During its pre-E3 Nintendo Direct webcast and E3 2012 Press Conference, Nintendo unveiled the online future for the Wii U console. While many features of the Nintendo Network were revealed, such as the in-house social network Miiverse, Nintendo remained silent about what cost, if any, would be charged to users of the service.
Following the precedent set by fellow Japanese console manufacturer Sony, Nintendo recently announced during a shareholder’s meeting in Japan that online services for the Wii U will not require any subscription fees.
Speaking to investors during the meeting, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata highlighted the fact that, while he is not opposed to charging a subscription fee to allow the Wii U (and other devices) to access the Nintendo Network, he feels that based on the current user base of Nintendo’s gaming systems, free is the best approach. The idea is that allowing free access to the Nintendo Network and Miiverse will generate word of mouth which will lead to increased sales for the company.
Not charging for online access seems to be the best course for Nintendo to follow at this time. Online gaming for the Wii has been lackluster and cumbersome since the console’s launch, and gamers may be very reluctant to pay for an online service provided by Nintendo, considering the company’s track record.
Nintendo has stated that its forthcoming network is not meant to compete with or catch up to the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, but no matter –comparisons between the three services will be made. With Xbox Live providing solid online gaming, social experiences and access to non-gaming features for a fee, and Sony’s PlayStation Plus giving subscribers free games every month, Nintendo will need something that helps its service stand out from the competition. Free access to the Nintendo Network is a very good starting point, and hopefully Nintendo’s willingness to rely on word of mouth to help spread the news about its online services will lead to bigger and better things.
Ranters, will Nintendo’s free approach to online connectivity help to increase the company’s presence in online gaming?
The Nintendo Network will launch this Fall.
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Source: Andriasang
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“Not opposed to charging a fee,” how ’bout that! Not enough people in this world are willing to take money for nothing. I kid, but seriously, if Nintendo expects Miiverse to be a system-seller, they’re high. I’m very much pro-Nintendo, but I have yet to see anything about Nintendo Network that isn’t just tedious fluff.
umm yeah, they’re not relying on Miiverse to be a system seller, the system seller for Nintendo like always before is innovation and the line up of Nintendo exclusive titles; Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, etc. Besides Nintendo doesn’t need an online service to sell their products, do you know of anyone who bought a Wii for online gaming, I sure don’t. I bought a Wii for it’s innovation and exclusive titles. The fact that Wii U will have a online service that’s just a plus, not the reason for my purchase though. And by the way they haven’t reavealed any solid details on the service besides the Miiverse thing (which is sort of like Playstation Home) so I don’t think it can be deemed “tedious fluff.”
“The idea is that allowing free access to the Nintendo Network and Miiverse will generate word of mouth which will lead to increased sales for the company” means they expect it to be a system-seller in some capacity.
And Miiverse looks like tedious fluff to me. Since, as you say, that’s the only portion of NN we’ve really seen yet, I’m gonna stand by what I said before (which was not a condemnation of NN in its entirety, but only of its apparent flagship feature, Miiverse).
Umm yeah.
Well either way whose to say Miiverse won’t sale consoles, like I had said its similar to Playstation Home, and there are people who bought PS3s for the Home social network. Truth be told they haven’t even shown enough of Miiverse for you to be making some kind of a judement like “tedious fluff.” I just hate seeing people make judgements such as that long before it has been released, let alone detailed fully. In any case it comes back to you jumping to some kind of conclusion rather than waiting for the service to be detailed completely.
Looks like I struck a nerve there with my “umm yeah”
lol sorry, that kind of snark really bothers me. You’re right, I guess I am passing judgment prematurely, but the “tedious fluff” comment was technically only directed at the things we’ve seen thus far. The comments on levels and the congregating Miis on the main menu both seem like they’d lose their novelty very quickly, and become entirely unremarkable, if not downright annoying. I guess the facetime chat is cool.
It does indeed look like a stripped-down version of Home, but I’ve never heard of anyone buying a PS3 for Home, so I still don’t believe Miiverse will affect sales at all.
I have something to say…..
I have kinda known someone that has been deep into Nintendos future plans with Nintendo Network and it will be very great. It is a giant tool full of online features. Well, I know a little more than you might. First, this will YES be a online application that will be avaliable on Nintendo E-Shop in the fall. Some features like video chat are possibe for the application on the Wii U hardware only. This application will also have fed connectivity with Android OS devices and I really do not know about iOS. I can also hint to you that you may see a feature of cloud service with the app.
I kinda figured that Nintendo Network was free whenever they didn’t charge me to play Kid Icarus: Uprising or Mario Kart 7 online. (They both have the Nintendo Network logo on their boxes if I remember correctly.)