Xbox Live – Nintendo's Next Target?

Corey · 06-16-2007, 12:34 PM

With next month's new format E3 (July 11th to July 13th) looming over us like a mysterious cloud, there's recently been rumblings of Nintendo unveiling an Xbox Live style downloads system for Wii. Given the popularity of the format and the Japanese company's ever growing desire to expand its media functions it seems that we may get the first glimpse of this at July's Expo.

However, there's the typical array of secrecy surrounding what shape and style this system is going to take. System 3 CEO, Mark Cale, has already gone on record stating it will likely ape XBL (as forthcoming and downloadable title, Impossible Mission, will be among the first to take advantage of this), although given how polished Microsoft's entry into the field has been and the fact it's had almost two generations and the home PC format to get it right, it remains to be seen just how Nintendo will handle it all, taking in mind the company's rather finicky attitude to internet connectivity in general.

Clouding the issue further is the ever-present storage question. If a large download-heavy procedure was introduced to Wii, a solution outside the machine's 512MB of internal memory and the current 'you can use some external hard drives but not others' interim, has to be viable and very visible. At the moment there's no standard catch-all hard drive that Nintendo endorses for Virtual Console titles, which some users find irritating to say the least – especially as Nintendo has gone over the 4.7 million mark for VC games sold.

Which is why there's also the possibility of such a hard drive being announced for Wii next month. Makes perfect sense. Although Nintendo will probably not be entirely happy to splinter its user-base into those who have a HDD and those who don’t (especially as it would potentially mean having to create a pack-in SKU as so penetration will be higher), the dangers of NOT providing gamers with an approved alternative is far more perilous. Both Microsoft and Sony have various SKU options for Xbox 360 and PlayStation3, so Nintendo wouldn’t be alone and would have the advantage of the huge and rapidly growing audience Wii has accumulated, so there's less chance of totally alienating the consumer. And in reality, it's something often aimed at the generally more hardcore demographic who will be filling their machines with VC titles anyway. With larger games around the corner, such as Neo Geo's back catalogue (which can be anything up to 330MB per cart), an HDD is invaluable – but it would also provide a handy entry point for the new download system. Better yet would be the chance of entertaining memory intensive titles, such as Sports Interactive's Football Manager, should Wii's internal RAM be up to the task.

So, if Nintendo filters into this wonderful realm of high storage and downloadable content, what can we expect? Here's a rundown of some of the features Xbox Live has and what could be the Nintendo equivalent.

Live Arcade
Obviously there's already the Virtual Console on Wii which is like Xbox Live Arcade, but with a new and redesigned system in place the options open up a little more. For one, a streamlined way of accessing your games (prioritised folders, the ability to zoom out the menu to see more channels at once, and so on) would be ideal, given channel pages can get slightly unwieldy after a while. On top of that, increased storage opportunities could make arcade game conversions a possibility, although the complications of those conflicting with arcade-to-home versions on the VC's emulated home formats means there's a political minefield to avoid. Not to mention the size of the ROMs, although this would be less of an issue by comparison.

The downloads shop page layout should also get a little change for the better, too. There are currently so many titles to go through that the process can be deeply laborious. An update would solve this fairly quickly.

Original Titles
It's taken a while for companies to truly get into the swing of developing original titles on Xbox Live, and seeing how relatively difficult it is to get development kits for Wii it should really be no surprise that we've not been graced with any on Nintendo's machine so far. But they ARE coming. If there's a launch of the new service this year, it would only make sense to roll it out with something worth playing. Impossible Mission will be among the first, with other System 3 titles expected. The freshly announced Geometry Wars: Galaxies would have been ideal, but that title has already been confirmed for retail sale because of its hugely expanded nature (actual levels, new weapons, enemies, multiplayer modes and much more than the brilliant Xbox Live original). So that means something else will have to be the draw. And while a killer app is not typically needed for a feature like this, it would certainly kick things off with a bang. Third-parties in particular could benefit massively with a well timed hit, without the 'threat' of Nintendo's dominance throwing a spanner in the works, as is often feared at retail.

