A scary, scary rumor (i.e. GameSpy sucks?)

by Jason Wishnov { Mar 14th 2007 at 6:05PM }

The good folks over at GoNintendo are referencing an informal interview by one "Falafelkid", whom they claim to be as reputable as they come. He has apparently spoken with some GameSpy PR people (whom we have attempted to contact and failed miserably), who will be partnering with Nintendo to provide online functionality in upcoming games. The grim, grim news?

Falafelkid: Just one last question to make absolutely sure I have got this right, please. If I have a friend roster in one game, that roster will not be available to me in any other game. I have to build up an entirely new list for each title, right?

GameSpy: The answer to your question is yes, for the Wii friend lists are game-specific.

Ughhhhh. We don't want to take this as fact, but the mere prospect leaves us depressed and in a need of a rainbow or something to cheer us up. The Wii maintains an internal friends list as is; why can't games simply access said list and use it universally across the platform? Why, Nintendo, why?

Tags: Friend Codes, FriendCodes, GameSpy, Online

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Falafelkid @ Mar 14th 2007 6:26PM

I am afraid, it´s all true. Thanks for linking to me and all. And better luck contacting the source. If you need any contact details, just drop me a line.

Mr Khan @ Mar 14th 2007 6:28PM

laziness, uhh, many things, i suppose

remember that the system number is for WiiConnect24, a system that is too slow to maintain PvP Online play

This doesn't really come as a surprise, though, Nintendo doesn't care about Online play, and if you look at the numbers (WiFi Connect is growing faster than Xbox Live, despite the clear quality desparity), they are financially justified in not caring

Clearly 3 million unique users think the service "good enough"

But of course he didn't mention friend codes, right?

Sonic_13 @ Mar 14th 2007 6:35PM

Does this mean building individual friend rosters for each game with individual friend codes or just individual rosters for each game based on which of your existing Wii code friends has the game?

That needs to be clarified.

Either way though I do not see this as a problem. I never had a problem exchanging friend codes and it will be even easier via Wii. All you'll have to do is send a quick message with the code.

Jason Wishnov @ Mar 14th 2007 6:40PM

Eh, I think they had all just gone home by the time I tried contacting them. I can check tomorrow if need be.

As for the "repopulating" issue, Sonic, I severely doubt that's the case: earlier this year, IGN reported that Pokemon Battle Revolution would use different codes than the ones found on the Wii. This is consistent with this new information, and implies that, like the DS, each and every game will create a new code. At the very least, we can hope that the GameSpy service will automate the transfer of codes as much as possible, perhaps even to where we don't actually have to enter the codes manually.

Jackson Pritt @ Mar 15th 2007 7:56PM

Does this really surprise anyone?
Nintendo is fighting hard to win the much-vied-for title of *Crappiest Online Component of Any Next-Gen System* and the more I hear about it the more sure I am that they'll win.

I love my Wii, but I can't understand why Nintendo feels the need to cripple their console's abilities for online play with these retarded Friends Lists. This kind of news just makes me more and more sure that I'm eventually going to buy an Xbox 360.

Nica @ Mar 14th 2007 11:16PM

my wii is impotent :(

timcat @ Mar 14th 2007 7:07PM

@ #3

I agree. I mean its not as streamlined as I would have hoped but its not hard to send a quick message to a wii friend with a game code. Lets just hope after the codes are entered on each end It doesnt take a day and a half for nintendo servers to recognize the two are friends. (this does happen when adding wii friends on the wii.)

Grey Acumen @ Mar 14th 2007 7:11PM

Honestly, I don't mind this, BUT ONLY IF they have a one button function to allow you to import your contacts from one game to another, then edit it from there.

Nushio @ Mar 14th 2007 7:20PM

Excuse my french, but EFF dat!

May I be the first Nintendo Wii Fanboy to say "EFF YOU NINTENDO AND YOUR DAMNED 'ITS FOR THE KIDS'"

I dont want to individually add everyone by using dozens of freaking numbers and all that s....tuff....

Individual friendlists? I did it on the DS because it had no room for a massive friendlist, but on the Wii? Unforgiveable.

Billy_McBong @ Mar 14th 2007 7:30PM

hopefully most games will have some kind of lobby where you can chat or something before joining a game

and if it is like how online play is for the DS then Nintendo really FUCKED this up

BDB @ Mar 14th 2007 7:40PM

Someone needs to start kickin' ass around nintendo's office. You would think they might do hardcore gamers and mature gamers a break by making online play not so "kiddish." But what can you do?

Nushio @ Mar 14th 2007 7:47PM

If we start harassing Nintendo, perhaps they'll change their mind.

