[RUMOR] Wii friend codes more universal than we thought?

[Doctor Setebos]

Every time Wii owners are teased with the possibility of a friend code-less online system from Nintendo, the concept is pulled out from under our collective feet. However, a recent interview with Next Level Games (developers of just-released online title Mario Strikers Charged) makes it sound like the friend codes might be a bit less painful than we originally thought (http://www.platformers.net/index/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=261&Itemid=33):

Gamers.fr: And for Mii codes, how is it going?
NLG / Justin Dowdeswell, Producer: Every Mii created generates a Mii code that will never change after its creation. Therefore this code will be used for all other online games in the future.A friend code that's attached directly to my Mii? Now that's a system I can get behind!

The original interview is located here (http://www.gamers.fr/actus/2007/04/27/next-level-games-foot-toujours) and is in French. Anyone here care to provide their own translation to see if this quote is accurate?

EDIT: thanks to French-speakers Echani and destoo for confirmation that the quote is indeed an accurate translation.

EDIT 2: an update over at Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/friend-codes-linked-to-mii-said-mario-strikers-producer/) seems to kill this rumor just as we were starting to get excited about it:

We have contacted Dowsedell ourselves to learn that, indeed, he is not sure and was not speaking for how online will be handled with other games. "We're just aware of how we're handling Strikers stuff ... That's not to say it won't happen, but I'm not aware of that," he said to Joystiq via phone.

We apologize for any misunderstanding of Dowdeswell's words specifically stemming from the phrase "all other online games in the future" (intended to mean Strikers Charged matches and not other Wii games).Well, fuck.

[Yellowman]

I hope to god this is true. Btw Mario Strikers Charged is brilliant.

[Gorvi]

Now is this just a Mii code, and how does this tie in with the system unique Wii codes?

[Yellowman]

Well maybe the system unique codes are for actual content trading (i.e. Elebits) and the Mii codes are individually attached to the Mii's for online gaming.

This is of course being so incredibly optimistic as to be blind at this point but I'm going to hope so anyway. After all, if this was really the case Nintendo would of said so by now just to shut people up!

[beefyjr]

What about all the talk that Pokemon Battle Stadium or whatever had it's own specific friend code?

[Echani]

The original interview is located here (http://www.gamers.fr/actus/2007/04/27/next-level-games-foot-toujours) and is in French. Anyone here care to provide their own translation to see if this quote is accurate?
I dunno if Mii codes = friend codes (since I don't actually own a Wii), but the quote's accurate :)

[Dr.Finger]

This makes way it way too easy to actually play online games on the Wii, hence it must be false ;)

[Skyelan]

This is actually exactly how I imagined it'd be since around E3 when we found out about Miis.

I mean, it made little sense when we're seeing games coming with rankings and full-on Friends Lists. How 'safe' would it be for the tykes if their friends are mixed in with the immaturity of his older brother's and the hardcore-ness of his father's?

Tying one code to a Mii always seemed like what would work, to me.

However, just because it's too easy, therefor unlikely, I'll throw in that you'll probably have to enter all your friend's codes in each online game. That should round out the good (Only one code to worry about, instead of having to keep track of eight and on for every person you know) and the bad.

Of course, there's still the lack of getting codes to people you don't previously have contact with in real life, but at least one of the biggest bitching factors is (potentially) gone. ;)

Edit: Oh, and Gorvi, from what I can figure, Mii codes will be more about online games, while the Wii code will remain to link the non gaming features of the systems together (Exchanging Miis, messaging, god knows what else that may come down the line).

Also, it's (sadly) unlikely that Pokemon will utilize this, since that online infastructure was set up quite a while ago.

[TheFlyingOrc]

What about all the talk that Pokemon Battle Stadium or whatever had it's own specific friend code?
Blast it all! It was stated numerous times that this was because of the connection it has with the DS game.

edit: Also, some of us have been maintaining for months that the "game-specific" stuff didn't seem true, and was based around Pokemon(doesn't count) and some random interview with the gamespot guys. You guys are dumb.

[RUSKULL]

There will be online multiplayer on the Wii? Pfft! Yeah right. :P

[lockwoodx]

Sweet jesus I hope this is true. Last thing I want is a frickin rolledex sitting next to my wii so I can "dial-a-game"

[Heretic Machine]

This is the most complex and convoluted online play system ever made. I don't understand it.

[Spigot]

As long as I don't have to put 800 different friend codes in, I'm happy.

[Kamalot]

I'll believe it when I see it. So far, everything Nintendo has done for online gaming leads me to believe that they are inventing the telegraph while Microsoft invents the telephone.

[lockwoodx]

I'll believe it when I see it. So far, everything Nintendo has done for online gaming leads me to believe that they are inventing the telegraph while Microsoft invents the telephone.