Demos
With the ability to store more via a hard drive, demos would be far more likely should Nintendo take the plunge. The company has been reticent in offering demos to users for… well, ever, partly through its use of propriety mediums that it controls directly to increase profits and lessen piracy (hence the reason why you rarely ever seem them on magazines or giveaways). But as demos are now part and parcel of home console culture it would be risky to ignore the clamouring for them; made even more important through digital distribution facilitating the process, especially from a third-party point of view. A dedicated channel would be fairly undemanding to set-up and undoubtedly popular, although perhaps not so much with publishers trying fob off duff games to impulse buying punters.

Other Forms Of Entertainment
Late last year Microsoft ventured into the heady realm of downloadable TV shows and movies for the U.S., which has so far been a tricky, but eventually well formed undertaking. The chances of Nintendo following suit are extremely slim. The big N has been far too muddled with over its overall online message to suddenly take a dip into what would likely be a logistical nightmare for such a relatively centralised company. At the moment it can barely get its ducks in-line for the re-launch of its European website, let alone deal with the complications of various networks and licensing across dozens of territories, just for a handful of shows.

What's far more probable is the release of trailer, DVD and music channels to finally let us stream previews, watch movies and listen to our CDs. There are already many online sites that allow for streaming via Wii's superb internet channel and the results are great. It's generally accepted that the hardware wouldn’t need any changes if a software update can do this job, so it could be just a matter of Nintendo biding its time. Well, either that or wanting to release a more expensive, multimedia Wii down the line. Ugh.

Online Lobby
It's doubtful we'll see any true voice chat style implement given Nintendo's eternal fear of Pedobear (which is the same reason we'll probably not see an Xbox Live Vision camera type device either), but something that could compete with Sony's magnificent Home hub on PS3 would bridge the gap a little. Take a look at <a href="http://www.wiichat.com/nintendo-wii-articles/20959-new-wii-channel-wii-world.html" target="_blank"> this comprehensive feature on the possibilities involving Miis</a>, which could be a great way of making all the above accessible and fun without the relative dryness that Xbox Live has.

The Nintendo Touch
Knowing Nintendo, there are a lot of other frivolous extras planned along the lines of its Everybody Votes channel. There's already been talk of a Mii Popularity Channel, where you'll be able to compare Miis online and enter them in popularity contests, while other stuff could include stuff like a tips channel. A wide variation of bits and pieces to dip into, then, as long as doesn’t fall outside of Nintendo's 'safety rulebook', of course (made all the more ironic given the potential dangers inherent to an internet channel, but you know how Nintendo is…)

lee.jarratt · 06-16-2007, 12:48 PM

This is all good and exciting but I don't think you are talking realistically (sp?) here, come on. It's nintendo, they are uptight with all this online stuff and I cant imagine loads of new updates and channels etc to come all at once. Im sorry but I cant see much of this happening.
Lee

blankconnection · 06-16-2007, 12:49 PM

cant wait till E3, nice Article

smashfan · 06-16-2007, 12:53 PM

kwl hope most of these things come true

FR. · 06-16-2007, 12:57 PM

Great article Corey, I can't wait to see what Nintendo has up their sleeve for E3 and late 2007.

Projection · 06-16-2007, 01:32 PM

I like it but again I really don't wanna get my hopes up for something that could be potentially be very diappointing.

TheCosmicFrog · 06-16-2007, 01:49 PM

nice

Skippy · 06-16-2007, 01:50 PM

Some DS games support voice chat, why wouldn't they carry that across to some Wii games?

Brawny · 06-16-2007, 01:57 PM

Hm..... everything in this article has been discussed to death on the forum alread :/

lol, still well written though

Byuakuya · 06-16-2007, 02:24 PM

Thats a nice piece. Keep up the good work.

Cap'n Crunch · 06-16-2007, 04:33 PM

yes,yes,yes,yes,yes free demos.i love demos!!!

Warrior · 06-16-2007, 05:16 PM

i agree with alot of that, but yopu said the chances of voice chat are quite slim. bull. Nintendo have released a headset for the DS, and they will fllow suit for the wii.

Skalor · 06-16-2007, 06:55 PM

I hope you right, but im not sure about some things.

