We'd normally place this sort of story under the 'weird and wonderful' section within our gaming filing cabinet, but given some of the other ventures that Nintendo has bounded into with the Nintendo DS, we're not overly surprised. Reports outline that the Kyoto-based videogame giant is working on integrating the dual-screened console into Major League Baseball, in a new service called the "Nintendo Fan Network."

DS owners will be able to power up their portables during ball games to enjoy up-to-the-minute statistics and trivia, watch a live streaming feed of the game in progress, and even order food and drinks to be brought directly to where they are sitting.

The pilot of the project has been taking place at the Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field; the team was chosen for the test project in late 2005 due to Nintendo's ownership. At a cost of $5 USD for one game, or $30 USD for 10, users download their access directly from the stadium's Fan Network system and enjoy specific extras not readily available to those not armed with a DS.

"It's been a work in progress," explained Nintendo corporate affairs manager, J.C. Smith. "Once we created the technology of the DS, we started looking at other applications to use its wireless features. The program system became so popular... so we sought other ways to make this a fun system for people to have."

A similar service, the iCard has been in existence for years already, offering racing fans a similar service via their Game Boy Advance consoles. Continued fan popularity with the Nintendo Fan Network will see Nintendo pushing the new interactive features towards other MLB clubs.