Dude, where's my friends? (Wii annoyance #007)
by Kyle Orland 
{ Nov 27th 2006 at 8:15PM }
It's hard to think up a more convoluted way to set up communication between consoles than the one set up by Nintendo for the Wii. Not only do you have to get your friend to give you a hard-to-remember 16-digit code that represents their Wii, but you have to give them your code and both of you have to hand-enter the sequences in your address books before sending so much as a "Hello!"We realize that this extremely unfriendly system is designed to prevent little Timmy from getting any inappropriate messages from "ChildMolester666," but surely there's a better way to balance security and ease-of-use. Xbox Live lets you connect with your friends using easy-to-remember GamerTags and in-system friend requests, while still allowing you to block would-be spammers and annoyances with a few button presses. Finding new friends on Xbox Live is easy through leaderboards and online matchups, where Wii users have to rely on third-party listing like those on MiiPages.
At the very least, Nintendo should allow players to nickname their Wiis and find potential friends by searching through some sort of Wii-friendly lobby system. As it stands now, connecting to other Wii owners is an unnecessarily frustrating experience.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mcheddadi @ Nov 27th 2006 8:20PM
I like it like that :)
Leshrac @ Nov 27th 2006 10:18PM
I agree completely. Why Nintendo decides to ignore every other established convention for setting up "friends" or contacts or whatever is completely beyond me. I thought the friends system completely stunk on the DS, and it's almost as bad on the Wii.
blaine @ Nov 27th 2006 8:26PM
I've taken a pro-active stance. I whipped up a webpage where people can send emails to my Wii.
People can (if they want) send me messages or even their code.
http://www.configurationspace.com/wiimail/
It's an okay fix, I mean... for me at least.
Crazylink @ Nov 27th 2006 8:29PM
At least it's not on a game to game basis.
Imadogg @ Nov 27th 2006 9:08PM
Wow this seems like the stupidest thing ever...
Glad I have Xbox Live though :)
Boomaga @ Nov 27th 2006 8:36PM
Yeah, I'll admit the current Wii friend system is pretty ass-backwards compared to Xbox Live.
I'm just hoping that it'll be easier come online gaming time and with firmware updates.
bill pullman @ Nov 27th 2006 8:30PM
i agree it's a hassle, and after seeing most people's reactions to the DS' WiFi friend code implementation, Nintendo should've gone a different way. but really, it's not that big of a deal. you guys are expecting a lot from these console manufacturers that they never promised (well, some of it anyway). i don't know why you're so frustrated -- get your codes and type them in. adding up all of your friends, how long can it take to type in 2 codes, anyway? HAHAHAHAHAH @ my awesome joke.
gameclu @ Nov 27th 2006 9:25PM
Having traded a wii code, I have to say it takes almost no effort.
Matt @ Nov 27th 2006 8:46PM
ChildMolester666 is my Wii's new name. MY WII GET IT !!
roflmon @ Nov 29th 2006 9:48PM
Like I said in my review: Since your Nintendo membership is bound to your console, WHY NOT MAKE USE OF IT?!
ill trooper @ Nov 27th 2006 10:46PM
How are people going to talk to each other on this thing? What's the proposed 'headset/mic' situation?
Angus @ Nov 27th 2006 9:58PM
Oh shit, they should've had.. dun dun dun..
MiiSpace.
Oh my jokes, so lame.
Zell @ Nov 27th 2006 9:14PM
I'm probably in the minority but I actually prefer it this way. Takes less than two minutes to input a friend. I'd much rather not be subjected to unsolicited messages or 'add' requests. No one can message me unless I want them to. That Wii code, that's apparently a pain, actually saves time in the long run.
Metaridley @ Nov 27th 2006 8:46PM
Personally, I think Nintendo dropped the ball on this one. I have a DS, and it's a royal pain to trade friend codes with other people. You can't even voice-chat with non-friends, only friends, and even then, only before and after the game. Nintendo, are you listening? We want NAMES online! We want the option to chat with EVERYONE, and mute them if we want to! Little kids shouldn't be online in the first place! Why design your system around them?
And that's my rant.
Give me Stars or Give me Death! @ Nov 27th 2006 8:50PM
Who wants to play with a bunch of cry-baby pussies like Kyle or Vlad anyways. This should be a Wii Delight and entitled "Dude, thanks for keeping me away from the assholes."
