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Wii Games Go Online, Lose Happy Clouds
Ars Technica has the news of some comments made by Reggie Fils-Aime on the SpikeTV show GameHead about Wii's online multiplayer future. Essentially, there aren't any games in the near future to look forward to, online. The Japanese launch saw the inclusion of Pokemon Battle Revolution, a with a solid online mode. The first batch of online games is slated for sometime around March or April. From the article: "Many games still in development for the Wii are designed around playing with people who are physically present: a recent preview of a new anime-themed golf game for the Wii on Electric Playground revealed that the developers had not included online multiplayer modes. Fils-Aime also indicated that new multiplayer channels were on their way for the Wii's online service, but declined to give any details about what new features might be enabled on them." In somewhat related news, it seems that the Bob Ross game may not end up happening after all. The loss of happy little clouds will be felt by every Wii owner.
You heard me say it here and now folks. If the new Smash Brothers is online-capable, and they do it right...holy shit.
Living With a Nerd
Don't they know all the world needs is a little Prussian Blue?
"The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success" -em
Yeah I don't mind waiting for online games. I honestly don't even care about that. I have my PC for good online gaming anyway....
This means I'll have to paint BY HAND!? ZOMG NO!
Honestly, even if there were multiplayer games, they'd still be hampered by friend codes. I understand Nintendo's motivations for using friend codes, but still, they're a pretty big drag on online multiplayer, especially for adults want to play by some other schedule than when their handful of friends are on.
Can anyone with a Wii (*snicker*) comment on how viable a Bob Ross game would be? In other words, does the Wiimote give you enough DPI (for lack of a better term) to give you precise motion for a painting program? I could zone out and relax for hours with something like that.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
A couple games has some Wiiconnect24 support coming. Elebits will next week, and a couple other have plans for it.
I'm tentative about claiming the Wii has any good online. Online is good and all but with out a solid online platform having to share friends codes is more than a little annoying. Especially if we are forced to both be on at the same time.
I'm very hopeful for some good support, don't know how pokemon battle revolution does it but I know that won't be the breakaway hit for online..
I'm really sad that my Mii Parade is always empty. None of my friends can afford a Wii, so I never get to interact with others online. Why the heck isn't there an option to do something like enter your zip code and obtain Mii's from people within a certain radius from you or something?
Morphing Software
1. Use Ruby on Rails to create a P2P friend code sharing site in 30 minutes.
2. Add copious abouts of AJAX and call it Miir or something.
3. ???
4. Profit!
Help poke pirates in the eyepatch, arr.
The Wii seems to me like it's designed to be a social device, the type of system you play with your family and friends. Online gaming is only 'social' at its lowest common denominator. I, for one, don't give much of a shit whether the Wii EVER "gets online right." In my mind, they've already gotten multi-player right by focusing on solid, fun, and communal play when two people are in the same room.
I play MMO's and I dig the pervasive online nature of the beast, but more than that, I love playing the Wii with my real life friends -- I, for one, have no desire to play Wii Tennis with STABZUFACE24 from Wisconsin. Am I alone here? I'm sure there's got to be more gamers than me out there who really don't care about online multi-player whatsoever, when half the fun of it is you and your buddies laughing at each other making asses out of yourselves.
It's nice to think that when you want to play a game, you can always turn to your friends to play.
But what happens when, like me, none of your friends are into video games? It happens, there is no rule stating your friends have to have all of the *exact* same interests you do. Since none of my friends are into gaming, it's important to me the game has some decent multi-player. It's fun to play with someone after I've finished the single player campaign.
While it's true I'm able to con my non-gaming friends or family into the odd game, it isn't often. So online multi-player really comes in handy.
I'm sure there are a host of gamers who don't require online multiplayer in order to enjoy games. I'd prefer my real friends as well, but many of them have jobs and other responsibilities that don't always coincide with my schedule. Who cares if it's at the bottom of the social ladder? Unfortunately, it's not really about making friends for many people; it's about having a better experience.
Plus, if the Xbox Live service is any indicator of general interest, I'd say that Nintendo has a lot to gain in terms of offering online services, especially if they're free.
Personally, I would want a stronger online system. And if they want to appeal to the parents, they could have two separate systems; one that protects children and a more sophisticated solution for a mature (up for debate) audience. Upon initial setup, the parent could choose a password to limit the online functionality for their children.