Though I expect them to keep it as shitty as possible even with all the harassing.

the real mii @ Mar 14th 2007 7:50PM

i honestly can't see them making you re-enter the code in for each game. we already know the friend code list you create is available to each game (as shown in elebits), so it certainly is possible for them to leverage that... if they don't, they're just being mean on purpose.

i can see how, as a feature, they might allow you to create individual friend lists or "favorites" so you can cut out people that you know don't have a particular game. maybe something like this is what they're talking about. i agree with the above posters - really needs clarification before we get out the rakes and shovels :)

Skippy @ Mar 14th 2007 7:51PM

That says nothing about unique friend codes for each game, just friend lists.

Mr Khan @ Mar 14th 2007 7:54PM

This is the last time i'll say this

Elebits uses WiiConnect24 which IS NOT WI-FI CONNECTION!

Sure, they never SAID anything about friend codes, but the writing is on the wall with Pokemon Battle Revolution

Sad Panda :(

luke @ Mar 15th 2007 12:00PM

I swear… Nintendo have pissed me off too much these last few months since launch. I'm selling my Wii on ebay and going for a 360. Microsoft actually know what they're doing in 2007.

CountChocula @ Mar 14th 2007 8:50PM

"That says nothing about unique friend codes for each game, just friend lists."

Exactly. Relax, people. It really isn't that big of a deal; you just will have to add your one friend to more than one friendlist. I mean, holy crap people, you're all really friggin' spoiled if you can't stand the fact that you actually have to add someone more than once to be able to play with them on more than one game.

bill @ Mar 14th 2007 9:31PM

Anyway, the only time a REALLY needed a friend code for online play was Animal Crossing for ds, all the rest you just had friend codes if you wanted those specific people in your game. Usually it just searches for open games. I don't see the big deal, people make it out like you need to eneter friend codes for every single person who owns a wii. I am sure if you make friends through a game you can get their code and invite them to a game and the wii will fill empty spots.

Sonic_13 @ Mar 14th 2007 9:49PM

We can't judge the Wii's online setup by Pokemon Battle Revolution in Japan. Major sites like IGN have even reported that this game could be the exception, and not the rule.

That is further evidenced by the fact that if Nintendo did just make the agreement with GameSpy for online, then Nintendo would have had to use a different setup for Pokemon.

It is entirely possible that Nintendo had to use the DS online programming tools and setup for that game until the Wii's tools were ready.

I'm not saying definite statements one way or the other about the Wii's online, but we shouldn't be jumping to any conclusions.

Remember what happened when people took the SNK President's quote as fact? It was proven wrong a less than a week later.

Next-Gen-Gamer @ Mar 14th 2007 11:55PM

Why does everyone freak out over this? So there isn't a unified system like Xbox Live. Did they say anything about using friend codes? No. I'm not going to deny that not having a unified system sucks. However, it's not the end of the world, and it does NOT mean friend codes.

This isn't the DS we're talking about. Developers know how much friend codes piss consumers off. It's up to individual developers, and I highly doubt many would adopt friend codes. PBR is a horrible example, if only because the friend codes exist for DS connectivity.

Elebits is a good example, regardless of WFC vs. WiiConnect24. The fact remains, Elebits uses the Wii Numbers, as will other Konami games, such as Dewy's Adventure. Developers should, and probably will, take advantage of Wii Numbers. If Nintendo wants to be ignorant and use friend codes, then so be it. However, they're not pushing developers into using that system.

Just chill and wait until E3.

Tom (from the future) @ Mar 15th 2007 5:42AM

You just have to go to the WiiConnect24 section on the main menu of Super Smash Bros. Brawl... 1st time you're there, enter your email address, then make up a username and password (both must be atleast 6 characters long and can consist of letters and/or numbers), then just add your friends to the list. When a friend is online and playing a game, it'll tell you and shows a small icon of their current character next to their name. You can join their game or invite them to yours from this screen. It's very easy and supports up to 16 players!

Loban @ Mar 15th 2007 9:46AM

It may not be as bad as you all think. He didn't say game specific friend codes, just the list. It may be as simple as when first setting up the online portion of a game, the game accesses your Wii friend list and you simply pick and choose who you want to be able to play with in that game.

Zan @ Mar 15th 2007 10:51AM

Well duh, that's not surprising really, it was the same on the PS2's online network. I'm just glad that we get names and not numbers.

Steve @ Mar 15th 2007 11:40AM

Sounds like Nintendo is once again screwing up the details on what could be a great feature. Just as the VC is harmed by the inability to customize button mapping or a 4:3 / 16:9 preference, now we're going to get a halfassed online gaming experience.