A number of articles are beginning to surface, heralding the high spike in online users experienced by the Wii in the last couple months. (here's one such article.)
The stats quoted show the number of unique online users on the Wii has risen to 1.6 million. A number higher than even those put up by the 360's XBOX Live users, at 1.2 million.
Taken at face value, these reports inject a lot of false hope into the hearts of those rooting for the success of Nintendo's David underdog at the expense of the other two goliaths in the market.
A couple of flags go up immediately, however, as soon as these figures are quoted - since no industry-journalists covering this latest stories seem to be analyzing what these "unique" users are doing while "online" with their consoles.
Not one of these writers bothered to point out that the Wii is yet to have produced for it, even one game utilizing online capabilities. Had this question be asked... then certainly someone would have realized that obviously no one among the 1.6 million of these users are actually playing games while they're online.
The number of Xbox Live users spending their online time is much easier to calculate since Microsoft charges for the service. And although I'm certainly not advocating that approach for Nintendo, it has to be remembered that the Wii utilizes a feature called "Wii Connect24." Those familiar with the feature while understand that the Wii not only is the Wii extremely simple to get online, (built-in wireless modem can pick up a variety of signals from your existing network, your neighbour's, etc...) but it's constantly exchanging information and updates with the Nintendo mothership. Hence the name, "Connect24."
So theoretically, it's possible for Nintendo to count as a "unique user," a Wii owner who has never used the Opera web browser, downloaded a virtual console game, or allowed a Mii to travel. However, as long as their Wii is picking up their neighbour's internet connection, their Wii is having a round the clock discussion with Nintendo headquarters.
Just what percentage of Nintendo's online users fall into this category is impossible to determine... but given that there isn't a single online game out yet for the console, it's safe to say that the Wii's online capabilities are not being used for the same thing by "unique users," as those attributed to the Xbox.
Showing posts with label Online Capabiltiy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Online Capabiltiy. Show all posts
Mar 15, 2007
Mar 14, 2007
Nintendo Set to Repeat Gamecube Connectivity Mistakes
A good Wii news site, "Nintendo-Revolution," through an interview with the Wii's future online provider, "Gamespy," seems to have confirmed that so far, Nintendo is going ahead with their previously-suspected plans of requiring users to input different friends lists and codes for every online game they purchase.
In other words, if you want to play the upcoming Pokemon title online with your friends, not only would you have to input their painfully long console code into your system, but yet another unique game code, specific to their Pokemon game disc, as well.
This may not seem to a major issue to a lot of casual gamers. But imagine you have 15 friends you would like to play online games with. Then lets assume conservatively, that you've got five games you want to play with these friends. First, it's a pain in the ass to have to enter overly long numerical codes for each of those friends' consoles. But now imagine having to enter another unique code for every one of those people again for every game you've got in common. And keep in mind that you have no keyboard with which to accomplish this. Rather, you've got a little Wii-mote, which is slow for data entry at best, and certainly annoying after entering even one or two.
Then add to that, the fact that the remotes are battery munchers... and consider that it would probably take at least one set of batteries just to enter the data required for the scenario above.
Kinda begins to take the fun out of the whole thing. And the gaming community seems to be up in arms over it. And rightfully so, I suppose. There's a lot of people who are really rooting for the Wii. They know it's underpowered overall. But many of them, myself included, understand the important changes Nintendo is pioneering in terms of creativity and innovation in the industry. It's a given that the Wii's online capabilities will be inferior to that of the 360 or PS3... but given that, many are wondering why Nintendo would set themselves up for such an abysmal failure when they're on such a role.
No one wants to be annoyed while playing games. If I was interested in doing data entry in my spare time... I'd spend a good many extra hours at work.
Nintendo put itself in an embarrassing position after taking a "connectivity-over-online" capability with the GameCube. By "connectivity," Nintendo meant the Gamecube's ability to connect physically to either Gameboys, or other Gamecubes. For the most part, gamers laughed at their attempt to pass such a horseshit gimmick off as "online play." Additionaly, very few people were ever enticed into buying more Gameboys just to plug them into their Gamecube.
Nintendo's latest debacle with the unique game codes reeks of this kind of garbage.
They've got until Pokemon's release in June to fix this idiocy. Their best bet, with their current precarious overall position in the market is to spend their time trying to make online play more free for gamers, rather than wasting resources on ways to positively spin and market such a hair-brained plan.
Both Sony and Microsoft have been waiting for Nintendo to throw them a bone... and you can bet this'll be it.
Wii-tarded (couldn't resist)
In other words, if you want to play the upcoming Pokemon title online with your friends, not only would you have to input their painfully long console code into your system, but yet another unique game code, specific to their Pokemon game disc, as well.
This may not seem to a major issue to a lot of casual gamers. But imagine you have 15 friends you would like to play online games with. Then lets assume conservatively, that you've got five games you want to play with these friends. First, it's a pain in the ass to have to enter overly long numerical codes for each of those friends' consoles. But now imagine having to enter another unique code for every one of those people again for every game you've got in common. And keep in mind that you have no keyboard with which to accomplish this. Rather, you've got a little Wii-mote, which is slow for data entry at best, and certainly annoying after entering even one or two.
Then add to that, the fact that the remotes are battery munchers... and consider that it would probably take at least one set of batteries just to enter the data required for the scenario above.
Kinda begins to take the fun out of the whole thing. And the gaming community seems to be up in arms over it. And rightfully so, I suppose. There's a lot of people who are really rooting for the Wii. They know it's underpowered overall. But many of them, myself included, understand the important changes Nintendo is pioneering in terms of creativity and innovation in the industry. It's a given that the Wii's online capabilities will be inferior to that of the 360 or PS3... but given that, many are wondering why Nintendo would set themselves up for such an abysmal failure when they're on such a role.
No one wants to be annoyed while playing games. If I was interested in doing data entry in my spare time... I'd spend a good many extra hours at work.
Nintendo put itself in an embarrassing position after taking a "connectivity-over-online" capability with the GameCube. By "connectivity," Nintendo meant the Gamecube's ability to connect physically to either Gameboys, or other Gamecubes. For the most part, gamers laughed at their attempt to pass such a horseshit gimmick off as "online play." Additionaly, very few people were ever enticed into buying more Gameboys just to plug them into their Gamecube.
Nintendo's latest debacle with the unique game codes reeks of this kind of garbage.
They've got until Pokemon's release in June to fix this idiocy. Their best bet, with their current precarious overall position in the market is to spend their time trying to make online play more free for gamers, rather than wasting resources on ways to positively spin and market such a hair-brained plan.
Both Sony and Microsoft have been waiting for Nintendo to throw them a bone... and you can bet this'll be it.
Wii-tarded (couldn't resist)
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