IP stack in its current form, so you can't do anything on the Internet with the DS alone, the games however might provide a browser or similar software and there is some rumour about PalmOS for the DS, however if that will ever happen is a different story.

  22. How will this be limited to the DS? by jjeffrey · · Score: 1

    Anyone have any idea how this will be limited to the DS?

    The only standards compliant ways I can think of would be to:

    *Use MAC address filtering and limit to Nintendo ranges, in which case you can spoof the MAC on your wi-fi card to get access.

    *Place a client on each DS containing a private key and a certificate, and set the gateway to authenticate each IP before allowing access. It's like DRM - if you give people the key, even hidden in a console, they will eventually find it and gain access.

    *Secret WEP/WPA key embedded in to each DS? Again sooner or later the key will out?

    *A very modified gateway and akey derived from the MAC address and some secret string hashed? Can you even have multiple keys on one network if you don't care about hosts talking direct to each other?

    But I suppose they aren't restricted to staying standards compliant...

    But if they don't, is there anyway to attach a NIC to a DS and get it to route?

    I realise that it probably isn't even worth trying any of this. I just don't like McDonalds :) Also, free to use WiFi points are very few and far between in the UK. I can't help feeling that more bars/pubs/starbucks shoud provide it for free - it keeps you in there!

    1. Re:How will this be limited to the DS? by Tetrad_of_doom · · Score: 1
      *Use MAC address filtering and limit to Nintendo ranges, in which case you can spoof the MAC on your wi-fi card to get access.

      The key to their plan is to use BIG MAC filtering. They don't care if you bring your laptop, as long as you buy a big mac, you can access the network.

    2. Re:How will this be limited to the DS? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Who said they were even using TCP/IP from the DS to the AP?

      I'm thinking the following:

      Only allow access to *.nintendo.com
      Use a different protocol for DS communications, and only allow traffic on those ports.

      Besides, I've been in a McD's with WiFi, using the laptop. Any HTTP access is stopped right there, along with other protocols. I'd think they'd just open the port(s) for DS communications to free access. So, a DS emu would work...

    3. Re:How will this be limited to the DS? by TrumpetX · · Score: 1

      Wi-Fi != teh internets

      Let laptops connect, as long as the networks is a totally private one not connected to anything behind the counter, it won't matter if laptops connect. Heck, maybe they'll encourage laptop games soon *Shrug*

  23. Joke - I have heard this song before... by RancidMilk · · Score: 1

    "Everybody loves a clown so wi-fi you...?"

  24. Ronald, can I crash at your place tonight? by name*censored* · · Score: 0

    As if fat nerds need any less encouragement to leave McDonalds. Then again, maybe that was the idea all along.... hmmm... McStudio apartments?

    --
    Commodore64_love: I don't comprehend people who're so frightened of death that they'll bankrupt themselves to stay alive
  25. Whatever by wobedraggled · · Score: 1

    You can also play from HOME. Cook some tofu burgers and be comfy, who in hell would sit at McD'a and play games?

    --
    Ubuntu- Linux for human beings.
    1. Re:Whatever by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1

      Cook some tofu burgers and be comfy, who in hell would sit at McD's and play games?

      Who in hell can be comfy eating tofu burgers?

      Different strokes, different folks, Ace. Judge not lest ye be judged.

    2. Re:Whatever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But then who would want to eat a tofu burger yuk!

  26. That's why I only do one show a night.... by Qfix · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Wi-Fry
    (insert laugh track here)

  27. Everyone so worried by NoWhere+Man · · Score: 1

    First off - McWIFI was the first "joke" that poped into my head. It'll prolly be under the chicken nuggets on the menu.

    Seriously though - I see why people are worried. It'll drive people to Rauchin Ronney's in droves for free wifi. And they are bound to stay there for a few hours and eat nothing but greesey food.

    But I think for the most part, people who eat there don't really need a reason to go. They'll just go naturally.
    Problem is going to be getting people to leave - there will be no room for new customers because the guys with the laptops have been there for hours instead of scarfing down thier food in 10 minutes...

    --

    "Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality." -Jules de Gautier
  28. Forget about the "potential jokes" by DingerX · · Score: 2, Funny

    and think about the practical ones:

    A) Hack your Nintendogs to introduce new behavior in online play, viz., your NintendRhodesianRidgeback runs down and eats NintendChihuahuas and McToyPoodles.
    Packet Injection attacks to replace Mario with something, uh, a little less "Kid-friendly" (play fair now)

    Evil messages: "Billy, this is the happy leprachaun. Put your bigmac in mommy's purse".
    The possibilities are endless!

    1. Re:Forget about the "potential jokes" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hack your Nintendogs to introduce new behavior in online play, viz.,
      Just imagine the size your Nintendog will get after eating that much in Mcdonalds

  29. eh by Vodak · · Score: 1

    eh. This will be used as an example to desribe eveything that is wrong with large corprate entitites.

    "Nintendo is helping to make American's Fat"

    1. Re:eh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aaah, but which American?

    2. Re:eh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's still nothing worse than pluralizing with an apostrophe :)

    3. Re:eh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Nintendo is helping to make American's Fat"

      Along with the school you studied at helping to make people illiterate.

      It's simple really.

