Imagine going to a sporting event and being able to order your food and drink on your DS and having it delivered to your seat. Well thats just one of the many features of The Nintendo Fan Network that was rolled out in a baseball stadium called Safeco Field in Seattle USA in 2007. Other features of the service are video of the current match, player stats, trivia and mini game competitions and scores from other games being played around the country. All this and more was costing fans $5 US per match or $30 for a 10 match pass but will now be made free for home games. The software is installed using the DS's download play function from many kiosks scattered around the ground. You then enter your credit card number and buy sessions. Each session lasts 1 game and if you turn off the DS you just need to go to a kiosk to download the software again. All the functions are accessed from an easy to navigate menu on the touchscreen using your stylus. The reasons behind this stadium being chosen for the initial roll out are varied. Firstly, Nintendo of America is a Major owner of the Seattle Mariners and the former chairman of the company is now CEO of the baseball team. Another reason is that Nintendo of America is only 16 miles away from the stadium which made testing easier. Lets hope that one day this is rolled out for AFL matches in stadiums in Australia. Other source: www.msnbc.msn.com/
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http://kotaku.com/382525/mariners-nintendo-fan-network-goes-free