Author Topic: Miyamoto speaks on DS WiFi (Read 11433 times)

StrikerObi · « **on:** July 13, 2004, 10:03:57 AM »

Find out what Nintendo's doing with the wireless internet functions on the DS.

In an interview recently posted on the website of Earthbound creator Shigesato Itoi, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto made some comments about the Nintendo DS's 802.11 (also known as WiFi) wireless functionality. According to Mr. Miyamoto, the possibility of a wireless internet connection on the Nintendo DS is there, but Nintendo is not currently developing any software that will enable to DS to access it. Apparently, Nintendo is leaving this part up to third-parties. He said that Nintendo is not interested in developing internet software for the DS. The company is very interested in keeping the DS an "out of the box" experience that will require no accessories, such as a wireless router to link systems over the internet via broadband connections.

Mr. Miyamoto was quoted as saying: "We added the wireless LAN (IEEE802.11) to the DS mainly for the handhelds to communicate between each other, but if someone releases appropriate software that allows it to connect to wireless LAN access points, it could also be used to connect to the Internet."

Update: There has been a lot of confusion surrounding Mr. Miyamoto's quote. Apparently Miyamoto-san is only saying that Nintendo will not be making an application to browse the internet over the DS. They are only interested in using the WiFi to link DS systems in remote areas. According to a close friend of PGC, independent gaming journalist Chris Kohler, "If you look at the questions that Itoi asks, he's talking about using the DS as a web browser. He says it's a 'technical' question, not a 'game fan' question. And he asks if the 'specs' of the machine would be enough to support its use as an 'Internet terminal,' as Miyamoto puts it." Thanks to Chris for clearing this up for everybody.

Jale · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:18:11 AM »

This just means we wont have internet from Nintendo on DSs. Big deal. Third parties are bound to develop it themselves.

Syl · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:25:41 AM »

It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with >_>

stupid... very stupid thing to say.

ssj4_android · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:26:00 AM »

Nintendo needs to learn to listen to their customers about online gaming.

Jale · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:29:52 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Syl
It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with >_>

stupid... very stupid thing to say.

Not many first party titles are well suited to online play anyway. Four Swords type games would work better in LAN and so would Mario and Metroid games.

Kairon · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:33:50 AM »

Sounds like Nintendo still doesn't really know what they would do with the online medium. Oh well.

Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Ian Sane · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:37:22 AM »

"It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with"

I hope not. I've read this on other sites and it came across that he meant internet access as in web surfing not being included. I have no problem with that. However this line freaks me out: "The company is very interested in keeping the DS an 'out of the box' experience that will require no accessories, such as a wireless router to link systems over the internet via broadband connections."

No link over the internet AT ALL? That likely does mean no online. ARRRRRRRRGH!!!!! WHY ARE THESE F*CKS SUCH BACKWARDS THNKING OLD FUDDY DUDDIES?!! If the Revolution isn't online Nintendo = third party by 2010. This bullsh!t can only go so far.

And don't anyone think that a third party is going to bring the DS online. If Nintendo doesn't do it it means it's offline period.

ssj4_android · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:38:45 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Jale
Quote
Originally posted by: Syl
It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with >_>

stupid... very stupid thing to say.

Not many first party titles are well suited to online play anyway. Four Swords type games would work better in LAN and so would Mario and Metroid games.

Mario Kart, SSB. And about Four Swords, did you notice that there was a microphone built in? I find it weird that now their saying no online, since they've pretty much said there will be online play. Did they say internet at the press conference? Here's some quotes from Nintendo.com's E3 DS page: "The voice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with one another over the Internet while playing." "...and compete at a central game hub on the Internet, even if they're thousands of miles apart."

BTW, couldn't PGC call NOA's press phone number and ask them about this? I'm hoping it was just lost in translation.

Jale · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:39:07 AM »

They have put the stuff in there so it is capable of it. They just don't want to have to sell WiFi adapters and internet as well.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:49:51 AM »

"Here's some quotes from Nintendo.com's E3 DS page: 'The voice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with one another over the Internet while playing.' '...and compete at a central game hub on the Internet, even if they're thousands of miles apart.'"

