Topic: Wii to feature same online structure as the DS

[Dirk Temporo]

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Originally posted by: Pittbboi

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So instead of constantly crippling their online and frustrating their fans to appeal to people who probably don't play games anyway, they should just grow a pair and stand up to public criticism, just like every other gaming company has done.

QFT

Sony did it, Microsoft did it. Nintendo needs to stand up, get Reggie in an interview on CNN or something, and basically have him say, "You want to protect your kids? Be better parents. A video game console is not a baby sitter."

[Adrock]

But to prove his point, he'd have to slap someone's mother. Instant youtube hit, like "Dick in a Box" times 10.

[Smash_Brother]

ReggieChokesABitch.com

[UERD]

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Originally posted by: Adrock
But to prove his point, he'd have to slap someone's mother. Instant youtube hit, like "Dick in a Box" times 10.

You mean kind of like this?

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To me it just proves that no matter WHAT outlandish steps Nintendo takes to avoid criticism from the public at large regarding safety, it still isn't going to escape the "games are violent! Waa waa waaaa!" outcries that are aimed at ALL of the gaming industry by people with too much time and not enough responsibility for one's actions (or inactions). So instead of constantly crippling their online and frustrating their fans to appeal to people who probably don't play games anyway, they should just grow a pair and stand up to public criticism, just like every other gaming company has done.

QFT again. If people are willing to make the mental leap of absurdity required to link video games to terrorism, they will ALWAYS find excuses to call them a detriment to society. And if Nintendo can't get online working smoothly and efficiently, they will have a very large disadvantage in the long run.

[31 Flavas]

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Originally posted by: UERD
QFT again. If people are willing to make the mental leap of absurdity required to link video games to terrorism, they will ALWAYS find excuses to call them a detriment to society. And if Nintendo can't get online working smoothly and efficiently, they will have a very large disadvantage in the long run.

The reality is that that appeasing parents and politicians is only part of why WFC is as it is. I think I probably did the opinion here a disservice when I asked for parents and "the idots running our country" to be held accountable for their actions. Don't get me wrong here, they should be held accountable for their absurd leaps of logic, but the focus of discussion here is now too much on them now.

Can we at least agree that not all gamers need the same things out of online? I'll absolutely agree Microsoft has a great thing going with XBL but is it necessarily relevant to Nintendo's customers? Specifically, the new gamers that Nintendo has attracted into to video games (on both DS and Wii). And that regardless of the idiots, Nintendo can choose to be socially responsible if they want?  

[31 Flavas]

wth? double post on an edit?

[IceCold]

Yeah, since they allowed you to post more than one post a minute, that's been happening..

[Pittbboi]

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I'll absolutely agree Microsoft has a great thing going with XBL but is it necessarily relevant to Nintendo's customers?

Yes, or else Nintendo's customers wouldn't be in such a funk about it.

Again, asking Nintendo to do away with friend codes isn't asking them to change over and go for Wii Live. Nintendo is more than capable of finding some sort of middle ground without ripping off Xbox Live but providing more functionality than they are currently able to with friend codes. I mean, heck, Sony did it.

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Nintendo can choose to be socially responsible if they want?

But see, this implies that friend codes are they only way for Nintendo to be socially responsible, and that others who don't employ this system aren't being socially responsible.

See, I've always looked at Nintendo's friend codes as the gamingsphere equivalent of those hard right-wing movements to keep condoms and birth control away from the youth, thinking that by providing them with methods of contraception they're encouraging promiscuity on a dangerous level. Sure, by taking away methods of contraception/STD prevention a few aware young people might stay away from sex, but it's not illogical to believe that the majority wouldn't, and without condoms and birth control they'd be exposing themselves to a much greater risk of pregnancy or STDs. So, in effect, it's a movement that does more harm than good.

Nintendo, instead of providing more safety options/tools to keep the service relatively safe AND equally open to the world, is hoping that friend codes keep people "safe" from online predators by confining most of the online functionality between only people they know and who have Wiis. Even at the cost of stifling the mature, responsible gamer.  And sure, there are going to be people who don't care enough and will only play Wii games online with people they know, but for a lot of people it won't be enough. A lot of people are going to want the full experience of playing with people all over the world which is really want online play is all about (with more functionality than just random matches), and to make up for lost functionality are going to go online and give their friend codes away to strangers on message boards. This behavior renders friend codes pointless because it's just as dangerous, if not more so because it establishes several points of contact between a predator and possible prey.