Good thread and i lookforward to E3

Tomalticoptl · 06-16-2007, 06:58 PM

why don't you people just ask our fellow Europeans, they are having the same online system we Americans will have, so that may answer all the questions

Sovieto · 06-16-2007, 07:14 PM

meh, okay article
you have some false statements in there
and also, id just like to say
Nintendo is the biggest hypocrite company out there, so the chances of some of the things you are talking about are extremely possible.

Happy · 06-17-2007, 03:56 AM

I think that the Wii might get something simular to live, but sadly I don't think it will ever be as good as live.

joe_duffy · 06-17-2007, 05:58 AM

It has already been anounced that nintendo are bringing out a Wii Marketplace channel

Jay · 06-17-2007, 09:18 AM

All of those things seem awesome.

TheCosmicFrog · 06-17-2007, 09:33 AM

*touches self*

MysticGohan · 06-17-2007, 10:02 AM

^ i know, thats what i was doing when i heard this! LOL

06-16-2007, 12:34 PM	#1
Corey Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 47 Friends: 0	Xbox Live – Nintendo's Next Target? With next month's new format E3 (July 11th to July 13th) looming over us like a mysterious cloud, there's recently been rumblings of Nintendo unveiling an Xbox Live style downloads system for Wii. Given the popularity of the format and the Japanese company's ever growing desire to expand its media functions it seems that we may get the first glimpse of this at July's Expo. However, there's the typical array of secrecy surrounding what shape and style this system is going to take. System 3 CEO, Mark Cale, has already gone on record stating it will likely ape XBL (as forthcoming and downloadable title, Impossible Mission, will be among the first to take advantage of this), although given how polished Microsoft's entry into the field has been and the fact it's had almost two generations and the home PC format to get it right, it remains to be seen just how Nintendo will handle it all, taking in mind the company's rather finicky attitude to internet connectivity in general. Clouding the issue further is the ever-present storage question. If a large download-heavy procedure was introduced to Wii, a solution outside the machine's 512MB of internal memory and the current 'you can use some external hard drives but not others' interim, has to be viable and very visible. At the moment there's no standard catch-all hard drive that Nintendo endorses for Virtual Console titles, which some users find irritating to say the least – especially as Nintendo has gone over the 4.7 million mark for VC games sold. Which is why there's also the possibility of such a hard drive being announced for Wii next month. Makes perfect sense. Although Nintendo will probably not be entirely happy to splinter its user-base into those who have a HDD and those who don’t (especially as it would potentially mean having to create a pack-in SKU as so penetration will be higher), the dangers of NOT providing gamers with an approved alternative is far more perilous. Both Microsoft and Sony have various SKU options for Xbox 360 and PlayStation3, so Nintendo wouldn’t be alone and would have the advantage of the huge and rapidly growing audience Wii has accumulated, so there's less chance of totally alienating the consumer. And in reality, it's something often aimed at the generally more hardcore demographic who will be filling their machines with VC titles anyway. With larger games around the corner, such as Neo Geo's back catalogue (which can be anything up to 330MB per cart), an HDD is invaluable – but it would also provide a handy entry point for the new download system. Better yet would be the chance of entertaining memory intensive titles, such as Sports Interactive's Football Manager, should Wii's internal RAM be up to the task. So, if Nintendo filters into this wonderful realm of high storage and downloadable content, what can we expect? Here's a rundown of some of the features Xbox Live has and what could be the Nintendo equivalent. Live Arcade Obviously there's already the Virtual Console on Wii which is like Xbox Live Arcade, but with a new and redesigned system in place the options open up a little more. For one, a streamlined way of accessing your games (prioritised folders, the ability to zoom out the menu to see more channels at once, and so on) would be ideal, given channel pages can get slightly unwieldy after a while. On top of that, increased storage opportunities could make arcade game conversions a possibility, although the complications of those conflicting with arcade-to-home versions on the VC's emulated home formats means there's a political minefield to avoid. Not to mention the size of the ROMs, although this would be less of an issue by comparison. The downloads shop page layout should also get a little change for the better, too. There are currently so many titles to go through that the process can be deeply laborious. An update would solve this fairly quickly. Original Titles It's taken a while