Topic: Nintendo Land Will Not Feature Simultaneous Online Multiplayer

[Patchkid15]

You won't be blasting Metroids with your friends across the country.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31804

Nintendo Land will not feature any kind of online multiplayer play, according to Bill Trinen during an interview with 1UP.

"It's not going to be played over the network," Trinen said when asked if the game would feature online play.

This doesn't necessarily mean there will not be online interactions, just no playing with friends who are not in the room. 

"For Wii U launch specifically," Trinen said, "one of the things that we want people to understand is that a network connection to a game can mean a lot of different things. It can mean online gaming, but it can also mean other unique ways to connect to other people. Miiverse is an important part of that. So for our first-party teams, particularly at launch, what they want to do is try to lead the way and show people different ways that you can use Miiverse in a meaningful way to connect the content to the Internet."

Trinen did say that he expects more first-party games to utilize online play further into the console's life cycle.

[TurdFurgy]

I still feel like Nintendo is not getting it.

[Fjurbanski]

Eh..


Seeing as how, to this day, I've never had as much fun playing online as I have had playing in the same room with people, I don't care.


Especially with a game like NintendoLand. Does anyone really picture themselves playing Animal Crossing Sweet Day online?


I really don't care if such and such game doesn't have online play. All that matters is that the console itself can utilize it as well as the competition. Then developers can decide for themselves what they want to do with their game.

[Enner]

To be expected; still a shame.

[thedefalcos]

So, let me get this straight. The game that will be packed-in with millions of WiiUs over the course of the next few years- THE game that is supposed to showcase how badass this console is, will not have a simple on-line mode?
 
Does anyone remember when the Gameboy launched, how important it was to Nintendo that they showcase the link cable that was included?  They thought, what a better way to showcase multiplayer on the Gameboy than to make the game that is packed in with the console multiplayer.
 
Nintendo isn't doing it because they don't want to. That is the only reason. You don't showcase local MP or Miiverse interactions by purposefully taking away an option that every single WiiU owner with an internet connection wants.

[xcwarrior]

No, Nintendo, no. We need online. It's the 21st century. Oh jeez...

[Adrock]

It's a shame, considering Nintendo Land should be showcasing what the Wii U can do in every respect. Every multiplayer game Nintendo releases from now on should have online multiplayer, not just the big name ones like Mario Kart and Smash Bros.

[ShyGuy]

It has leaderboards, right? and video chat?

[MrPhishfood]

They are designed to be played with people in the same room. Its not like Nintendo can't do online play, they've done it before with Mario Kart. You can't show off asynchronous if its online.

I for one never expected Nintendo Land to be online. Ever.

[Vahne]

And how exactly will you be playing these games online? Would've been cool if they made the central plaza and online place to talk, but the games themselves were designed specifically for asynchronous gameplay locally. Asynchronous gameplay with different makes less sense online. It's possible but won't be serving Nintendo Land's purpose.

[Spak-Spang]

So, let me get this straight. The game that will be packed-in with millions of WiiUs over the course of the next few years- THE game that is supposed to showcase how badass this console is, will not have a simple on-line mode?Does anyone remember when the Gameboy launched, how important it was to Nintendo that they showcase the link cable that was included?  They thought, what a better way to showcase multiplayer on the Gameboy than to make the game that is packed in with the console multiplayer.Nintendo isn't doing it because they don't want to. That is the only reason. You don't showcase local MP or Miiverse interactions by purposefully taking away an option that every single WiiU owner with an internet connection wants.




Actually, Nintendo gets it just fine.  YOU DON'T GET IT.


Nintendo is all about asymmetric game play this generation.  But asymmetric game play isn't anything new really in the online world.  You could easily create a character or game that plays and feels different.  Team Fortress 2 says Hi. 
But Nintendo is banking on asymmetric gameplay at home...playing with friends, and people having different control methods.  This is radically different.  However, it only works offline...or at least it works better offline. 

If you were to have this game online, the modes would not be unique or special...the gimmick would fair, and in the end that is not a good thing for Nintendo.  Now, Black Ops being online day one, and other 3rd party efforts are what is important.

Which is why Nintendo Land does exactly what you said is so important to Nintendo...showing new optimal game play the new gimmick in the method that Nintendo feels explores it the BEST.  Hence, Nintendo Land being designed with no online play.