That really bugs me because they made us all think at E3 that they would go online and if they're not then they lied to us. Third parties MAYBE going online is not the same thing. If there are no online plans from Nintendo then they f*cking lied to our faces at E3. However this would be some pretty blatant deception here though which suggests either this is a mistranslation of sorts or NOA has very different plans than NCL.

I guess we'll find out everything for sure in the next day or so. If this is a mistranslation then NOA will get a statement out ASAP because this is REALLY damaging. If we hear nothing from them then Nintendo did lie to us and they are going to completely kill their so far positive DS momentum.

SgtShiversBen · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2004, 11:14:16 AM »

Why is this such a big deal? Yes, if they do decide not to support it online, then they are lying to our faces, but they have done it before. When the GameCube was about to come out, I remember them saying that there were 10-15 titles in development for the sole purpose of online entertainment, and where'd that go? HMM!! But if the DS isn't online then oh well, we've been preaching that it's not the end all be all thing to being successful. It helps, but doesn't mean that "OH ITS ONLINE IT MUST BE BETTER." I just think it's a sort of hypocracy in our little heiarchy we have going here. If third parties don't release something that make it wireless LAN then people can do it by themselves. It's not that hard. But oh well, who cares.

Syl · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2004, 11:16:15 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Jale
They have put the stuff in there so it is capable of it. They just don't want to have to sell WiFi adapters and internet as well.

I *REALLY* hope thats what this means, its not like a WiFi router is expensive or hard to get, hell, a local Schlotzky's of all places now has free WiFi.

I doubt it will be that long till some 3rd party goes online though, once that happens things should pick up.

I want nintendo to SHOW SOME REAL SOFTWARE already. Theyre not going to have enough time to pimp this thing if its still planned on being released this year.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2004, 11:32:49 AM »

"Yes, if they do decide not to support it online, then they are lying to our faces, but they have done it before."

Having lied to us before (Zelda demo at Spaceworld 2000 though I guess it's not a lie anymore) doesn't make it acceptable. I actually don't think the DS needs online support to be successful. However the Revolution will and the fact that they're still being so anti-online suggests that they're going to f*ck up online gaming for that system too. And the Revolution HAS to have online games. It will be completely inexcusable if it isn't. And in order for it to be online Nintendo has to make online games. Even though third parties can make online DS games they're not going to because Nintendo will be spreading their anti-online propaganda all over the place which will ensure that it won't take off on their systems.

SgtShiversBen · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2004, 11:39:58 AM »

See, that's a better stance. Instead of being like CasualGamer and saying "NOT ONLINE!! I SUCK! LOL!! PS2 LOLL!!!"

Jensen · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2004, 11:40:28 AM »

"This feels like the GameCube's broadband adaptor all over again."

1. Except that the DS comes with the "adaptor" built in.
2. Almost every Multiplayer DS game will be multi-console multiplayer. Gamecube has very little multi-console multiplayer support, thus there is little for services such as Warp Pipe to support.

If we can play Nintendo made games multiplayer over the internet, I don't care who makes the computer connectivity/matchmaking software. I wasn't expecting DS Live!

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:01:30 PM »

Isn't this almost exactly Sony's online stance with the PS2, minus a few games? Uh-yup uh-yup, I think it is.

Quote
No link over the internet AT ALL? That likely does mean no online. ARRRRRRRRGH!!!!! WHY ARE THESE F*CKS SUCH BACKWARDS THNKING OLD FUDDY DUDDIES?!! If the Revolution isn't online Nintendo = third party by 2010. This bullsh!t can only go so far.

Eh, I don't know about you, but what I got from that was you wouldn't have to buy any accessories to hook up to a wireless router and connect to other DS's over the internet.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:12:58 PM »

"but what I got from that was you wouldn't have to buy any accessories to hook up to a wireless router and connect to other DS's over the internet."

