Topic: Bad News for Nintendo's WiiConnect24 in UK?

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: Ian Sane I was thinking more of patches or upgrades like when Windows automatically downloads updates.

What patches or upgrades do you expect?

It will cost a decent chunk of change in bandwidth every time Nintendo decides to release a patch to the Wiis of the world. They've come this far without ever needing to release a patch or upgrade to any of their software or hardware that I can recall and I'm sure they'll demand the same of 3rd parties.

WiiConnect24 sounds like a system which will be ideal for people to do things like start a large game file downloading and leave it downloading overnight or receive special visitors, items, etc. in AC and other features in games like it.

I'm not imagining something like "Windows Auto Update" which will be busy doing things to your Wii's firmware while you sleep.

It costs Nintendo money and they've never actively sought to "update" games in the past. I don't see why they would start now when they seem to instead prefer making QA good enough that no one ships buggy games.

[Ian Sane]

"It costs Nintendo money and they've never actively sought to 'update' games in the past. I don't see why they would start now when they seem to instead prefer making QA good enough that no one ships buggy games."

Well they've never had the ability to "update" games before.  I was thinking more like fixing exploits in games like some of the weird sequence breaking stuff people have done with Metroid Prime, Missingno, Minus World, snaking in F-Zero GX, etc.  Nintendo also pretty much always tinkers with the difficulty on re-releases and might see fit to make a game easier after release.  They probably are going to do some bonus material upgrades of some sort and might tie in "fixes" with those releases that we don't really want.

Nintendo are control freaks and I honestly just don't trust them to not f*ck around with this 24 Connect stuff.

[Louieturkey]

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Originally posted by: Ian SaneI was thinking more of patches or upgrades like when Windows automatically downloads updates.

Actually, you can turn that function off.

[Requiem]

I don't know, Ian. I think your being pretty pesimistic about the whole situation.

It's true they never had the option to "update" --- with a console that is. They have the DS, and there is the definite ability to update your firmware and/or games through the use of your own internet connection or the retial stores Download station.

The option is there, yet Nintendo and third parties have not had to patch a game or firmware. But in the other corner, the PSP is patching firmware left and right.

Now, with a console, Nintendo might have to patch some things up. My bet would be the Opera browser and maybe a couple Wiimote related patches. Everything else, except a few stragglers here and there, will not need or have patches (including third parties).

An interesting question would be, how often are games patched on the 360? That's Microsoft's console, and therefore the one with the highest risk for patched-games. If they don't patch games up much, then that might mean Nintendo and their third parties will do the same or most likely, a hell of alot lower.

[Ceric]

Believe it or not.  Microsoft doesn't really like patches.  People just expect more from them.  An example would be that people heard about some Vista features and they all complained on why XP didn't get them.  So Microsoft had to delay Vista production and make a patch to give people these features.  This happens to them a lot.  Or MS has told everyone, *cough 2000*, that they are going to cut support for a product on a certian schedule.  Perfectly reasonable.  Everyone's had plenty of advance warning.  They go to do it and Corporate lawyers start to threaten them.  Apple on the other had can break compatibility and charge for point releases.  Is that fair?

Anyhow.  The temptation will be their but if Nintendo really looks at why people like Apple, which in my opinion they've been getting a little lax in, and why we Nintendo fans like Nintendo.  They'll make sure that all software and hardware is up to the same quality that it is now.  Especially in regards to bugs.

[wandering]

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People can screw that up by just unplugging their console anyway. Whether Nintendo likes it or not we CAN still turn off our Wii's. I'm merely arguing that there should be a more official way of doing it than just yanking the cord from the wall.

OF COURSE WiiConnect24 will be optional. Nintendo said as much during their E3 presentation. You seriously think Nintendo is going to make a console that uses up your bandwith without your permission, whether you like it or not?

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Apple on the other had can break compatibility and charge for point releases. Is that fair?

Apple's "point releases" are point releases in name only, though. Compared with, for example, the jump from Windows 2000 to XP, the updates are perfectly justified. They just want to keep the 'X' for branding purposes. Also, Apple gives people free patches and updates, just like Microsoft.

[Stimutacs Addict]

My only problem with WC24 is that Nintendo might not do enough with it.

I want Christmas presents in my games -- that means new characters in Smash Bros., new microgames for WarioWare, a better fishing rod in Twilight Princess.

also, I expect Smash Bros. Brawl to be a nearly unbroken fighter -- they need to get in there and tweak characters' (cheap) throws and lame combos... I have no problem with some of the chain throws but sheik's is too f*ing lame in NTSC (lucky PAL players)...

If the designers realise that they completely nerfed a character, then they can get back in there and change damage/knockback and maybe extend hitboxes for priority.

[Kairon]

no. No. NO. NONONO

NO NERFING OR BUFFING OR PATCHING SSBB. DO NOT MAKE SSBB WOW. DO NOT MAKE SSBB UNDEPENDABLE.

MAKE SSBB AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AT RELEASE AND DO NOT TINKER WITH IT AFTERWARDS, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.

IAN HAS POINT. NINTENDO CHANGING GAMES BAD RAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWRRRRRR!!!!!

~CARMINE M. RED
KAIRON@AOL.COM

[Requiem]

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Originally posted by: Stimutacs Addict
My only problem with WC24 is that Nintendo might not do enough with it.

I want Christmas presents in my games -- that means new characters in Smash Bros., new microgames for WarioWare, a better fishing rod in Twilight Princess.

also, I expect Smash Bros. Brawl to be a nearly unbroken fighter -- they need to get in there and tweak characters' (cheap) throws and lame combos... I have no problem with some of the chain throws but sheik's is too f*ing lame in NTSC (lucky PAL players)...

If the designers realise that they completely nerfed a character, then they can get back in there and change damage/knockback and maybe extend hitboxes for priority.

I have to agree with Kairon.

I don't want any of that stuff. It's such a waste of value time. Instead, they should be working on the next batch of games.

[Ceric]

But it seems like they update once a year and they don't always give you that much more for the money you have to spend to stay current.  Bah.  I never like that scheme with Apple.

Theirs a cheap combo with Sheik?  Really.  I find that player extremely hard to play.  I guess it goes with your skill level.  Which can't be tweaked.  Whatever is most effective will become cheap in a fighter.

[Smash_Brother]

Er, has Nintendo actually MENTIONED anything about altering games after they're released or is that all just speculation on our part?

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But it seems like they update once a year and they don't always give you that much more for the money you have to spend to stay current. Bah. I never like that scheme with Apple.

Each subsequent system release does not come without an assload of new features, apps and drastic improvements over the previous system.

However, most apps will run from the earlier iterations of OSX anyway. It's not like you're forced to upgrade unless you legitimately WANT the features.

[Kairon]

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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Er, has Nintendo actually MENTIONED anything about altering games after they're released or is that all just speculation on our part?

No, Stimutacs Addict did.

All Nintendo has really mentioned is the animal crossing example: wake up and you've got mail in AC, gifts from Nintendo, neat new stuff like that!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com