Reggie: Wii online games in Q2 2007

by Zack Stern { Dec 4th 2006 at 9:00AM }

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]

Tags: Game Heads, GameHeads, multiplayer, Nintendo, online, Reggie Fils-Amie, ReggieFils-amie, Spike TV, SpikeTv

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Brian @ Dec 4th 2006 9:20AM

Q2 2007 in terms of Japan's fiscal year or the US's?

C. Grant @ Dec 4th 2006 9:33AM

Think he means Gregorian, as opposed to fiscal.

T @ Dec 4th 2006 9:45AM

Spike TV's site is just horrible.

Mike Cohen @ Dec 4th 2006 9:52AM

So that means no Far Cry online?

mark @ Dec 4th 2006 9:52AM

So around when Metroid Prime 3: Corruption comes out?

:O

He seemed really standoff-ish to that question about Metroid online too...

Willo @ Dec 4th 2006 10:18AM

Mark: Maybe because Metroid is better as a one-player game. Blasphemy these days I know, but multiplayer isn't always better.

kelekod @ Dec 4th 2006 10:20AM

I guess that shows when Metriod and good chance that Brawl will come out. Kinda dissapointed, cause these 2 games are next on my list outside the possibility of Excite Truck. So the virtual console better pick up the pace.

Darkness @ Dec 4th 2006 10:22AM

Not sure what the first online game will be in the US, but Japan gets online this month when Pokemon comes out. I wonder why we have to wait so much longer? Not that it really matters to me, but I have a feeling there are still quite a few announcements of games that we haven't heard of and a few of them will have online play. Curious to see how that will work out.

Matt @ Dec 4th 2006 10:41AM

AFT (About-Fucking-Time)

buttlover @ Dec 4th 2006 10:47AM

Shouldnt they have been getting this online service ready midway through the gamecubes failure. God they are already 4-5 years late in going online.

ackmondual @ Dec 4th 2006 10:51AM

Wii Sports or Monkey Ball online would rock even more

gLitterbug @ Dec 4th 2006 11:06AM

I think the fact that Nintendo has always been for social multiplayer in front of one TV really slowed their implementing decent online multiplayer or any at all. It is sad because I think Nintendo has the potential to do great stuff with online games if they get off their ass. For now I don't have much faith in them if I am honest. Still I hope they prove me wrong.

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.

Jaded Alyx @ Dec 4th 2006 11:38AM

I think the first online games we'll see in the west will most likely be Mario Strikers Charged, or BWii (Battalion Wars II). Or maybe even both.

robrob @ Dec 4th 2006 11:40AM

considering the novelty of having mom over for bowling is going to wear off in about a month, sounds like online play is gonna be abbout 5 months late..

Busterspace @ Dec 4th 2006 12:20PM

Q2 is reasonable. I mean there should have been at least one or two games at launch, but Q2 is better than nothing. Obvioulsy Batallion Wars 2 will be dated, and I fully expect Metroid Prime 3 to have online multiplayer to be confirmed (hence the delay). Those would make some killer online titles which would help in the wait for Super Mario Galaxy (which I also hope gets dated for Q2, but that's probably a stretch).

This also means Mario Party 8 won't be online, sadly.

Andy @ Dec 4th 2006 12:31PM

I agree with the above, the difficulty of finding friends online is foreshadowing of the relatively small emphasis the Wii will place on multiplayer games.

Darkness @ Dec 4th 2006 12:41PM

@10

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.

Mr Lebesgue @ Dec 4th 2006 1:18PM

While it may not be until second quarter that we see true multiplayer play, don't forget that Elebits, which comes out in just over a week in the US, is going to utilize the Wii's Connect 24 service to send new maps to players overnight, enable players to trade the levels they create with its level editor with their friends, and snap special pictures and trade them with online friends.

BustahWolf @ Dec 4th 2006 4:31PM

@6: Yes, I'm sure the multiplayer in Metroid Prime 3 won't be as good as the single player mode, but I still want it available when the game is released. Dangit, I've already started picking out industrial/ebm tracks that I'd wanna put on my SD card and blast through speakers during online matches (nintendo BETTER put that function into metroid >_

Gavin @ Dec 4th 2006 5:10PM

Again the Nintendo fans make apologies for something they would have crucified Sony or MS for doing. This Wii launch has been more hype than substance. Americans get a shitty VC lineup, no online gaming, and have to pay $50 dollars more for Wii Sports (which isn't worth fifty bucks) and yet the fans scream about how great this is.

Sorry, I'm not buying into it.

Brad Lee @ Dec 4th 2006 5:26PM

I agree that so far Nintendo's online has been rather crappy so far. Even though I enjoyed Mario Kart and Metroid on DS online, there were a few problems that prevented me from really enjoying the experience.

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.

striderhayasa @ Dec 4th 2006 5:45PM

Tony Hawk and ExciteTruck would have been the hotness online. Call of duty 3 would have been hot online too. Nintendo blew it big time. For example, can any Bomberman fan say they wouldn't want Bomberman 93 online?

Cmon Nintendo, this is soooo late in coming...get with it.

Mr. Khan @ Dec 4th 2006 5:49PM

People, i've stated this before

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)

Duscrom @ Dec 5th 2006 2:04AM

Nintendo IS the company who coined the phrase "Online Gaming is just a fad" See, #6 proves this to be true. It's like how nobody has HDTVs, so there is no need for Nintendo to keep those futureistic component cables in stock. Nintendo is with the times. 480i gameing, and local multi-player. Just like in the 80s when they saved gaming.

Greg @ Dec 5th 2006 10:19AM

When exactly does Q2 begin?

Wiiman @ Dec 5th 2006 3:19PM

Metroid Prime Corruption with online Co-op?
Sounds nice to me.

Matthew Sanders @ Jan 27th 2007 12:52PM

Too little, too late. Xbox Live was visionary, now poor little Nintendo is STILL trying to get online. Gimme a break

Matthew Sanders @ Jan 27th 2007 12:55PM

And no, I don't have an Xbox

Dippy DoLittle @ Jan 30th 2007 11:43AM

What amazes me is that when I brought my original Xbox it was half to do with the games and the other to play online and the ease in which you could play online. the PS version was a joke and Nintendo did not bother.

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!