Topic: [n"] Nintendo Network Revealed!!

[BlackNMild2k1]

Breaking News!!!
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/120127/05.html

The Nintendo Network service is our network platform which will cover the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U.Unlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers.For example, competitions and communication among users, as well as the sales of digital content, will be covered within the Nintendo Network.

For the digital sales of the content, we are also considering the future possibility of digital distribution of packaged software, which is often referred to as “software download sales.�This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure. We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it. The decision must be made by taking into consideration such factors as the relationship with the wholesalers and retailers, and the best way to be embraced by consumers, as well as the environment surrounding the market and consumers, such as the required memory capacity on consumers’ SD memory cards. However, as an option for the future, the significance of this business field will increase.

More Communities, Video Chat, PERSONAL ACCOUNTS*!!!!, Full Game Downloads and more to come.

::checks watch::

How much longer till E3?



*Multiple User accounts per Wii U system, meaning I can have my account, my GF can have her own account and hopefully we should be able to lock certain things of our choosing behind out individual accounts. So she can't access my swapnotes, but she can play my VC games. I can't access her friends list and she can't access my game saves.

Now just announce that with multiple tablets comes separate simultaneous VC/uTab games and we are on our way!!

[Chozo Ghost]

I just hope Nintendo didn't cut corners and half ass security and privacy on it like Sony did with PSN. Oh, and trophies too. If Nintendo got those two things right then I will be satisfied.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Forgot the link
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/120127/05.html

updating the OP


edit: Also according to the live blog from the Investors Meeting today in Japan
https://twitter.com/#!/gibbogame


it sounds like (cross game?) voice and/or video chat.

Digital will include user to user communications and sharingand game sharing?

I'm thinking something like Download Play with limited multi from the purchased copy.

[TrueNerd]

Sounds... almost... legit? That can't be right.

[broodwars]

As I said in the main talkback thread, I'll believe any of this works when I see it for myself.  I'm not convinced that a company as woefully incompetent on online systems as Nintendo suddenly figured it out.  But in the coming months and years, we'll see for ourselves.  If it does work as promised, though, it's a good first step for Nintendo.

[TJ Spyke]

The 3DS was much better than the Wii and had continued improving. I have no doubt Wii U will continue the improvement.

[Chozo Ghost]

I'm not convinced that a company as woefully incompetent on online systems as Nintendo suddenly figured it out.

To be fair I think it had a lot more to do with indifference than incompetence on the part of Nintendo. Had they really wanted to put a great online infrastructure in place they could have done it, they just didn't really give it much of a priority because they didn't care. Both 3rd parties and Nintendo alike seem to have not really taken the Wii very seriously. It served its purpose as a cash grabber, but it didn't really warrant any serious effort.

[nickmitch]

Remember when Reggie said they'd be releasing WiiU info throughout the year? LOL

[SixthAngel]

As I said in the main talkback thread, I'll believe any of this works when I see it for myself.  I'm not convinced that a company as woefully incompetent on online systems as Nintendo suddenly figured it out.

Nintendo's online strategy for the Wii and DS was decided the day that they were released (both to massive success).  The Wii was simply not capable of doing the online system differently since its release in 2006.  Mario Kart Wii was actually the most played online game at one time so while their console wasn't as future thinking as it could have been it wasn't as far off as people make it out either.  That's 6 years where change was basically impossible due to the nature of consoles and the entire DLC structure we see now went throughhuge amounts of horse armor growing pains

Despite this they are judged as if they could have been doing the newest online stuff every year.  Being incapable of changing the Wii's online system does not translate to them not caring for online or being ignorant of what has happened over the last six years.  Looking at this announcement and Nintendo's history with online and their work on the eshop and the games they have released for it should show that they are more than willing to jump into this area guns blazing.

[NeoStar9X]

I just hope Nintendo didn't cut corners and half ass security and privacy on it like Sony did with PSN. Oh, and trophies too. If Nintendo got those two things right then I will be satisfied.

This is my biggest worry in the end. The security on the Wii is horrible. So far things are looking good on the 3DS. I just hope things are even better on the Wii U.

[Snake-Arms]

As good of news as this is, I can't help but wonder why they didn't put at least one iota of effort into the name.  Something like, Nintendo Warp or Pipeline (you know, playing on the whole warp pipes from Mario).

Nintendo Network sounds so...sterile.

[Spak-Spang]

Actually, I like the name.  Nintendo needs to be pushing to sound more like a technology company.  All these cute names people come up with for Nintendo just makes it sound dare I say it "kiddie".

I actually think that is why Nintendo went with the brand name wii.  It waas a unique name, it tried to sound hip, and it was short...I think it tried alittle too hard to be Apple like.  But, as a brand name it isn't that bad, and now is highly recognized and accepted. 

I am not as big of a fan of Wii U though, because the U doesn't actually help differ it from the Wii...and obvious names like Wii Tab, would just sound like an addon device. 

Going back to my original idea of Nintendo going back to sounding like a technology company.  I would love to see Nintendo just go back to the original NES name.  No, additional numbers just the classic Nintendo Entertainment System...NES. 