[Adrock]

And how exactly will you be playing these games online?

I don't really get what the disconnect is here. Asymmetric gameplay still works online the same way it works locally. Whoever is assigned the GamePad gets to see everything and those with the Wii Remotes only get to see the TV. I enjoy local multiplayer way more than online whether I'm with my brother or friends. I still feel like online multiplayer should be there. Nintendo wants people to take the Wii U seriously. Well, online multiplayer is an industry standard. Including it doesn't take anything away from local multiplayer. It's awesome that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has full online multiplayer support from day one, but Nintendo are castrating their own games. It makes them look unprepared (even if they're not) and people are going to take notice.

[Spak-Spang]

Adrock...you can play asymmetric gameplay online...and in many ways, it is actually better online.  Each individual characters gets their own TV....however, that realization takes some of the magic out of the Wii U tablet doesn't it...which is Why Nintendo doesn't want to showcase that with Nintendo Land. 


It reminds me of Nintendo giving us that awesome Wheel controller for Mario Kart Wii...people loved playing with it...and commented that it worked and was enjoyable...but once they played again with the Nunchuck and Wii remote...learned you could have better controls and enjoy the game more...people stopped using the Wheel.


The Tablet Controller makes asymmetrical gameplay a reality for local multiplayer games pretty much for the first time.  However, nothing Nintendo is showing in Nintendo Land couldn't have been done in an online multiplayer game.  It is perhaps just more fun the way Nintendo created.


So of course Nintendo would not use this game...the game that is supposed to sell the concept not of the Wii U, but of the Game Tablet as the big innovation for gaming. 


As long as Nintendo has other online ready games and a network ready to go day one with online gaming, and eshop games ready to purchase, then Nintendo will be in a good position to prove they have a viable online infrastructure.  I do not think Nintendo NEEDS to have Nintendo Land be online.

[Adrock]

Online multiplayer and local multiplayer aren't mutually exclusive. I don't see how online multiplayer "takes the magic away" from the GamePad. It doesn't. At all. You wouldn't be banned from using the GamePad if online multiplayer was an option. You're encouraged to use it more since you would have more people to play against while being perfectly capable of playing locally whenever your heart so desires. I really cannot wrap my mind around how you're somehow finding something negative to say about this.

The Gamepad hardly "makes asymmetrical gameplay a reality for local multiplayer for the first time" because Nintendo already tried it almost a decade ago on Gamecube. That's probably not even the first time either. The GamePad merely makes it easier. Whether you think it's more fun to play locally isn't relevant because nothing and no one is stopping you from playing locally. No, seriously. Think about that. However, Nintendo is stopping people from playing online entirely by choosing not to put it in the game. They're just not giving anyone the option. That's intentionally restricting and there's no good reason for it.

And seriously, the Wii Wheel. I don't even know how to address that.

[Spak-Spang]

I am not trying to make something negative out of this...all I am trying to do is explain Nintendo's logic...and actually, I am on the side of faulting Nintendo...but understanding their reasoning.




And as for being the first time...you are right, it isn't the first time.  But it is the first time it is going to be mainstream and out of the box supported and pushed as an important feature.


Just like iPad wasn't the first tablet computer...it is the first successful and popular tablet computer...Nintendo is hoping this will be the first time this type of local asymmetrical game play is popular and successful.


But I do think it does take some of the magic away.  Again you may not like my example of the Wii Wheel...but it does actually apply...not perfectly but it does.  Listen, I could play Nintendo Land on the Xbox 360 online right now....if all it was is simply an online game.  I could sit with my game pad flying Samus' ship with a different point of view and weapons attacking other players...or control 2 Animal farm characters with a different view of the action on my TV...while online other players are seeing and doing something different...and even playing with 100% different control mechanics. 


So then why buy the Wii U?  You don't think that is a question that gaming publications and reviewers are not asking?  Of course they are...Nintendo needs to sell the tablet controller as the main innovation and asymmetrical game play on the local level is there ticket to sell it...however, if some online offerings show that perhaps the same experience BETTER could have been done without the controller or online then Nintendo lost. 


