Interesting article in USA Today this morning. Apparently some hotels are starting to offer gaming consoles on an hourly basis.

Now, this is nothing new, since many hotels have been trying to lure you (or your kids) into paying $7 an hour for 10 year old Nintendo 64 games (thanks Lodgenet!).

Popular interactive virtual-reality games played via consoles hooked up to TVs in rooms, lounges or activity centers are scoring points with guests of all ages.

The Westin chain is in groundbreaking talks with Nintendo to offer customized Wii (pronounced "we") systems in its more than 150 hotels and resorts, says Nadeen Ayala, a Westin spokeswoman. Details haven’t been announced yet.

The fitness center at Manhattan’s Le Parker Meridien has a customized Nintendo Wii console (games are preloaded and can’t be pirated). Guests and non-guests work out with a trainer on Wii tennis or boxing projected on a racquetball court wall ($120 an hour) or rent the console to play solo or with pals ($50 an hour).

 

Source: USA Today