      Helping to make ONE American fat
      Helping to make SEVERAL Americans fat
      Helping to make ONE American's cat fat

  30. Restricting access (similar to Spanish restrooms) by knopf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's quite simple to make money out of this: In Spains tourist lots, the restroom is looked by a numer key lock. The access code is changing on a regular basis (e.g., hourly). If you want to use the restroom, you have to buy something, because the code is automatically printed on the receipt.

    They will do the same for the wireless access. They print the current access code (user & pass) on the receipt and reset the system every 30 mins. Btw. if you think, you just buy something small, that's exactly where McD has huge margins. So a Coke or ice cream every 30 mins for surfing generates enough money for maintaining the WiFi net.

    However, it will be fun to see all gamers run for an ice cream at the same time every 30 mins :-)

  31. Oh, so that means we'll be seeing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a DS port of the Mc Donald's Treasuer Land Adventure game?

  32. Yay by danpsmith · · Score: 0

    Now our kids will be hooked on bad food and bad games...All at the same time. (And you thought that stupid jungle gym they had was bad).

    --
    Judges and senates have been bought for gold; Esteem and love were never to be sold.
  33. Cleaning? by BenjyD · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Can you imagine what a DS is going to look like after 30 minutes playing in the hands of a kid eating a Big Mac, fries and ketchup? Maybe McDonalds is planning to make a profit on with a DS cleaning service?

    Personally, I wish McDs would just go out of business so I wouldn't have to put up with that horrendous smell of grease permeating every shopping centre.

    1. Re:Cleaning? by Massacrifice · · Score: 1

      Maybe its about time you go shopping outside. There still are other places to buy things than shopping malls. Places you can walk to.

      --
      -- Home is where you eat your heart out.
    2. Re:Cleaning? by BenjyD · · Score: 1

      Even 'traditional' town centres don't seem to escape the McDonald smell. Take Rose Crescent, Cambridge (UK) , for example - it' a tiny, pedestrianised shopping street with small high-end chain and independent shops. Right in the middle of it is a McDonalds, pumping out that smell of grease all down the street. I think it's made worse by the amount of rubbish generated, and the fat washed off the food in nearby bins and onto the pavement when it rains.

      Given that I don't own a car and the quality of the bus service around here (Norwich, UK), walking to the shops is pretty much the only option. Most town centres these days seem to be swallowed up in shopping centres, though, so sometimes they're hard to avoid.

  34. Well it's about time... by Perdition · · Score: 1

    Now I can get my Donkey Kong and my Donkey Burger at the same place! Thanks, McTendo!

    --
    Windows XP SP2 told me to install third-party software that prevents viruses and protects stability... I chose Ubuntu
  35. Big Deal by MaelstromX · · Score: 1

    Many Krystal locations offer free wi-fi to anybody, with better food to boot.

    1. Re:Big Deal by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1

      Please Mod +1 informative. I'm from Michigan, and I've never heard of this place, but I'm going to Florida for Educause today. Now I know where I'll be eating tonight :-D

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    2. Re:Big Deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Krystal's having better food than McD's is actually a debatable subject...

    3. Re:Big Deal by hal2814 · · Score: 1

      I will agree that Krystal's food is twice as good as McDonalds, but that's only because I rate McDonalds at 0.

  36. upside and downside by andrewbillits · · Score: 1

    the upside is that mcdonalds will actually have people eating inside now besides men who left the house early to get away from the wife. The downside is that they may have a problem getting people to leave. sir, you've been here for three hours [cust] I HAVE TO FINISH LEVEL THREE!!!

  37. It would just be kind of cool by syntap · · Score: 2, Funny

    do be sitting in a McDonald's with my Nintendo DS, playing an applet-ed or emulated version of BurgerTime that I downloaded using my McDonald's WIFI connection.

    Will they offer both regular and diet WIFI?

    1. Re:It would just be kind of cool by sesshomaru · · Score: 1
      Burger Time would be cool, but you must play Mick and Mack: Global Gladiators!. Thrill as Ronald McDonald himself uses his evil clown powers to send a couple of hapless kids into a hellish world where they must collect M symbols and fight hideous beasts.

      Seriously, I wonder how much of the rights to that game McDonald's owns, since it was basically designed as an advertisement for the chain. It's actually a good game, too. (Well, I thought so anyway, at the time. It used that trademark Virgin/Shiny style animation that would show up in the Genesis version of Aladdin and reached its apex in Earthworm Jim.)

      --
      "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."
  38. WiFi at McDonalds? by 8127972 · · Score: 1

    Think of all of the MP3's and movies that I can download without the RIAA or the MPAA catching me. Thanks guys!

    --
    This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
  39. Translation by hackronym0 · · Score: 2, Funny
    here are so many potential jokes here that I'm gonna just leave it to you guys to make your own.

    Translation: I am so lame that I can't even come up with a joke, but there has got to be at least one.

    --
    This is completely false. This is not a sig.
    1. Re:Translation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      someone forgot to use the post anonymously button....

  40. obvious.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's nice to see Nintendo teaming up with the leading supporter of touch-screen hardware (cash registers).

