McDonald's Japan announced Monday that it will offer a new service that begins on Friday in about 3,200 of its stores nationwide, which allows owners of Nintendo DS series handsets to access games and other features while in McDonald's restaurants.
The new service and tie-up with Nintendo, called “Makku de DS,” will allow customers who bring their Nintendo DS handset into stores to access games and discount coupons, and download Pocket Monster and other characters, through a wireless network specific to the DS and limited to the premises. The games include trial versions of English-learning tool “Eigo Tsuke” and popular brain training software, as well as games that educate users about nutrition and health.
Eikoh Harada, who is the big cheese at McDonald's Japan, serving as chairman, president and CEO, said: “With the introduction of ‘Makku de DS,’ we turn a new page in the history of the food and beverage industry. We hope to provide increased convenience and a place where kids and families can enjoy more than just the food. I’d like to see all of our stores offering the new service in the not-too-distant future.”
He also said that McDonald's Japan had been working with Nintendo since 2007 on the new service, and that they were looking into collaborating with other game manufacturers.
© Wire reports
26 Comments
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hotbertaa
There's always a kid with a DS in some family restaurant, a sad sight to see. This looks like another ploy by Mcdonalds to target children.
namabiru4me
great, now the kiddies will never leave!
bamboohat
You can say that again. The book "Fast Food Nation" clearly illustrates McDonald's many insidious marketing strategies to hook people in for life. Now they are combing junk food for the body with junk food for the brain. This can only make society weaker in the long run. Of course, weak minds and weak bodies are easy to rule and keep in check by weak governments.
bamboohat
Also, very interesting is the choice of the conflict sounding word "Targets" instead of something more helpful like "Extends an offer to"
hotbertaa
hey, lets put some carrot sticks and grapes in a bag, that'll fool 'em.
noborito
McDonald's has always targeted kids. Watch Super Size Me.
MAC and the such are killing Japanese culture. Young people can't cook. Without MAC and 7/11 90% of the population would starve.
The trash that MAC puts into the environment is also appalling. Why not have plates that can be washed and reused. Why is ever thing plastic and paper?
A company that should be Taxed under the stimulus plan. To target small children and turn them into Fat children is terrible. Instead of playing DS while you eat, how about TALK? or better yet, go outside and play.
Beelzebub
There's a strong likelihood this is going to spoil their outlets' suave ambiance.
Altria
Sedentary lifestyle
kanadamanada
What else would we expect them to do aside from make money? Macdonald's is on the way down globally, but not in good 'ol behind the times Japan. It's still 1980 here. I'm surprised they don't still use the polystyrene clamshell boxes.
ogtob
Sounds like quality family time.
Hopfly
Should it not read tie in with Nintendo?
gogogo
Funny because the mcdonalds near me everyone plays PSP
SebastianFlyte
"popular brain training software, as well as games that educate users about nutrition and health"
If these programs are any good at all, users will soon recognise that eating MacDonalds warmed-up garbage is suicidal.
telecasterplayer
Couldn't help but notice that the press release didn't say "McDonalds targets families with good tasting, high quality food at reasonable prices"...
yokomoc
"as well as games that educate users about nutrition and health."
This will surely be the most honest game of all time!
tasha77
I actually saw a kid whinging and carrying on like a right royal pain in the as$ as he screamed to his mother no no no (because she was saying come on lets go inside) as he stood there playing his hand held game.......at the gates of DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!
spudman
Cause I want a clean plate not something the High school kid wiped with a dirty cloth.
Bento
children get fat because they eat too much and their parents have not educated them about what a healthy diet constitutes,not because they have been "targeted" by Mcdonalds.I have never seen anyone dragged into a macdonalds against their will..if you can't moderate your own calorie intake get used to being fat.
Tahoochi
MacDonald's and Nintendo teaming up is like the ultimate arch nemesis of parents everywhere... it's like The Joker and The Penguin teaming up against Batman.
realist
Yet another good reason to avoid McDonalds. First they produce crappy food, now they are also intent on polluting people`s minds with these crappy games, too. What next? Obamaburgers?
NekoNoir
ive only eaten then once and never again will i eat there.......I think young people should learn to cook for themselves ive been taught to cook since i was 15 its a great thing to do...why waste money on buying MacD's? ohhhh riiight.....convenience i think its dumb
ca1ic0cat
That's a start. How about some otaku themes too?
I agree that McD's food is pretty awful; except for the breakfasts. Not much you can do to OJ and sausage.
Icewind007
Sooo why do so many here assume the mere proximity of McDonalds forces people to go there, eat and get fat, avoid the family, lose the culture, etc.? Last time I checked, that's all voluntary. The DS is hardly going to change anything; it's just adding a new feature. Like most other things, McD's is perfectly fine in moderation. And people go there all the time just to hang out, even family with kids! Also, as for the culture, tell me a place in the world where the culture is not changing. The people who complain about it are usually all bark and no bite. Companies aren't going to keep that up, it's up to the people to keep on traditions.
Zybster
McDonald's is a business, like anywhere else. If you don't like it, are against it, there is no pressure on you to patronize it. The customers who go, or don't go there, dictate the future of the business. McDonald's has found a model with "fast food", which everyone knows should not be taken daily, but in moderation it's no bad. Taste? Your call, some people like it, some don't, like anywhere else. All of you who are getting so righteous keep forgetting that if it's not for you, it's your choice not to go there, but they, as a business, have every right to try to expand. That's one of the strategies - catch a group of customers which will helpfully stay with you. And the choices of each person and each parent will show if this place is a hell, as some of you are suggesting, or just another possible place to grab a bite.
escape_artist
Sheesh. Not content to ruin people's health one by one, the new campaign gets them all at once. Japan's lofty longevity figure is bound to drop in the coming decades if crap like this continue being pushed on the public.
rkgirl
My favorite part of this entire article is how they are posing with "Donald" McDonald.