There are plenty of options for making online a safe place for all people to game while not taking away from the functionality and what makes online gaming popular, and these methods have been employed by other companies to various degrees. I just think the method Nintendo is using with friend codes is a little drastic and counter-productive.    

[GoldenPhoenix]

I wish I could disagree with Pittbboi here, but I think he is right, Nintendo needs to think more outside the box instead of using friend codes when it comes to online if they are concerned about safety.

[Kairon]

Yeah. I've got nothing against not talking with strangers without having met them elsewhere first. I'm perfectly fine with friend codes. Buit I believe that a friend-code for every game system would be restrictive and ultimately drive non-gamers and casual gamers away from online play since they can't be bothered to use such a complex interface and jump through so many hoops.

I chalk this up as a failure on Nintendo's part to fully see the correlaries of their new intent to pursue non-gamers and casual gamers.

Thankfully, random, non-interactive matchmaking will be fine. It's only games that require social interaction or teamwork that will suffer here.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Pittbboi]

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I wish I could disagree with Pittbboi here, but I think he is right,

*Spits out diet coke* OMG--What!?

[Kairon]

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[UERD]

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The reality is that that appeasing parents and politicians is only part of why WFC is as it is.

I'm going to agree with you and say (along with a lot of people here already) that there's probably a very pragmatic reason why Nintendo is doing this: they may not have the expertise required to implement a more extensive system and ensure that it functions correctly. I really do kind of wish that they had subsidized online gaming with the Cube (supported/encouraged devs and took advantage of itself) instead of just disavowing it: they might not have earned too much (or even anything) through online, but they would have the expertise that has become so critical now.  

[greenblob]

What Nintendo should do with online

*Note: This isn't what I would want, but is more of an ideal compromise solution. I'd love to have things like in-game and lobby chat, but that's not going to happen.

1. Let people make gamer tags, preferably ones that work with all of your Wii games.
2. Have matchmaking lobbies. Divide them according to region (but don't force anyone to play in a certain region--make an option).
3. Implement the rivals system.
4. Have in-game chat with people on your friends list. In order for you to add someone to your list, you must know their Wii number, which won't be shown publicly. Also, make it so that your friends list and rivals list is easily accessible while in the matchmaking lobby.
5. Have commands for game invites, challenges, etc. Also allow for password protected games and a way to send a password to a specific person.
6. Give the host a few options such as kicking players and limiting the number of players.
7. Keep random matchmaking an option.
8. Most importantly, minimize lag.

A typical online session might look like this:
You load up Brawl and click on "wifi." A list of different regions comes up on the screen. You select one and after you're connected to a server, you see a list of waiting games coupled with Mii avatars of the hosts. You join a game, and after being 4-stocked a few times, you decide to try playing someone closer to your level. You select a predetermined message (ugh, but I doubt that Nintendo would allow anything more personal) saying something like "good game" and "bye." After leaving, you receive a game invite. It happens to be someone whom you added to your rivals list last week. Apparently he has a few friends and wants to play them with you as his doubles partner. After a few hilarious matches, the last of which ended with you accidentally edge-guarding your teammate and then falling to your death, you decide that you're done for the day.  

[Dirk Temporo]

So in other words... Exactly what it is right now, which is everything that's wrong with it?

[Smash_Brother]

Before you're allowed to go online, you need to agree to the user agreement which says that, by agreeing, you are verifying that you are over 18.

I wish that was all they needed...

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

OVER 18? YES - ENTER SUPER FANTASTIC PORNO SITE

UNDER 18? - YAHOO HAS LOTS OF SUITABLE CONTENT FOR YOU

Kids lie to see the boobies ALL THE TIME.

[Smash_Brother]

Anyone seen this?

If Nintendo wants to make their online service safe, they should just let the FBI and Chris Hansen's thugs run sting operations on it nonstop.