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WiiU

Miiverse Combines the Best of Social Media

by Mike Sklens - November 20, 2012, 1:03 pm EST
Total comments: 8

Just take a pinch of Twitter and add a dash of Reddit.

When Miiverse was announced, I thought it would be a neat addition to the Wii U and a unique way to interact with the console, but I didn't think I would be super impressed by it.

Turns out, I am. Miiverse is surprisingly addictive and very fun to browse. The service takes the immediacy and enforced conciseness of Twitter and combines it with Reddit's deep categorical nature and ability to keep users on topic. It's a real chocolate-plus-peanut-butter scenario. I find it relaxing and entertaining to sift through others' thoughts on games and I am absolutley in love with all the neat doodles and nerd jokes people have been posting. My favorite so far has been a doodle of Nintendo Land's Monita as if she was the evolution of the ever-annoying Navi.

Scott has been reviewing the Your Shape fitness game. A clever post he made to the game's community popped up on my activity feed, which led me to explore the game's community. There I found loads of stupid drawings of peoples' abs and pecs. The crown jewel was a sketch of a giant cake with the text "You know you want it" written off to the side. I cracked up at that brilliant piece of trolling.

The ability to submit drawings in lieu of text allows for a lot of creativity, which is a welcome addition to the social network. Sure, Twitter lets you post photos, but Miiverse's doodles are better because they are hand-drawn and unique compared to most other social networks' visual mediums. 

Miiverse is also an immediate way to learn about new games. After watching the incredibly bizzare trailer for Little Inferno, the game's Miiverse community was able to help me better understand what the game is actually about, and if I would like it or not. 

I expect communities to boom and bust as games are released and people finish them. However, I really hope Nintendo is able to keep Miiverse going and expands on the concept over time. It's a really interesting concept and provides a new, much more social way for gamers to interact on the system beyond the traditional friend list.

Talkback

CaterkillerMatthew Osborne, Contributing WriterNovember 20, 2012

Agree whole heartedly. I turn on the U just to see what everyone is saying or to see if anyone has commented on my posts. It really is neat.

So what could be added to make it more fun? Stationary like backgrounds?

FjurbanskiNovember 20, 2012

I really hope this takes off. It seems like a "you get out of it what you put into it" kinda thing. So hopefully people put a lot into it consistently.

ShyGuyNovember 20, 2012

I'm addicted to the the drawing posts. I got 66 yeahs! from a drawing on the Zombi U group.

xcwarriorNovember 20, 2012

To those of you that can draw, thank you. It's a blast to just sit there with the Game Pad and look at your creations.

And yes, Miiverse is the perfect combo of Twitter and Reddit. Nintendo gets big props for it now that it's fully functional.

>posting spoilers in Miiverse
ISHYGDDT

EasyCureNovember 21, 2012

Quote:

My favorite so far has been a doodle of Nintendo Land's Monita as if she was the evolution of the ever-annoying Navi.

I saw that one too and LOL'd! It was totally gold because I did find her annoying, but at the same time charming enough that I wouldn't mind if she became the next mascot for annoying characters :D

I can't draw too well so I love seeing what some people have done and it inspires me to at least try. In the Nintendo Land community I did a quick zelda-themed drawing for Battle Quest after I had played a few intense rounds of it. After my first death in Zombie U I decided to be a little more creative and doodled someone getting attacked by a zombie.

Another great feature is that since you can jump from gamin community to gaming community, you can easily find new friends to add just from hanging out and checking other people's replies. I had a message form a total stranger (as opposed to you fine gents at NWR) who wanted to give me a shout-out because he apparently got some sort of Nintendo Land gift for my Mii being in his plaza. I could of checked out his profile, seen he had similar games that I have and could of befriended each other in order to set up an on-line match or something, just because my Mii popped up in his Nintendo Land.

I'm honestly fairly new to social networking sites like facebook and twitter (made an account with both only this year) but I can definitely say that even with my short time using Miiverse, it's my favorite social medium by far. C'mon and release that mobile app, Nintendo!

azekeNovember 21, 2012

Quote from: ShyGuy

I'm addicted to the the drawing posts. I got 66 yeahs! from a drawing on the Zombi U group.

Drawing random pics in Swapnote was one of my favourite things to do with my 3DS.

I'm really glad they based entire online system around it.

30th November, come on... And then i have to wait till it's delivered...

PodingsNovember 21, 2012

This all does sound like a lot more fun than I ever would have anticipated.

My flatmate and I, despite being 24 and 26 would still lie with our DSs at night and exchange drawings across the apartment for great hilarity.

The personal touch the drawings add, and the limited allowance for typed text does sound like it will force a softer and more personal angle on this gaming forum. And it doesn't hurt that people without a Wii U themselves can't crash the party with fire and brimstone at will.

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