for companies to truly get into the swing of developing original titles on Xbox Live, and seeing how relatively difficult it is to get development kits for Wii it should really be no surprise that we've not been graced with any on Nintendo's machine so far. But they ARE coming. If there's a launch of the new service this year, it would only make sense to roll it out with something worth playing. Impossible Mission will be among the first, with other System 3 titles expected. The freshly announced Geometry Wars: Galaxies would have been ideal, but that title has already been confirmed for retail sale because of its hugely expanded nature (actual levels, new weapons, enemies, multiplayer modes and much more than the brilliant Xbox Live original). So that means something else will have to be the draw. And while a killer app is not typically needed for a feature like this, it would certainly kick things off with a bang. Third-parties in particular could benefit massively with a well timed hit, without the 'threat' of Nintendo's dominance throwing a spanner in the works, as is often feared at retail. Demos With the ability to store more via a hard drive, demos would be far more likely should Nintendo take the plunge. The company has been reticent in offering demos to users for… well, ever, partly through its use of propriety mediums that it controls directly to increase profits and lessen piracy (hence the reason why you rarely ever seem them on magazines or giveaways). But as demos are now part and parcel of home console culture it would be risky to ignore the clamouring for them; made even more important through digital distribution facilitating the process, especially from a third-party point of view. A dedicated channel would be fairly undemanding to set-up and undoubtedly popular, although perhaps not so much with publishers trying fob off duff games to impulse buying punters. Other Forms Of Entertainment Late last year Microsoft ventured into the heady realm of downloadable TV shows and movies for the U.S., which has so far been a tricky, but eventually well formed undertaking. The chances of Nintendo following suit are extremely slim. The big N has been far too muddled with over its overall online message to suddenly take a dip into what would likely be a logistical nightmare for such a relatively centralised company. At the moment it can barely get its ducks in-line for the re-launch of its European website, let alone deal with the complications of various networks and licensing across dozens of territories, just for a handful of shows. What's far more probable is the release of trailer, DVD and music channels to finally let us stream previews, watch movies and listen to our CDs. There are already many online sites that allow for streaming via Wii's superb internet channel and the results are great. It's generally accepted that the hardware wouldn’t need any changes if a software update can do this job, so it could be just a matter of Nintendo biding its time. Well, either that or wanting to release a more expensive, multimedia Wii down the line. Ugh. Online Lobby It's doubtful we'll see any true voice chat style implement given Nintendo's eternal fear of Pedobear (which is the same reason we'll probably not see an Xbox Live Vision camera type device either), but something that could compete with Sony's magnificent Home hub on PS3 would bridge the gap a little. Take a look at <a href="http://www.wiichat.com/nintendo-wii-articles/20959-new-wii-channel-wii-world.html" target="_blank"> this comprehensive feature on the possibilities involving Miis</a>, which could be a great way of making all the above accessible and fun without the relative dryness that Xbox Live has. The Nintendo Touch Knowing Nintendo, there are a lot of other frivolous extras planned along the lines of its Everybody Votes channel. There's already been talk of a Mii Popularity Channel, where you'll be able to compare Miis online and enter them in popularity contests, while other stuff could include stuff like a tips channel. A wide variation of bits and pieces to dip into, then, as long as doesn’t fall outside of Nintendo's 'safety rulebook', of course (made all the more ironic given the potential dangers inherent to an internet channel, but you know how Nintendo is…)

06-16-2007, 12:49 PM	#3
blankconnection Playing is Believing Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Big Pine Key,Fl Posts: 672 Friends: 0 7027-9716-3519-4570	cant wait till E3, nice Article __________________ If I my post helped you click on the GREEN MUSHROOM .....wait nevermind choose for yourself

06-16-2007, 12:53 PM	#4
smashfan The Brutal warriors Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 115 Friends: 0 5781-1229-3280-1523	kwl hope most of these things come true __________________ I WANT SONIC IN BRAWL AND HIS FRIENDS! i also want WOLF LINK AND MIDNA AS A PAIR, ZANT. yep i like zelda games, waluigi is good as well, crash bandicoot and spyro and rayman would fit into the game with ease

