AOL and Nintendo Team Up for Online

[Jonbo298]

September 10, 2003 - Nintendo of America today told IGNcube that it has reached an agreement with America Online by which the Internet provider will become the official preferred ISP for GameCube.

According to the agreement, developers who choose to create online games for GameCube will be licensed AOL connectivity software that will enable their games to connect online through AOL. Nintendo stated that this same rule would apply to any potential online GameCube software it decided to create in the future.

The company reaffirmed that as of yet it is not developing any online games for GameCube. It stated: "To be clear, this does not indicate the unveiling of a new online gaming approach from Nintendo. Nor does it signify that we have changed our position on the current business viability in the online console gaming field."

Nintendo said that as part of the agreement many of its products would be spotlighted on key AOL and AOL Time Warner websites and that the two companies are discussing means of promoting AOL's new broadband service, including the possibility of bundling AOL demo discs with the GameCube.

http://cube.ign.com/articles/437/437537p1.html

I don't know what to think of this. It's both good and bad. Good because AOL has the largest userbase of subscribers and is well known. Bad because some people refuse to use AOL because they overprice.

Hopefully Nintendo/AOL can provide a cheaper subscription if you only go online with AOL through your GCN.

*Remembers that PSO isn't AOL compatible* *small laugh*

[TheGame]

well, I have AOL, and to go online with my Ps2,. on top of the $21.99 monthly payment I have to pay an extra $5.99 to jion the online gaming club...

If not in the club, no Ps2 games online... that's why I haven't played any PS2 games online recently

[Bond]

LOL.

Sorry,

LMAO.

[Seth]

k, wait a gosh damn second. Does this mean I have to have AOL broadband to play online with the cube. Cuz if so....

**** YOU NINTENDO

but if not... then whatever. I don't want anything to do with AOL and since nintendo's still not planning on releasing any online compatible games, I don't really care. And I'm not sure I'm going to support Nintendo's next console. They've slapped me and everyone else who bought a cube in the face by not giving us online gaming.

i mean, wtf. AOL?
shiggy and the Nintendo pres need to get off of the reefer.

[Spike_Spiegel]

I don't even want to imagine playing a Nintendo game online overrun with nine year old AOL users...

[Null]

Hahahaha! oh man, ya screwed up again nintendo. I mean, How many kicks to the groin do ya need to figure out it hurts?!? I mean of the 10 remaining people in the world that had hopes of Nintendo online. this cuts that number in half. Which is why, N5, you can kiss my ass.

Originally Posted by TheGame

well, I have AOL, and to go online with my Ps2,. on top of the $21.99 monthly payment I have to pay an extra $5.99 to jion the online gaming club...

If not in the club, no Ps2 games online... that's why I haven't played any PS2 games online recently

Why is that? I know AOL does goofy thigns when you log online. but they can actually control what you do when you log on with your PS2? strange.

[Jason1]

Originally Posted by bouncer_agb

k, wait a gosh damn second. Does this mean I have to have AOL broadband to play online with the cube. Cuz if so....

I dont think it means that at all. I think it simply means that when Nintendo does release some online titles, they will simply recommend you sign up with AOL to get online, just like Sega had SEGANET, Nintendo will have AOL. Those of us who allready have our connections...this really dosent concern us much.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by Null

Why is that? I know AOL does goofy thigns when you log online. but they can actually control what you do when you log on with your PS2? strange.

Yep... I got an Everquest demo and it didn't work, then I tried THPS, didn't work.

Then I tried NBA 2k, and it said "You must be in the AOL online gaming club to access this game online"

:/

[Seth]

Originally Posted by TheGame

Yep... I got an Everquest demo and it didn't work, then I tried THPS, didn't work.

Then I tried NBA 2k, and it said "You must be in the AOL online gaming club to access this game online"

:/

Is AOL your only broadband isp that you have access to? Cuz if not, why the hell wouldn't have switched by now?

if AOL is your only available option...i almost feel sorry for you. almost.

[TheGame]

I don't have AOL broadband... I have AOL Dial Up

and that will change soon, very soon

[Shadow Fox]

Originally Posted by TheGame

I don't have AOL broadband... I have AOL Dial Up

Ouch.

No XboxLive for you...or SOCOM...

I personally am pissed about this one too; especially since Nintendo was heavily in talks with GameSpy some months ago regarding the tunnel-to-full-online conversion they were planning. AOL is definately the furthest from Nintendo's hopes of making online gaming FREE...

My only hope is that with N5, Nintendo will still be smart like Sony and offer an open online network, so PC, Mac, and PS3 players can all join in for cross-platform mayhem.

*drools over Half-Life 2.5 Online for N5 and Apple's G5*

-Official Ninja [coming soon]...

[Jonbo298]

Originally Posted by Shadow Fox

My only hope is that with N5, Nintendo will still be smart like Sony and offer an open online network, so PC, Mac, and PS3 players can all join in for cross-platform mayhem.

It's still possible to cross-platform with the PS2/'Cube/PC Games. The agreement is saying that AOL will be the main choice for online 'Cube games. I doubt Nintendo would give dicatorship control to AOL.

Hopefully next gen. MS opens up their network to allow for muti-platform online gaming goodness. Then truly will online gaming be getting on track.

[TheGame]

True... it may be like Sony's deal...

Look on all your Ps2 games that can be accessed with dial-up. On the back as one of the features it always sais somthing like "AOL Online Gaming Compatible" even though you can use anything...

It's almost like an Advertizment.

[Xantar]

We don't really know what this deal means. It sounds to me like this deal gives developers the capability of using AOL's network to connect online games together but doesn't require them to do it in the same way that, say, every online game for Xbox has to go through Xbox Live.

If so, then this isn't so bad. AOL sucks, but it does have a large userbase.

My guess, though, is that this will all come to nothing. After all, Nintendo itself isn't developing any online games. And remember, there has been news about Nintendo's online plans before. As I recall, Sega offered tools for online development at one point. Look at how much software that deal produced.

And I wouldn't count out GameSpy either. If I remember correctly, they didn't form any kind of partnership with Microsoft. They just developed some tunneling software for the Xbox. When the next Mario Kart arrives, they will probably do the same thing. I'm sure Nintendo won't complain.

[Ace195]

Ooh this just makes me laugh and then laugh somemore. Nintendo... Thats all I can muster...