Yes but nintendo will make using the telegraph fun!

[Skyelan]

Normally I WOULD be doubtful, but according to people who already own Strikers, it's true that for each Mii that you take online (As your 'profile' of sorts) gets assigned a different friend code. So basically it's gonna come down to the next online game (BW2 most likely) and something third party (Likely Madden, since they seem to be going all out with the Wii version this time) to see if it holds up.

It's not a perfect fix, but I'd much prefer being able to enter my friend's codes the moment I get a game, instead of waiting till I can talk to them, writing down a whole new code, etc etc.

In summary: Not great, but definitely better.

[destoo]

G – Et le code Mii, ça se passe comment ?

NLG / Justin Dowdeswell, Producer – Chaque Mii créé génère un code Mii qui reste invariable par la suite. Ce code servira donc pour tous les autres jeux jouables en ligne dans le futur.
What about the Mii code. What's happening with that?
Each created mii will generate a Mii Code that does not change. This code will be used for all other online games.


...

Yeah. I think you got it right.

[LiquidRain]

My French isn't the best, but it's definitely an accurate translation to me too.

[Evil Avnovice]

I ran into this at joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/friend-codes-linked-to-mii-said-mario-strikers-producer/) yesterday.

It could make for a cool idea: Instead of inputting someone's friend code, you create a Mii with your friend code and you can send yours to someone or register one by selecting the Mii.

A very cool idea if executed properly.

[cp#]

Still a shitty ass system. Are we going to be able to hop into a chat channel of some kind and add new friends? Join games with random people on the fly?

[Karmakaze]

It could make for a cool idea: Instead of inputting someone's friend code, you create a Mii with your friend code and you can send yours to someone or register one by selecting the Mii.

A very cool idea if executed properly.

I was just thinking the exact same thing.

But this brings up another good point. Is there anything stopping you from using your friend's Mii online without his consent? E.g. if he sends you his Mii, what's to stop you from logging into Strikers as him?

The only two solutions I can think of off the top of my head are either password-protected Miis, or only letting you use a Mii online if you have the Wiimote it was created on. This would require you to take your Wiimote to a friends if you wanted to play online from his house. I guess you could combine the two (you only need the password if you forgot your Wiimote).

[TheFlyingOrc]

I was just thinking the exact same thing.

But this brings up another good point. Is there anything stopping you from using your friend's Mii online without his consent? E.g. if he sends you his Mii, what's to stop you from logging into Strikers as him?

Miis that are received already have restrictions on them - I don't believe you can edit/rename them, and you can't send them to other people, I don't think.

[RMan]

This is the most complex and convoluted online play system ever made. I don't understand it.
From what I’ve seen, it seems pretty simple, just with kinda odd terms for stuff.
Friend Code=Game generated user ID.
Mii Code=System generated user ID.
Wii Code=System ID generated at creation.

Now, from a technical standpoint, it’s pretty clean. I just think the extra infrastructure to handle the information seems to be in it’s infancy stages at best, which sucks, but it seems a solid base system.

[Skyelan]

Join games with random people on the fly?

Well, given that we've been able to since Mario Kart DS...

[Dr.Acula]

This is utter crap. The Wii e-mail is a string of random bits, every game friend code I've used so far (DS Castlevania, DS FFIII, DS Metroid) is a string of random bits, the wii friend code is more random bits, and now this mii code is going to be more random crap.

And will Nintendo allow EA or Capcom, or other companies to use mii codes? I don't know what their policy on this is, but I could see Nintendo allowing this. I'm much more concerned that a company as big as EA wants to impliment their own solution, and I have to get a new code if I want to play NHL or something.

Microsoft has the right idea, you get an online profile that's used to manage ALL your games. I haven't had any personal experience with XBox live, but it can't be as bad as Nintendo.

Most of my gaming is online. Steam works well enough, and I really like the solution they're going to be implimenting with QuakeWars, where everyone has a unique ID which is simply a handle of their choosing. Until Nintendo says people can make up their own names, and other gamers can search for the sessions they're playing under, Nintendo's online solution will suck.

The only argument I hear against this is that it increases the likelyhood of sex crimes or some crap, which is bull, because even though the media is obsessed with video game related crime, and sexual crime, I have never seen an explotative, no factual evidence report to create a connection between online gaming and sexual crime. Which is quite shocking when you consider how little anecdotal evidence it takes for a 24 news station to do a far reaching report on something.

[Odyzen]

I have no idea how this is works.

-We trade Wii codes so our systems are linked and we have a collection of Wii-code friends

-if we want to play Mario Strikers, we use the Mii to ???

-PROFIT.

That's what I worked out, can someone elaborate how this exactly would work?

[Spigot]

Dr Acula,

I sympathize with you. Prior to my getting a 360 and experiencing the glory that is Live, I might have been able to put up with the Mii/Wii codes, but now...

