| As the battle of the handheld gaming systems | | | | public places such as airports, and Nintendo |
| hots up, one of the emerging must-haves is | | | | have even struck a deal with McDonald's in |
| proving to be the capability of Wi-Fi gaming. | | | | order to provide designated Wi-Fi access for |
| As the term implies, Wi-Fi gaming involves | | | | the Nintendo Wi-Fi Network. In the UK there |
| playing games via a Wi-Fi internet connection | | | | are currently 7500 branches offering this |
| to other players. The two most popular | | | | facility. |
| handheld gaming consoles, the PlayStation | | | | |
| Portable (PSP) and the Nintendo DS, both | | | | For those who prefer gaming at home, in |
| allow Wi-Fi gaming, across the PlayStation | | | | addition to the handheld consoles, the |
| Network and the Nintendo Wi-Fi Network, | | | | latest-generation home consoles, that is, the |
| respectively. | | | | Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox |
| | | | 360 can all access the internet for gaming |
| Wi-Fi gaming allows users to compete against | | | | via Wi-Fi connections, although the Xbox 360 |
| others connected to the internet nearby or | | | | will require the optional USB Xbox 360 |
| even on the other side of the world. Even if | | | | Wireless Networking Adapter to go wireless. |
| you don't have friends who have an interest | | | | |
| in gaming, with 53 million Nintendo DS | | | | The range of games available for the handheld |
| consoles and 25 million PSP consoles sold | | | | consoles for online play should be wide |
| worldwide, it is unlikely that there won't be | | | | enough to suit anyone's tastes. There's role |
| anyone to play against, regardless of your | | | | playing games such as Final Fantasy III and |
| preferred gaming genre. | | | | Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass, first-person |
| | | | shooters like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: |
| Wi-Fi networks are accessible within the | | | | Vegas, racing games such as Mario Kart DS and |
| transmitting range of a wireless access | | | | sports games, including FIFA 08 to name but a |
| point, or hotspot. In the US, the city of | | | | few. The opportunities are literally endless, |
| Albuquerque, New Mexico, has gone as far as | | | | and with the market for online gaming set to |
| to offer free Wi-Fi access to all of its | | | | increase from $5.9bn in 2007 to $13bn by 2012 |
| residents. In the UK, Norwich is pioneering a | | | | according to research by the DFC Intelligence |
| free city-wide Wi-Fi project, employing 200 | | | | Group, that is unlikely to change anytime |
| antennas to cover the city centre and three | | | | soon. |
| sectors of the city. Similar projects are | | | | |
| being planned for other major UK cities, such | | | | So with an almost limitless amount of places |
| as Manchester, London and Birmingham. For | | | | to play the games, people to play with and |
| those not lucky enough to live in a city with | | | | game genres, gamers are simply spoilt for |
| a comparable scheme there are several free | | | | choice by the current wave of Wi-Fi gaming. |
| Wi-Fi connections in cafés, pubs and | | | | |