  41. It makes sense by gameboyhippo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    At the McDonalds here in my town, we have a couple gamecubes hooked up. It would make sense that they would continue to partner with Nintendo. I can see a lot more McDonalds crowded. I've seen some comments that claim that this will allow people to download their kiddy porn and crap like that at Micky D's. I don't think this will be the case. I think the DS will have a standard port to play games on. So all they have to enable is that one port.

    1. Re:It makes sense by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      Sorry for replying to your sig...

      Want a cheap XBox 360? Click here [jasonandmary.com]

      Want a 360? BUY ONE. Christ almighty a "free" 360 and I say "free" because you're basically ratting out people to spammers in order to maybe, perhaps, in the future, slight chance, get something you were promissed. I mean have you signed a contract? Are you bound to refer people and them to provide renumeration? I don't think so.

      That and if you can't afford a 360 how the fuck can you afford the 60$ video games that go with it?

      Get a fucking job and buy a fucking xbox. Stop being a two-bit 12 yr old loser and stop spamming people with useless links to spam harvesters.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    2. Re:It makes sense by gameboyhippo · · Score: 1
      Get a life. If you don't like it, then don't click on it. I believe people are intelligent enough to know what they are getting into when they go to that site. Otherwise I would say, "Want a FREE sewing machine!? Click here to remove viruses!" if I wanted to cheat someone.

      I'd also like to point out that I said cheap NOT free. A good offer on their site is the Blockbuster plan. I'm happy with the plan even though I may never get a 360 from this program. It cost me $9.99. Thus it is not free and thus I would never say it was free.

      I do have a job. I just don't want an XBox 360 bad enough to pay $400. So I'm waiting for it to go down in price. In the mean time, if I happen to get a 360 from this offer, then more power to me. Besides I'd rather get the Nintendo Revolution on its release day. I don't like playing those kiddie PS & MS games. Instead I like to play games for mature adults who don't ogle over unrealistic polygonic breasts and kill cops. So there isn't going to be much to play with on the 360.

      Finally, if Christ is Almighty in your life, why do you talk like a two-bit 12 year old? (look at your 3rd paragraph).

    3. Re:It makes sense by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      Yeah but don't you realize the annoyance this causes? All they do with the email addresses harvested is spam the shit out of them.

      I mean really if you want an xbox so badly just save up the money, budget for it and buy one. Not exactly complicated if you're responsible with money.

      As for "cost $9.99" you mean to say you actually have handed them money already? Man, what a dupe. Why not give me ten bucks and I'll see about getting you an xbox.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    4. Re:It makes sense by gameboyhippo · · Score: 1
      I'll give you ten bucks if you promise to send me up to 3 DVDs of my choice in the mail. When I return one of them to the post office, I want another DVD of my choice. I do not feel duped. I feel like I'm saving huge on my entertainment bill. Instead of paying $60/month to watch reruns of Star Trek, I pay $20/month to rent all the DVDs I can in one month. It's a really great deal and I'm quite satisfied with it.

      It's quite a neat. As soon as the DVD is scanned in at the post office, I get another DVD sent off. With a 3 DVD limit, one could theoretically watch a DVD every day of the week.

    5. Re:It makes sense by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      While I agree that cable mostly sucks and isn't worth it there are enough non-insulting shows throughout the day to keep me entertained.

      Though your story is different. You pay money for a service you get right away.

      The other case is paying money for the chance to perhaps, maybe, possibly in the future get an xbox but not until paying out money and trying to get as many people to enter their email addresses.

      It's clearly a scam, clearly a harvester, etc, etc.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    6. Re:It makes sense by gameboyhippo · · Score: 1

      I guess my point is, I'm not dying to get an XBox. I'm going to go out and get a Revolution on release day, but not an XBox. I wouldn't mind having one, however. So in the mean time while I wait until the 360 is $150, I'll leave my signature and others who are like me and understand the consequences of their actions will sign up. Yes, these things do work. Yes, you really can get a 360. I also think that anyone who likes to read slashdot would know that the email address put in there will be harvested. If I wanted to be malicious, I would have put this sig on a 360 fanboy site. If you don't like the idea of signing up for an offer that you are interested in and possibly getting a 360, then ignor the link and move on. Nothing more to it.

  42. Re:Restricting access (similar to Spanish restroom by OblongPlatypus · · Score: 1

    How does that work? What if you happen to get your receipt ten seconds before the reset and don't make it to the restroom in time? You have to get back in line to buy another item to get the new code?

    --
    -- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
  43. The End by Mr.Dippy · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Japanese, realizing that they could never beat physically fit Americans in war, have covertly set out for the past 30 years to make Americans fat. The current generation of American children will get to harpoonable size by the end of the decade. This is the final phase of their fiendish plot before they initiate their Pear Harbor Invasion Part Deux plan. I'm estimating sometime in 2011 Hawaii and part of the West Coast will be under the Rising Sun flag. Dead, bloated children and teenagers will litter the ground clutching onto their DS's and Big Macs. This is how liberty dies...with thunderous fatness.

    --


    -Dipster
    1. Re:The End by vorpal22 · · Score: 2, Funny

      This is how liberty dies...with thunderous fatness.

      And, if my digestive system is par for the course when faced with a large McDonald's meal, with thunderous flatulence.

