Nintendo moving into online within 3 to 4 years - Miyamoto...

[Zim Hosein]

DS to go online "sooner than we think," claims Nintendo's top designer

Comments attributed to Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto in this week's Famitsu magazine indicate that the company is planning to bring its systems online within a three to four year timescale, with DS leading the way.

Miyamoto, credited as the design genius behind key Nintendo franchises including Zelda and Mario, told the magazine that online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years, and that Nintendo will be moving in that direction as a result.

In the current generation of console hardware, only Nintendo has shied away from providing online gaming services on their system - arguing that online play is not of interest to the majority of consumers as yet.

However, a translation of Miyamoto's comments in Famitsu which has been posted on the Internet reveals that he expects the Nintendo DS to get online games in the near future, which would lead Nintendo's movement into the online space.

DS online functionality would presumably use the system's wireless LAN capabilities to hook up to the Internet. At present, these functions can be used to communicate between DS units for wireless multiplayer or chat.

Intriguingly, Miyamoto implied that Nintendo is working with Square Enix on developing the online system for the DS. Square Enix formerly developed the PlayOnline system for the PlayStation 2, which was used as a launcher for Final Fantasy XI but had the capability to be used as a more comprehensive online gaming system.

Square Enix has confirmed that it is working on titles for the Nintendo DS, with a handheld version of its GameCube multiplayer RPG title, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, expected to launch next year. As yet the publisher hasn't commented on the possibility of this title having online functionality.

Elsewhere in the interview, Miyamoto also confirmed that a new Mario title, which is still being called Mario 128, is still in development for the GameCube - not for the company's next-generation Revolution console, as had been rumoured previously.

He also mentioned that Nintendo is working with "strong allies" to create a new Pokemon title for the Cube, but could not reveal further details of what this title would be.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5666 :Q

 

[csyberblue]

that's a long time away, but hopefully it'll kick a lot of butt when it arrives

 

[aplefka]

Dude, I don't care what anyone says. Pokemon on GB was teh tightz0r.

If they remade it for GC, I'd buy a GC just to play it.

 

[oogabooga]

[sarcasm] holy crap, imagine if half life 1 had had a multiplayer online mode, how insane would that have been. [/sarcasm]

Intriguingly, Miyamoto implied that Nintendo is working with Square Enix on developing the online system for the DS. Square Enix formerly developed the PlayOnline system for the PlayStation 2, which was used as a launcher for Final Fantasy XI but had the capability to be used as a more comprehensive online gaming system.

oooo neato

edit : added sarcasm so there is no ambiguity.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

 

[etalns]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

Thank you!

Fucking corporate ignorance.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

I don't think it's mainstream, but it's closer than 3 years.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

mario kart and smash bro's online would KICK FRIGGIN BUTT!

 

[Anubis]

3-4 years????? are the fvcking stupid or something worse, its here now, look at Xbox live, ITS FVCKING HUGE, PS2 online is there and working good for the games that support it also

fvck the dreamcast was online back in the day also, Nintendo is dropping the ball hardcore on this one

 

[FleshLight]

holy crap, imagine if half life 1 had had a multiplayer online mode, how insane would that have been.

Half life one does have a "multiplayer online mode".

 

[Goosemaster]

Mario 128? HAHAHAHAHAHA

I saw a phtoshop of a mario 128 in a nintendo magazien like 10 years ago. Me and my friends used to joke about it being real.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: FleshLight

holy crap, imagine if half life 1 had had a multiplayer online mode, how insane would that have been.

Half life one does have a "multiplayer online mode".

hands fleshlight batteries for his sarcasm meeter....
edit wrong smiley in my original post.. i guess i deserve that.

 

[csyberblue]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
mario kart and smash bro's online would KICK FRIGGIN BUTT!

Smash bro's online would be incredible.

If I'm not mistaken, I think you can play mario kart online, you need the broadband adapter, and some specific tunneling software on your PC however.

 

[Blayze]

yeah Mario Kart, Kirby Air Ride, and 1080: Avalanche can be played using Warp Pipe.

I just hope they never go online only with the games. Multiplayer online is great, but they can't forget about Single Player.

 

[imported_Phil]

Nin-ten-do...?

 

[So]

PC gamers to Nintendo: "Welcome to nineteen ninety three."

