Wii's Limited Online Functionality Will Not be Live at Launch

[Furtive]

Nintendo has just sent out a press release (http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-16-2006/0004476212&EDATE=) informing consumers that not all of the Wii's online functionality will be live in time for launch.
On Dec. 20, Nintendo will roll out the Forecast Channel. [...]
Then on Jan. 27, the Wii Menu News Channel will make headlines with the
latest news from around the world provided by the Associated Press.
It should be noted that the Wii Shop Channel will still be live on day 1, with new titles releasing every Monday.

Thanks to Doctor Setebos for a similar submission.

[TheFlyingOrc]

That's annoying. Can't for the life of me figure out why Nintendo is so far behind on online stuff.

[PIPBoy3000]

I don't think I'll be doing much besides playing Twilight Princess for a couple months . . .

[Bydo_Empire]

Too bad, I was looking forward to the Forecast channel. But not that big a deal to wait a few more weeks. I mostly want to buy me some tg-16 games, so I hope those are available right away.

[Heretic Machine]

That's annoying. Can't for the life of me figure out why Nintendo is so far behind on online stuff.

As I have said before, they don't take it seriously. I don't know if it is just a Japanese thing, but it doesn't seem to be a priority for them.

[Ghostbear]

well, i am cool as long as it's up eventually. but it is rather annoying

[51|RandoM]

Yeah, because the forecast and news channels are a big deal...

lol, you guys crack me up.

If Opera works, you don't need a forecast or news channel.

[Ph00p]

What about the Internet channel in general? I'd like operas at launch, it'd be kinda handy.

[Kamalot]

Awww POOP!

Where am I gonna get my news and weather?

[Bydo_Empire]

Yeah, because the forecast and news channels are a big deal...If Opera works, you don't need a forecast or news channel.I want to try out the Wii Forecast Channel interface. It might be handy to have the local weather 1 wiimote click away everyy morning - on the TV in the living room - where I am in the morning before I go out. Again, not a big deal, but there *is* a reason why the forecast channel is appealing. General browsing on a TV isn't as appealing to me as content with a dedicated (and promising) interface.

[Heretic Machine]

It isn't just their little "channels." Online play itself isn't going to be up either. The only thing that will be functioning is their marketplace, surprise, surprise.

[TheFlyingOrc]

It isn't just their little "channels." Online play itself isn't going to be up either. The only thing that will be functioning is their marketplace, surprise, surprise.
NINTENDO WANTS TO MAKE MONEY?

[UnderHero5]

It isn't just their little "channels." Online play itself isn't going to be up either. The only thing that will be functioning is their marketplace, surprise, surprise.
There aren't any online launch titles anyway, are there?
I thought that Pokemon game in Japan was going to be the first online Wii title?

And where does it mention online play not being up in this news release? Is there a link I'm missing or is the quote all there is to it?

[Psunami]

I thought the best news was the weekly VC releases (plural.)

With the list of titles that have been approved by the ESRB lately, we're going to see a lot of great classic games in their shop very soon. I'm very happy about that.

The news and weather channels, meh....

[Doctor Setebos]

It isn't just their little "channels." Online play itself isn't going to be up either. The only thing that will be functioning is their marketplace, surprise, surprise.I compare this to a developer that's pushing back the release of an anticipated game (Duke Nukem, excepted, of course) to make sure it's done right the first time. I'd rather Nintendo delay online games a bit to make sure they've got their infrastructure solidly in place. They've proven they can do it with their DS WiFi network, and I have confidence they can do it with WiiConnect24. Give them time, and online gaming on the Wii will be second nature, just like it is with the 360.

[RMan]

As I have said before, they don't take it seriously. I don't know if it is just a Japanese thing, but it doesn't seem to be a priority for them.
Well, I wouldn’t say that, I would agree completely that they don’t take it as seriously as MS does, but MS’s primary customer is competitive male players. IOW, there’s a difference between not taking something seriously and not being obsessed with it. Nintendo’s strategy is more, I guess, mass-market in respect to online multiplayer, I think they take it seriously, they just know how serious it is to their target audience and are not focused on it the way MS is. I think it’d be equally unfair to say MS doesn’t take family gaming seriously, I think they do, they’re just going after the portion of the market that’s easiest for them to nail down.

