Nintendo and the Starlight Children's Foundation have today announced plans to furnish a number of Washington state hospitals with GameCube Fun Centers. Around 500 of the Fun Centers--which consist of a GameCube console and games, a liquid-crystal television, and a DVD player--were already supplied to hospitals nationwide in October last year.

　　"Fun Centers are tremendous tools for alleviating the stress and anxiety children typically associate with being in the hospital and for helping to create a sense of normalcy," said Rebecca Bratcher, child life specialist at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane. "For patients who have limited mobility, and those who are preparing for or recovering from surgery, Fun Centers are a welcome diversion that make time in the hospital pass more quickly."

　　The first Nintendo Fun Centers were introduced in 1991 and featured the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Updated Nintendo 64 Fun Centers were introduced in 1998 and, to date, kids in more than 1,000 hospitals across the country have benefited from the scheme.

　　"Nintendo is steadfast in its commitment to this program, which has brought happiness to so many children," said Don James, senior vice president of operations for Nintendo of America. "Through this continued partnership with Starlight, we hope that Fun Centers soon will be a part of nearly every hospitalized child's experience."