Metroid Prime Hunters to Have Friend Codes?

[agentgray]

In light of the recent news post on Nintendo WFC, it appears that Nintendo is sticking to their same methods (http://www.nintendowifi.com/global/searchArticles.do?article_id=47) with their much anticipated game, Metroid Prime Hunters. This comes from an NOA employee.

While my friends were out whooping it up last Friday night, I was home alone waiting for the clock to strike 11 pm. I happily endured this self-imposed seclusion for a chance to participate in a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection beta test for Metroid Prime Hunters.

I've been "working" on the Metroid Prime Hunters website along with NOA_N8Dawg, which should be launching early next month. Before last Friday night, I had played quite a bit of the single-player game, but I hadn't had a chance to experience gameplay via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. I'm pleased to report that the experience was awesome -- well worth missing a night out on the town.

The beta test was scheduled to begin promptly at 11:00 pm. Before the test, the beta testers were broken down into groups of four and Friend Codes were exchanged. (emphasis added) I was pleased to see that good ol' NOA_Rufus happened to be in my group.
Granted this is just a beta test, but if they are finalizing websites and such, I would not have high hopes. An FPS where you have to schedule meetups? However, there's hope! It appears that the game may have a "lobby system." Sigh.

[mightbe]

The FC thing is tired. There should be lobbies with communication disabled and once you "friend" someone you can always find their games.

Of course if I were a pedophile (AND i'm not... the wife is 19 now) I'd immediately buy a DS and a copy of ACWW and troll the boards for codes.

[benig]

I think you should change the emphasis from "I had to enter a 12 digit code to play with a certain person at a certain time" to "I'm pleased to report the experience was awesome."

[agentgray]

I think you should change the emphasis from "I had to enter a 12 digit code to play with a certain person at a certain time" to "I'm pleased to report the experience was awesome."
I didn't because this comes from a Nintendo employee. Of course, it'll be awesome, but in tearms of gameplay, I would trust my fellow gamers. :)

[Salesmunn]

Egads! I hate these friend codes, community = 0.

[drakkarim]

personally i'd rather change my daughter's diapers over playing ANY fps on any handheld.

[jacktion]

Reading further, these friend codes are just to find specific people online for a game. It might be that once you enter them in you can find these people at will and start a game with them in the lobby. If you don't have a friend code, then how else can you find people if they are online? There are lobbies to join games with strangers but these codes are just to register people as "friends" and be able to find them any time.

[Salesmunn]

Reading further, these friend codes are just to find specific people online for a game. It might be that once you enter them in you can find these people at will and start a game with them in the lobby. If you don't have a friend code, then how else can you find people if they are online? There are lobbies to join games with strangers but these codes are just to register people as "friends" and be able to find them any time.

What you're speaking of is a, "Friends List" or sometimes referred to a "buddy list". It's a magical thing that lets you...*gasp*....play with people you like instead of random strangers. In a real online system, there is no need for a 50 digit code to add someone as a friend. Not even the PS2 has that, which is the most backwards online scheme in gaming.

You will have no TRUE lobby. This might work in ACWW but in a shooter, you want some fresh competition once in awhile. I have a healthy friends list and clan in Socom FTB but would've never met any of them using Friend Codes.

It just makes the DS online a very solitary experience.

[Vandenh]

Well some internet people will probbly build a lobby system around these friend codes :)

[emperordahc]

It's probably like Mario Kart; play against anyone, or type in a friend code to hit specific people. Animal Crossing is the only Nintendo wifi game that *requires* the friend codes, and that's strictly to keep people from trashing your town. All the others have lobbies.

[mkelehan]

I wouldn't have put the question mark in the topic title; this is Nintendo's standard system. I'm sure Tetris DS will have it, too. They said that even if the games do support voice/text communication, they'll only let you do that with registered friends.

[Jazzercide]

Maybe this guy is testing the friend system too, and there's no more to it than that.

[Heretic Machine]

they'll only let you do that with registered friends.

Well then that settles it. This is this biggest screw up since the N64... good job guys!

[Stormwatcher]

Don't be stupid, people, they needed friendcodes, considering that the game is not out yet... And I can't see why you won't be able to use FC and/or a lobby. You can play with strangers in MKDS, you know.

[Kamalot]

An FPS where you have to schedule meetups?
You get a big ol' 'DUH!' for this one. Ever played Mario Kart online? You don't need a friend code to start laying down smack. Metroid Prime: Hunters is going to work the same way.

You only need a friend code if you want to add someone to your buddy list, thay way you can play with your friends. If you want to play with strangers, you simply click on the "Kick Someone's ASS" button.

[Kamalot]

I was just reading a bunch of misinformed people in another thread complaining about not being able to play online when their friends aren't there.

If you want to play a game like Metroid Prime: Hunters when your friends are busy, simply connect online and find people to play with. Victims will show up. Kill them. Enjoy.

Nintendo WiFi has been designed so that ANYONE can use it. I mean ANYONE, like your Mom or your nephew. Know what? They don't know what a server browser is. They don't know what good ping times are. Truth be told, they shouldn't have to know.

All anyone needs really needs to do online is:

*) Play with friends
*) Play with strangers

DONE!

Just because it does not smell like your typical PC online game selector does not mean it sucks. It is a different, simpler solution for finding people online to humiliate with your l333+ skillz.

[Salesmunn]

I was just reading a bunch of misinformed people in another thread complaining about not being able to play online when their friends aren't there.

If you want to play a game like Metroid Prime: Hunters when your friends are busy, simply connect online and find people to play with. Victims will show up. Kill them. Enjoy.

Nintendo WiFi has been designed so that ANYONE can use it. I mean ANYONE, like your Mom or your nephew. Know what? They don't know what a server browser is. They don't know what good ping times are. Truth be told, they shouldn't have to know.

All anyone needs really needs to do online is:

*) Play with friends
*) Play with strangers

DONE!

Just because it does not smell like your typical PC online game selector does not mean it sucks. It is a different, simpler solution for finding people online to humiliate with your l333+ skillz.

Well, your point is meaningless because every online console game of any value has a "Autoplay" feature, which tosses you into a random game. I NEVER use that feature, I want to look at all the servers and pick which one I want to join.

The problem with Nintendo's setup is that you don't have the option.

[Kamalot]

...every online console game of any value has a "Autoplay" feature, which tosses you into a random game. I NEVER use that feature, I want to look at all the servers and pick which one I want to join.
Why? What value is there in an additional step of loading a list of servers and picking one?

[agentgray]

I was just reading a bunch of misinformed people in another thread complaining about not being able to play online when their friends aren't there.

If you want to play a game like Metroid Prime: Hunters when your friends are busy, simply connect online and find people to play with. Victims will show up. Kill them. Enjoy.

Nintendo WiFi has been designed so that ANYONE can use it. I mean ANYONE, like your Mom or your nephew. Know what? They don't know what a server browser is. They don't know what good ping times are. Truth be told, they shouldn't have to know.

All anyone needs really needs to do online is:

*) Play with friends
*) Play with strangers

DONE!

Just because it does not smell like your typical PC online game selector does not mean it sucks. It is a different, simpler solution for finding people online to humiliate with your l333+ skillz.

Keeping track of a unique 16 digit number for each and every game is not my idea of a simpler setup.

Plus, I go to play online with Mario Kart and I wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and then I connect and then a guy drops.

[mightbe]

Keeping track of a unique 16 digit number for each and every game is not my idea of a simpler setup.

Plus, I go to play online with Mario Kart and I wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and then I connect and then a guy drops.

But if we both have a unique number that's a sum of two cubes, that would be funny! Right?