Dojo update: Super Smash Bros. Brawl online multiplayer confirmed

by Alisha Karabinus { Sep 18th 2007 at 11:15AM }

Nintendo fans have been gnashing their teeth and chewing their nails over this one for months, but now we can all relax and release that long-held breath: Super Smash Bros. Brawl is going to take the fight online. And we're not talking about lesser online features, either, but head-to-head matches with your friends or with anyone in the world. The dojo promises other online features as well, but this is the big deal and thus was revealed first.

Of course, because this is Nintendo, there are some inherent protections within the non-friends play. When you choose to play with "anyone," you will not see your opponent's name, and there will be no records kept of your victories (or your painful losses). But at least you can play, so we're not going to complain. This latest update also cautions that online play across continents may be slower than a match with someone relatively close by. In the end, most of the focus seems to be on friends-only play, but that was to be expected, and we're frankly excited that the "play with anyone" feature was added at all.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Tags: dojo, multiplayer, online, smash-bros-brawl, smashbrosbrawl, ssbb, wifi

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TuxBobble @ Sep 18th 2007 11:26AM

you forgot to mention. no headsets. no real communication. anyone else really mad?

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 18th 2007 11:34AM

Perfect 100th update. Once I get wireless at my house I'll play with all you guys.

Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Sep 18th 2007 11:34AM

TuxBobble: I am slightly dissapointed, but I kinda expected it.

There's a lot going on at the same time, with 4 players, items and all that, that has to be synched up.

C(r)apcom had trouble making SF2 online for the xbox 360 at first, because they claimed synching up 2 characters on screen was "nearly impossible".

Sure, we've come and gone through that road, Wii's about to have a 32-player bashfest in MoH, but without native support for a headset or a viable communication channel, the best we can use is the premade text messages.

I am kinda pissed at the lack of ranked online mode though, but I guess they didn't want to fiddle with leaderboard leaders like c0ck$ucker696969...

No.7 @ Sep 18th 2007 11:38AM

Im little underwhelmed with the update... online play is a must for this game but I cant believe there is no sort of ranking system... I know alot of competative smashers including myself that would like a ranking feature.... it seem like a naked online experience without it

Rocketman @ Sep 18th 2007 11:41AM

F*** online; where's Sonic???

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 18th 2007 11:42AM

There is a little communication. I'll pick Fox and spam Do a Barrel Roll! or Peach swapped to Daisy for Hi I'm Daisy!

Wiseguy @ Sep 18th 2007 11:52AM

YEEESSSSS!!!! This is exactly what I hoped for! I'm not picky, just let me organize matchups with my buds over at Smashboards.com whenever I want. The important thing is the ability to play against other human beings at any time of the day or night.

Super Smash Bros + Online = Best game ever.

Charles @ Sep 18th 2007 11:57AM

@ No.7: Remember, they said they were going to include OTHER features...we don't even know what they are so they might as well be leaderboards and whatnot...

Rory @ Sep 18th 2007 12:02PM

This game just wont live up to its full potential without voice communication. Rubbing salt in the proverbial wound is a huge part of the game.

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 18th 2007 12:12PM

hvnly's got the right idea. My Pokemanz, let me spam you them. And post #1 forgot:

No headsets.
No real communication.
FINAL DESTINATION!

Don Day @ Sep 18th 2007 12:07PM

Anyone notice the eggplant icon in second and third screens? Wouldn't it be cool if that was for Eggplant Wizard. I know it might be the Ice Climbers, but I can at least hope, right?

ELIJAH @ Sep 18th 2007 12:12PM

All disrepect aside people talk to much and this might lead to additional legal problems for nintendo(I.E. threats online ,sexually solicited gamers,conspiracy).

TuxBobble @ Sep 18th 2007 12:19PM

Yea, but having a mute option is ALWAYS possible. Or having it limited by the Parental Controls lock on the Wii. There are so many ways it could be implemented. But no real communication even b/w friends? That's ridiculous. I know bandwidth isn't easy to spare, but some of the very first PS2 games that supported online had the headset. And with broadband even more universal now, I just don't see why this would be overlooked.

Dave A. @ Sep 18th 2007 12:27PM

To G4, who said that Brawl would not be online:

In your face.

That is all.

LeChuck @ Sep 18th 2007 12:44PM

I'm just surprised and disappointed that this is even more limited than online on DS. I didn't expect voice chat to begin with but you can't even text chat with friends between matches. There's no connection whatsoever with the other person in random matches. You can't see their name or add them to a rivals list. It's just like playing single player but with cheating and lag. You can't even limit a random match to regional to cut down on lag. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Croove55 @ Sep 18th 2007 12:44PM

Alright, I've already predicted everyone's set-ups for the 4 control pad messages:

^:What's this.
:No *blank*
v:Final Destination.

You just wait, it will be the only communication that anyone has over SSBB Online. I, of course, talk as though I'm not going to do the EXACT SAME THING.

Damnit, MS Paint Comics. Damnit to hell.

Anticrawl @ Sep 18th 2007 12:45PM

Heh most of the people I know with a Wii already have a 360. I'll just have my Wii and 360 on at the same time and private chat the person I'm playing on the Wii with my 360.

Croove55 @ Sep 18th 2007 12:46PM

left: no *blank*
right: no *blank*

Stupid HTML carrots.

Trashman @ Sep 18th 2007 12:47PM

Same here, Anticrawl. I havnt done that for awhile, but will do it again probably

Trashman @ Sep 18th 2007 12:51PM

Seeing as how the wii uses bluetooth connectivity for the controllers, im sure nintendo will come out with a bluetooth device for VoIP very soon.

Sonic_13 @ Sep 18th 2007 1:10PM

I think it all sounds great. I really like the custom message feature for when playing with friends.

The only thing I was surprised about was that when playing with anyone, your name doesn't show up. Your name shows up in all other Wi-Fi games, from Mario Kart DS to Mario Strikers Charged, so I'm surprised to hear it won't show here.

I don't care about voice chat. I think it is over rated. It might be useful for certain games (like BWii), but I don't really want to talk in games like this.

Also, keep in mind the post did say that other online features are in the works, so if you are disappointed about not having a certain online feature in the game right now, it may be revealed at a later time.

Metayoshi @ Sep 18th 2007 1:30PM

I personally don't care too much about the communications and rankings and stuff but...

As usual, you need a friend code to FULLY use the online mode. That is the one thing that annoys me about Nintendo's online strategy. I wouldn't care about having a friend code for every game as long as I can do whatever with random people as I can with my friends... And what happened to that "Rival" system that was in Metroid Prime Hunters? It would work PERFECTLY for this game. Let's hope they add that.

Anticrawl @ Sep 18th 2007 1:37PM

Haha, Trashman, you should send me your gamertag so we can play SSB and chat when the game comes out. My tag is the same as the one you see at the bottom of my comment. Anticrawl

Rob Greig @ Sep 18th 2007 1:51PM

This may be a stupid question, but are the friend codes game specific, or are they the ones saved in your wii address book?

I hope its the second one, which although awkward, wouldn't be as bad as having a different friend code for each game.

Trashman @ Sep 18th 2007 1:57PM

okay will do, anticrawl

Trashman @ Sep 18th 2007 2:02PM

To answer your question Rob Greig, to put it simply, you have a friends list for every game. You yourself use the same friend code, but if you have like mario strikers and brawl and you have a friend in mario strikers their name will not be on your friends list in brawl. Hope that wasnt too confusing.

Anticrawl @ Sep 18th 2007 2:06PM

Actually if it is 4 player online then I'll probably host an Ageis Wing private roon so all 4 people can chat together while playin SSB: Brawl.

underthebus @ Sep 18th 2007 2:58PM

I have a question. I never played the gamecube version of this and I was wondering what you guys think will be the best controller scheme. Do you think the best way to play will be 4x classic controllers, 4x nunchuck and wiimote, or 4x gamecube controllers?

Aaron @ Sep 18th 2007 3:26PM

SKYPE, everyone. Skype allows you to do VoIP conference calls (up to 4 people) from your PC.

Admittedly, it's a bit frustrating having to set up the laptop in the living room, but the experience is flawless. Even includes video.

Matt @ Sep 18th 2007 3:59PM

But what you don't understand is that it's a convenience that they SHOULD have by then. the Wii will have been out over a full year by then; there's no reason why the can't add a simple voice chat setup.

Mr Khan @ Sep 18th 2007 4:30PM

happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy

I think that is fitting for this

This be awesome, the lack of leaderboards, however, is a peculiar oversight, since Melee especially had some pretty awesome statistics tracking

however, i hope to see even more features implemented in the future, but i think this is all we're going to get for VS mode online (maybe subspace emmissary co-op)

James @ Sep 18th 2007 4:31PM

Just to clarify: you can't play online with random people, then friend them somehow? That's some bullshit.

badboy007ing @ Sep 18th 2007 5:48PM

will you people quit being negative ssbm was awesome and the only thing pretty much keeping it from getting a 10/10 was lack of online. now you get it and youre complaining like a bunch of wusses just be grateful he did say he would announce more features for wi-fi this game will OWN!

srenehan @ Sep 18th 2007 8:43PM

dear lord, sorry, but i'm overjoyed there's no voice chat. I want to kick people's asses as princess peach, not listen to nasely 12 yhear olds talk bout tea bagging my mother's corpse. XBox Live is a lot of things, but voice and text chat on it is the pinical evidence that the vast majority of humanity dose not need an annanamous filter to spread the filth that lies in their own head, least of all towards a console laregly marketed and employed by minors and owned by one of the most respected brands of family entertainment out there.

Sorry, but voice chat isn't a deal breaker. Neither is seeing other people's names.

I would love a leader board, and a record keeping system, but they're not deal breakers...

Team Matches, however is. I'm hoping it's just an oversight and will be explained / released later, but i want online group making like halo 2 even for 2 people. otherwise I'm going to be disappointed.

Andrew @ Sep 18th 2007 6:53PM

I'm very glad it has online!

As to what people were saying about headsets...

Since nintendo has been getting towards where we want with ds wifi communication between friends, I predict Nintendo will eventually jump on the bandwagon, and supply us with a headset for online. It wont be something online games advertise for that particular game, but rather something that you can use with any online game (whether it be ssbb, mariokart etc...) between friends.

Anon @ Sep 18th 2007 7:11PM

Has anyone noticed that the menus are very similar to Kirby's Air ride? I know this is a little off the topic of today, but I haven't heard anyone mention this before. It could signify that a similar system of "achievements" could be coming to SSBB. The checklist did make things handy to know what we could do to get unlockables. And as per "Air Ride," each mode (SE, vs. event, etc.) could probably have its own checklist, with its own selections of unlockable stuff.

Mr Khan @ Sep 18th 2007 7:32PM

@ Anon

I noticed that too, the similarities between those 2 games' GUI's is uncanny

But then again, Air Ride WAS Sakurai's last game with Nintendo, probably just his preferred style

outforprophets @ Sep 18th 2007 8:26PM

I like winning as much as the next person but it's just not satisfying enough unless there's some kind of identity attached to the characters. It's more fun to barely beat MrSmashBrosProxxx and then see him/her again later than it is to beat nameless-Mario-player. What's worse is that you can't even add that guy to a friends list to play him again soon. To top it all off you can't even trash talk him or congratulate him on a close match.

Communication is half the fun!

badboy007 @ Sep 18th 2007 9:31PM

heres wat i think the future modes may be or ones that have been announced for random matches
non-ranked mode:no leaderboard,record,or vc
ranked mode:leaderboard,record and vc(optional)
tournament mode:4,8,16,32,and 64 player online tournaments wit voice chat
team mode:2 vs.2 wit leaderboards,record and vc(optional)
communication mode:a mode to get new rivals and new friends wit text msg. and voice chat,leaderboards,and records
Tats wat i think the random match modes will be

icicle0424 @ Sep 18th 2007 10:10PM

waa waa, it doesn't display names, it doesn't have voice chat, it doesn't allow for a 6 billion player match

come on, it's smash bros. If it didn't have online at all, it'd still be awesome... I got my GC and Smash Bros first, 50 or so games later I still would play Melee more...

Leaderboards? Since when were these even remotely necessary for a good game?

time @ Sep 18th 2007 10:41PM

If I wanna voice chat with friends, I'll jump on a vent server. I'd rather not chat in the play with anyone option. Don't wanna get the person who says the N word every three seconds.

joshua @ Sep 18th 2007 10:55PM

this was exactly what i thought it would be like! but they realy should of put the ranking in the ''online'' play. oh well im gonna beat all of you guys asses when i get the game because im gettin it december 2 because i reserved it. so if you think you can step up to my skills go right ahead!!!!!!!!!!

josh @ Sep 18th 2007 11:00PM

yeah this is josh again like i said if you think you can stand up tp my skills send me your wii number to my moms email. which is divamjd@yahoo.com then when we get the games i'll beat you so bad you would wish you never bought the game!

AJ @ Sep 19th 2007 12:10AM

Whew, I was actually gettin' worried for a sec.I'm
so looking forward too this game. My preorder receipt is
getting pretty ragged already and there's still away to go.

Trashman @ Sep 19th 2007 1:39AM

Kirby Air Ride for the wii with online would kick soo much ass! That game was so cool, but didnt have that many features and online with up to like 8 or more people would be so cool. Also, have lots of characters and vehicles

Brandon Johnson @ Sep 19th 2007 1:44AM

I don't know why every one is nay saying the way Nintendo has layed out there online plans. Yes it may be a bit extreme but I know for a fact that in some aspects Live is just as strict.

For the longest time my 13 year old brother couldn't use voice chat on online because the parental controls blocked it. Finnally they were all unlocked but he still can't use the IM feature because Live doesn't allow child accounts to use it.

Do you believe that Sony won't put in some contols in Home when they launch it. In this day and age preaditors are using every means avaible to them. And online communities and games are a perfect door for them.

Look at all the trouble Microsoft had when they first launched their vision camera. I still remember the FOX report about how preaditors could use the DS chat feature to prey on kids. Do you think any company wants the headline that there product was the means for something like that?

Manny @ Sep 19th 2007 3:09PM

Im glad this is online , w00t , anyone care to fight me when its out?

don kiluminati @ Sep 20th 2007 1:35AM

why cant nintendo do anything right? seriously the only reason halo is sick is because you level up. the better player you are the higher your ranking. can you picture a beginner ssb player in an online match with a veteran player from the n64. it wouldnt even be fun. why would you want to pay $50 to get your ass handed to you? that is why you rank and have leaderboards. also nintendo follow microsoft and start putting achievements in the games. give me something more to do in mario galaxy than collecting 120 stars. i have been doing that since 1996. oh yeah and make captain olimar a playable character in ssb brawl.