    2. Re:The End by Donniedarkness · · Score: 2, Interesting
      The current generation of American children will get to harpoonable size by the end of the decade.

      You've never been to the south, have you? my father's entire family was harpoonable size (with the exception of myself). They're big enough, now. I blame it on home-cooked fried foods more than fast-food joints.

      --
      Earn a % of cash back from Newegg, Tiger Direct, Walmart.com, and more: http://www.mrrebates.com?refid=458505
    3. Re:The End by coastin · · Score: 0

      Be careful what you ask for, FEMA may decide to rescue Hawaii and part of the West Coast. A far worse fate indeed...

      --
      I lost my sig...
    4. Re:The End by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Be careful what you ask for, FEMA may decide to rescue Hawaii and part of the West Coast. A far worse fate indeed...

      I hear they got rid of the former horse show judge, so maybe they'll get someone with actual qualifications for the job pretty soon.

    5. Re:The End by Chemical · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure it's just the opposite. Remember that video games and McDonalds, both of which are popular in Japan, are American inventions. It's our cultural exports that are bringing them closer to our level. If anything, we are prepping them for our Reoccupation Plan Part Deux.

  44. not really internet access by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From the article, it doesn't really sound like internet access. It's just the ability to play games online.

    That's too bad, because I've long believed on a cheap handheld unlimited IM would be a killer app.

  45. Jokes by Lord51N15T3R · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The service is called WiFry

    1. Re:Jokes by http101 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but the service isn't that great. When I try to traceroute back to my ISP's mail server, it keeps dropping ketchup packets!

      I also heard the transport has put on a few pounds too and has been smuggling data [kilo]grams.

      --
      -- Game Developers: Stop porting badly-textured games from crappy console systems!
  46. Seems a bit shortsighted by brunes69 · · Score: 1

    Seems shortsighted to me to go to all that trouble and expense of installing tens of thousands of 802.11 hotsponts, so DS owners can play a few games.

    Why wouldn't they also enable the hotspots for regular internet browsing? They could give a token for a half hour of access with the purchase of an extra value meal or something. It would be trivial to impliment, and would encourage lots of new traffic.

  47. Already happened by Tidal+Flame · · Score: 1

    I can already feel the "Redundant" moderation, but I'll post this anyway... some McDonaldses already offer free wifi. And not DS-only wifi, either, I'm talking 802.11b (I don't know if there's a difference, but last I seemed to recall hearing something about the DS' wireless protocol being different than 802.11 - although I'm fairly sure that it's also compatible with 802.11, so perhaps that's just for ad-hoc? I really know nothing about the DS, so nevermind.)

    Anyway, not all of them have it, but a few MCDs in my area offer free wifi. Last I was there, no access code was required. It was actually invaluable at the time - I was out of town and had no access to the internet, but I wanted to do some Geocaching. However, I hadn't thought to bring maps. Anyway, long story short, I was able to use my PDA to get some maps wirelessly thanks to McDonalds' wifi.

    1. Re:Already happened by grumbel · · Score: 1

      ### DS' wireless protocol being different than 802.11

      The DS 'talks' 802.11, however when two DSs connect to each other directly they don't use TCP/IP, but some custom proprietary protocol. Internet enabled games however should be able to use normal TCP/IP, so they should also work via any normal WiFi router.

  48. Re:Restricting access (similar to Spanish restroom by fish+waffle · · Score: 3, Informative

    What if you happen to get your receipt ten seconds before the reset and don't make it to the restroom in time?

    Allow the current code and last code to have access: everyone is guaranteed a minimum access time.

  49. Still There, Tigger Game was on one of them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Controllers were a little roughed-up though.

  50. Pretty much every comment... by UnixRevolution · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can be put into 4 categories.

    1. Arrr, MacDownaldz is teh suck and ewww! Who'd go there just for wifi?

    2. How will they keep laptops from connecting?

    3. They're gonna make people fat!!!

    4. Kids will get fat playing DS and eating Bigmacs

    Let me adress these.

    1. McDonalds, although i know a lot of people don't like it, is wildly successful and profitable, and there are a ton of people who go there anyway.

    2. From what i read, DS's don't have TCP/IP, so there won't be any TCP/IP for laptops to connect to the internet with. they'll have to translate back and forth between ni-fi and TCP.

    3. People make THEMSELVES fat. People think for themselves and make their own decisions. You can choose to have the Big Mac, you can also choose to have the McSalad.

    4. Parents are responsible for the eating and play habits of their children, not Nintendo and not McDonalds.

    That is all.

    --
    You like your new Mac more than you like me, don't you, Dave? Dave? I asked...She said Yes.
    1. Re:Pretty much every comment... by tuffy · · Score: 3, Informative
      2. From what i read, DS's don't have TCP/IP, so there won't be any TCP/IP for laptops to connect to the internet with. they'll have to translate back and forth between ni-fi and TCP.

      The DS, as shipped, doesn't provide a full TCP/IP stack. It does provide the bottom layers for 802.11 wireless. It's up to the games to implement the rest of the stack for proper connection over the internet. And, according to some recent screenshots that's precisely what Nintendo's doing.

      --

      Ita erat quando hic adveni.

