Rumor: 'Major' online Wii game ditching Friend Codes

by Randy Nelson { Jan 13th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Slipped in among the various topics covered in IGN's latest Nintendo Voice Chat podcast was an interesting little rumor: a "major online title" coming to Wii in 2009 won't require Friend Codes. How? Evidently the developer simply realized it could pull it off -- and, like most gamers, doesn't care for the restrictive system.

Speculation as to what game IGN was referencing (which, according to the site, has already been announced) quickly brought up The Conduit, the upcoming FPS from High Voltage Software and Sega. Joystiq has confirmed via a source familiar with the title's development that it does, in fact, utilize the Friend Code system, and isn't the game in question. So, what is it then? Let the speculation commence.

[Via N-Europe]

Tags: friend-code, high-voltage-software, ign, online, rumor, sega, the-conduit

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 7:35PM

Perhaps Monster Hunter 3? We already know it won't, and will simply utilize a lobby system.

If it's not The Conduit, what else could it be? What else is really big, and online?

sjenky @ Jan 13th 2009 7:39PM

I second that guess..

erico316 @ Jan 13th 2009 7:54PM

i know mh3 would be the game to do it and would bee a good idea only problem is that it will split the system online base and you would not know who is online unless they playing mh3.it a two sided blade.

samfish @ Jan 13th 2009 7:57PM

Of course it's Monster Hunter. It's not unlike IGN to pass off information that we already know as new...and watch the internet fall for it.

Alternately, it could be something from EA, but I don't have any idea what, unless Boom Blox 2 qualifies as "major".

yerpnerp @ Jan 13th 2009 10:18PM

Sadness, duh

Soop @ Jan 14th 2009 5:15AM

I'm late, but yeah, that's the first thing I thought. also "Major title" gives it a way a bit, as it's the only one to my knowledge.

Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 13th 2009 7:38PM

I'm guessing its the conduit

Sora @ Jan 13th 2009 8:09PM

"Speculation as to what game IGN was referencing (which, according to the site, has already been announced) quickly brought up The Conduit, the upcoming FPS from High Voltage Software and Sega. Joystiq has confirmed via a source familiar with the title's development that it does, in fact, utilize the Friend Code system, and isn't the game in question."

Read the article kthxbai.

Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 13th 2009 8:24PM

I'm guessing its the conduit

Josh @ Jan 13th 2009 7:38PM

Please let this be the new trend.

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 7:41PM

Doubtful. Unless i'm mistaken, friend codes are an integral part of the WFC system, and the only way to circumvent them is to simply abandon WFC entirely, which means private servers, which in turn is very costly

Josh @ Jan 13th 2009 7:49PM

That's true, but it's the way things are done on the PC and PS3, so there's no real reason it can't be done on the Wii.

Al2x @ Jan 13th 2009 8:11PM

PS2 did it, and Konami did it, in their own little fucked up way, but yes, I'm sure it can be done for the Wii.

UltimateQ @ Jan 14th 2009 1:27AM

I 100% agree. Its stupid using 100 digit codes to communicate with people. I want to use a real name, not a number.

Phantom @ Jan 13th 2009 7:38PM

Maybe it'll just be and update that let's you get a free Wii online account?

MegaSnort @ Jan 13th 2009 7:40PM

http://www.hellokittyonline.com/us/

Josh @ Jan 13th 2009 7:51PM

I like the graphics.

Jason @ Jan 13th 2009 8:47PM

I like all of the potential... Little kids to chat up.

Lionbacker @ Jan 13th 2009 7:39PM

'Bout goddamn time.

time @ Jan 13th 2009 7:42PM

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

FUCK YES!!!!

I AM FILLED WITH JOY

sony boy @ Jan 13th 2009 7:44PM

well it must be an m rated game right???

My guess:
conduit
madworld
tenchu??

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 7:49PM

The latter two are not online

SplorkyFish @ Jan 13th 2009 9:01PM

What exactly does ESRB rating have to do with anything?

GundamWingEW @ Jan 13th 2009 7:44PM

Unless this is the beginning of a new trend I saw YAWN...

Thanks but no thanks Nintendo. I'll stick to my 360 for online play. Cuz while a lot of my friends have Wiis I have no desire to input all those numbers just to be able to play with them.

Not to mention no voice chat or anything remotely like normal communication.

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 7:48PM

whoa, GundamWing trolling a console that isn't the 360?

