[Midna]

Get Ready for the Nintendo Network!

A never before seen icon has appeared on the box-art of Theatrythm: Final Fantasy. Clearly written in the upper right-hand corner is a logo with the words “Nintendo Network”. On the back of the box it says that the game will offer DLC, which apparently will be one of the functions of the new network. According to reports around the industry, the Nintendo Network will be the new network on the 3DS and the Wii U, somehow integrating and connecting the two systems. Screenshots show that already in some places around the world, Mario Kart 7 is running on this new network. So, apparently, multiplayer online gaming is confirmed as a part of the network, not just DLC. What new features will Nintendo Network offer and how will it unify the Wii U and 3DS? All this may be announced at the conference scheduled for January 26th. Next week. Last year, Nintendo announced new details about the 3DS at the very same conference, so we can expect some new details to be revealed again this year.

A source that wished to remain anonymous has told us that Nintendo will launch a website accessible from any web browser that will handle configuration of your Nintendo Network account for use on the Wii U or 3DS. He also stated that Nintendo Network will include many new features that haven’t been used before by Nintendo. According to his accounts: Nintendo Network = Sony PSN = Xbox Live.
UPDATE: Our source saw the article and wanted to make sure that people understood that he didn’t mean necessarily that Nintendo’s service will be better or feature every single detail that Sony and Microsoft do, rather that until now Nintendo hasn’t even tried to compete but now they are going to create a service that is in full competition with the others. But of course, each one will still have their own style. However, he had one other detail to add: “What I can add to all this is that there is in fact one feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors, and I’m not talking about the well know ability to video chat. A few users on another console will be quite upset.”

Source

Interdasting... even more interdasting when you consider the previous rumours that EA and Valve were competing to develop Nintendo's new online system.

There's an image of Mario Kart 7 online saying "Connecting to Nintendo Network" and a few extra rumours at the source if you want to check it out.

[Suprgamr232]

Didn't some other game use the term "Nintendo Network"? I feel like I've seen this before...

[Foxi4]

Uhm... I don't think it's a rumor - didn't Nintendo themselves admit that they are working with outsourced companies (Valve, EA) in an effort to create an all-new Nintendo Online Network while teasing the Wii U? It's only natural to EXPECT them to include the service on their latest handheld.

[Midna]

Foxi4, on 23 January 2012 - 01:50 AM, said:

Uhm... I don't think it's a rumor - didn't Nintendo themselves admit that they are working with outsourced companies (Valve, EA) in an effort to create an all-new Nintendo Online Network while teasing the Wii U? It's only natural to EXPECT them to include the service on their latest handheld.

The source named it's article 'Rumour Roundup', and the quote contains more specific details from 'an anonymous source'. I labelled the thread as such.

[Foxi4]

Midna, on 23 January 2012 - 01:53 AM, said:

Foxi4, on 23 January 2012 - 01:50 AM, said:

Uhm... I don't think it's a rumor - didn't Nintendo themselves admit that they are working with outsourced companies (Valve, EA) in an effort to create an all-new Nintendo Online Network while teasing the Wii U? It's only natural to EXPECT them to include the service on their latest handheld.

The source named it's article 'Rumour Roundup', and the quote contains more specific details from 'an anonymous source'. I labelled the thread as such.

Understood, I was just speaking from a more pragmatic standpoint. Still, nice find with the boxart. Looks legit. No, really - it does.

[Josephvb10]

I really wanna see that feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors.

Edited by Josephvb10, 23 January 2012 - 01:54 AM.

[Foxi4]

Josephvb10, on 23 January 2012 - 01:54 AM, said:

I really wanna see that feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors.

Video Chat, perhaps? Nintendo "did it" in Pokemon White/Black and the 3DS has a facing camera - can't see why video calls wouldn't be a possibility during multi.

[Midna]

Foxi4, on 23 January 2012 - 01:55 AM, said:

Josephvb10, on 23 January 2012 - 01:54 AM, said:

I really wanna see that feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors.

Video Chat, perhaps? Nintendo "did it" in Pokemon White/Black and the 3DS has a facing camera - can't see why video calls wouldn't be a possibility during multi.

Anonymous source alleges it's more than video chat

Quote

“What I can add to all this is that there is in fact one feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors, and I’m not talking about the well know ability to video chat. A few users on another console will be quite upset.”

Edited by Midna, 23 January 2012 - 02:00 AM.

[Foxi4]

Midna, on 23 January 2012 - 01:57 AM, said:

Foxi4, on 23 January 2012 - 01:55 AM, said:

Josephvb10, on 23 January 2012 - 01:54 AM, said:

I really wanna see that feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors.

Video Chat, perhaps? Nintendo "did it" in Pokemon White/Black and the 3DS has a facing camera - can't see why video calls wouldn't be a possibility during multi.

Anonymous source alleges it's more than video chat

Quote

“What I can add to all this is that there is in fact one feature that is significantly ahead of one of the competitors, and I’m not talking about the well know ability to video chat. A few users on another console will be quite upset.”

Oh yeah, I missed that. Well, I guess we shall see. I can't really think of other types of connectivity, really... voice chat, video chat, text chat, pictochat... unless they give us "demo sharing" over the internet with people on your friends list or Single Cart Multi over the web then I don't think it'll be THAT revolutionary.

[Midna]

Though it's worth noting that the Wii U controller has a camera among it's dozen other gizmos. I actually recall something from back at E3 about video chat on Wii U. Does anyone else remember this?
Edit: Rewatched Iwata's speech at E3, there is indeed video chat support already announced. I wonder what this new feature is...

Edited by Midna, 23 January 2012 - 02:07 AM.

[Foxi4]

Midna, on 23 January 2012 - 02:00 AM, said:

Though it's worth noting that the Wii U controller has a camera among it's dozen other gizmos. I actually recall something from back at E3 about video chat on Wii U. Does anyone else remember this?

Yeah, I remember them mentioning it. It's sort of hard to imagine Nintendo NOT adding that kind of functionality after the Kinect showed'em how it's done. If they REALLY want to step their game up with online, they need to offer similar features and more.

[Josephvb10]

I just hope that Nintendo Network games don't have the same connection problems that MK7 has..

[Midna]

I've heard the complains of connections errors with MK7 before from a few people, but all the replies to those people are always other people who have logged hours and hours into the online without having a single issue. Might be location based...

[Foxi4]

This is to be expected when the network is being actively redesigned, I don't think the issues will persist.

[awssk8er]

Nintendo should have did this a while ago.

It's good news to show that they're catching up on things... but I don't really play games online so it's not a big deal to me.

Then again, it's just a rumor.