Nintendo Finally Details Their New Online System
Way back at E3 2011 Nintendo said that the Wii U would not be using the terrible Friend Codes, but Nintendo didn’t give any specific details. At yesterday’s Nintendo investors meeting the big N detailed Nintendo Network.
Nintendo Network will make it’s debut on the 3DS game Mario Kart 7 with it’s Communities feature. This will allow players to set up different groups to host tournaments, and will allow players to communicate with each other. (most likely audio chat)
“Unlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers,” president and CEO Satoru Iwata said.
Nintendo also once again confirmed that they will be offering DLC for 3DS, and Wii U games in the future.
“As a software maker, Nintendo believes that its packaged software should be sold to our consumers in a form so that the consumers will know in advance that they can enjoy playing the software they purchased just as it is,” he said.
“We believe that our consumers will be able to feel more secure if we offer our add-on content as an additional structure in which those who love the game will be able to enjoy it in a deeper way for a prolonged play time. ”
A concern for Nintendo about DLC was multiple users on one console. Like on the Xbox if you purchase a XBLA title, and go to a friends house to play it, you must be signed into Xbox Live to play the full version. Nintendo says they have found an answer to this problem.
“For the Wii U, we are planning to introduce a personal account system compatible with Nintendo Network. With this, for example, the ease of using a video game system when the hardware is shared by multiple family members, which has been a challenge we needed to tackle, shall be improved,” Iwata explained.
With all of that information I think it is safe to say that Nintendo is finally catching up the whole internet thing. Let’s just hope they do not go overboard and cut content from games like Super Smash Bros, and force us to pay more for games.