Live is what an online service should be, period. The persistance of it from game to game, the way that invites work, the sheer simplicity all make things work smashingly.

The dogs breakfast that is the Friend Code system on the DS (and likely the Wii) is insane. I still don't understand why they force you to have game specific (or even Mii specific) codes on top of the already double-handshake system for linking up Wiis over the net. If you've trusted someone enough to register them and have them register you, you shouldn't need another tier of 'protection'.

I'll wait and see how things play out, but I really hope it's simpler rather than more complex.

[Ravenlock]

Spigot, since we're comparing it to Live, it might be worth checking out this commentary (http://www.infendo.com/wii/did-nintendo-just-trump-xbox-live/) from Jack over at Infendo.Basically, a commenter named Ken over at Joystiq said this: Basically when you get on Strikers, lets so you choose the Mii named: Kevin. The name Kevin will show up, and has a friend code directly linked to that Mii. It never changes, unless you delete that Mii. Now if you load up Super Smash Bros, and you select the Kevin Mii; It will have the same friend code linked to it, and will have the stats from your Strikers game linked to it as well. But if you log into Strikers with a Mii named: Sarah; The friend code is different from Kevin and will have a fresh profile.

Pretty similar to what Live has. (Except you can’t have two different Live accounts, without paying for it).

Suddenly the reason for the obscene number of digits in Wii Friend Codes becomes clear. With each console capable of housing 100 Mii’s, each with their own code, there needed to be several trillion possibilities for the system to work properly. In effect, each Wii console is now sitting on 100 different gamertags that can be deleted and created at will. You and your friends and family now have access to a plethora of “gamertags”on one system, each cataloging and logging your stats and achievements independently of the other Mii’s on the system. In theory anyway.

In one fell swoop, Nintendo has played at least part of its hand with the Mii Channel, showing it to be much more than just the quirky character creator the “gaming press” — and many others — all too eagerly made it out to be in the weeks following the Wii launch. It’s more than just a Wenis-creater — it’s a gamertag system on steroids. For free. And for everyone in the household. Or neighborhood. Or whatever.If they're right about this, I think it's a pretty slick move on Nintendo's part. And no, the complexity of entering a friend code for each Mii you want to play against as a "friend" is NOT that much of a hassle. No more than entering an ICQ number used to be, or storing a cell phone number currently is. After all, remember, this is *free* - if it really keeps a single code for each Mii and tracks that Mii's stats across all online games, that's a ton of functionality at no cost.

This sounds great to me, and I'm eager to see if it pans out this way. How refreshing it would be to see Nintendo get something right in online gaming.

[Spigot]

Ok. That's not so bad. It doesn't have all of the cool awareness and invite stuff tied to it like Live has but it's a HUGE step in the right direction. Keep the number of times I have to add a 80 digit number to my list of friends, etc. to a bare minimum and I'll be happy.

It's not the entering of the number that drives me and many others away from Friend Codes. It's the fact that you had to do it for every bloody game on the DS. This way is much nicer.

[Tyler Durden84]

The wii friend codes are a joke. i feel like im writting them a letter to ask if they want to play right now. It takes forever to do and just feels inefficient. plus, it took me like a week to figure out how to find my friend code. and whats with trying to play some games online on the DS? is it me or in certain games can you not play online until you have friends? how else can you get them? isnt that the point? i think it's just me.

[Spigot]

Well, thankfully a lot of DS games have an option of doing a random match-up, so not all hope is lost.

That said, doing a double handshake for every game is nuts. As for the Wii codes, they're not that bad. You only have to do it once for each friend and while it's not as intuitive as just plonking down someone's gamertag, it's not that bad.

The thing with the Wii codes and DS friend codes is that they lack the awareness that Live has. In Live, I can see who is on and invite them for a game or see what they are playing and maybe switch my gaming choice to their's. With the DS/Wii, you are forced to rely on a secondary connection (the boards here, an IM client, a phone) to synchronize a match.

[Doctor Setebos]

Updated the OP with new info from Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/friend-codes-linked-to-mii-said-mario-strikers-producer/).

I've decided that from now on, I'm not going to get excited about anything I hear about Nintendo. Ever. Even if it comes directly from Reggie's lips. Check that: especially if it comes from Reggie's lips.

[Scramble]

Updated the OP with new info from Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/friend-codes-linked-to-mii-said-mario-strikers-producer/).

I've decided that from now on, I'm not going to get excited about anything I hear about Nintendo. Ever. Even if it comes directly from Reggie's lips. Check that: especially if it comes from Reggie's lips.


But so much of Reggie's power is derived from those lips!

[Ravenlock]

Oh. ...Well, crap, then. *Sigh* Maybe it'll be true anyhow? I mean, it would've been freaking sweet.