 

[DivideBYZero]

This is so lame. They make a Network adapter for the cube and give you nothing to use it with.. :|

<-- Cube owner. :| @ N's online plans

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: So
PC gamers to Nintendo: "Welcome to nineteen ninety three."

damn right!!! PC > consoles. i will always stand by my rig

 

[Snapster]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

Not fully console mainstream it's not. When there's a good ammount of games with online options, and a good percentage of console owners are playing online in a majority of big countries, then yes. You've gotta remember there are still loads of countries where broadband is not the #1 internet connection type, and out of those most of those who are, are for pc.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Snapster

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

Not fully console mainstream it's not. When there's a good ammount of games with online options, and a good percentage of console owners are playing online in a majority of big countries, then yes. You've gotta remember there are still loads of countries where broadband is not the #1 internet connection type, and out of those most of those who are, are for pc.

wtf are you talking about..... unless you're idea of "other countries" is the redneck state next door, just about every other industrialized country on earth pwnes this one with the quality of their broadband....

 

[Snapster]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Snapster

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

Not fully console mainstream it's not. When there's a good ammount of games with online options, and a good percentage of console owners are playing online in a majority of big countries, then yes. You've gotta remember there are still loads of countries where broadband is not the #1 internet connection type, and out of those most of those who are, are for pc.

wtf are you talking about..... unless you're idea of "other countries" is the redneck state next door, just about every other industrialized country on earth pwnes this one with the quality of their broadband....

Take the UK for example. Broadband has only 'just' surpassed dialup, and of those 'broadband' connections probably about 1/3 to 1/2 are 128 or 256k only. Out of those a majority are for pc use. Console online gaming has only really gathered any sort of momentum in the last 6 months to a year, and even then only the XBox. I can still count on my hands the ammount of people I know that play online with consoles, yet pales in to comparison of the people I know who have a console. Mainstream, not just yet. XBox last time I looked was shifting about 1/4 - 1/3 million units a month, yet there are only just over 1m in total xbox live subscribers.

 

[psiu]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This is so lame. They make a Network adapter for the cube and give you nothing to use it with.. :|

<-- Cube owner. :| @ N's online plans

Xbox Live big success though (supposedly). Microsoft losing money on the Xbox.

Nintendo=no online. Raking the yen in, hand over fist.

They better have something for the new console though, and right off the bat. I want Rogue Squadron online, damnit. Hell, everything online.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: psiu

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This is so lame. They make a Network adapter for the cube and give you nothing to use it with.. :|

<-- Cube owner. :| @ N's online plans

Xbox Live big success though (supposedly). Microsoft losing money on the Xbox.

Nintendo=no online. Raking the yen in, hand over fist.

They better have something for the new console though, and right off the bat. I want Rogue Squadron online, damnit. Hell, everything online.

yes MS looses money on the console itself but it makes up for it in games and XBL, i thin sony looses mony on the PS2 also, the real money is made from the games

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Snapster

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Snapster

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years

What the fvcking god damn, you morons, online gaming is NOW damnit! You and your sh!tty drink-holder excuse for a gaming console can go suck rope for not putting more online support in your software. DREAMCAST had broadband when that thing was still sucking at the developer's teat!

- M4H

Not fully console mainstream it's not. When there's a good ammount of games with online options, and a good percentage of console owners are playing online in a majority of big countries, then yes. You've gotta remember there are still loads of countries where broadband is not the #1 internet connection type, and out of those most of those who are, are for pc.

wtf are you talking about..... unless you're idea of "other countries" is the redneck state next door, just about every other industrialized country on earth pwnes this one with the quality of their broadband....

Take the UK for example. Broadband has only 'just' surpassed dialup, and of those 'broadband' connections probably about 1/3 to 1/2 are 128 or 256k only. Out of those a majority are for pc use. Console online gaming has only really gathered any sort of momentum in the last 6 months to a year, and even then only the XBox. I can still count on my hands the ammount of people I know that play online with consoles, yet pales in to comparison of the people I know who have a console. Mainstream, not just yet. XBox last time I looked was shifting about 1/4 - 1/3 million units a month, yet there are only just over 1m in total xbox live subscribers.

UK broadband was 512k from the start. The start was 3 years ago. I've had it for 3 yrs. 512k to 4mb is available depending on your line and how far you are from the exchange. A 1mb connection is pretty much guaranteed.

The 128 and 256k options are the ultra cheap-ass options that have appeared in the last year to soak up the tight dial up idiots.

The availability is there, now we need to educate the automatons.

 

[Dragnov]

lol, can you guys misread the statement anymore?

"online gaming will reach the mainstream within three to four years, and that Nintendo will be moving in that direction as a result."

Now let me break it down for those of you with horrible analytical skills...

"online gaming will becoming mainstream in three to four years. Nintendo will be moving in that direction as a result.

Note the bolded words please.

That means yes, Nintendo is or will be working on online stuff during the 3-4 year span. NOT, online gaming only after 3-4 years. The DS already has online capabilities and is already being worked on, the next generation console would naturally have to have online capabilites took take advantage of mainstream online gaming.