Nintendo teams up with Six Flags

via joystiq

Theme park chain Six Flags announced today that the Nintendo Wii is now the "Official Gaming Console of Six Flags," meaning that the Wii will be available for free play at "Wii Gaming Stations" at "select Six Flags-branded theme parks" (which of Six Flags' 26 parks will get the Wii is unclear). In exchange, Nintendo will promote Six Flags through an upcoming contest on nintendo.com.

The marketing deal seems to be, in part, an effort to lure in kids who would rather stay home and play video game than go to a theme park. "When this audience is not in our parks, more often than not they are at home playing video games -- and now they can do both in one place," Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro said in the release. With the announcement, Nintendo joins companies like Cold Stone Creamery, Kodak and Home Depot in throwing thinly-veiled marketing messages at customers that paid good money just to ride some freaking roller coasters without being bombarded with ads and will you look at these lines I mean where do all these people come from seven dollars for a hamburger what am I made of money next year let's go to the beach. Sheesh!