Well this:

"the possibility of a wireless internet connection on the Nintendo DS is there, but Nintendo is not currently developing any software that will enable to DS to access it."

suggests that yes you won't have to buy any accessories because Nintendo isn't going to make any. In order to connect to the net you're going to have to buy a third party product that may or may not be made. It's kind of ironic to promote "out of the box" functionality when if I want to go online I have to not only get a wireless router but also buy software for it. This is making me have to buy TWO third party products instead of one. "Out of the box" my ass.

SgtShiversBen · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:18:32 PM »

It said that about software. If they said anything about hardware then you should start feeling worried.

WuTangTurtle · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:26:17 PM »

wow this is $ucks. I had a huge impression from Nintendo that they were approaching online gaming that wouldn't be costy for developers and consumers and would be profitable through WiFi, but with this statment I am confused as h3LL.

Nintendo needs to explain themselves!

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:28:14 PM »

I thinkyou're jumping the gun, Ian: I'm still getting that Nintendo isn't the one making the online games, they're leaving it to the third parties. If you ask me you're twisting everything nintendo says to fit your theory.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #20 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:32:28 PM »

Wait I just realized that by software they mean that the games themselves could contain the code for online play. For some reason I was thinking there would be some program I would have to buy seperately. That really doesn't make sense. Sorry about that.

Still that's a huge hassle for third parties and it's going to really limit online gaming on the DS. Why would a third party create an online DS game when Nintendo is not providing any assistance? This is virtually the same as the Cube online model: Nintendo does nothing and so everyone else does nothing.

ruby_onix · « **Reply #21 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:41:16 PM »

Here's my take on this.

Quote
According to Mr. Miyamoto, the possibility of a wireless internet connection on the Nintendo DS is there, but Nintendo is not currently developing any software that will enable to DS to access it. Apparently, Nintendo is leaving this part up to third-parties. He said that Nintendo is not interested in developing internet software for the DS.

AFAIK, "The Internet" and "Online" are two different things. (Like IRC, Usenet, and e-mail. They're all "Online", but none of them are "The Internet".)

Quote
Mr. Miyamoto was quoted as saying: "We added the wireless LAN (IEEE802.11) to the DS mainly for the handhelds to communicate between each other,

AFAIK, the DS has two wireless modes. The 802.11 standard, and a custom Nintendo-designed one that has an even longer range. So if the Nintendo-designed one is superior, how does having the 802.11 help the "handhelds communicate better"?

Quote
but if someone releases appropriate software that allows it to connect to wireless LAN access points, it could also be used to connect to the Internet."

Notice they didn't say "connect to another handheld via the Internet." Of course, that could've just been a translation thing.

I know that Nintendo has seemed rather bullish and belligerant about online gaming. When asked about it, Miyamoto has frequently said "Online support is "an extra", like a multiplayer mode, but that said, how many times have I gone the extra mile to give you guys a multiplayer mode?"

I know it's tough, but have some faith that Nintendo knows what they're talking about.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #22 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:41:24 PM »

Ian: It's also practically the same as Sony's online model for the PS2, keep that in mind. The only difference is Sony encouraged 3rd parties to make online games, which I definitely think Nintendo should do with the DS. Just because they're not supporting online play themselves doesn't mean they should discourage 3rd parties from doing so if they please.

Honestly, though, I always viewed handheld online play as being little more than using the internet to connect to other DS's the same way they're already using the wireless LAN- am I off base here? And if not, would you even really need servers or anything to support online play? If not, I'm at a bit of a loss as to why Nintendo refuses to support online play, since they seem to love LAN so much.

Berto2K · « **Reply #23 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:49:37 PM »

There goes the dream of a near perfect Animal Crossing DS

.

nickmitch · « **Reply #24 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:54:50 PM »

I don't think that Nintendo will support online play untill we all join hands across america.
Nintendo should just say, "Hey, 3rd parties, go for it!" and if it works for them then go for it themselves.

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Author Topic: Miyamoto speaks on DS WiFi (Read 11433 times)