Nintendo Taps Gamespy for Wii Online

[AmishSlayer]

As it was with the DS, so shall it be for the Wii. GameSpy has announced that it will be providing the technology to Wii developers looking to include multiplayer online functionality in their games. The middleware tech will allow Wii games to incorporate matchmaking technology, friend rosters, and online ranking data. The first title to utilize the technology will be Pok?mon Battle Revolution, due to launch June 25th in the states.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/gamespy/nintendo-taps-gamespy-for-wii-online-243737.php

There's even a press release there on this.

THANK GOD there's some kind of online system coming that doesn't just involve friend codes.

EDIT: Err, after reading all of this it says nothing about doing away with friend codes and could just mean that it's using the exact same system as the DS :|

 

[Ren.182]

I hate friend codes. Why didn't Nintendo just let us create a user account and just let us log in on there. Much easier than trying to remember a 16 digit number or whatever.

 

[StardogChampion]

I hate Gamespot integrated into games. It sucks for Battlefield 2, and it was buggy/crashed for Hidden & Dangerous 2.

 

[Docm30]

I hate Gamespot integrated into games. It sucks for Battlefield 2, and it was buggy/crashed for Hidden & Dangerous 2.

I hate when they put websites in games, too.

 

[Absinthe]

Gamespy? Oh, how swell.

 

[Asus]

I heard that the Wii was going to be 1 code per system unlike with the DS where it's 1 code for each game.

I never used or liked Gamespy but that was mostly because the program that ran on my Windows PC was pretty poor. Hopefully Nintendo does their own UI etc and just uses their network.

 

[Ren.182]

I heard that the Wii was going to be 1 code per system unlike with the DS where it's 1 code for each game.

I never used or liked Gamespy but that was mostly because the program that ran on my Windows PC was pretty poor. Hopefully Nintendo does their own UI etc and just uses their network.

Aparently Pokemon online has its own friend code or something in Japan. :/

 

[StardogChampion]

It sort of makes sense, since it'll mean you won't have a bunch of people's codes that don't play the game.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Gamespy? Oh, how swell.

I found your comment humorous, and I am no wii lover.

 

[Reginald]

UPDATE

All Wii games have game-specific codes. This sucks.

Gamespy were first asked if the Wi-Fi Connection would make use of a unified friend code platform, instead for individual games; they responded, "GameSpy?s technology does allow for features that could span multiple games. With the Nintendo Wii, however, the multiplayer features are title-specific."

Doesn't affect me, I'm not a fan of playing console games online and if I do play games online, I'm never bothered about playing with friends anyway. Cause most games will have a random players thingy.

But this'll be a kick in the teeth for some people.

EDIT: In better news, check the official player count: http://wii.nintendo.com/software_mariogalaxy.jsp

 

[Reginald]

UPDATE 2

Well, we've gone over the original interview in all its glorious context, and we may of been slightly hasty. (See source here) It's very possible that when the PR person claimed that "friend lists are game specific," that he soley means just that, that friend lists are customisable for each title. There's no direct referral to friend codes. Alot of websites seem to have interpreted it in the same way, including the original source. Just don't give up all hope just yet.

We'll try to get to the bottom of this ASAP

Slightly better news.