Zerolink @ Nov 27th 2006 8:50PM
Hey, why wont someone make a page or something in which wii users can post there friend codes. Hell, I wanna start rackin up on friends.
Kai Cherry @ Nov 27th 2006 9:23PM
Sorry Kyle, I gotta part ways with ya here, for a couple of reasons:
1. I, in fact, do have kids. While none of them have proven to be idiots yet and wandering off to talk to Strangers with Candy, I still don't want them showing up in my living room at random. See #2.
2. Have you BEEN on the Internet? Its like a haven for malformed ego, dicketry and jackassery. The last thing I need ruining my *fun* and *relaxation* time is some idiot who thinks its "mature" to spew cusswords at me constantly...which is why I avoid Live like the plague.
So I only play with people that have proven to be a bit higher up on the food chain than say, chicken.
Now, it *is* an improvement over the DS system tho...at least its One Code to Rule Them All, as opposed to a freakin' code for every game.
I guess Nintendo (kinda) listened and doesn't "hate the Internet" as much as they did last year :)
sracer @ Nov 27th 2006 11:19PM
I like it exactly the way it is. I don't like the unsolicited friend requests in XBox Live... I have to try and figure out who it is. I usually decline and wait for the person to complain. THEN I know who it is.
Marco @ Nov 28th 2006 12:31AM
Jevus,
Even from a non-fanboy perspective, Orland is nitpicking every little thing. The biggest annoyance right now is Kyle Orland.
Kyoji @ Nov 27th 2006 9:37PM
I think it works pretty well. OH NO! YOU HAVE TO TYPE IN A NUMBER!
Quit complaining about everything, oh my Lord. At least its not on a per-game basis like the DS. I like the fact that my Wii is open to only those I want it open to, and not just anyone. All I need is P3n15 en1arg3m3nt messages on my Wii. I'm sure online games will have lobbies..hopefully Nintendo learned that much.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Nov 27th 2006 9:19PM
Who wants to play with someone who uses troglodytic insults like "cry-baby pussies?" You, my friend, are a negative ad for the Wii.
And a 16-digit code? Jeez, Social Security numbers are only nine digits.
Stu L Tissimus @ Nov 27th 2006 9:22PM
Ugh. Posts like #8 disgust me.
Here's a very, very simple solution. Keep the current setup as-is, so that minors can't get messages from MarkFoley69. But... why not have something additional where, upon entering a valid credit card number, you get access to a more useful system? This would mean you're 18/have permission from a guardian, and there's absolutely no way that bitchy parents can sue Nintendo. They wouldn't charge you or anything, it's just the easiest way to say "Hey, I'm old enough to participate online."
I'm a Nintendo fanboy. I've owned every Nintendo console since the N64, as well as a GameBoy Pocket, a Game Boy Advance, and a DS Phat. But please, fellow fanboys, face the facts: Friend Codes are the spawn of Satan.
dsgamer21 @ Nov 28th 2006 7:17PM
There's an obvious reason for the 16 digit code:
Nintendo must expect to sell 10,000,000,000,000,000 Wiis.
That's ten quadrillion, kids...obviously a 9 digit code would've worked just as well Nintendo (and a 6 or 7 for DS games!).
Sean @ Nov 27th 2006 9:38PM
2 delights and 7 annoyances? Sounds like joystiq should take the company Wii away from vlad and kyle, as they're both douchebags.
therpham @ Nov 27th 2006 9:47PM
Personally, I don't think it's all that bad. I'm very selective when it comes to online opponents anyway, so it works out for me. Obviously it doesn't jive with everyone, though.
At least this will hopefully prevent any "WiiConnet24? More like WiiMolest69. More at 11," moments.
However, I'm sure a slow news day will eventually spawn "Youth follows his Wii to hardcore pornography with Nintendo console," when the Opera browser is finally released.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Nov 27th 2006 10:08PM
"Quit complaining about everything, oh my Lord. At least its not on a per-game basis like the DS. I like the fact that my Wii is open to only those I want it open to, and not just anyone. All I need is P3n15 en1arg3m3nt messages on my Wii. I'm sure online games will have lobbies..hopefully Nintendo learned that much."