    2. Re:Pretty much every comment... by Edam · · Score: 1

      > 3. People make THEMSELVES fat. People think for themselves and make their own decisions.

      Surely you'd agree that people can be *influenced* though. Not that I think DS wi-fi access will make people fat anyway, it's just one more reason not to go to McPoorDiet.

      > 4. Parents are responsible for the eating and play habits of their children, not Nintendo and not McDonalds.

      Read: Parents are irresponsible if they take their kids to McCapitalistBastards.

      --
      "Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master." -Pravin Lal
  51. not the first burger chain with WiFi by Evil+Grinn · · Score: 1

    At least down here in Atlanta, Krystal has had free wi-fi for a while. I typically consider Krystal to be "road food", since the small square burgers are easy to eat with one hand while driving with the other. But the free wi-fi almost makes it worth while to go in. Almost.

  52. Nintendo isn't making people fat by dividedsky319 · · Score: 1

    The majority of comments are based upon the fact that this is combining video games with fast food... kids will go and sit and get fat and play their DS while eating a happy meal.

    I have two points to make.
    1 - This is smart for Nintendo. If they could pick one place that there are already lots of kids, and is widespread across the entire country, it would be McDonalds.
    2 - Since when is it up to Nintendo to keep your kids trim? I'm sick and tired of people blaming anyone other than a kids' parents for childhood obesity (and whatever other problems a child has)

    Point being... smart move for Nintendo. Profit off of the bad choices by the parents of America.

  53. I wouldn't worry about the mess... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nintendo portables have always been highly durable. I wouldn't worry about any sort of mess.

    Maybe we do need some more bad DS games... right now, there are far too many great ones out or on the horizon. We've gotta have balance!

  54. Wayport WiFi != internet connectivity by dazedNconfuzed · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You probably won't be able to connect your laptop to it.

    Now it's making sense.

    The Burger King I frequent (so long as they have $1 Whoppers) does have unsecured Wayport WiFi ... but try as I might, I can't get an Internet connection thru it. Never crossed my mind that it would be only for Nintendo use.

    --
    Can we get a "-1 Wrong" moderation option?
    1. Re:Wayport WiFi != internet connectivity by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

      Well, you don't necessarily need a secured Wi-Fi server to prevent people connecting to the internet. Just add MAC address filtering and you're done.

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    2. Re:Wayport WiFi != internet connectivity by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      mac filtering is useless without encryption, however there are security measures that can secure an aparrantly unsecured wireless connection such as VPN or any type of proprietary security protocol running on top of the "unsecured" wireless connection

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  55. For those we have never been to london by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2, Informative
    It is true that London can be a bit... dirty. It is a busy town and so when you enter a restaurant that has been open close to 20 hours at night it is going to be less then clean.

    McD is not the same all over the world and as a bit of a traveller I have had a lot of fun sampling the local McD. No, the food is never GREAT. Nor is it ever cheap. BUT there are real differences between countries, not just in taste but in how they are used and in how classy they are. Try an McD in a more rural area and you will have wooden chairs and tables with real plants. Go to the heart of london and it looks designed to be hoosed down during the 2 hours it actually closes.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:For those we have never been to london by vrai · · Score: 1
      Try an McD in a more rural area and you will have wooden chairs and tables with real plants.
      I'll take your word for that. When I'm travelling the last place I want to visit is a McDonald's! I want to eat local food, stuff that's unique to the country/region. Not the same fatty, anodyne, mass-marketed junk that I can get in Liverpool Street station.

      That said I did visit McDonald's a lot when I was working in Alkmaar because, predictably enough, it was the only place to eat that was near my office! I really should pick better places to work ...

    2. Re:For those we have never been to london by cakesy · · Score: 1

      as a bit of a traveller I have had a lot of fun sampling the local McD

      Does this not seem a little strange to everyone - you are a bit of a traveller, but enjoy visiting different McDs?? Hey, definately don't try any different cuisine, it might kill you. ha ha, im just kidding, you are alright... really.

    3. Re:For those we have never been to london by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      It is different in different places. For example, in England they'll sometimes have little mini-pizzas--never seen one of those in the US. In Canada in some places you'll get (fake) poutine. In India, you don't get burgers. So on and so forth.

    4. Re:For those we have never been to london by Darius+Jedburgh · · Score: 1

      Curious. I was pretty shocked when I moved to the US from England. McDonald's was never the best place to eat but in London it achieved a basic level of hygiene and a wide cross section of society ate there. Most of the McDonald's I've tried in the US are pretty disgusting (unusual for the US which generally has the highest level of hygiene I've experienced anywhere) and the people who eat there seem to be people who can't afford to eat anywhere else - a lot of bums and people who are clearly mentally ill.

    5. Re:For those we have never been to london by HRH+King+Lerxst · · Score: 1

      Actually the McDonalds' I've been to in Shanghai and Chonqing have been pretty cheap, at least by US McD prices.

      --
      No one got beat up more often than the mimes of the old west!
    6. Re:For those we have never been to london by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Who goes around the world just to eat at McDonalds?

      You MUST be American!

      You think non-plastic chairs and non-plastic plants make a place classy, but I prefer non-plastic food.

