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Nintendo Takes To The Airwaves

Posted by Zonk on from the wireless-that-is dept.

Eurogamer has a look at some new information about the Revolution's wireless presence. From the article: "Iwata confirmed that consumers will not be required to pay any monthly fees to play first party titles - the only costs incurred will be the price of games and the user's own Internet connection. He said that Nintendo has worked hard to design a system which is secure and protected from the kind of abuse that can come from anonymity. A Nintendo-branded USB Wi-Fi access point will appear on the shelves along side the first Wi-Fi enabled game for use by gamers who don't have a wireless Internet connection already set up - which would suggest that third party wireless access points can also be used." Update: 09/20 20:47 GMT by Z : Edited for clarity.

2 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. Genius! by Enjoi · · Score: 0, Interesting

    This is exacly why nintendo make great games. They think more about making everyone have a good experience than the games.

  2. Good policies by alvinrod · · Score: 2, Interesting
    1) It's free. I don't mind paying a low monthly fee for online gaming if the service is good, but for the most part, my experience with online console gaming is limited to Xbox Live. It's not terrible for $50 a year, but the community occasionally leaves something to be desired. The DS isn't exactly a console though, so it would be hard to say the same rules apply for a console and a portable. Until we see Nintendo's online plan for the revolution, I don't know how much comparison is allowable. In any event, free is always good.

    2) 3rd Party devices can be used. I've already got a Linksys wireless G router, so I won't need to get a Nintendo one. I'm glad that they aren't forcing me to buy an extra piece of hardware. Would I buy one if they required it though? Possibly. But there are probably a lot of people who wouldn't. I'm not sure what similar devices would normally cost, but the price doesn't seem too bad.

    3) Free Nintendo supported hot spots. It's nice that they're making a few free hotspots for DS gamers to gather and play online. Once again free is good.

    I'm a little disappointed that there won't be voice chat, but then again after some of the things you hear on Live (excessive cursing, yelling, people playing music into the mic) I'm not really so sure this is such a bad thing. Then again, that's not really the fault of Xbox Live, merely that of some of those who use it.

    All in all, it's nice to see a company offering free service that you doesn't require first party hardware. I wish that more companies were like this, or at least wouldn't price gouge on the required hardware.