What is it with you Wii guys? I've had my 360 online for a year. I've never received spam. I think I got one unsolicited message, and it was someone I played Uno with wishing me a happy Thanksgiving last week. I think I've gotten a handful of friend requests, all from people I've gamed with. They all seem like pretty normal, well-adjusted people, though I don't doubt there are sickos out there.
"Have you BEEN on the Internet? Its like a haven for malformed ego, dicketry and jackassery. The last thing I need ruining my *fun* and *relaxation* time is some idiot who thinks its "mature" to spew cusswords at me constantly...which is why I avoid Live like the plague."
While this is true, somewhat, w/r/t there being plenty of jackasses on Live, there are tons of privacy options to mute voice communications, block video chat, show your account as always being offline even when you're online, etc., etc. (as the poster of this article pointed out). Why Nintendo couldn't do something like this is beyond me. The apologists for this weird online interface are bizarre. I'm not a kid. I don't have kids. At least give me the option to open my console up and game with strangers conveniently when my friends aren't online. M/s, at least, let's you have it both ways.
D @ Nov 27th 2006 10:12PM
I guess since I don't have kids, I'm a proponent of the Xbox Live gamertag system, although I can see how this is somewhat beneficial. If anything, though, it should allow gamertags that adhere to the same idea of both must add to their own friends lists. The usernames are just a little easier to remember than the 16-digit code.
otakucode @ Nov 27th 2006 10:20PM
The reason this is all wrong is very simple. Online communication makes it VERY easy to ignore someone. If someone is an ass and you don't want them on your friend list... remove them. Wow, what a family-splitting tragedy. Takes a couple of button presses and that person might as well not exist.
When it comes down to it, there really isn't a great amount of danger to having an open system, even for kids, unless the kids are really and truly blithering idiots. If someone says something innappropriate to them, they'd have the ability just as simply as anyone else to just ignore the people. And no one was ever hurt by 'innappropriate' language any more than they desired to be hurt by it. You choose to be offended ever time you find yourself offended, and you can just as easily choose to shrug it off and ignore the person. The only problems I would see with an open network would be deception, like we have with phishing emails. I know every parent wants to be desperately afraid that there are millions of perverts just waiting for there to be a single crack in the impenetrable fortress they've tried to make their kids world, but the statistics just don't back it up. Kids being preyed upon by non-family members is at such a ridiculously low level (much lower than in the past, contrary to popular, incorrect, and ignorant belief) that you might as well worry day and night over your kid finding 5 winning Powerball tickets in the trash.
dsgamer21: Creating a sequential system, or a densely populated one, is a bad idea. It would lead to easy spoofing if all you had to do was add 1 to your number and you had someone elses. Instead, I'm sure Nintendo is using something like Microsofts GUID system which can guarantee that the chance of choosing a working code by random is a certain low percentage. That can also eliminate the need to have a central "bank" of codes and have each console generate their own with a high level of assurance that duplicates will never be created.
PhillyRampage @ Nov 27th 2006 10:40PM
Okay, I get it. General public is not really safe or civil, sometimes. But, consider this, a few months after the game is being released, and your friends are moving on to new games but you still want to play that game, how will you find people to play with?
Go find new friends through the internet? then add them one by one? then arrange to meet?
General public sometimes is not kind, but you know what, I found a lot of cool people there and I had a really great time most of the time.
John @ Nov 27th 2006 10:13PM
I hate the friend code system. It wasn't done well on the DS, and same goes for the Wii.
The whole idea behind it is jolly dandy and everything, but all it does currently is take away from the user experience.
Nintendo needs to look at what Microsoft has done and what has been going on in the PC world for ages. I want to be able to chat to people I don't know, making strategies and the like. But oh no! That person could potentially say the F-word! Or little Billy is going to give away his personal information.
A simple message telling parents to configure there childs Wii console would fix that. Atleast most any legal issues. Options would be made enabling chat, having parents censor who their child can be friends with, etc.
From what I've seen, Nintendo will never have as good as online multiplayer as Microsoft or the PC. Unless they revise their system and make it more open. Please listen Nintendo; Revise the Friend Code System!
