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[Kunz]

Is this old? WTF?

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20070708/D8Q8IJAG0.html

SEATTLE (AP) - Ballpark essentials: hot dogs, peanuts, a well-worn glove and ... Nintendo's portable gaming device? The Redmond, Wash.-based company 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.

"It's been a work in progress. Once we created the technology of the DS, we started looking at other applications to use its wireless features," said Nintendo corporate affairs manager J.C. Smith. "The program system became so popular ... so we sought other ways to make this a fun system for people to have."

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.

Ideas for the program were first presented to the Nintendo-owned Mariners in late 2005. With the team onboard, Nintendo spent the following year developing and testing the system and arranging a partnership with MLB.com to provide statistics and scores available.

The network was first unveiled at the Mariners' offseason fan gathering and debuted on opening day.

Both MLB and the Mariners deferred comment to Nintendo.

"For us it's really just the initial stage," Smith said. "We didn't want to push it hard until we were sure the services were working. We're now to that point where we're like, 'Let's push it out further.' It has been a process."

The program has been lightly promoted at Mariners home games. Two download stations are positioned on the main concourse of Safeco Field and occasional ads for the network play before games. But there is little other fanfare, and the system isn't even mentioned on the Mariners' Web site.

Sitting in right-center field on a Monday night, Smith showed off the functionality of the program. He ordered a hot dog and a couple of drinks from his seat. Ten minutes later, the meal was delivered with a tip already included in the order price. Smith also showed friends replays from the television feed that were unavailable in the stadium. While a little difficult to see on the tiny screen, the replays were welcomed for those who might not have seen a critical play.

The chance to see replays is what drew Colleen Barracca and her 13-year-old son James to spend the $5 for a one-time use of the network. Barracca thought the cost was a bit high, depending on how many games her family attended.

"We're going to be in a suite with nephews and cousins the same age and I thought that would be fun for them," Colleen Barracca said. "It does make it more interactive for them. I don't know if I would pay that price over and over."

Making the game more interactive has been tried in other stadiums with little success. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Francisco Giants tried "smart seats" in premium areas, with fans able to order food and watch highlights. Both teams eventually removed those seats due to lack of use.

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) has pitched advanced technology for the Oakland Athletics' new ballpark in Fremont, Calif. Their visions include fans swiping electronic tickets stored on cell phones; bleacher bums viewing instant replays at their seats with laptop computers; and digital advertising displays able to switch images based on the buying habits of the people walking by through data embedded in their cell phones.

Nintendo hopes to expand the network to other stadiums. Smith said the system could be upgraded regularly as the technology and programs continue to evolve. As long as fan reaction remains positive and the system works properly, Nintendo will move forward with the program.

"We're still in the initial stage to get a read on the system," Smith said. "It will improve if we roll it out broader."

 

[Talladega Knight]

Yea this is pretty much ****ing awesome.

 

[∀ Narayan]

That's pretty damn cool.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Im sure anyone posts this already...still awesome

 

[Stop It]

What??!?!!

That is so awesome, shame it'll never get a decent use in the UK, or at least, not one that isn't absurd.

 

[TJ Spyke]

That's pretty cool, and I would love to see it expanded to included minor league baseball games and other sports.

 

[Bo130]

WTF, last time I read this it sounded very much as a free service for download.. "play". WTF :S

 

[donny2112]

Would this be something that the PSP is better suited for? More memory, bigger screen, etc. It would involve menu navigation via D-pad + buttons instead of a touchscreen, though.

 

[M3wThr33]

Do you know who OWNS the Mariners?

 

[masud]

Would this be something that the PSP is better suited for? More memory, bigger screen, etc. It would involve menu navigation via D-pad + buttons instead of a touchscreen, though.

You know Nintendo owns the Mariners right?

 

[Stabby McSter]

I saw this when they announced it or something like that.

Except this is about testing it (or something). I like the idea, but I'd never get to experience it. :\

 

[Armitage]

Would this be something that the PSP is better suited for? More memory, bigger screen, etc. It would involve menu navigation via D-pad + buttons instead of a touchscreen, though.

"Negative."

 

[neptunes]

Would this be something that the PSP is better suited for? More memory, bigger screen, etc. It would involve menu navigation via D-pad + buttons instead of a touchscreen, though.

Nintendo owns the mariners

but the only thing stopping sony from implementing a similar psp service to whatever public venue they own, would be their own Lazy Asses

 

[donny2112]

You know Nintendo owns the Mariners right?

Yes, but I was referring to the idea of using the PSP when this is rolled out across the major leagues. The DS probably makes more sense, as most PSP owners seem to worry about damaging their screen which would make them less likely to bring it to a (crowded) baseball game. There's also the idea that more kids probably own a DS than a PSP (if for no other reason then there's more sold DSs than PSPs), and MLB is supposed to be a kids game.

I was just thinking of the quality of video on the DS compared to the PSP. It was even mentioned in the article as being somewhat problematic on the DS screen.

 

[Visualante]

Should be included in the cost of entry.

 

[loosus]

Sounded like a neat (if worthless) novelty when it was free. As a paid service, it's just dumb. More power to Nintendo, though, if they can bait a few people.

 

[cvxfreak]

Interesting concept, but I don't think there should be a fee.

 

[calder]

Someone will figure out a way to do stuff like this eventually, but it won't be for a while and I'm sure it will just be an open thing that anyone with a data-enabled cell will be able to do without a second thought, and it'll have to be free. As neat as being able to whip out my BB and order a beer and hotdog would be, I wouldn't pay much more than a few cent surcharge simply to avoid getting up and walking a bit. Or waiting for the beer vendor to walk down my aisle again for that matter.

The thing about the 'smart seats' was interesting, I wonder if ppl had to pay more to use it to order food or if there was a charge for replays. With space so tight in all stadiums/arenas/etc they'd need to have a very well designed system to avoid pissing ppl off (I'm imagining seats like desks in a lecture theater with those annoying swivel arms).