From Gonintendo: Friend codes are baaaaaack...

feilong801 · Postby **feilong801** » March 22nd, 2007, 4:22 pm

According to Gonintendo.com, it's official:

Every online enabled Wii game will have a seperate friend code, just like the DS.

This is one of the most divisive issues in regard to Nintendo's strategy. They have always treated online play very cautiously, and they will continue to do so here.

Yet what I really see here is not so much Nintendo "hating online" as the fanboys are flaming across the internet.

Nintendo is carving out a very carefully considered online strategy. The Wii already boasts considerable online enabled content. News and Weather, Everybody Votes, Internet browsing, etc.

It seems that they want a very controlled experience. All of the implemented features are ones that have a certain barrier between you and the other Wii users. For instance, you can know how many people in South America like cats versus Dogs in everybody votes, you just don't get to know who those people are.

I would have preferred a single friend code or a XBL type system, but, when I really thought about it... how many times have I used XBL and played against people I met while online, as opposed to real life friends our people I've talked to on forums? That would be...... a FAT ZERO.

So friend codes, for me, are a little overrated.

Still wish it would be a bit open, so bad on Nintendo for not listening to their fans.

-Rob

Michael D · Postby **Michael D** » March 22nd, 2007, 5:04 pm

Whoopsees.

bluemonkey1 · Postby **bluemonkey1** » March 22nd, 2007, 5:20 pm

I was going to post about this earlier in the week but thought I'd just get flamed.

This online system would have been bad if it had shipped when the Dreamcast's did.

Nintendo's online strategy is so limited and tame it's crazy.

chrisbid1 · Postby **chrisbid1** » March 22nd, 2007, 7:45 pm

eh,

what annoys me is the over reliance on online play.

the TMNT arcade game was recently released on xbox live arcade, and its multiplayer... but only with other people over xbox live. you cannot sit with a friend and two controllers and play together on one console.

online is nice, but i cant see it becoming the top draw for any console. it will be mostly relegated to the hardcore audience.

bluemonkey1 · Postby **bluemonkey1** » March 22nd, 2007, 8:10 pm

Personally I would like to ban the use of that word "hardcore" for describing gamers. It's become such a buzz word that caught on after a few Nintendo press conferences and it really bugs me.

Funkmaster V · Postby **Funkmaster V** » March 22nd, 2007, 9:38 pm

Does this mean I cant go online and play strangers in Mario Kart and Smash Brothers? If so, F*** the Wii

Funkmaster V

JustLikeHeaven1 · Postby **JustLikeHeaven1** » March 22nd, 2007, 10:25 pm

[QUOTE=Funkmaster V]Does this mean I cant go online and play strangers in Mario Kart and Smash Brothers? If so, F*** the Wii

Funkmaster V
[/QUOTE]

No you can still play strangers...you probably just can't talk to them unless you get their friend code.

Honestly this doesn't bother too much, because I play strangers more often than not and that won't require codes. If I get a game that I really like and I want to play my friend I can call him up and be like, "hey, whats your friend code." Its really not the biggest hassle. Nintendo should adopt a universal friend code that works for all games, but they are gonna have to learn the hard way. As long as its free I really don't care though.

The Suit · Postby **The Suit** » March 22nd, 2007, 11:48 pm

[QUOTE=JustLikeHeaven][QUOTE=Funkmaster V]Does this mean I cant go online and play strangers in Mario Kart and Smash Brothers? If so, F*** the Wii

Funkmaster V
[/QUOTE]

No you can still play strangers...you probably just can't talk to them unless you get their friend code.

Honestly this doesn't bother too much, because I play strangers more often than not and that won't require codes. If I get a game that I really like and I want to play my friend I can call him up and be like, "hey, whats your friend code." Its really not the biggest hassle. Nintendo should adopt a universal friend code that works for all games, but they are gonna have to learn the hard way. As long as its free I really don't care though.
[/QUOTE]

Personally, I love Xbox live and if I want to jump on and play games like BF2 or Vegas with strangers it's extremely easy. I actually enjoy single player or co-op more but it's fun to play as a team. I wouldn't want the hassle of "friend codes"..which would require that your friends have the same games as you. Nintendo's strategy is completely assanine but it doesn't matter anyway. They aren't developing games like Halo, Crackdown, Vegas or Battlefield anyway! What? You want to play "Cooking Mama" online? I don't think so. I think their online strategy is commensurate with thier overall strategy which is casual games. People are going to flame them for sure. I think if you are a big N fan looking for real online play you should buy a 360 otherwise you are going to be disappointed for sure. Either way I don't care. There aren't any games on the Wii worth playing online against friends or strangers anyway! Check that....Madden would be cool but it will never happen. Nintendo is completely missing the boat with online play again and it will cost them a bit. But, like I said, the "casual" gamer will not care anyway

Varian · Postby **Varian** » March 23rd, 2007, 7:00 am

Friend codes are for games that younger demographics will be playing (like Smash Brothers). It won't be for all games. A game with a mature rating will probably do whatever it pleases. Anyway, Nintendo already knows all about the complaints people have against the friend codes.

But to be honest, I think we have been over-rating online multiplayer this generation. Xbox 360 has a very nice online system. Yet, it still is outsold all the time by the PS2 which doesn't have much of an online system. The Wii currently has no online system (except for the Shop channel so Nintendo can get your money). Yet, that certainly hasn't affected the sales of the Wii.

The masses clearly don't seem to care about High Definition. Maybe they don't care about online gaming either?

a1 · Postby a1 » March 23rd, 2007, 11:08 pm

I think The Suit has it right here. If you want to play online get a 360. I love my Wii, but I don't plan on going through sloppy online just to play Smash Bros. I think some of the things Wii does online are great; you can buy old games, check the news and weather, and surf the web with the Wii remote. I doubt online play is really going to get all that great on Wii. Maybe in the next generation online console gaming will be more widespread and Nintendo will take it seriously, but right now they're shooting for the casual. Anyone who thinks Nintendo's online gaming is going to be as good Xbox Live has clearly never owned a Gamecube.