And that is why Nintendo Land doesn't have online play...to force the experience local to truly experience what the local asymmetric game play is about. 

[S-U-P-E-R]

It begins.

I'm glad I don't have to get this game as a pack-in in Japan, because I don't want it. If I even decide to get a Wii U. It's very worrying to me that Nintendo hasn't shown much for online plans along the lines of matchmaking or friends lists and such, and a flagship multiplayer game not having online play is even more worrying.

[Kairon]

I have no doubt that Nintendo will take their games online where they want to, like Mario Kart, for example. But with Nintendo Land I can easily see Nintendo treating this game as philosophically a local-multiplayer experience. Online multiplayer is definitely a hammer in Nintendo's tool belt, but it's also pretty obvious that Nintendo doesn't see every game as a nail.

[Mataata]

I'm honestly really surprised you guys expected it to have online in the first place.

[Adrock]

I am not trying to make something negative out of this...all I am trying to do is explain Nintendo's logic...and actually, I am on the side of faulting Nintendo...but understanding their reasoning.

I understand the reasoning, but I don't believe everything they tell me.

So then why buy the Wii U?

For a lot of reasons. It begins with the GamePad, but it doesn't end there. Nintendo has struggled with online gaming for over a decade and restricting their games on a new console right from the get-go doesn't inspire confidence. I didn't expect Nintendo Land to have online multiplayer, but I think it should be there and still don't really understand how Nintendo doesn't seem to fully understand how important it is. Anyway, I don't want to drag this into a multiple page debate. I've said my piece so I'll agree to disagree.

[TruenoGT]

To be honest, I think it's mostly a Japan thing. Online play isn't nearly as popular/essential in Japan as it is in the western world, so it becomes less of a priority for Nintendo. I do think Nintendoland will do a good job demonstrating the unique capabilities of the Wii U, however it will do little to help Nintendo's image problem with many players (myself not included). The 3rd party games coming out help this (COD, etc), but Nintendo needs to lead the way and show people outside of Japan that the Wii U will blow away ALL players, including skeptical PS3/360 players from the last generation or two.

[Infinitys_End]

Can someone draw a picture of Mario shooting himself in the foot?

[broodwars]

Of course Nintendo Land doesn't have online play.  If it did, all those people who bought a Wii U would realize that "Asynchronous multiplayer" has incredibly limited appeal in the Age of Online Gaming, being only notable in local multiplayer.     I don't know about your situations, but I very rarely have a scenario where I have other players available for local multiplayer so the feature's pretty useless to me.

Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come with Nintendo's 1st Party Wii U titles, because if Nintendo doesn't support a robust online gaming community few other developers will (as we saw on Wii).

[Fatty The Hutt]

I don't know about your situations, but I very rarely have a scenario where I have other players available for local multiplayer

Then pick up your damn dirty laundry, scrub that toilet, do your dishes, light a scented candle and invite some damn people over aleady!
sheesh. :

[broodwars]

Then pick up your damn dirty laundry, scrub that toilet, do your dishes, light a scented candle and invite some damn people over aleady!
sheesh. : : :

With the exception of my Best Friend (who has little interest in the Wii U), my gamer friends are online-only and my family couldn't care less about gaming.  So yeah, local multiplayer in general can just die for all the good it does me.  It's not like I ever have an opportunity to use it.  And considering the rise of online gaming, I doubt I'm the only one who places much greater value on online play and sees the lack of 1st party online play early on troubling.

[Luigi Dude]

It begins.

I'm glad I don't have to get this game as a pack-in in Japan, because I don't want it. If I even decide to get a Wii U. It's very worrying to me that Nintendo hasn't shown much for online plans along the lines of matchmaking or friends lists and such, and a flagship multiplayer game not having online play is even more worrying.

It's only bundled with the Deluxe Model in North America, the Basic Model is $50 cheaper and has no game.  Of course the Japanese Deluxe Model is a ripoff compared to it's North American counterpart.


Japanese Deluxe Model - 31,500 yen ($403)


North American Deluxe Model - $350


Japanese Deluxe Model cost $50 more then the North American Deluxe Model and yet, it has no game.  So unless you plan on buying just the Basic Model, I really don't see the reason for anyone to be glad they'd have to pay more money for less content just because they don't like the game packed in.