Is Nintendo finally taking online gaming seriously with the Wii U ...

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Online gaming on consoles was the new big thing in 2005 but, for some reason, Nintendo has never really embraced the concept.

The Wii?s awkward friend code system, and lack of a persistent online hub, pretty much rendered it an offline-only console. With the Wii U though, Nintendo seems like it?s finally ready to get with the times as it launches the new Nintendo Network.

Nintendo has a lot of catching up to do. After all, Microsoft?s feature rich Xbox Live recently celebrated it?s 10-year anniversary and the PlayStation Network isn?t far ?behind in terms of?capabilities?(it?s also free).

First, Wii U owners have to download a 5 GB update (although some people claim it?s smaller), to enable online features on their console. When downloading this update, my Wii U disconnected from Nintendo?s servers about three times. But eventually, after two hours, my Wii U was finally ready to connect to the internet.

Welcome to the Miiverse

The first thing users have to do is create a Nintendo Network ID and since the Wii U was just released, you should probably be able to choose whatever name you want. ?Then, you need to associate a Mii with your Nintendo Network ID. Each ID has its own friends list and eShop purchased connected to it. Setting up and creating a Nintendo Network ID is a simple process and thankfully only takes a few minutes.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Network doesn?t currently have an?achievements?system like Microsoft or Sony does.

Adding friends is also much easier now that the awkward friend codes are a thing of the past. In order to add a friend to your Wii U, all you need to do is type?your friend?s Nintendo Network ID. Once you?ve done this, your friend will receive?a notification and the option to add you to their list. Users are able to have up to 100 different friends.

In certain titles, the Miiverse allows players to post comments about their experience in game.

It?s great to see Nintendo finally ditching the friend code system that?s plagued their various online-enabled consoles for years. Hopefully, they?will get rid of the process on the 3DS as well.

There is also a competent built-in web browser that?s easy to navigate with the Wii U?s touch screen. YouTube videos and images look great on both the Wii U?s GamePad and TV screen.

Then there?s the Miiverse, Nintendo?s social video game version of Facebook.

Every game has its own community where players can post personal thoughts and drawings for other players to view and interact with. You can follow certain players just as you would with Twitter and then their activity shows up in an area called activity feed. Already, artistic fans are creating rather amazing drawings on the Miiverse. Interestingly though, you only seem to be able to draw in black and white. Players can also ?like? other users posts by ?yeahing? them. Users can even take and share in-game screenshots with their posts.

In an interesting twist, some Miiverse?messages?can actually be integrated into games. For instance, in New Super Mario bros. U, the world map screen shows selected messages from certain users. When you complete an awesome task, the game prompts you to create some sort of response.

Eventually, your Wii U?s home screen plaza will also be filled with Miis from around the world. Speech bubbles periodically appear beside their heads, displaying their thoughts on certain games.

While interesting and at times, very?entertaining, do we really need another social network? The Miiverse doesn?t really do anything to set itself apart from other forms of social media and in many ways, is just a stripped down version of Twitter combined with a classic forum message board. On the more positive side, the Miiverse sets the Nintendo Network apart from the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. In the future, I can see Xbox live definitely copying some of the Miiverse?s social features in some way.

Also, it will be interesting to see how well Nintendo?s moderators police the Miiverse seeing as gamers aren?t exactly the friendliest, most understanding people at times.

Buy full retail games in the eShop

The eShop sticks with Nintendo?s promise to?release?first-party titles both online and at traditional retailers, allowing users to download full retail games like Assassin?s Creed 3 and New Super Mario Bros U directly from the store. Retail games are priced at $59.99 and smaller indie titles range from $9.99 to $19.99. Nintendo points are thankfully a thing of the past as the eShop now uses real world currency.

Nintendo?s eShop same day download option is definitely a step in the right direction for the company.

While pickings in the eShop are pretty sparse right now, hopefully Nintendo adds more old-school virtual console titles in the near future. It?s great to see the company releasing titles to retail and for download on the same day and this is definitely a step in the right?direction?for?Nintendo.

With 8GB of storage and 32GB in the base and luxury models, respectively, some users will have to plug in SD cards or external hard drives to make full use of this feature.

Where?s Nintendo TVii and other streaming options?

Both Nintendo TViii, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus (which isn?t available in Canada anyway) aren?t yet accessible on the Nintendo Network. Nintendo TVii wants to become the centre of your living room and be the main controller for your television, PVR and whatever other electronic devices you have set up in your home theatre. While this sounds great, it?unfortunately?won?t be released until some time in December.

However, Netflix is currently available and the Wii U is probably the best platform out there?for the streaming application.

Using the Wii U GamePad?s on-screen keyboard is really easy.

Periodically, while browsing the eShop and playing around with the Miiverse, I was disconnected from the Nintendo Network. While?frustrating, since the Wii U is a new console with a brand new online system, some difficulties are to be expected.

A video chat app is available and although I haven?t had a chance to try it yet, it?s supposed to be pretty solid?and with a few tweaks, it could be great.

The Nintendo Network still only sort of supports voice chat. Certain games will be compatible with third-party officially?licensed?headsets that plug into the Wii U GamePad?s head phone jack.?Unfortunately,?voice chat isn?t standard across all games. If you want to use a Pro Controller and use a head set, you?ll have to plug it into the Wii U?s GamePad and set it beside you since the Pro Controller doesn?t actually have a head phone jack on it.

There also isn?t any cross game chat or?any sort of party system like what?s present in Xbox Live.?Right now, only Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Assassin?s Creed III and Mass Effect III will feature voice chat.

Unfortunately, there is currently no way to transfer Nintendo Network accounts between consoles. So if your Wii U breaks, at least right now, you have to start all over again.

It?s great to see Nintendo embrace the internet and social gaming. The fact that the company is finally allowing Wii U?owners?to interact with strangers, unlike the Wii, is a definite step in the right direction. Whether the Nintendo Network becomes a formidable force in the online console gaming world is yet to be determined.

Nintendo is definitely onto something with the Miiverse though.

For more Wii U related coverage, check out my full review of the console and a selection of mini reviews of the system?s various launch titles.

Follow Patrick O?Rourke on Twitter:?@Patrick_ORourke.?Read my author profile on?Google+.

Source: http://o.canada.com/2012/11/21/is-nintendo-finally-taking-online-gaming-seriously/

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