Zell @ Nov 27th 2006 10:39PM
"A simple message telling parents to configure there childs Wii console would fix that. Atleast most any legal issues. Options would be made enabling chat, having parents censor who their child can be friends with, etc." - John (#23-ish)
This is a great idea but I find that many parents actually just end up asking the kid to configure the options since they're not as tech savvy. The same way a lot of parents have their kids help them set up their email, etc.. May not be the norm, but the system is still just a couple weeks old with not much else to do online other than swap messages.
If typing in a 16-digit code is too much for us, how do we get anything done? No wonder many still can't embrace the idea if actually moving their arm to use the Wii remote. So far I've added all my friends who bought the Wii the same time I did AND a couple people I barely even know from Flickr. There are countless groups and pages out there where you can trade information without Nintendo being liable. I don't know what the online games hold but in the mean time I'd much rather NOT have to block some moron after being called a 'nigger' a 'fag' or a 'nigger fag'.
Plenty of resources out there to make new Wii friends. Where there's a will there's a way.
funkonaut @ Nov 27th 2006 10:45PM
Having spent years in the world of Counter-Strike, I actually like Nintendo's friend code system. I'm sick of online gaming where open voice chat is allowed, and would prefer to not hear all of those freaks. Give me an option to play strangers and an option to play friends and I'm all set.
Mario Kart DS is the perfect example of a flawless online experience. It's always fun and never annoying.
ChildMolester666 @ Nov 27th 2006 10:41PM
I've not sent an inappropriate message in all my days. how dare you.
Kevin @ Nov 27th 2006 10:44PM
I'd only want personal friends on my list anyway.
This isn't myspace where the more friends you have the more popular you are(or so they think).
:P
Kimosabae @ Nov 27th 2006 10:48PM
LMAO.
Too good #28.
-Syn
Embassy @ Nov 27th 2006 11:08PM
all u people saying an open system is "unsafe" or watever for kids or will lead to law suits etc etc...how many xbox live cases have arose from such issues in its 4-5 yr existence???....
not many...
and if u dont wanna hear some talking junk on the interent....guess wat?press the "ignore" button...if u dont wanna get unsolicited email??..press a button to deactivate said feature...BOOM...problem solved...
friend codes are completely and utterly retarded...and over-restrict the end-user...plain and simple..end of story.
plenty of companies and sofware has proven that an open online system CAN work and be a safe place at the same time...
Tony @ Nov 27th 2006 11:07PM
I really think this is kind of stupid. It's a number tied to your system, just like a Gamertag is tied to your account. It's not complicated. They're a bit of a pain to trade, but complaining about this is like complaining about how you cannot remember a phone number. Write it down.
Plus, Nintendo has stated that one of the ideas for this was so people could name characters what they wanted in games. It lets random kids enjoy the fact that they can name their character Link in some online game, even if someone else already did.
Sponge @ Nov 27th 2006 11:17PM
2 things:
1) You can still play with strangers, you just won't be able to talk our type what you want. You will be restricted to pre-set messages.
2) If you can't remember a 16 digit code you have problems. Thats only 2 phone numbers.
Rich @ Nov 27th 2006 11:33PM
I don't mind the system at all. But I have a question:
I am trying to connect with my friend's Wii to send messages. He typed in my Wii Code and I typed in his, but on the address book, for two days now, the "Send Message" option is grayed out. For those of you who have successfully connected and messaged a friend through the Wii Message Board, how long did it take to verify codes? Do you have to use the same Nickname your friend uses on your Wii?
:p @ Nov 28th 2006 12:39AM
While some of the Wii annoyance line of post is a tad bit longer then the PS3's they both have the same amount of delights. They both have their positives and negatives and so far none of the annoyances have been too bad, but I would like to see more positives for both systems. Having played both I'd really wish there were more positive post. You know to let people who haven't played them know exactly how fun they can be.
Kai Cherry @ Nov 28th 2006 1:31AM
As someone else pointed out, there is a balance to the system that has been worked out in several Nintendo Wi-Fi titles, such as Mario Kart DS, Metroid and Clubhouse games...as well as Tetris and others, so this notion that you can't play against strangers online is a bit, well, BS.
All of the above games allow you to play online with people all over the world...even people you don't know.
What they DON'T do is allow you to tell me you're going to skull fuck me in the next race, rape my mother, spew inane racial slurs the whole time or otherwise misbehave and be offensive, ruining *my* enjoyment.
And I don't have to configure a damned thing.