SHOCKED! HEARSAY! LIES! END OF THE WORLD!

Lionbacker @ Jan 13th 2009 8:42PM

Its a good thing you threw in that insult towards the PS3 at the end. I was getting worried that you weren't feeling all right.

GundamWingEW @ Jan 13th 2009 8:48PM

Lol lion....happy to oblige.

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 9:16PM

sorry dude, the only real time I've seen you comment are PS3 articles which are usually borderline trolls, which is hilarious because a lot of people consider that to be what I do as well (BTW, before saying I hate everything Sony, go look back and see how much I've praised the PS1 or how whenever LBP was having problems with online levels, whenever I did post it praised the game)

I fail it, my skill was not enough. See you next time bye bye

DBuck_Eye @ Jan 13th 2009 7:50PM

You know, I wouldn't mind friend codes if they were system specific. It would basically be like a gamer tag that was harder to remember. But it's just so damn aggravating to punch in a new code for each friend for each game I buy.

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 7:58PM

That's really the problem. It'd just be an extra-long phone number if it was the one 16-digit code, instead of the one 16-digit and then multiple 12-digit ones

The root of the problem is that the system was established for the DS, a system which has very little internal memory, and so would not be able to save an online profile. Using the same network for Wii is what got that together

Josh @ Jan 13th 2009 8:52PM

Oh wow. I didn't realize friend codes were that jacked up. I mean, I knew how much of an inconvenience it was to give out a friend code. But I would have only known you needed a different code for each game if I had more than one game worth buying for the Wii.

j.howlett @ Jan 13th 2009 7:51PM

if it is conduit i'm sure killjebus would be stoked

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Jan 13th 2009 7:57PM

Conduit was already announced to use Friend Codes, folks. Unless they've decided to drop it all of a sudden. Which I'm okay with.

My guess, though, is it'll be some game EA is publishing, seeing as how they've already made Wii FC-less games like Medal of Honor Heroes 2.

jmarto @ Jan 13th 2009 7:57PM

They never should have had friend codes in the first place, it is an inefficient system

Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 14th 2009 7:14AM

I agree.
They definitely didn't ask anyone with common sense and/or the balls to say what they thought.

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 7:58PM

The main console friend codes don't really bother me that much. It's the fact that EVERY ONLINE GAME has their own individual game specific codes. It's pretty tedious and I think one friend code would suffice.

Can someone tell me the actual intent of friend codes to begin with? Is it to discourage people from playing online or is some safeguards set in place to protect minors? The whole concept behind them doesn't make any sense.

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 8:01PM

To make sure no Wii fanny boys go off the part about discouraging people from playing online was a *ahem* joke.

Go smoke a cigarette Vegeeta ...

time @ Jan 13th 2009 8:46PM

Agreed. One ridiculously long code is more than enough.

I thought that was how it was going to work, and then I bought Brawl and saw the Brawl friend code. I almost cried that day.

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 9:20PM

Of all the "FANBOIS" who would've overreacted (Foetoid, Khan when hes all up on his high horse about Wiimote VS. Gamepad, me) you go after Ska Oreo? Really dude? I know he's prone to rushing into battle unprepared, but come on

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 9:36PM

It was in reference to a thread yesterday when he went postal about a comment I made jokingly. Besides, what the fuck would I care what you two have to say?

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 10:37PM

Like i explained above: i believe it's the twofold purpose of the DS not having enough internal memory to host an online account, coupled with their desire to have a safe, secure environment for users to work in, which is in turn coupled with their general apathy towards online play

The first really explains the reason for individual codes, the second explains the reason why absolutely no means of exchanging those codes legitimately, and the latter explains why Nintendo has done nothing to fix the problem, despite the massive outcry

J @ Jan 14th 2009 12:58AM

I think Johnny contributes a lot more to these forums than you do gundam. He does a great deal of research, and often makes relevant arguments.

You just troll most of the time, which i'll admit does make things a little more interesting

I have to agree though that you, johnny, haven't been as patient as you were at the beginning of this new year. You used to keep your comments clean, and just state facts and arguments. But lately you've been swearing a lot and just express anger.

It'd be nice if you stopped stooping to gundam's level, and behave the way you did before. And don't care about the hearts.

Anyone know where noshino's been? Haven't seen him participate in a while.

Things have changed in Joystiq. Khan has been defending the ps3 more. Fernando hasn't participated as much, and when he does, he's as trollish as the old Fernando. Gundam has been more reasonable. Killjebus has completely lost it (srry killjebus).