    7. Re:For those we have never been to london by Phurd+Phlegm · · Score: 1
      McD is not the same all over the world and as a bit of a traveller I have had a lot of fun sampling the local McD.
      That's what I like about traveling--I get to try different McDonalds' around the world.

      Reminds me of a customer that visited us once. He said he always liked to hit all the Penny's stores in the area if he got to travel. To this day I'm not sure he wasn't jerking our chains.

  56. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  57. Super Size Me by Refelian · · Score: 1

    Too bad Morgan Spurlock didn't knew about this.

  58. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  59. Ok, I'll bite by callipygian-showsyst · · Score: 4, Funny
    There are so many potential jokes here that I'm gonna just leave it to you guys to make your own.


    Help! My PC is 0wn3d by the Hamburgler!


    or


    Mayor McCheese just busted me for stealing music!

  60. DDR Competitions by GungaDan · · Score: 3, Funny

    I use RDRAM, you insensitive hamburgling clod!

    --
    Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
  61. Re:It's bad enough taking children to McDonald's.. by Generic+Guy · · Score: 1
    It's bad enough taking children to McDonald's for exercise on the playground AFTER a greasy Happy Meal. Now we're just taking out the exercise and letting the kids wallow with their WiFi and Nintendos after their Happy Meals.

    This pretty much defines the big colorful Play Place sign on the front of the building.

    --
    { - Generic Guy - }
  62. McDonald's isn't that bad by RyoShin · · Score: 1

    Those who are bashing McDonald's for causing fatness in people need to step back and think for a minute. It's the people who are causing the fatness, not McDonald's, by choosing what to eat at McDonald's.

    For the past year or so, I've eaten 2-3 times a week from or at McDonald's, be it breakfast or lunch/dinner. I hardly excersize, and *gasp* I've actually been losing weight over this past year. Not a huge amount, and McDonald's isn't the reason I'm losing weight, but it does show that eating at McDonald's doesn't instantly make you a McBlimp.

    And it's not just me. A reporter for another paper did a similar self-study in response to "Super Size Me", but only for two weeks. He, too, lost weight, but his cholesterol went up. (Can't seem to find the article in question, unfortunatly.)

    In short, eating at McDonald's is fine, as long as you watch what you and the kids are eating. Milk or orange juice instead of soda (or at least diet soda), skipping the fries most of the time (excess carbs lead to excess fat if they're not burned off) and you don't have nearly as big of a problem as everyone claims.

  63. Re:Restricting access (similar to Spanish restroom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks. I'll just pick through the trash for a receipt.

  64. Many McDonald's have WiFi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Many US McDonald's have WiFi. If you go to McDonalds.com the store locator will tell you if the store does or not. It may not be in the stores that you expect, tho - for example, many interstate restaurants may have it to appeal to truckers.

    I believe you can get it free for an hour or two with the purchase of a value meal, or you can buy it. They give you a scratch-off card with a passcode.

    This sounds like a partnership to make it free for DS users.

  65. No Dogs Allowed by mario64 · · Score: 1

    I thought that dogs were not allowed in McDonald's, so I would not be able to take my son and his DS in with me.

    Reason :- I would not be able to take NINTENDOGS off him, not even for a happy meal....

  66. The REAL story here by glomph · · Score: 1

    As readers of The Register website have known for a long time, Pay-To-Play WiFi is a utter and complete commercial disaster.
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/05/12/public_wif i_has_look/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/21/cometa_cra sh/

    As an enticement to bring in customers, it is a great freebie in coffee shops, but the big players here do not want to publicly admit it.

    Shhhhhh!

  67. Re:Wow [OT] by vrai · · Score: 1

    ... there's also the fact that in most countries childrens play areas are not owned and run by fast food firms. Group play is vitally important for a child's social/mental growth - far too important to be entrusted to companies whose only goal is to sell fat filled crap and sugared water. Not that I'm attacking your decision to use the facilities; if it's the only one around then you've got no choice. But it's a pretty bloody sad state of affairs when kids can't even go to a playground without being surrounded by product placement and targetted advertising.

  68. hehehe by goarilla · · Score: 0

    i hope they'll serve nintendogs

  69. You could choose the McSalad but..... by ltrm · · Score: 2, Informative
    ...it could well have more calories than the cheeseburger.

    http://www.campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/230304/CTM-M cdonalds.htm/

  70. No Ni-Fi! by Phantasmo · · Score: 3, Informative

    I doubt that this will be modded up, but there are plenty of trolls having a big laugh about "Ni-Fi" on Slashdot today. So let me set the record straight:
    Ni-Fi is what's used for local games. If you are at the mall with some friends and want to connect for Nintendogs or Bomberman, the DS will be using Ni-Fi. It is proprietary. It is not used for playing on the Internet.
    If you buy Mario Kart DS and you're at the mall with some friends, it will use Ni-Fi. If you stumble upon an unsecured wireless node at the mall and want to play on the Internet, the Mario Kart cartridge will fire up its own TCP/IP stack. This is how online play is going to work on the DS.
    So, Ni-Fi = LAN, Wifi + TCP/IP = Internet.

    Frankly this whole McDonald's thing is not surprising. There are lots of McDonaldses in my area with "free" (with purchase) wireless Internet access. On top of that, every McDonald's in Scarborough has at least four Gamecubes in the kids area.