06-16-2007, 12:57 PM	#5
FR. Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,243 Friends: 3 4253-4708-4555-0363	Great article Corey, I can't wait to see what Nintendo has up their sleeve for E3 and late 2007. __________________ 2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio WiiChat Auto Enthusiast Forum Moderator - [PM]

06-16-2007, 01:49 PM	#7
TheCosmicFrog WiiChat Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Friends: 0	nice __________________


Wii News Wii Forum Wii Friend Codes Wii Groups Wii Blogs Wii Arcade

06-16-2007, 12:48 PM	#2
lee.jarratt Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hull, England Posts: 2,713 Friends: 0 7281-5455-6490-2647	This is all good and exciting but I don't think you are talking realistically (sp?) here, come on. It's nintendo, they are uptight with all this online stuff and I cant imagine loads of new updates and channels etc to come all at once. Im sorry but I cant see much of this happening. Lee

06-16-2007, 01:32 PM	#6
Projection WiiChat Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bedford, England Posts: 238 Friends: 0 2857-0920-1773-7331	I like it but again I really don't wanna get my hopes up for something that could be potentially be very diappointing.

06-16-2007, 01:50 PM	#8
Skippy WiiChat Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,841 Friends: 1	Some DS games support voice chat, why wouldn't they carry that across to some Wii games?

06-16-2007, 02:24 PM	#10
Byuakuya Bleach & Heroes fan. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Soul Society Posts: 6,259 Friends: 8	Thats a nice piece. Keep up the good work. __________________ The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. - Bruce Lee PSN ID: Byuakuya

06-16-2007, 04:33 PM	#11
Cap'n Crunch WiiChat Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 465 Friends: 0	yes,yes,yes,yes,yes free demos.i love demos!!! __________________ Wii bring the hardCORE!

06-16-2007, 05:16 PM	#12
Warrior WiiChat Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 596 Friends: 0	i agree with alot of that, but yopu said the chances of voice chat are quite slim. bull. Nintendo have released a headset for the DS, and they will fllow suit for the wii.

06-16-2007, 06:55 PM	#13
Skalor Add me on Mario Strikers Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 58 Friends: 0 7087-3405-6546-6722	I hope you right, but im not sure about some things. Good thread and i lookforward to E3 __________________ My Mario Strikers Friend Code: 236323 795767 You need to Add the Code and PM me yours

06-16-2007, 06:58 PM	#14
Tomalticoptl WiiChat Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 70 Friends: 0	why don't you people just ask our fellow Europeans, they are having the same online system we Americans will have, so that may answer all the questions

06-16-2007, 07:14 PM	#15
Sovieto Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6,806 Friends: 0	meh, okay article you have some false statements in there and also, id just like to say Nintendo is the biggest hypocrite company out there, so the chances of some of the things you are talking about are extremely possible. __________________ Everything in this signature except for this text was made by Wiired, he is my creator and almighty.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

06-17-2007, 03:56 AM	#16
Happy Dobedobebo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London Posts: 814 Friends: 3 0710-2343-2773-8881	I think that the Wii might get something simular to live, but sadly I don't think it will ever be as good as live. __________________ The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, “You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.” - George Carlin

06-17-2007, 05:58 AM	#17
joe_duffy Wii gamer, 360 gamer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 281 Friends: 0 2755-2722-6827-0320	It has already been anounced that nintendo are bringing out a Wii Marketplace channel __________________ SSBB Code: 3394-3398-1442 PM Me if you add me to Brawl, thanks guys

06-17-2007, 09:18 AM	#18
Jay WiiChat Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 8 Friends: 0	All of those things seem awesome.

06-17-2007, 09:33 AM	#19
TheCosmicFrog WiiChat Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Friends: 0	touches self __________________

06-17-2007, 10:02 AM	#20
MysticGohan WiiChat Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: pickering, Ontario Canada Posts: 756 Friends: 0 2476-7789-3835-5591	^ i know, thats what i was doing when i heard this! LOL __________________ I have the wii!!!! i know i suck at spelling! Rep me if I did good. Spoiler Alert! Nintendo Fanboy: 49% Sony Fanboy: 14% Microsoft Fanboy: 20% This means you're: Not a fanboy You like all the systems pretty equally, or at least don't love any of thes systesms. Good for you, you like vareiety.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode