Big N says no to Online again :(

PuPPeT · 03-27-2003, 10:53 AM

Quote:

EXCLUSIVE: NINTENDO DISMISSES ONLINE FOR E3!

Shock news as NoE confirms there will be no first-party software for GameCube online at this year's show

15:21 Nintendo of Europe dropped a bombshell earlier today, confirming to us that the company as a whole will not be showing any first-party online-enabled titles at this year's E3.
The alarm bells started to ring when gaming legend Shigeru Miyamoto poured water on the prospect of Mario Kart online in a recent interview with the US press. But it was still widely expected that Nintendo would have other online projects ready to be unveiled at E3 in May.

Earlier today, however, Nintendo of Europe PR manager Shelly Friend, speaking with us exclusively at the launch exhibition for GBA SP in London, shattered these expectations, stating categorically that there would be no first-party online software in evidence at the Los Angeles show.

When asked whether she felt Nintendo's online strategy sat a little awkwardly next to that of Microsoft and Sony, Friend told us: "Online is what everyone is currently focusing on, but that does not necessarily mean that it is here and now. The fact that all these games can be playable online doesn't mean people will be. It's a nice, sexy thing to talk about but I think the reality is a little way off.

Elaborating on Nintendo's position she added: "I know our stance always seems like we're dissing it or ignoring it, but Nintendo's been looking at connectivity and online elements for many, many years - probably a lot longer than anyone else - and is continuing to.

"Nintendo is about making things mass market and we do not see this yet as mass market. If online can bring that element of unique surprising gameplay, then it will form a part of Nintendo's plans, but until that is ready then we won't."

At this point we asked her outright: so there won't be any first-party online titles at E3? "No," was the short, sharp answer we received.

Nintendo's stance is therefore clear: it's all about creating unique, innovative experiences that it doesn't currently believe are achievable online. "I think the key thing now is that we're focusing on games that everyone can play," said Friend.

But one thing Nintendo is expected to unveil at E3 is some kind of LAN connectivity for GameCube, which will allow for expanded multiplayer if not the full online play people were hoping for. Friend refused to comment on this matter.

Check back tomorrow for the full revealing interview, as Nintendo launches GBA SP in Europe.

CVG

DAmn I was just starting to think Nintendo were getting there heads out of there ass's and then this. Will the Big N ever start talking to its customers? After such good news over the last few weeks in the UK this has total blown it all away IMO but then again I love playing online.

gekko · 03-27-2003, 11:46 AM

Be happy. Anything less than absolute perfection and you won't be happy, and then you'll be bitching constantly. They can't give you a great online experience until next generation, so why get your hopes up?

Trust me, there are a lot of things you can add to make online gaming truly a great experience, and they can't be added until next generation. But if you take what is practical for Gamecube to offer right now, you won't like it much. A 3rd party game you may deal with, but a game like Mario Kart would only be disapointing.

The Duggler · 03-27-2003, 11:57 AM

I'm happy with that. There is no need to rush, and besides, nintendo doesn't need Online to be interesting. Anyways for me.

Highlander_77 · 03-27-2003, 12:00 PM

Am I the only one for whom online console gaming holds almost absolutely zero appeal?

The Duggler · 03-27-2003, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Highlander_77
Am I the only one for whom online console gaming holds almost absolutely zero appeal?

No, I'm with you on that.

gekko · 03-27-2003, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Highlander_77
Am I the only one for whom online console gaming holds almost absolutely zero appeal?

Anyone who has ever complained about a game being too short, really can't with online. It's multiplayer, but it's multiplayer with anyone, at anytime, where you still get to use your full screen, and you can play different people constantly.

Take MotoGP, game came out in June for Xbox. Came out in October for Xbox Live beta testers. Some of us (myself included), raced daily, for about 5 hours a day, almost all day on weekends, and it kept up for months, until the first glitch was discovered. Practice makes perfect, we were the top 10 players in the world. Some of them are still playing it to this day, and we're all going crazy over MotoGP 2's release. That'll keep me busy until I leave in August. Can you play a single game that much offline? Doubt it, it would get very old, very quickly.

You can literally own one game, and play it for months. It's a different experience when you play against different people.

Look at GoldenEye, how many people liked the multiplayer there. Now imagine being able to play full screen, against anyone, anywhere in the world. You can constantly be challenged playing against the best players in the world, something you will only do online. Everyone you play against has a different play style, and every game is different. Mario Kart Online, another example. People would race that for months and not get sick of it.