I know i know, who the fuck cares what I think.
no one, that's who. :(

J @ Jan 14th 2009 1:00AM

And it's Vegina, not Vegeta. Remember? I renamed him. It's more charming, I think.

sam @ Jan 14th 2009 8:37AM

The intent of friend codes in general is twofold:

1) Online security (and lack of legal liability). You can play against people you don't know, but you can't communicate with them in any meaningful way that would let you, say, find out where they live. Communication requires that you exchange codes which means you must have some other way to communicate which means it isn't Nintendo's fault when you get raped or axe-murdered.

2) Ease of use. Friend-codes are pretty easy to use really - just like phone numbers - and they are generated for you, so you don't have to pick them (which can be a pain if the alternative system requires unique names). Although less memorable, they're easy to read over the phone (which can be a challenge with names if they have weird characters or spelling, e.g. you have to say 'johnnynumber5, that's johnny spelt j o h n n y, then the actual word 'number' in full, then the digit 5' - in that time you could easily have read a 16-digit number). And because the unique number exists, it means that when you're appearing in a game and you do pick a name, you can have any game you like - it doesn't matter if more than one person in the world wants to be called John, the system knows who you are.

Given those objectives it's a very sensible system - obviously it isn't as flexible as systems that let you add anyone to your contact list, but with that first requirement, it's pretty much as good as you can get.

Unfortunately somebody at Nintendo then went batshit insane and decided you needed to have a different code for every game instead of using the system one. I suspect there's a technical reason for this - possibly security concerns in addition to the 'let's just use the system we built for DS' thing - but there is no good reason otherwise and they should have found a solution for the technical issue.

It'll be nice and all if one game doesn't use friend codes, but I think our only real chance to see Wii doing away with them is probably Wii 2... if we're lucky.

Metal Gear!? @ Jan 13th 2009 8:01PM

I had mentioned Falco earlier and it got me thinking. When will another good Star Fox game come out?
I know this is not the major online title they are talking about, but it would be nice to have an online Star Fox game on a console.
I wish that the Wii didn't suck. I want to see Nintendo's games with current-gen graphics dammit!
F-Zero, Metroid, and of course Star Fox would look awesome with the power of the 360 or PS3.

I'm still waiting for a Star Fox game to look like the ads for the Snes game. If anyone can put up a link with that paper ad that has the members of Star Fox that looks like people in costumes, it would be appreciated.

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 8:08PM

I don't think those type of highly styleized cartoonish graphics would really see a big benefit from an HD treatment. They would have to go in a new visual style while still keeping the familiar look of the characters intact. Maybe more of a Pixar look like what the most recent Ratchet and Clank achieved. I was just playing Mario Galaxy and thinking how much it looked like a 3-D Saturday morning cartoon.

Zelda comes to mind as one game that could benefit from an HD upgrade. I would love to see a Zelda game with a realistic art style. The subject matter and characters just work better than say a Kirby, Mario or Donkey Kong. Speaking of Donkey Kong - Where the hell is a new DK Country? All we have seen this generation is cameos and an awful racing game.

Metal Gear!? @ Jan 13th 2009 8:29PM

Metroid cartoonish? What? F-Zero, aside from some characters, is not cartoony. Star Fox could easily be adapted to a more realistic visual style(as that ad would prove if I could find it).

I do feel you with DK though. I needs my Donkey Kooong. No more dumb ass bongo games and no more puzzle fests. Straight-up platformer please. NO WII GIMMICKS!!!

Zelda could work well with realism, but those have been more cartoony than Metroid(just saying because of what you said). Kirby will always be the same no matter what console he is on.

Is it just me, or has Kirby always been one of the/the weakest Nintendo franchise/s? The games are fun, don't get me wrong, but there just isn't much to them. I'm not hating on Kirby.

"Zelda comes to mind as one game that could benefit from an HD upgrade. "

I don't. My dream Zelda game is now a watercolor painted game, a la Valkyria Chronicles.
http://www.zeldadungeon.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=51&pos=9
+ http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/866/866142/valkyria-chronicles-20080411040153763_640w.jpg
Doesn't need HD to me!

As for other Nintendo games, I suppose Metroid is the only one that would truly benefit from being in HD...or maybe Pilot Wings.
Although I've never been terribly impressed with HD visuals, so...