    What does it mean in the end? Another reason to go to McDonald's. Damn you, with your McFlurries and your Big Macs and your Mario Kart and free drink refills...
    Aha! Free DS online play + unlimited pop for $1.50...

    --

    The US Army: promoting democracy through unquestioned obedience
    1. Re:No Ni-Fi! by vertinox · · Score: 1

      So McD's won't support Ni-Fi games? The article got my hopes up for a Yu-Gi-Oh game with local wireless but relayed elsewhere.

      --
      "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
      -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
    2. Re:No Ni-Fi! by tuffy · · Score: 1
      So McD's won't support Ni-Fi games? The article got my hopes up for a Yu-Gi-Oh game with local wireless but relayed elsewhere.

      Nobody has to support local Ni-Fi games; the DSes set up their own network for that. But your local Ni-Fi games will stay local and can't be played over the internet. Only games written especially to take advantage of internet play can use existing wireless networks to play against others via McDonald's and so on.

      --

      Ita erat quando hic adveni.

    3. Re:No Ni-Fi! by kinglink · · Score: 1

      Kudos the first interesting post I said, (though your subject is a bit misleading). BUt kudos you at least explain it in in a clear way.

      That's not to say there's not a good amount of jokes here. But at least now I learned something.. Damm you slashdot! Trying to infect the internet with information!

  71. Re:Wow [OT] by madgamer · · Score: 1

    look, i hate mcdonald's food, it tastes like crap and if eaten on a regular basis, makes people fat. however, i will take my kids there once a month or so because they love it. it's a good thing they make a decent cup of coffee. i was a kid once too, and i loved mcdonald's food back then, and my parents would indulge me once in awhile. i'm not going to take that away from my kids because once in awhile they deserve to act like kids and eat fat filled crap and drink sugar water. on top of playing with me out in the yard, public parks, in the school playground, or wrestling with me at home, my kids also do karate 3 times a week. this thread isn't about bad parenting, it's about why nintendo and mcdonald's providing wifi for ds makes sense. to me, it makes perfect sense, and my family will probably use it once or twice in the next couple of months.

  72. Overlords... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I for one welcome our new 'Fat, greasy, Geek, Wireless American Overlords!'

  73. Um by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who in hell would eat a *tofu burger*?

  74. what's the joke? by Jormundgard · · Score: 1

    Is there some joke here I'm missing? Or is it just that anything involving McDonalds is funny?

  75. Re:Restricting access (similar to Spanish restroom by wertarbyte · · Score: 1

    What about a sliding window system? Each printed (different) code is valid for one hour, after that a new code is needed.

    --
    Life is just nature's way of keeping meat fresh.
  76. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  77. Isn't it best to keeps kids away from MacDonalds? by Shinaku · · Score: 1

    Hm, not too sure if any of the Nintendo fan boys will agree with me saying this, but doesn't Nintendo target kids (mostly) with their game consoles/hand helds? This will just add to the amount of kids eating fast food and increasing the problem with is childhood obesity.

    --
    -- :>
  78. Go Inside??!?!?! by Duncan3 · · Score: 1

    Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

    Who would enter one of those places??? I've never seen in a McD's that was cleaner then the mens room at a interstate rest stop - and that's the counter area! But then what do you expect when you hire teenagers, and often illegals?

    Yea, McD's may have a small image problem...

    --
    - Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
    1. Re:Go Inside??!?!?! by jeikabu · · Score: 1


      Seen a ton of these comments condemning setting foot in a McD's because they're filthy/smelly/diseased/whatever. I guess it all depends on where you hang out. In some parts of the world (Japan, for example) the McD's are cleaner, more pleasant restaurants than the average establishment in America.

      The trick is finding one that's smoke-free. heh

  79. Not likely, Re: "potential jokes" by MS-06FZ · · Score: 1

    A) Hack your Nintendogs to introduce new behavior in online play, viz., your NintendRhodesianRidgeback runs down and eats NintendChihuahuas and McToyPoodles.
    Packet Injection attacks to replace Mario with something, uh, a little less "Kid-friendly" (play fair now)


    It seems Nintendo already accounted for this possibility, and for now, at least, it's not practical.

    Normally in wireless multi-boot modes, the Nintendo DS will only accept cryptographically signed code. Someone's managed to alter one of the WMB games in such a way that it'll still be accepted by the DS (WiFiMe - they managed to inject a call to make CPU execution jump to the GBA cartridge slot) but without cracking the protection scheme for real, WMB'ing homebrew or hacked code will be impractical.

    As for all this business about "how do they keep everyone else out?" ... Come on, I thought Slashdot readers were smarter than that. First off, they're doing this so DSes can do a few particular things:
    1: Download WMB demos
    2: Download bonus game content (for Nintendogs, Pokemon, etc.)
    3: Access game servers for multiplayer on DS titles

    The first one requires no internet access at all. In the second case the DS may not be speaking TCP/IP at all - so the free access can be limited to DS protocols, and specifically handle relaying a few pre-determined protocols to a few pre-determined hosts on the internet. So if someone wants to take their laptop into McDonalds, make it speak Mario Kart's network language and access the Mario Kart game server, that may be possible. They could then use that power to... cheat at Mario Kart, that's about it, really.