The competition is something you can't get offline. MotoGP was all about getting to the top of the scoreboard. We blew away the times the developers thought were possible. If you think you are good, you'll be put in your place when you go online. It's the highly competetive enviornment that attracts a lot of people, and others like that there's always people to play against.

If you get into online, you'll be hooked.

Highlander_77 · 03-27-2003, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gekko
Anyone who has ever complained about a game being too short, really can't with online. It's multiplayer, but it's multiplayer with anyone, at anytime, where you still get to use your full screen, and you can play different people constantly.

Take MotoGP, game came out in June for Xbox. Came out in October for Xbox Live beta testers. Some of us (myself included), raced daily, for about 5 hours a day, almost all day on weekends, and it kept up for months, until the first glitch was discovered. Practice makes perfect, we were the top 10 players in the world. Some of them are still playing it to this day, and we're all going crazy over MotoGP 2's release. That'll keep me busy until I leave in August. Can you play a single game that much offline? Doubt it, it would get very old, very quickly.

You can literally own one game, and play it for months. It's a different experience when you play against different people.

Look at GoldenEye, how many people liked the multiplayer there. Now imagine being able to play full screen, against anyone, anywhere in the world. You can constantly be challenged playing against the best players in the world, something you will only do online. Everyone you play against has a different play style, and every game is different. Mario Kart Online, another example. People would race that for months and not get sick of it.

The competition is something you can't get offline. MotoGP was all about getting to the top of the scoreboard. We blew away the times the developers thought were possible. If you think you are good, you'll be put in your place when you go online. It's the highly competetive enviornment that attracts a lot of people, and others like that there's always people to play against.

If you get into online, you'll be hooked.

Eh, I don't have time for that anyway...which may be a big part of the reason why online gaming doesn't appeal to me much. Hell, it's all I can do (more really) just to keep up with all the single player games I want to play...most of which end up sitting on my shelf un-beaten for months, if ever.

Perfect Stu · 03-27-2003, 02:39 PM

I find that most people who seem to have little to no interest in online gaming are Nintendo fans

JK (sorta), but that does suck (IMO). Sony proved that even without a built-in ethernet port, they could deliver a satisfying online experience (Amplitude rocks). Mario Kart, Golf, and Tennis would all be great online games...I would consider buying the system for those 3 games.

Ah well...I still have my PS2, XBox and PC

tarakan69 · 03-27-2003, 03:46 PM

Well online has hardly ever appealed to me. Only RPGs... but those cost $$$ so... online basicly sucks.

IMO games like Gran Turismo 4 are going to suck when it comes to their online section. I mean what potential does online really hold?? I sure as hell know it won't change any of the gameplay experience.

Perfect Stu · 03-27-2003, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tarakan69
Well online has hardly ever appealed to me. Only RPGs... but those cost $$$ so... online basicly sucks.

IMO games like Gran Turismo 4 are going to suck when it comes to their online section. I mean what potential does online really hold?? I sure as hell know it won't change any of the gameplay experience.

good for you, you have your own opinion. Millions of gamers disagree with you

Joeiss · 03-27-2003, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gekko
You can literally own one game, and play it for months. It's a different experience when you play against different people.

I have been playing SOCOM almost daily since the end of August. I sure as hell got my money out of that game! And there are a group of people that I usually play with, so that makes it extra fun.

Jason1 · 03-27-2003, 05:39 PM

Well this is a bummer...I will get over it...but its still a bummer.

I guess this blows those ''World Smash'' rumors out the window.

Hopefully we will see some online stuff from 3rd parties.

Mechadragon · 03-27-2003, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss
I have been playing SOCOM almost daily since the end of August. I sure as hell got my money out of that game! And there are a group of people that I usually play with, so that makes it extra fun.

Same here with Warcraft III.

Perfect Stu · 03-27-2003, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mechadragon
Same here with Warcraft III.

same here with Battlefield 1942...and SOCOM, for about 4 months straight

Bond · 03-27-2003, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss
I have been playing SOCOM almost daily since the end of August. I sure as hell got my money out of that game! And there are a group of people that I usually play with, so that makes it extra fun.

Same here with MechAssault.

(Can't wait until CTF is released. :eek: )