GDC: Nintendo Will Charge for Some Online

Bond · 02-28-2008, 02:49 PM

Nintendo's Takashi Aoyama delves into the thought process behind the Wii interface, discusses WiiWare, and announces a new fee-based Internet content plan.

The most shocking news from Wii internal programming project team leader Takashi Aoyama's presentation this morning was the vague unveiling of Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play. Players will use Wii points to pay for undisclosed Wi-Fi services. The reason behind it, says Aoyama, is so Nintendo can adapt to the cost of content. Then he unveiled the new logo saying, "We have to keep customers from playing games they think the can play entirely for free.. most of the time you will play for free." No examples of pay-to-play WFC content were provided.

Aoyama also delved into WiiWare, Nintendo's new delivery platform for small projects. "We've come to think of this as a business model to represent games that present simple yet good ideas to the world," he says.

To help promote WiiWare and other Wii titles, Nintendo has developed a "Nintendo Channel" that will allow users to browse screenshots and titles of upcoming titles, download demos of DS games, rate games that they've played for at least one hour, and see the average time spent playing a particular game. Eventually this data will be used to help recommend new titles to players.

As demonstrated by the new Wii Fit channel that's downloaded onto the Wii Menu from the game disc, Nintendo is now allowing game-specific channels, packed in with game discs, on the Wii menu so developers can devise a way for players to interact with games on a daily basis. Developers will also be able to provide additional content for their games through WiiWare, but all payments for add-on services will be handled within the actual game.

The remainder of his talk discussed how Nintendo devised the Wii's user interface. Aoyama says the goal was to create a console that was always on so users would feel like there was new content on the console everyday. This influenced the creation of the news and weather channels because their constant updates provide a reason to turn on the console each morning. Instead of parents telling children to turn off the console, says Aoyama, Nintendo hoped parents would now ask kids to turn it on each morning.

Source: Next Gen Biz

Great idea... not.

Jason1 · 02-28-2008, 03:06 PM

Honestly, I would be willing to pay for online content in cetain games, if it somehow means the end of friend codes, or maybe downloadable content.

Dyne · 02-28-2008, 03:12 PM

Whatevs. They're pretty much confirming an Animal Crossing MMO.

BreakABone · 02-28-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyne

Whatevs. They're pretty much confirming an Animal Crossing MMO.

Between the pay to play, the announcement of DLC and the new Wii update that notifies you when the game needs an update.

Well if the evidence isn't pointing to an MMO of some type I really don't know what is.

thatmariolover · 02-28-2008, 05:44 PM

Bleh, I'm guessing FFXII if it's implying an MMO.

WTB Super MMMario RPG.

Angrist · 02-28-2008, 05:51 PM

Extra Metroid Prime 3 levels? Not that anyone cares about MP3 anymore....

thatmariolover · 02-28-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrist

Extra Metroid Prime 3 levels? Not that anyone cares about MP3 anymore....

I do. That was a great game.

Dyne · 02-28-2008, 05:55 PM

What the hell. I loved Metroid Prime 3 too. I didn't beat it until a month ago. I would love to see more levels.

GameMaster · 02-29-2008, 01:20 AM

Oh Nintendo, what a perilous road you wonder down demanding money for internet usage...

You know, the Wii has done so well, I just can't see why this would be necessary.

Especially considering Nintendo is just now recovering from last generation's series of blunders.

Not to be a Pessimistic Pete, but I mean, c'mon, Smash Bros. aside, they were in *third* place. And it wasn't a head-to-head race either. DEAD THIRD. LAST PLACE.

To steal a line from Basement Jaxx, where's your head at, Nintendo?

Angrist · 02-29-2008, 10:36 AM

MP3 was a good game, but I haven't really gone back to it yet...
I beat it, I looked for some upgrades, hated myself for using the Observatory, never touched the game again.

Even though MP3 played much better than MP1, I have the best memories of MP1. But yeah sure, I might buy some new missions/areas if they're not too expensive.

Jason1 · 03-01-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrist

MP3 was a good game, but I haven't really gone back to it yet...
I beat it, I looked for some upgrades, hated myself for using the Observatory, never touched the game again.

Even though MP3 played much better than MP1, I have the best memories of MP1. But yeah sure, I might buy some new missions/areas if they're not too expensive.

For some reason none of the Metroid Prime sequals had the same awsome feel of the origional. Maybe its because of how innovative it was when it first came out. But, I highly doubt we will see extra levels...