    --
    ---GEC
    I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand
  80. Bad joke by rfernand79 · · Score: 1

    Why did the chicken go to McDonalds? To play Duck Hunt on its NintendoDS while waiting in line to become McNuggets...

    1. Re:Bad joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. OW! You know, you really
      shouldn't do that to a person. They could have a heart attack. By the way, here's another one: Why did the chicken go to McDonalds? To pass to the next level.

  81. Mc Donald's already does that in Istanbul/Turkey by jayminer · · Score: 1

    At least 80 of McDonald's restaurants in Istanbul already provides free wireless Internet access for over a year.

  82. winner of the internets (n/t) by ethanms · · Score: 1

    n/t

  83. Its done through Wayport in McD's by OoSync · · Score: 1
    I guess noone's reading the blurb (go figure), but the deal is made with Wayport and McDonald's. Wayport operates the wireless equipement, which is pay-for-access normally. This deal lets DS users access the Wayport network for free to play Wi-Fi enabled games.

    Its all here: Wayport Products

    And a location finder is here: Wayport locator

    I find it a bit disconcerting that my town (largest in 60 miles) has at least two McD's and no Wayport access, but the dinky towns 30 miles away do. C'est la vie!

    --

    I always get the shakes before a drop.
  84. McDonalds has had net access. by Khyber · · Score: 1

    The one up the street from my house has had it for about 4 months now. They're trying to make a McStarbucks for DS gamers, now?

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  85. Re:Restricting access (similar to Spanish restroom by ezweave · · Score: 1

    What is this Spain talk? Sounds like every restaurant in L.A.

  86. Obesity Benefits by lullabud · · Score: 1

    When you reach level 10 they begin to deliver your greasy doses of death right to the table at which you are now stuck behind. By level 20 they'll be dumping your food into that gaping orifice you call a mouth.

  87. Because of that by nazsco · · Score: 1

    All the little hearts that used to give you healt in the game will be replaced by big macs.

  88. Order options... by KC7GR · · Score: 1

    Essence, I can just picture it...

    Customer: "So I get free wireless for my Nintendo DS now?"
    Clerk: "Yes, would you like a Pringles can-tenna with that?"

    --

    Bruce Lane, KC7GR,

    Blue Feather Technologies

  89. HA!! by Locke03 · · Score: 1

    I've had WiFi at my local McDonalds(Oxford, Ohio) for over a year now.

    --
    I don't care what youre doing so much as the idiotic way you're doing it.
  90. Mature != puerile by tepples · · Score: 1

    By taken more seriously, I mean by an older audience and more mature themes (maybe not their intention). Related to this recent /. article. Staying in the light-hearted kid's land of casual gore-free gameplay must be their stra-tem-egy.

    You can have more mature themes in movies and video games without having to add explicit gore, which strikes many critics as more puerile than mature. For instance, though I despise the company that publishes M. Night Shyamalan's PG-13-rated horror films, I'll grant that his movies do manage to spell "scare" without R.

  91. The following scenario is inevitable: by niktemadur · · Score: 1

    While kids are in the McPlayRoom sliding down the McChute, some guy will be sitting in a booth, drinking a cup of McCoffee, downloading McPorn. A group of mothers sitting in the table across the aisle will notice this. This will put the shift manager in an uncomfortable spot. How often do paying customers get kicked out of McDonald's?

    Or never mind downloading porn, watersports pop-up ads will do. How often does this happen in, say, Starbucks?

    --
    Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
  92. Re:-1, Flamebait by Ray+Alloc · · Score: 0

    I like the "Offtopic" mod on this one, especially when the topic was the jokes one can make about Nintendo and Mcdonald's :-)

    Slashdot moderation is one hell of a piece of bullsh*t...

  93. Re:Restricting access (similar to Spanish restroom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The problem is that Ni-Fi doesn't use username/passwords. It's 100% plug'n'play, using only a 12-digit internal code to identify the particular user, which is not user-configurable. So, they would have to to use funny methods submiting the code to their database etc etc... Which would be too complicated for most people, and make lines even longer.

    I guess what they could easily do, is provide access to ALL DS owners, and ban the code after some predefined time, eg 1 hour, and lift the ban 6 hours later, or something like that.

  94. McDonald's food. by crhylove · · Score: 1

    Until McDonald's starts serving mushrooms that make me feel bigger, I'm not going. The food is terrible.

    rhY

    --
    I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
  95. Re:-1, Flamebait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So are most of the commenters. I'm rolling reading this topic, imagining the fat geek fucks pretending that they're "sophisticated" europeans looking down from up high.

  96. It's for kids by phorm · · Score: 1

    McDonalds is for people that don't have time for good food (or sense to find a quick place iwth good food). It's also for people with kids.

    Kids like McDonalds. Parents like McDonalds (or other fast-food places) when they have entertainment for the kids so they'll shut up, be it in the form of a play area, gaming kiosk, or gaming connection.

  97. Differences in McDs. by SeanDuggan · · Score: 1

    I still remember my shock going into a Moscow McDonalds and seeing that they offered milk on the menu. Unhomogenized milk, actually.

    --
    This sig has absolutely no significance and serves only to take up screen space and waste the time of the reader.