LodgeNet (partially lost video games from streaming service; mid-1990s to mid-2000s)

In the mid 90s to the mid 2000s, Lodgenet partnered with Nintendo to bring videogames directly into guest hotel rooms through streaming over the lodgenet server with the special lodgenet controller plugging directly into the TV or lodgenet set-top box. Pricing was usually $6.95 plus tax for 1 hour of videogames. After 1 hour, the game would immediately stop and prompt the user to purchase more play time. Customers were able to chose from a number of Nintendo games such as Super Mario World and F-Zero. During the partnership, the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo GameCube were made available to guests.

Differences

Due to their only being one available controller, many game roms had to be modded to only allow for single player. In some games, such as Mario Tenis, the multi-player option was completely removed (no VS icon). Other times, the multi-player icon was left in but could not be selected, or it was only possible to play against computers (such as Super Smash Brothers or F-Zero). Otherwise, from an end user perspective, the games were complete.

In addition to the actual Nintendo games, on the SNES version there were some lodgenet exclusive games. From memory, there was a tic tac toe game and a hangman game that was exclusive to the lodgent inroom pay per play service.

Availability

With high speed internet and mobile gaming becoming more popular, lodgenet equipped hotels began to diminish. While it is still possible to find hotels with lodgenet equipped rooms, they are becoming increasingly rare. Due to the superior product of official release ROMs and normal editions, the lodgenet specific roms are hard to find if not impossible.