 |
|
|
| |
Miyamoto: It's 'Unfair' To Say Nintendo Isn't Proactive About Online
by Kris Graft
|
|
| |
|
May 7, 2010
|
| |
With Microsoft and Sony placing increasing emphasis on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, Nintendo often appears to be behind in the online race. But Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto argues that his company has made strides in the online space.
"To be honest, I think it’s rather unfair whenever I hear such comments -- that Nintendo isn’t proactive when it comes to its online strategy," he told Edge Online. "The fact of the matter is that we always want all Wii consoles to be connected online, all the time, so Nintendo has never been less than proactive in that kind of endeavor."
The Nintendo Wii comes with built-in wi-fi, which it can use to connect to Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection. Players can play multiplayer games, download games from the Wii Shop Channel and communicate online, in some games, using the Wii Speak microphone.
Just recently, Nintendo added the ability to watch streaming Netflix movies on the Wii. The Nintendo DS Line also has similar wireless online features.
But the Wii, with its lack of substantial built-in storage space, relatively unwieldy Friend Code system and games that place more emphasis on in-person play rather than online multiplayer, looks less than robust when compared to Xbox Live or PlayStation Network.
Miyamoto did admit that Nintendo is "less active than [the company] should be" in coming up with a solid online business structure. He said that some options may be to charge people to play online, or a free online service that offers paid premium features.
The industry legend also conceded that Nintendo hasn't been proactive enough in the MMO category. But, he said, "When it comes to our endeavors that try to take advantage of internet technology, where we can provide our customers with more fun and entertainment, then I think we can say we have been very, very proactive and well-received."
|
| |
|
|
When Wii and DS owners don't have to trade ICQ numbers to establish per-game friends lists? Then it'll be unfair.
When Wiiware and DSiWare games aren't a running gag on the Bombcast because they're nothing but shovelware? Then it'll be unfair.
When you make headline games that offer more functionality than what is required by most Xbox Live Arcade games, and instead can be reasonably compared to World of Warcraft (Pokemon MMO?), Halo (Metroid Prime?), Diablo (Zelda dungeon crawler?), or S. Street Fighter 4 (Smash Bros)? Then it'll be unfair.
When you fix all of the other little things like poor matchmaking, non-standard and non-game-agnostic online functionality (see: X360 dashboard/in-game XMB), a lack of WPA functionality in the wi-fi selection, and so on? Then it'll be unfair.
When the people playing games online is more than one-tenth of each of your competitors? Then it'll be unfair.
Until then, don't even try and say you have a good online position. Don't even THINK it.
"a lack of WPA functionality in the wi-fi selection, and so on? Then it'll be unfair."
I connect to my WPA2 secured wireless network just fine with my Wii. When was the last time you connected your Wii to a router?
"When you make headline games that offer more functionality than what is required by most Xbox Live Arcade games, and instead can be reasonably compared to World of Warcraft (Pokemon MMO?), Halo (Metroid Prime?), Diablo (Zelda dungeon crawler?), or S. Street Fighter 4 (Smash Bros)? Then it'll be unfair."
This statement confuses me. You start off complaining about the lack of in depth games and start listing several that are quite comparable to games on other consoles. The only one that doesn't exist is the Pokemon MMO you listed, which makes no since considering the 360 and PS3 still lack an actual MMO outside Final Fantasy 11.
It seems you wanted to complain about Wii Sports and Wii Play, but got confused in your blind rage.
Personally, I feel that the only thing that is really lacking for the Wii online is online Multiplayer. That seems to be the biggest complaint from 360 and PS3 owners. I couldn't care less that the Wii is not as robust in that effect as I prefer to play games with people in the same room with me over those on another home, city, state, country.
As for their good position for online, they have more games available for download than the PS3 and the 360 (if you take out the indie games). That is all that really matters to me as I don't like playing with people who are not in the same room as me.
It's a problem on the DS. I think the Wii is fine in that regard.
"This statement confuses me. You start off complaining about the lack of in depth games and start listing several that are quite comparable to games on other consoles."
