Nintendo unveils Network for console connectivity
Wii U to get NFC tech too
Nintendo has spilled the beans on its next-gen Wii U console's connectivity capabilities to be built around an online service called the Nintendo Network.
Company frontman Satoru Iwata said the Network will offer competitions and communication between users, as well as access to digital content, add-ons and full downloadable games.
As with Sony is doing with PSN and Microsoft with Xbox Live, Nintendo appears intent on bringing together its mobile and console platforms, building on the online framework already found on the Nintendo 3DS.
Wii U adoptees will be given personal user accounts in a move that, we hope, will spell the end of downloaded content being tied to hardware rather than the gamer.
While nothing new in terms of technological advancement, the company did highlight a push into the realm of contemporary too, revealing the Wii U is set to include NFC functionality.
"The NFC I’m referring to here is the non-contact NFC standard that is compatible with FeliCa and MIFARE, and is expected to be widely used around the world in the near future," said Iwata.
"By installing this functionality, it will become possible to create cards and figurines that can electronically read and write data via non-contact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world. Adoption of this functionality will enable various other possibilities such as using it as a means of making micropayments.”
The Nintendo Network is expected to launch later this year, although it won't necessarily be done so in conjunction with the Wii U's release. Both will be up and running by Christmas, though. ®
COMMENTS
But the important thing is that the Wii has consistently outsold the competition. That may not seem significant to some (ie the fanbois of other consoles) but the simple fact is that Nintendo tend to do stuff right as far as the market is concerned and stuff what the "experts" have to say.
People always slag off Nintendo for doing stuff like this,
But remember, they've been doing Online services and Gimmicks since the 80s. (Famicon Modem, Virtual Boy, etc etc). Some of them have been shite, but they've not gone under so far...
I take it then that you are unaware that you can buy a LAN adaptor for a Wii for the price of an ethernet cable?
Research. Heard of it?
You don't care, but clearly you care enough to comment. Strange.
Out of curiousity - got any links?
I'd have thought Sony would have jumped on the chance to ensure that everyone knew that other networks also had issues