The LIVE experience is flawed in this way. It i*s* MS software, so the fact that all open up front does NOT surprise me. See: XP.
If you're in the tech biz, you know the best kind of firewalls deny all traffic, and you have to allow the traffic you want explicitly. You Windows boys out there, you run your new installs without a firewall, then wait for an exploit, *then* turn it on?
I didn't think so. Conceptually, its the same thing.
And let me tell you something, for all you "well parents should just..." people. We can tell you don't have kids. Kids are *extremely clever* and resourceful when they can't "have" something....weren't you?
But really for me, its not about "the kids"...its about the fact that I'm just not willing to let any moron walk into my home, into my living room.
I guess if you are in a dorm, or live alone or something, its different.
As for my Wii console, I have *pages and pages* of friends...and even if I didn't, I don't think it will be hard to find someone to play over NWi-Fi...because the games are set up to do just that: help you find someone to play with.
So where is the problem of having what I'm gonna call a "social firewall" that lets gameplay in and out, but keeps the 'ron levels in check?
-K
slacker @ Nov 29th 2006 1:32AM
lets see...
nintendo wiFi= free
xbox live = $8/month
is $8/month worth not punching in codes?
frankly i could think of better ways to spend $50-$96
like an actual game.
reppy @ Nov 28th 2006 2:28AM
This is almost as annoying as exchanging e-mail addresses with someone. (Seriously, how is this any different?)
Ouch. @ Nov 28th 2006 4:43AM
Kai Cherry:
"The LIVE experience is flawed in this way. It i*s* MS software, so the fact that all open up front does NOT surprise me. See: XP."
They're doing better- MUCH better than Nintendo as far as an actual -not gimped to save bandwidth- serivce. And apparently, you like to bash on a 5 year operating system without even seeing the new security stronghold that is Vista (moreso x64 versions).
And by the way, if you think kids need to be content controlled in the most artificial way possible, that's your problem- cultivating the new generation of weak-hearted kids is what this socity REALLY needs. ;)
ricefarmer @ Nov 28th 2006 4:51AM
all u guys are stupid u dont have 20 real friends to play with and they dont play every game u have..
all u nintendo fanboys really need to see xbox live before u say shit, cause u dont know shit..
how the hell u gonna play a 16v16 fps game only talkin to ur 2 friends? how are u suppose to strategise with strangers if u can't talk to them? if u like someone u have to write down there dam numbers?? stupid man... even if u coudl talk to ur mates what u gonna say hey u number 23423234234223 can u back me up!
nintendo online will be nothing but 2 - 4 player buddy games.. in starcraft did u play with ur friends 24/7? no! u played with strangers who are better then u duh this is what online is fanboys
and nintendo doesn't get it nor the concept of blocking people
reppy @ Nov 28th 2006 5:08AM
@ricefarmer
Just curious.. which online games for the DS have you played?
ricefarmer @ Nov 28th 2006 6:11AM
@ reppy
mario kart & animal crossing why? areu going to say its better then live? im a fanboy of all games.. so i wont back up a company if they did bad....
everything ive said is pretty much true.. u can't strategize like in rainbow six or even gears if nintendo had their way... they need to get it together with their crap..
remember guys these nintendo guys are the same ones who said online gaming is a fad and they were never realy into it... so thats where they stand and now they play catch up and dont even do it right
Chadsworth McBillingsly @ Nov 28th 2006 6:53AM
It's clear why Nintendo did this with the friend codes. It's a system for children. Duh.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Nov 28th 2006 2:24PM
"What they DON'T do is allow you to tell me you're going to skull fuck me in the next race, rape my mother, spew inane racial slurs the whole time or otherwise misbehave and be offensive, ruining *my* enjoyment."
Or, to put it another way, they don't allow you to coordinate team actions in team-based strategy games (such as objective-oriented multiplayer game types like capture the flag) or actually find out who you're playing with. It goes both ways. There are definite upsides to being able to talk to who you're playing with. Don't make it out to be this horrible thing. Some of the most fun I've had gaming has been with more experienced players good at giving orders/coordinating strategy in Perfect Dark Zero.
number40one @ Nov 28th 2006 3:08PM
It's annoying, but highly understandable when marketing to the parents of the house. They're not taking any chances by making the "protection" as fail-safe as possible.