[Ghostbear]

Awww POOP!

Where am I gonna get my news and weather?
the window?

[Ph00p]

Awww POOP!

Where am I gonna get my news and weather?

From a bookmark of the weather channel on wii Opera.

[Chi-Town]

For those who keep mentioning using the Opera Browser...

http://www.sys-con.com/read/302312.htm

The Wii Shop Channel is also where users will go to download the Opera browser that will let them surf the Internet from the comfort of their couches on Wii's Internet Channel. More information about the availability of the browser will be released in the coming weeks.

[Heretic Machine]

There aren't any online launch titles anyway, are there?

...Well no, since the service is non-existent at the moment. I'm sure CoD3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Excite Truck, and Red Steel would of had online play if it were available though....

[Dr Quincy]

Online gaming and online functionality in the console sphere certainly isn't a make or break deal yet. I don't imagine many casual gamers think of their living rooms as places to go online, unless that's where they keep their PCs.

[51|RandoM]

...Well no, since the service is non-existent at the moment. I'm sure CoD3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Excite Truck, and Red Steel would of had online play if it were available though....

Somehow I doubt that when they drew up the design documents for those games that they knew that the Wii network service would not be available at launch.

Looking on the bright side, this means there is no reason whatsoever to go out of your way to get a Wii at release. You don't have to worry about hitting the multiplayer peak on any of their games... You can wait a few months, perhaps more... and not miss a single thing.

[thecrazyd]

Somehow I doubt that when they drew up the design documents for those games that they knew that the Wii network service would not be available at launch.

Looking on the bright side, this means there is no reason whatsoever to go out of your way to get a Wii at release. You don't have to worry about hitting the multiplayer peak on any of their games... You can wait a few months, perhaps more... and not miss a single thing.
Except... you have to wait to play single player games and multiplayer split screen games. Being on top of multiplayer is kind of a stupid reason to buy a console at launch.

[Doctor Setebos]

Except... you have to wait to play single player games and multiplayer split screen games. Being on top of multiplayer is kind of a stupid reason to buy a console at launch.Zelda, however, is a fantastic reason to get a console at launch. :D

[CapnBob]

Zelda, however, is a fantastic reason to get a console at launch. :D
Being done with Zelda when the online multiplayer games get released is ANOTHER reason to get the system at launch.

[Nessus]

Xbox Live did not launch with the Xbox. Why is there a different expectation for Nintendo?

Hell, Resistance: Fall Of Man on PS3 doesn't even use Sony's supposed universal online architecture and instead uses its own integrated buddy list in a very PS2-like setup.

[Karmakaze]

Xbox Live did not launch with the Xbox. Why is there a different expectation for Nintendo?

Hell, Resistance: Fall Of Man on PS3 doesn't even use Sony's supposed universal online architecture and instead uses its own integrated buddy list in a very PS2-like setup.

Simple answer: the 360.

It's completely raised the bar for online expectations, simply because it's just worked since day one.

IOW, with respect to online, Nintendo and Sony are now both a generation behind Microsoft, and don't seem to be giving it the effort they should be if they want to catch up.

[mister_slim]

Xbox Live did not launch with the Xbox. Why is there a different expectation for Nintendo?

Hell, Resistance: Fall Of Man on PS3 doesn't even use Sony's supposed universal online architecture and instead uses its own integrated buddy list in a very PS2-like setup.
It does use the universal login, actually.

[Ravenlock]

*Shrug* Not a huge deal to me. I have to get my Wii at EB/GS since that's where I have a bunch of store credit, and I didn't pre-order, so I'm not getting mine for at least a few weeks anyhow, maybe closer to Christmas / New Year's.

Seriously, though, while it is a bummer that games like Red Steel and CoD 3 won't have internet play, not being able to check the weather on the Wii for a month or so just isn't that big an issue.

As somebody said, we'll all have a hell of a lot of Zelda to play anyhow. :D

[Doctor Setebos]

Simple answer: the 360.

It's completely raised the bar for online expectations, simply because it's just worked since day one.

IOW, with respect to online, Nintendo and Sony are now both a generation behind Microsoft, and don't seem to be giving it the effort they should be if they want to catch up.Just because Nintendo and Sony are doing it differently, doesn't mean they're behind. :rolleyes: