Nintendo Europe Reveals Wi-Fi Details: No Online Battle for MK:DS

[LiquidRain]

French Nintendo site Puissance Nintendo (http://portables.p-nintendo.com/) has conducted an interview (http://portables.p-nintendo.com/articles/I-89-2.html) in English with Jim Merrick, Head of European Marketing at Nintendo Europe. In it, an enormous amount of information about the upcoming Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is revealed: friends list, pricing (it's free), accessibility, features, and far more - including that Mario Kart DS will sport a Halo 2-like matchmaking service.

Jim Merrick: So you can restrict your play only to people you know, or you can go and say I wanna play against people in Europe and I don't care about the skill-level, or I want to play against people around the world who have similar skills to mine.PN: Does it also require each user to have a different name or nickname? Can you have more than one Jim on the NWC?
JM: No, you can have as many as you want. It's one of the criterias. If you want to go to America On Line, because their namespace is horrible, I can't be Jim, I'll have to be JimSomething. So we do want to have duplicate names.
They have also interviewed (http://portables.p-nintendo.com/articles/I-88-1.html) (in French) Hideki Konno, the producer of Mario Kart DS, who revealed this about Mario Kart's online battle mode: (translation mine)

PN: Will the battle mode be on Wi-Fi?
Hideki Konno: Unfortunately, battle mode will not be available online. There will be a unique mode for online play for up to 4 players.
Looks like Nintendo's set on providing XBox Live for free. The exclusion of a battle mode from MK:DS is a bummer though, to say the least.

[Stupid Fat Hobbit]

The exclusion of a battle mode from MK:DS is a bummer though, to say the least.

I don't intend this as a flame, but that seems a little like complaining that your free lunch doesn't include fries. Of course I'd like to see online battle mode, but the service that Nintendo is providing--for free, let's not forget--looks so good that it seems churlish to grumble about what they're leaving out.

[CapnBob]

I am bummed about the lack of online battle, but battle works best in an environment where you can smack talk and I'm quite sure there won't be voice chat in the game. Still, getting to play the racing mode online is nothing to sneeze at.

[Babbster]

I'll third that. It's about the racing, _____. <--politically correct political reference. :D

[Tricky Thumb]

I really don't care about the lack of online battle, I'm just very happy Nintendo is finally going online and in such a great way to boot. With the price drop of the DS and many promising game releases on the horizon, I've got a big smile on my face every time I catch a glimpse of my DS in my room.

[EvilBob46]

I don't care about the details - the fact that Nintendo is finally getting their asses in gear and starting to build up an online offering is enough for me. About time though.

[Heretic Machine]

I don't really understand why they wouldn't include the battle mode...? I mean, I don't care because I really don't play Mario Kart, but it seems like it would be as easy to have on there as any other mode.

But free online play = teh hotness.

[Chandler]

they better put the n64 mario kart not that garbage gamecube one

[Rommel]

...What happened here?

[Justin_McElroy]

I feel like Rommel is a special education teacher who walked into a room full of children making "mud pies."

[thecrazyd]

If they keep this same kind of service with the Revolution, I am more sold than I already am. Fuck you, XBox 360 and your useless "Live Silver" service. Pay attention!

[CapnBob]

My guess is that they thought the latency issue was too great for battle mode, where split-second precision is much more important. Also, on the SNES and N64 incarnations I've been known to pop all 3 of an opponent's balloons in the first 10 seconds of the game, and an opponent online might not know what happened and assume that there's some bug in the game.

[mkelehan]

I'd have never played Battle online anyway.

I don't like the idea of non-unique usernames, and there's still no mention of standard voice chat. This looks good, but I won't take the crown from Live just yet.

[LiquidRain]

Racing is indeed fun, but I was really looking forward to playing battle mode online with my friends. I have more memories of Block Fort than the racing modes in MK64.

[EternalGamer]

With the price drop of the DS and many promising game releases on the horizon, I've got a big smile on my face every time I catch a glimpse of my DS in my room.

You steal glances at your game machines? :eek: And people thought Michael Jackson's sexual proclivities were creepy...

Dan

[Draft]

This looks good, but I won't take the crown from Live just yet.Of course, you're not an insane fanboy.

I'll wait till actual details are released before crowning anyone anything.

[Heretic Machine]

I don't like the idea of non-unique usernames, and there's still no mention of standard voice chat.

And if you've ever played on XBOX Live, you'd understand why Voice Chat is a -BAD- thing.

[Sargondai]

As someone who is developing a kart racing game for a published MMO, I can say I understand *completely* why Nintendo isn't including Battle Mode. Ya'll know how difficult it is to coordinate a system like that in a very laggy environment? Blargh.

[Kelegacy]

I feel like Rommel is a special education teacher who walked into a room full of children making "mud pies."

Umm, that's not mud.

[Babbster]

Umm, that's not mud.

Both my very excitable nephews were, just an hour ago, engaged in the repetition of the word "poop." I, being a responsible adult, promptly joined in and tried to get the word "diarrhea" going. They don't even have a chance...

[mkelehan]

And if you've ever played on XBOX Live, you'd understand why Voice Chat is a -BAD- thing.

I've played a lot on Live, and can't imagine playing without voice. Keyboards (and touch screens) are great for setting the game up, but in-play, you need voice. And if someone's annoying you, mute them.

Of course, I don't play sports games or first person shooters, where the idiots seem to gather.

[funtownarcade]

And yes we are allowed to complain even though its "free" (we are buying the system and the game, and 99% of other online games I have played are "free")

I'm not saying I'm not buying it immediately and that I won't love it.

[bapenguin]

Want I wanna know is this going to have universal friends lists and voice chat/mailboxes. Until then...it's just regular ol' internet gamin.

[Kefkataran]

Of course, I don't play sports games or first person shooters

And you own an Xbox? Is there much left?

[Heretic Machine]

And you own an Xbox? Is there much left?

Plenty, just not on Live though.

EDIT: Oh, and I think some people overestimate the "maturity" of people who enjoy the same genres as them.

[RvltnEvolved]

OK
#1 Fuckin sweet the DS WiFi . . . I am excited. Now all we need is some more games cuz I am sick of playin GBA shit on my DS, coulda bought a advanced
#2 Quit dissin XBox live, there is nothing better then telling a 13 year old that you're gonna fuck up his world before blasting him into a bloody pile

[Adam Blue]

For a company like Nintendo, this sounds lazy and stupid. Why are they going halfway?

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I'm confused, what's so half way about this?

[Kelegacy]

Plenty, just not on Live though.

EDIT: Oh, and I think some people overestimate the "maturity" of people who enjoy the same genres as them.

I think people lump genre-lovers into certain categories. I like PC RPG's and console RPGs. I like reading fantasy and sci-fi and watching animation. However, I'm not one of those overweight cos-play guys that waits in line for 52 days waiting for Revenge of the Sith. I dont smell like B.O. and I actually have a pretty good tan--i'm not afraid of the sun. People think that because you play RPGs or read "geek" books you are just that--a stereotypical nerd.

When someone sees me in the park or somewhere reading a book and ask me to show them the cover and they see that it's a sci-fi/fantasy book, I usually get the "Oh, your one of THOSE guys," look. Whatever. I enjoy this sort of shit because I'm an escapist, not because I overly enjoy elves and dwarves and +2 Battle Axes of Uber Penis Swelling.

[Squigly]

Want I wanna know is this going to have universal friends lists and voice chat/mailboxes. Until then...it's just regular ol' internet gamin.

I doubt it. Seeing as how there's going to be multiple people with my screen name. Don't you people think that I don't know that you all want to be Squigly! That's my screen name!

[Kefkataran]

Plenty, just not on Live though.

EDIT: Oh, and I think some people overestimate the "maturity" of people who enjoy the same genres as them.

If anything, I just underestimate the maturity of people who overenjoy the few genres I find worthless (namely, sports, really). But I've been getting over that. I also apparantly underestimate the X-Box library, because I've not seen much beyond shooters and sports games and racing titles. A few random hits here and there, like KOTOR, but yes.

Let's try and veer this back on-topic, though:
Mario Kart: DS. I salute you.

[mkelehan]

Plenty, just not on Live though.

EDIT: Oh, and I think some people overestimate the "maturity" of people who enjoy the same genres as them.

