The DS: McDonalds is lovin' it

by Chris Greenhough { May 26th 2008 at 10:30PM }

Fast food chain McDonalds is to launch a new download service in Japan tomorrow, through DS download stations located in 21 Tokyo branches of McDonalds and train stations along the Tsukuba Express line.

The scheme, dubbed "Nintendo Spot," is currently in a trial period, and will give DS owners access to free downloads featuring the latest "McDonalds news" (this just in: you need to learn to cook for yourself), nutritional information, and menus, as well as actual news, weather reports, horoscopes, a Brain Training demo, and hotel/restaurant guides for Tokyo (though we assume that guides to rival restaurants won't appear in McDonalds). The trial ends on June 30th in McDonalds, and on December 28th at the railway stations.

Incidentally, our machine translation is picking up something about a "downloadable gift" related to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Here's hoping the service heads west so we can find out more. While you wait with us, make the jump for a look at Ronald McDonald's offspring as perceived through the eyes of Japanese advertising executives (warning: slightly NSFW).

Gallery: Nintendo Spot download service

Tags: diamond, download, download-station, fast-food, japan, mcdonalds, pearl, pokemon, promotion

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

therpham @ May 27th 2008 1:56AM

... Why, oh why, did you post those videos? Now my soul shall never rest.

Sonic_13 @ May 27th 2008 5:56AM

Those videos were oddly disturbing...

Sonic_13 @ May 27th 2008 6:02AM

Sorry, I was so distracted by those creepy videos that I forgot to actually comment on the article itself.

I think this sounds like a pretty cool idea and hope it comes to McDonalds stateside. Of course installing this in the approx. 14,000 US McDonalds is a much greater challenge than installing them in the far fewer Japanese McDonalds.

Jonathan in Kichijoji @ May 27th 2008 11:57PM

I tried this out today at the McDonald's near Meidaimae station in Tokyo. it was pretty cool! I tried the "Beautiful Letter Training". I actually might pick this one up because my kanji writing (and handwriting in general) sucks ass ^_^

Krystian Majewski @ May 27th 2008 3:50PM

ARGH! Can't stop watching the freaky videos... They are mesmerizing!

tacoman @ May 27th 2008 5:49PM

Man I want that cheese pork cuts sandwich. Akihabara being one terminus of the Tsukuba line probably has something to do with its increased trial period. I'll try and get a hands-on done at some point. The Pokemon present at McDonalds is a Pikachu.

It should also be noted that the contents available at McDonalds and the train station are different. Mac has their own news and menu type service, along with the Pokemon gift, the station has news and sports along with other things of a general sense in addition to Brain Training, Handwriting Training, and 4 other demos.

NTTBP is also hiring field monitors to give surveys and interviews to people using the service during the trial. You can apply on their Wi-Fine for DS site, 200 people will be selected; recruitment is open until August 31st or they meet capacity. People participating in these surveys will be given gift certificates or other prizes.