Author Topic: Nintendo Clarifies Statements Regarding a Unified Account System for Wii U and 3DS (Read 7465 times)

NWR_insanolord · « **on:** July 13, 2012, 12:21:00 AM »

The system may not allow for sharing purchased content across platforms.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31054

A Nintendo of America representative clarified recent Nintendo Network comments, explaining that Nintendo is not announcing the ability to share content across platforms.

Charlie Scibetta, Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Nintendo of America, calls Nintendo Network a "unified network platform" rather than a "unified account system." He explains that calling it an account system "suggests payment implications that Nintendo is not ready to confirm at this time." The original statement from a customer service representative did not mention any implementation details.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2012, 12:36:27 AM »

Buzzkill, but I would think that would be obvious. What? My Angry Birds 3DS doesn't work on the Wii U? I have to buy Angry Birds Wii U?

NeoThunder · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2012, 12:46:06 AM »

Why can't we have one account for our 3DS and WiiU purchases. That's dumb having X amount of points or money on your 3DS that can't be used to buy WiiU stuff

tonoxtono · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:00:33 AM »

Uhhhh, what?

Evan_B · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:02:00 AM »

...I'm still not really sure I get this completely. So I'll be able to buy stuff on the Wii U eShop for Wii U, and on the 3DS eShop for 3DS, but not on Wii U eShop for 3DS or vice versa?

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:05:59 AM »

It basically means that purchases are still going to be tied to the hardware you bought them on rather than to a personal account, at least according to what they're announcing right now.

tonoxtono · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:12:13 AM »

Oh, well that's lame

Kytim89 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:24:11 AM »

How hard would it be for Nintendo to create a Wii U and 3DS app for each console that would go onto the opposite console's version of the eShop and would allow the purchasing of games for both consoles? One could buy Wii U games while on the go and then return home to find them downloaded and ready to play on the Wii U. If someone owned a 3DS, but not a Wii U, there would be free advertisement for the Wii U's eShop. The same goes for someone who owns just a Wii U.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2012, 02:08:59 AM »

They've already said they're doing basically that, but through a web browser instead of as an app on their systems. I'd imagine they'd design it so it would work in the web browsers on those systems, though.

SonofMrPeanut · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2012, 05:13:08 AM »

Based on what Reggie said about content being locked to a system proving as a problem in the past, I'll venture to guess Scibetta is covering tracks and that a unified account will be announced around the next big Nintendo Direct this autumn.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2012, 05:27:34 AM »

It's worth noting that he didn't say it doesn't have those capabilities, but that it wasn't what they announced just then. That's probably just Nintendo covering their ass and being mysterious like they always do, but it wasn't a flat "no."

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2012, 06:52:08 AM »

Quote from: NeoThunder on July 13, 2012, 12:46:06 AM

Why can't we have one account for our 3DS and WiiU purchases. That's dumb having X amount of points or money on your 3DS that can't be used to buy WiiU stuff

Not really "dumb" from their perspective if their intention is to milk more money out of consumers by getting them to repeat their purchases again and again across different hardware. No, that's not really dumb for them, but it is lame and it sucks for us.

Pixelated Pixies · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:00:20 AM »

I hadn't expected Nintendo to make content shareable between console and handheld, so if they're ruling it out then I can't say I'm dissappointed. Still, I'd like to have the ability to play my virtual console collection on both platforms.

Speaking of which, have Nintendo explicitly stated if and how we're going to be able to transfer our virtual console purchases from Wii to Wii U?

TJ Spyke · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:22:58 AM »

Quote from: Pixelated Pixies on July 13, 2012, 08:00:20 AM

I hadn't expected Nintendo to make content shareable between console and handheld, so if they're ruling it out then I can't say I'm dissappointed.

They are not ruling it out, the only thing is statement says is that they are not confirming it at this time.

PP, Nintendo already confirmed we will be able to transfer Virtual Console games from our Wii's to Wii U. They have not detailed it yet though (the common belief is that it will be like transferring DSiWare games to a 3DS, where it's a one-way process and wipes it out from the old system).

Chocobo_Rider · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:46:40 PM »

I'm gonna wait until we know 100% how these things are going to work before I get upset or excited about them.

