Home Gaming Nintendo was unfamiliar with rivals' online features

Nintendo was unfamiliar with rivals' online features

2 min read
12

No idea what s going on

Nintendo has been lacking some core functionality when it comes to online networking for quite a while now. I mean, it was only announced in November that cross-platform accounts were finally going to be a thing. Even then, the accounts would only apply to the Wii Shop and not to the rest of the experience. Now, it seems that the problem goes way deeper.

It always seemed to me that Nintendo lived in some strange ivory tower, or maybe it was Takeshi’s tower. Either way, they seemed removed from the rest of society – this can be a blessing as they are able to maintain creative integrity without being influenced by outside forces. Of course, sometimes they are so removed from the world, it leads to epic fails, as seen with their network features. According to an anonymous developer on Eurogamer, Nintendo has no idea about the Xbox or Sony features:

[We]asked how certain scenarios might work with the Mii friends and networking, all the time referencing how Xbox Live and PSN achieve the same thing. At some point in this conversation we were informed that it was no good referencing Live and PSN as nobody in their development teams used those systems (!) so could we provide more detailed explanations for them? My only thought after this call was that they were struggling – badly – with the networking side as it was far more complicated than they anticipated. They were trying to play catch-up with the rival systems, but without the years of experience to back it up.

The article goes on to explain problems with Wii U development and other issues. However, some of these issues were later rebutted by other developers via twitter. Unfortunately, no one has refuted the fact that Nintendo doesn’t know about Xbox Live or PSN. Um, seriously?

I understand Nintendo targets a different market – my expectations for 3DS and Wii U are different than those for Sony or Microsoft products. That said, how can companies not see what their competitors are doing and try to learn from it? Microsoft is finally offering decent free games through their paid program, probably thanks to massive uproar and comparison with PS+; shouldn’t Nintendo also be keeping a finger on the pulse? Or at least keep themselves vaguely informed of how other companies are handling networking and social aspects of gaming? I can’t even add the Wookie as a friend on my 3DS – it just doesn’t work. No wonder. Wow I understand that Nintendo simply doesn’t know about this stuff. Oh well, let’s just hope that they give us more awesome games and none of us will complain about their archaic online systems.

Last Updated: January 13, 2014

12 Comments

  1. Umar digs KOS-MOS

    January 13, 2014 at 09:19

    Read this over the weekend. thought man…It must be nice, living in a bubble…..Nintendo…I love you, I really do. I bought a wiiU because I have faith in you…but GAAD DAMN get your head out of your azz.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 13, 2014 at 09:33

      To Nintendo they are still in the year 2001

      Reply

      • Umar digs KOS-MOS

        January 13, 2014 at 09:41

        Indeed, sigh and they have the most forward thinking ideas 🙁

        Reply

        • Her Highness the Hipster

          January 13, 2014 at 09:45

          aww yeah! let’s (wii u) party like it’s 1999!

          Reply

          • Umar digs KOS-MOS

            January 13, 2014 at 09:48

            Ain’t no party like a wii party!

  2. TiMsTeR1033

    January 13, 2014 at 09:27

    Too much time with Towlie does that to you! Soon Nintendo will be trying to play Funky town on any keypad that makes noises when pressed!

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    January 13, 2014 at 09:31

    NINTENDON’T AMIRITE!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 13, 2014 at 09:41

      You are right!

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    January 13, 2014 at 09:43

    Sega going was one thing but if Nintendo stops making consoles. That would be a shot right in the childhood. They need to do something revolutionary and quickly.

    Reply

  5. DrKiller

    January 13, 2014 at 09:50

    Maybe soon we’ll have Mario and Pokemon on the Xbox.. *holding thumbs*

    Reply

  6. DarthofZA

    January 13, 2014 at 09:56

    True story about my friend 😀

    http://hugelolcdn.com/i700/232871.jpg

    Reply

  7. Christiaan Joubert

    January 13, 2014 at 10:20

    Imo I like Nintendo this way.
    I feel online has messed up the experience for many gamers… we keep seeing a ton of games with a weak singleplayer experience that only lasts a matter of HOURS! ( in extreme cases) and then rely on the multiplayer to carry it through.

    Well honestly, I’m stuck with an iburts connection since our telephone line got stolen 2 years ago and telkom refused to replace it!!!

    I’ve been indulging and supporting my new 3DS SIMPLY BECAUSE it’s been offering me solid single player experiences with out the need to slap on a multiplayer experience which will frankly “vanish” when the servers get shut down!

    Look at everybody who supported MAG!!
    In a few months they will all have a completely useless disk!!!!!
    If anything I feel pc gaming is still setting the standard since pc bred gaming usually sees peer to peer as standard and also at the very least offers bots and the ability to lan for some! ( there are games that are the exception, but these are also Games I would not consider to be of high quality)

    So in all honestly I really think ms and Sony can both shove it!!!
    ( and yea when at home I game on my ps3 the majority of the time, but I feel that if anybody needs a wake up call… It is by FAR not Nintendo!!!)

    Reply

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