I know that would cause some confusion in the 8bit world...but seriously, the older system could be labeled NES classic or something.  Of course...if that isn't good enough.  NES Tab would be a good name too. 

[broodwars]

My only problem with the name "Nintendo Network" is that you can't abbreviate it into anything catchy.  "PlayStation Network" isn't a spectacularly great name either, but at least you can abbreviate it to the much-more memorable "PSN".  Xbox LIVE can be abbreviated as "XBL" or "XBLA" (for downloadable titles).  "NN" just doesn't work for me, and without abbreviation "Nintendo Network" does come across somewhat blandly.

[Sarail]

NNW?

Nintendo Network. Maybe? ...

[BlackNMild2k1]

NiN

NiNe (prounounced Nine, not ninny - i.e. I'm going on NiNe tonite. Sounds like Online)

NNet  (picture it with a backwards facing N for the first one though.... too bad they already have a logo)

--------animated logo idea------

NinNetDo

originally said Nintendo, but the "ten" spun around backwards and then spins again getting outside of the "do" pushing it up against the Nin, leaving you with Nindo Net, which then magically grows the rest of the letters back out to say Nintendo Network.

It seemed much better in my head....

[nickmitch]

NinNet

[Chozo Ghost]

Nintendo Network sounds so...sterile.

It is no different than Playstation Network (PSN), or Microsoft Network (MSN).

Maybe the NN abbreviation doesn't work, but a way around that would be to do like the above examples and add the additional letters of certain syllables or something. Unfortunately there is no S in Nintendo, so we can't use NSN, but there is a T, so what about NTN?

[Sarail]

I could get on board with "NNet." Works for me.

[Chozo Ghost]

NinTenDo Network = NTDN


If the words Nintendo and Network slammed into each other in a high speed car crash the result would be: NetWendork

[Hyawatta]

Digital Distribution of Retail 3DS & Wii U Games: Need Ideas

“…we already have the necessary infrastructure to digitally distribute the software on a scale as large as the packaged software. We can start it as soon as we decide to do so.�

“As for the actual digital distribution method, we need to consider what kind of cooperation we can make with wholesalers and retailers, but we think that there must be various solutions other than just positioning digital distribution as an enemy to them. Upon close consultation with them, we would like to determine the details of our digital distribution.�

"…there must be a solution other than positioning digital distribution as an enemy to wholesalers and retailers."  - Satoru Iwata



This is of key importance. Does anyone have any ideas on how to solve this problem? Are there any other companies out there that are already implementing a solution to this? This problem is all that's standing in our way of getting to download retail games right now. The sooner this gets solved, the sooner we get to stop lugging our physical carts around with us everywhere.

Here’s an idea just to get the ball rolling:

Allow the retailers to sell download codes or items, such as figures or cards, which use NFC to act as download codes. This way, retailers can also sell the digital versions of the retail games. I do not think it would be fair to Nintendo if the retailers were the only ones allowed to sell the digital content, though. Nintendo should still be able to sell the digital versions of the retail games directly from the eShop on the 3DS and Wii U. The price of the digital versions should be lower than the physical versions, but that is ok because the retailers can still sell the cheaper digital versions anyway. Just make sure that the prices of the digital versions are still the same from the retailer and from Nintendo’s eShop. Are you listening Nintendo? I want digital retail games ASAP! Please & Thank you.
 
P.S. I like NTN or NiNet for the abbreviation of The Nintendo Network Service.

[Sarail]

Ugh. The day our industry goes digital only is the day I might very well walk away from video games. For music, it makes sense, but games...no thank you.

I'd rather know that I have my collection of games sitting on a shelf, and at ANY moment...if I'd like to play one -- I can go and grab it off the shelf, stick it in the console, and play to my heart's content. I don't mind that at all.

Are people getting lazy or something? Plus, I LOVE box art.

[Fatty The Hutt]

Nintendo Network abbreviated? How about "Double-N"?

[Ymeegod]

Well Sony discounted it's digitally download games (stateside the difference is like $5-15 for some titles) and if Nintendo does the same I wouldn't mind downloading a few (ones that I know I'm going to keep).  But yeah I like "real" copies of games so if I buy a lemon at least I can always trade it in for something I would enjoy.

And it really isn't surprising to see Nintendo getting into online now since MS, Apple, Valve, ect all proved it can work and generate $$.  Nintendo should have done so last generation but at least it's coming. 

Hopefully Mario Kart WII U comes with "creation tools" like in modnation--always wanted to make my own MK tracks and share my ideas with others.  Or Mario platform levels, drools. 

[Mop it up]

Nintendo Online Network - NON

I hope this doesn't mean that they are shutting down the Nintendo WFC network. There are still some games on it that I play.

[Ian Sane]

NON?  That was the bad guy organization in Revolution X!  ...and maybe three people know what I'm talking about.

I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo didn't want their network name to be identified as a simple acronym so as to force everyone to say "Nintendo" every time.  This is the company that said the official spelling of "Gamecube" as all in caps as "GAMECUBE".  Corporations (not just Nintendo) come up with inane crap like that all the time.