The comparisons are being made from the standpoint of purely online featureset and execution of those features. Nintendo has not developed an online product that has the same kind of massive persistence of an MMO, or has the same quality of matchmaking and social interaction as Halo, or SSF4, or many other modern products on XBL, PSN, and PC. (Although, I should probably have swapped out Diablo with a better comparison, in hindsight, as that game is showing its age)
Okay, that all makes more sense now. Thank You.
Now the question remains, is it Nintendo's responsibility to create all those games with those kind of online interactions?
From what I hear, Capcom and Square are doing some pretty good online games but mostly in the RPG department. But those are still game specific and you are probably looking for a more universal solution like Live.
It's not, but they can't complain about not being seen as "proactive" in online gaming with out, you know, putting in some effort.
I'd argue that it is their responsibility. Lead by example and the examples (from Nintendo) are few and far and frankly poorly implemented. If you don't have that much faith/support in your own system's functionality how can you expect the same of others?
The Gamecube has one game that was online in all that, Phantasy Star Universe. Not bad, because at the time you could play I think 6 player online total, with 2-4 player split screen (I think, cant remember, didnt want to care after there was really no online play). I, like every other Cube owner, didnt buy the ethernet attachment or the keyboard controller, cuz it was pointless.
Now, back to Smash Bros, I bought a Wii, because I was bored of Xbox for a couple month span, and bought a Wii specifically for Smash Bros, because 1. I was excited for online play, and possible ranking online, and 2. Sonic is the bomb.
Well, 1 year later, and I have yet to play one online match in Brawl. Nintendo dosent have a online network, and the Virtual Console dosent count, its just all games port from NES, Super NES, and SOME N64 games, Zelda included obviously.
@Knight
You are a old school gamer. I dont mind playing with people in the same room, but all I had at one point was a 26" flat screen at one point, and that was pretty hard with 2 player split screen. Also, if someone brought a xbox over with a Tv, my online connection went through the floor everytime, and didnt help the cause. Sometimes playing alone is just easier and funnier, for yourself, selfishly saying.
Nintendo dosent have a online network, and no matchmaking in any games, on top of no support for hardly any games, and the games that do have online support, the support dosent work.
Nintendo needs to actually do something, because to me, they just seem like a bunch of stoners just sitting on the couch while everyone else is busying making games and making a better online experience then Nintendo seems to think it has.
Miyamoto, your my idol, but come on, shut your mouth.
My complaint with the Wii and DS online functionality is the lack of a good, uniform interface. Trading Friend Codes is unwieldy. Inability to have voice chat greatly detracts from my desire to use it as well (and no, Wii Speak does not count). When I played Brawl online with friends, we had to have laptops next to use to use skype while we traded friend codes to play a game together. Not an ideal set up to say the least.
Nintendo pulled off some very impressive hardware engineering to get the Wii Connect 24 service always online, without generating enough heat to force the fan on and without sucking too much power. This always on connection is the service Miyamoto refers to in the article, and Nintendo is using it, and the other systems don't have it, so yes, they can say they've been proactive with online technology. He then says straight up that he feels Nintendo hasn't been proactive with "online activities such as MMOs." So trying to contradict him by complaining that there isn't a "pokemon MMO" is senseless.
For comparison, Xbox 360 at $150+ more than the Wii didn't even come with Wi-Fi in the box. Compared to Nintendo's online hardware, you could easily say Microsoft was not proactive. Except perhaps being proactive about screwing you out of an additional $90 to get a wireless connection. The Xbox Live system was proactive software, but that doesn't mean that Nintendo wasn't proactive with their online tech. I think you've confused the meaning of the word, and are now comparing features in a separate context.
Also, dont compare Xbox with Wii, first of all there two completely different consoles. Ones HD, others not, one has a hard drive, the other uses SD cards. One has a huge online network, the other dosent. One has really really really horrible motion controllers, the other is just getting motion controls, that hopefully dont suck. Also, yeah the Wii has wireless, but personally, wireless sucks. I will take a hardline any day over the horrible inconsistency of wireless. Thats why some kids drag down the online experience on xbox with the stupid wireless that just dosent want to work.
Nintendo has great ideas, but they are just sitting on those ideas, no doing anything about it.