Nintendo of America president, Reggie Fils-Amie was featured on the most recent episode of GameHead on Spike TV. While most of the episode is the usual Nintendo PR spin, he gives some information about online Wii gaming in the U.S.; expect online, multiplayer games to be announced in the first quarter of 2007 and to ship in the second quarter.The episode is available on the GameHead site (that's the best link we could give you through the non-linkable, to-the-max Flash interface). The show even features Reggie bowling virtually and in a real alley.
Q2 still seems like a long time to wait, and our expectations keep rising the longer it takes to deliver a product. Nintendo is already late to the online party; how long will Wii-mail and Mii parades keep us occupied?
[Via digg and PALGN]



















(Page 1) Reader Comments
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:O
He seemed really standoff-ish to that question about Metroid online too...
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The fact alone that Wii Sports didn't already include online multiplayer and finding friends online isn't easier than on the DS dwindles my hope a lot though.
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This also means Mario Party 8 won't be online, sadly.
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Maybe they want to make sure they get it right. Better to delay a bit to try and figure out what you're gonna do, than rush something to market. Out of the three companies, Nintendo has the least amount of experience with online play and features. I figure they're going to have lots of growing pains over the next year as they iron out the details. Hopefully other companies (third parties) can give them some pointers and steer them in the right direction.
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Sorry, I'm not buying into it.
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The player match system was kinda flawed. It would take forever to find other players, and more often than not it would cut off with only one on one or three player matches. Also, the lack of options was disappointing. I don't see why I couldn't connect with a friend and THEN search for more strangers to play against. And finally, Nintendo is being far too cautious. Sure it would suck if, in Animal Crossing, some random person showed up in your town and chopped down all the trees. But, that would be my risk to take. Fine you want to protect the kids who may not know any better, but don't limit the fun for older gamers at the same time.
I'm not too optimistic that Nintendo will pull off an admirable online system right away, but I'm sure they can pull it off in due time.
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Cmon Nintendo, this is soooo late in coming...get with it.
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DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE BRAWL BEFORE FALL '07
If you want a comparison, my guess is Brawl is at the same level of completion that Halo 3 is (and both will be released in a very close timeframe)
I would agree with the above statements that Strikers: Charged will probably be the first North American Online title
The funny thing is, you people bitch about this, the DS had to wait for Online for a frikkin' year
Wi-Fi Connection is perfectly adequate for Random Matchmaking, just don't hold your breath for Online Communities (although, it will be a software thing, too, i should rather say don't expect most Nintendo published software to do much in the way of lobbies or Communities)
Although as long as there is actual Chatting during random online matches (and this WILL be there for BWII Cooperative mode) then exchanging friend codes shouldn't be TOO hard (thank god there's only 1 this time, i gave up with getting friends for DS online)
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Sounds nice to me.
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With that being almost 5 years ago, what the hell has Nintendo been thinking? Sony are still sticking with their heap of excrement and Microsoft are putting Millions into Live, even incorporating it in to Vista and the Media Centre etc... I love the way in Live you could add a random stranger as a friend after playing, if you thought they where at your level so the next time you where online you could join a game they where in, knowing that you would probably be playing others of about the same level. this meant less time searching & more time playing.
When you look at Wii Sports, Bowling & Golf would have been easy to link up as there is nothing to synchronise and its basically turn based. That would have showcased at least that it could be done etc ..... yes I know there is more to online gaming than that but in this day and age!!!!
I have been searching online for anything regarding Wii Games online and there is nothing, except pre-release info and interviews and these forums, where we are all bitching about it. I think its very poor to promote a games system that wants to encourage family and group gaming, only their is nothing online and no information when it might be happening! when you read the forums its almost like listen to urban legends, 'I heard on one website, that my mate saw an article, from someone who emptied a bin, in the building opposite to where a Wii was playing, and he said that they might be online games soon!' I want to hear yes we are working on it, yes or no to online lobbies, friends lists. all buddies in your address book will be available to play in game without having to re-enter their Wii / game id etc and that it should hit Europe sometime summer 2007 on the Nintendo Web Site not some word of mouth forum.
Well my fingers are crossed for Mario Kart to be online? I think the Controller and Nunchuck would make good controls for an RTS (aka the Red Alerts etc) so maybe this time next year I will be having my fill of online-ness?
So come on Nintendo, at least throw us a Friggin Bone!
Excuse the rant!
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