The Redmond, Wash.-based company [Nintendo] is making a pitch to turn its portable DS Lite into a baseball staple, bringing interactive technology to fans through a pilot program being tested this season at the Mariners’ Safeco Field.
The innovative program is called the Nintendo Fan Network. For a fee, the network uploads a program onto the user’s DS Lite and allows fans to order food and drinks, watch the live television feed of the game, access stats and scores and play trivia, all from the comfort of their seat — whether it’s a premium seat behind home plate or in the top row of the stadium.
The program is still in the beginning stages, but Smith said the idea is being embraced by Major League Baseball and fans as another way to make attending a game more interactive. Nintendo declined to provide numbers on how many users are purchasing software for the program — at $5 a pop for one game or $30 for 10 games.
| This would be pretty cool at any sporting event. Before too long, there will be wi-fi everywhere. |
This is the type of innovation that I like too see. 😀
I love Nintendo. Truly the most innovative gaming company around. 😀
But baseball is so exciting, how could you take your eyes off the game to look at that portable?
—-and the software is licensed on a per game basis?
—–and the ticket to get in to begin with is how much?
I really don’t get it.
@ bobbo
Well if anything it’s a pretty nice convenience not having to leave your seat to order a drink or something to eat, since it can be a nightmare having to navigate a crowded stadium or wait in lines. And for the most part I’d think for the average person going to a game is a rare event, so this doesn’t seem too cost-prohibitive. If you are a regular stadium attendent $30 for 10 games seems like a pretty sweet deal. Seems like a win-win deal for both casual and hardcore sports fans.
#4 – since it can be a nightmare having to navigate a crowded stadium or wait in lines.
Really? I have never really experienced a problem.
And for the most part I’d think for the average person going to a game is a rare event, so this doesn’t seem too cost-prohibitive.
Well, baseball tickets aren’t really cost prohibitive to begin with, but to the average person living in a major league city who likes baseball, going to a game is a very common event.
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I guess its cool that you can do this… But do that many grown men own these toys?
What happens when the first fan gets conked in the head by a foul ball that they didn’t see because they was too busy ordering their Latte?.
Nothing new here folks many stadiums already have seat service in the club sections. The only difference here is you have to pay $130.00(?) for a DS lite and then $3.00-$5.00 a game to access the service. More money More Money More money for Ninetendo who also own a piece of the Mariners
Geeze! If you want to watch the television feed, stay home. If you want table service, go to a restaurant. One of my pet peeves is people who listen to the radio broadcast of a baseball game while sitting in the stadium with the game going on right in front of them.
What an obnoxious device!
The MLB is desperate to convince consumers that Baseball is not boring at all.
6.
Nintendo is not forcing anyone to buy the DS in the first place. This is obviously for people who allready have one (since Nintendo has sold around eleventy-bazilllion of them). Nobody is going to buy a DS specifically for this service. It’s just an experiment for the wi-fi capabilities of the DS.
$5 is prolly cheap.. Doesn’t the beer or hotdog you would order cost more?
I’ve actually used this. They’ve been experimenting with this at Mariners games for a while now. I bought it it as a joke initially, just to play with one game, but it’s kinda cool actually. It’s a pretty good cross-application. It’s not what you’d normally expect to use a DS for when you buy one. But I ordered drinks and food on it, and the replay works too (though a little hard to see depending on the sun). Pulling up stats is one of the best features, since baseball is really a game of stats anyway. All in all, very clever.
P.S. No I didn’t buy the DS just for this, I doubt anyone would. But it’s a good excuse to ‘borrow’ your kids DS for the afternoon. 😉
We got our kid a DS for Christmas. Definitely one of the best gifts we have ever given her. Nintendo rules.
#14
Sounds like she’s a Tomboy. Better that than a limp wristed Paris Hilton wannabe; buy her a Pink album and avoid Avril Lavigne’s music.
Angel, quit being such a pig.
Someone should note that Nintendo OWNS the Mariners. Great cross-promotion concept.