Hey guys, we all know that Nintendo's online situation is a mess. Seriously, its terrible. I just picked up a Wii U this week, and its hitting me more than ever. I love the games and the overall look-and-feel of the system, but with 3 different eShops (Wii, Wii U, and 3DS), 3 different account balances, and no cross-platform compatibility, its a nightmare for consumers, and it must be a nightmare for Nintendo as well. Alot has been said about how badly they need to consolidate their online infrastructure, and I figured I would throw my hat into the ring. Allow me to paint a picture of my ideal future (and honestly, if they don't do this, poo-poo on them):
1) Wii U: Stability has improved, and load times are better. The Nintendo Network ID on the system is now on the web, and people are able to log into Miiverse and the eShop online. Wii Shop Channel is still buried in the Wii Mode, and has largely been abandoned by Nintendo. You are able to register multiple Wii Us to your NNID. (Ideally, this means the introduction of a "buy once, play anywhere" mentality, but I'm not going to get too crazy. I more expect the ability to have multiple pieces of hardware registered to a Nintendo ID. Which brings...)
2) 3DS: Miiverse is now on the 3DS, and you can tie your friend code to a Nintendo Network ID (existing or new). The home screen now has WaraWara Plaza on your top screen in full 3D, and Swapnote has taken a back seat to the Miiverse. Because your Wii U and 3DS now share a Nintendo Network ID, you now have a unified Friends List, and it will show you if your friends are playing Wii U or 3DS.
3) Online Miiverse: You are able to access both the Wii U and 3DS Miiverse communities in both the desktop browser, as well as mobile phone apps. If you don't have a Wii U or 3DS, you are able to browse the Miiverse anyway, but cannot post (ownership of a Wii U or 3DS is required to create a NNID). You can also access the eShop online, with Wii U and 3DS available. Via Spotpass, you can purchase a game in the browser and have it pushed to your hardware, and have it available when you next pick it up.
I think that this is more likely that some cynics might believe. With the hardware teams for Wii U and 3DS now combined, I think Nintendo sees the benefits of a unified infrastructure. Merging multiple accounts into one account may be a daunting task, but once its done I think it will create a lot of good will for Nintendo, as well as promote a "halo effect." Keeping the eShops and Miiverses entirely seperate will only reduce the amount of crossover that the two platforms share. If you add your friend on the Nintendo Network, you may see that they've been playing an awesome 3DS game, and want to finally pick up that 3DS. Likewise, if you are browsing the 3DS Miiverse and see that your friend posted on Mario Kart Wii U, you will be more likely to go out and buy a Wii U. Dare to dream, people! DARE TO DREAM!!!