I'm just going by my own experiences. I play games such as Ultra Bust-a-Move, DDR, Outrun 2, Burnout 3, various 2D fighters, and (although it's technically sports) Outlaw Golf 2. The vast majority of people I met in these games are decent human beings looking for a good game. Not screamers, bad sports, etc. I hear from people who play a lot of Halo and football that there are a lot of asshats in those games, who scream and disconnect and whatnot, but I don't in any way think that my choice of genre makes me any better than you.

[LiquidRain]

If you read the article, Merrick does say you have a unique identifier and that Nintendo is providing the central connectivity service to 3rd parties (ie: all games). Go back and read it - it's not confirmed outright, but it's easily inferred that you will have a central buddy list.

Like I said: XBox Live for the DS. For free.

[mister_slim]

Also, it appears to tie to MyNintendo accounts, which should implies other ways of importing buddy lists. Actualy, some of the interview sounded as though simply exchanging a unique password would work. It'll probably be a little more complicated than GamerTags.

I look forward to the EvAv clan.

[Ninja 20XX]

I don't think "free" automatically = "good", though.

What happens when something is totally free is you get a lot of bored, broke chuckleheads who can't afford a new game and aren't really there to do anything but screw around - and yeah, that happens quite a bit on paid services like Live, too.

Morons that ruin it for everyone really thrive under a free structure, they can maintain multiple accounts so they never get enough negative feedback for anyone to do something about them.

I don't get deadly serious about playing online, but just the same, if I devote the time to sit down and play, I expect to actually get some time satisfying play time in, and not surfing menu screens and playing half a match before the host quits because he / she is losing. Sucks, because it's a lot of fun when it actually 'works'.

Most of the times I've tried to play a game online on PS2 it seems like a bunch of thirteen year olds using the lobby for a chat room - I've been chewed out by people for challenging them to a match, because apparently if you're hanging out in a lobby screen for an online game, I got the silly idea they're there to actually, y'know, play a game. Of course, they're not paying for access on the PS2, so why not just use it for a chat room?

Nintendo's going to have an inherent barrier in mixing players of different age groups to a greater degree than other platforms do, which a buddy / Friends list will help overcome. It's been my experience playing games online that older gamers and kids tend not to mix well, but if there's limited communication, that might not be a huge problem.

[LiquidRain]

Ninja 20XX: Nintendo tracks your DS via a unique key generated by your MAC and the hardware clock at the time you signed up for Nintendo Wi-Fi. It's my impression you cannot generate multiple accounts.

[RvltnEvolved]

Why can't we all have a little faith that this is a good thing? Come on folks

[Ninja 20XX]

Ninja 20XX: Nintendo tracks your DS via a unique key generated by your MAC and the hardware clock at the time you signed up for Nintendo Wi-Fi. It's my impression you cannot generate multiple accounts.


Well, that's good.

I think that the general amount of horror stories is probably one of the reason's Nintendo's been dragging their feet so much with online, they've got a pretty sterling reputation with parents as being a 'safer' alternative, and no matter what kind of defenses they put up, there's always going to be barbarians that slip through the gates with online. Pokemon online alone could've been a big anchor for them for an online presence, I can't believe they haven't really tapped into that fully yet.

I'd hate to have to be the guy who has to work around that problem, though, of trying to come up with a means of communication between users that's functional but doesn't leave too many doors open. If they can solve that riddle and parents start putting two and two together "It's free to play online and they won't get as bored with games as quickly, I won't have to buy them new games" - that's a pretty solid sales pitch.

[bapenguin]

Cool...free is good in this case...and like I said...as long as they have the universal buddy list and voice chat...all over that bad boy.

People forget there is a lot more to live as well, feedback system, MS policing it and banning cheaters etc. There are contests basically everyday to win prizes. Celebrities are constantly playing on it as well.

[dr_wily]

i dont care if they charge or not.. just make it available.

i said it before and ill say it again. if the games good and there isnt enough content to satiate, i will go out of my way to pay for stuff like this or more maps or expansion packs

of course, games that deserve that honor are few.. games i would pay for online play and expansion stuff are burnout, halo, kart, and monkey ball