Heck, even AFTER hardware is released these things change. Remember when the Wii couldn't transfer to and from SD cards?

broodwars · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2012, 01:57:19 PM »

I really don't know what to make of this "clarification", as all it really seems to have done is make the whole situation more confusing since it conflicts with past statements about being able to transfer content from Wii to Wii U. Nintendo, it's 2012, not 1995. Global user accounts is something that pretty much everyone but you does these days. "Get N or GET OUT!"

I wonder how long we'll have to wait before Nintendo's next "clarification" that they're not actually insane and that they do plan on supporting general use accounts for Wii U/3DS.

Stogi · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2012, 03:19:57 PM »

I wish I could transfer my bagel at home to my fridge at work.

red14 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2012, 12:07:13 AM »

Nintendo's been making some fucking stupid decisions recently haven't they.

Fiendlord_Timmay · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2012, 01:17:26 AM »

Man, I was just thinking today how I wish Nintendo would allow game sharing across platforms. I bought FF7 on my PS3 and downloaded it to my PSP now that I'm commuting to work for the summer. It's convenient, and I sure as **** wouldn't have bought it again just to have it on my PSP, so a money milking strategy would have just pissed me off. When is Nintendo going to learn that these business decisions are just making people angry and making themselves look foolish?

But given Nintendo's recent track record of sticking to their guns with "no plans at this time" ... I won't rule it out completely.

Chocobo_Rider · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2012, 02:02:31 AM »

Man, some of you guys are just too much. Did you buy that Jump to Conclusions Mat from Office Space?

P1: "I am not sure if I'm going to give you a new car."
U: "Why are you going to blow up my current car!?!!? AAAHHH!!"
P1: "... what?"

Pixelated Pixies · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2012, 02:09:06 AM »

Quote from: red14 on July 14, 2012, 12:07:13 AM

Nintendo's been making some fucking stupid decisions recently haven't they.

For me Nintendo's failure is not that they've necessarily made bad decisions (although I could point to several examples where I think they have f***ed up) but rather that what decisions they have taken have not been communicated to gamers.

What is the Wii U going to cost?
Will secondary/additional Wii U Gamepads be purchasable at launch?
What sort of online infrastructure will the Wii U have?
We know that the Wii U will still support Friend Codes in some improved fashion but what exactly does this mean?
Will the Wii U have a profile system and if so how will purchases from Wii be transferable?
Etc.

It's possible that these decisions have already been taken, but as someone who follows Nintendo news regularly I certainly haven't heard any clarification on these questions. Nintendo need to start giving answers at this point not cryptic statements which don't clarify anything.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2012, 02:59:08 AM »

Nintendo is doing a lot of talking without actually saying much. They've always been somewhat secretive as a company, but they still seem to be holding back info about the Wii U even though it's coming out in four months. Hopefully we get a Nintendo Direct soon that answers some of these questions.

AV · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2012, 09:43:56 AM »

This is dumb. Nintendo needs to get its act together. If I buy Super Mario RPG for SNES on Wii Virtual console I should be able to play that on my 3ds or Wii or Wii U. E-shop games and DSiware should be playable on Wii U as it has same tech (touch screen, 2 screens and microphone) I won't want to play many games on that but It should all be interchangeable.

Pixelated Pixies · « **Reply #23 on:** July 14, 2012, 10:40:02 AM »

Quote from: Mr. Adolph Vega on July 14, 2012, 09:43:56 AM

This is dumb. Nintendo needs to get its act together. If I buy Super Mario RPG for SNES on Wii Virtual console I should be able to play that on my 3ds or Wii or Wii U. E-shop games and DSiware should be playable on Wii U as it has same tech (touch screen, 2 screens and microphone) I won't want to play many games on that but It should all be interchangeable.

I never even thought of that. SMRPG would be incredible as a handheld game.

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #24 on:** July 14, 2012, 11:23:33 AM »

Quote from: broodwars on July 13, 2012, 01:57:19 PM

I really don't know what to make of this "clarification"

Yeah, it is funny how the thread title says Nintendo "Clarifies", when actually this is exact opposite of the definition of Clarify. Not that things were ever clear to begin with, but now everything is even more confusing.

News:

Author Topic: Nintendo Clarifies Statements Regarding a Unified Account System for Wii U and 3DS (Read 7465 times)