The Friend Code System Failure
Posted by: MWG on August 17, 2007 6:54:06 PM (35 Reads)
"It's great!" I told my friends. "I bet the online system will be wicked."
The one thing I wasn't expecting however, was for Nintendo to use its moronic friend code system like they had done with their handheld, the DS.
For those not in the know and wondering what on earth a friend code is, here's your answer. Basically each system is assigned a unique friend code, and to add a friend to your console you find out their code and add them to your address book. Simple enough I hear you say. But what happens next is one of the many simple failures with the friend code system.
Once you've added a friend, for you to be able to interact with them, for example, being able to send messages to one another, your friend needs to add you to their address book. Again, simple enough, but once you've added someone, they have no idea that you have done as there's no email, or no message sent to you to tell you that someone has added you.
So unless you can get in contact with that person they're never going to know you've added them and therefore won't be able to send messages to them or play online with them.
But this isn't where the failures end. You see, Nintendo decided that rather than simply being able to use your Wii console's friend list when playing online, they decided that for each and every online game you play you will receive a new unique friend code, specifically for that game, and of course this means that every game you want to play online you'll have to complete the tedious cycle of having to find your friends code, add him, tell him you've added him and then get him to add you.
And don't forget, if you can only be bothered to add a couple of friends, they're the only people you'll be able to play with on that game.
So why is it that Nintendo sticks with the moronic system, despite being mocked by other game developers and publishers?
Late last year, Microsoft's Andre Vrignaud said that Nintendo's decision to stick with the friend codes 'sort of sucked' and in an interview earlier this year, Square Enix vice president Hiromichi Tanaka said that the company was working with Nintendo to ease up on the Friend Code system.
Well the reason is Nintendo says, 'is that the system ensures the gaming environment is kept fun for everyone.' Another reason often used by Ninty is that because of Nintendo targeting the younger market, the friend code system will help prevent online predators abusing younger children.
Surely though there is easier way to be able to play safely online and have fun at the same time?
Keep The Friend Code System But Make Changes:
If Nintendo was really that desperate to keep the FC system, simple changes could make a whole world of difference. For example, using the system's address book for each online game, rather than having a new friend list for every game. Also, when you do add a friend, a message should be sent to them, asking if they want to accept or not.
To increase privacy protection, some sort of verification process could be implemented to ensure the user knows who the person is before they accept. Using the Wii's parental control system various options could be tweaked to suit the age of the player.
Scrap the Friend Code System:
This would please a lot of the Wii's users who have been moaning and groaning about the system and would also please developers, some of whom have spoken out about the system. Its also vitally important that Nintendo gets its online system right, with online play becoming a feature in more and more games, and it is, potentially something that could decide who wins the battle of the next-gen console's.
Even if the friend code system was scrapped, it wouldn't take much to still ensure safety of the Wii's online users. Like with the last suggestion a simple verification process could be used to ensure users know who it is they are accepting.
Being able to play against anyone even if they aren't in your friend list would also vastly improve online play, and make playing online more fun, like Nintendo wants, and would also make the whole experience hassle free. Having to visit internet forums to find friends codes of people with the same game as you, and then having to post a topic to see who wants a game isn't exactly ideal.
Closing Comments:
Despite the many rants and criticisms of the system, its highly unlikely that Nintendo would change its online system during the Wii's lifespan, and especially as the console is doing so well. Although, should there be another Nintendo console, whether it be a new next-gen or a handheld, Nintendo will seriously have to reconsider its decision to stick with the friend code system or it could perhaps risk losing the support of loyal fans or developers.
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Posted by: MWG on August 17, 2007 6:54:06 PM (35 Reads)
We take a look at the simple failures of Nintendo's Friend Code System and the ways in which it could improve.
"It's great!" I told my friends. "I bet the online system will be wicked."
The one thing I wasn't expecting however, was for Nintendo to use its moronic friend code system like they had done with their handheld, the DS.
For those not in the know and wondering what on earth a friend code is, here's your answer. Basically each system is assigned a unique friend code, and to add a friend to your console you find out their code and add them to your address book. Simple enough I hear you say. But what happens next is one of the many simple failures with the friend code system.
Once you've added a friend, for you to be able to interact with them, for example, being able to send messages to one another, your friend needs to add you to their address book. Again, simple enough, but once you've added someone, they have no idea that you have done as there's no email, or no message sent to you to tell you that someone has added you.
So unless you can get in contact with that person they're never going to know you've added them and therefore won't be able to send messages to them or play online with them.
But this isn't where the failures end. You see, Nintendo decided that rather than simply being able to use your Wii console's friend list when playing online, they decided that for each and every online game you play you will receive a new unique friend code, specifically for that game, and of course this means that every game you want to play online you'll have to complete the tedious cycle of having to find your friends code, add him, tell him you've added him and then get him to add you.
And don't forget, if you can only be bothered to add a couple of friends, they're the only people you'll be able to play with on that game.
So why is it that Nintendo sticks with the moronic system, despite being mocked by other game developers and publishers?
Late last year, Microsoft's Andre Vrignaud said that Nintendo's decision to stick with the friend codes 'sort of sucked' and in an interview earlier this year, Square Enix vice president Hiromichi Tanaka said that the company was working with Nintendo to ease up on the Friend Code system.
Well the reason is Nintendo says, 'is that the system ensures the gaming environment is kept fun for everyone.' Another reason often used by Ninty is that because of Nintendo targeting the younger market, the friend code system will help prevent online predators abusing younger children.
Surely though there is easier way to be able to play safely online and have fun at the same time?
Keep The Friend Code System But Make Changes:
If Nintendo was really that desperate to keep the FC system, simple changes could make a whole world of difference. For example, using the system's address book for each online game, rather than having a new friend list for every game. Also, when you do add a friend, a message should be sent to them, asking if they want to accept or not.
To increase privacy protection, some sort of verification process could be implemented to ensure the user knows who the person is before they accept. Using the Wii's parental control system various options could be tweaked to suit the age of the player.
Scrap the Friend Code System:
This would please a lot of the Wii's users who have been moaning and groaning about the system and would also please developers, some of whom have spoken out about the system. Its also vitally important that Nintendo gets its online system right, with online play becoming a feature in more and more games, and it is, potentially something that could decide who wins the battle of the next-gen console's.
Even if the friend code system was scrapped, it wouldn't take much to still ensure safety of the Wii's online users. Like with the last suggestion a simple verification process could be used to ensure users know who it is they are accepting.
Being able to play against anyone even if they aren't in your friend list would also vastly improve online play, and make playing online more fun, like Nintendo wants, and would also make the whole experience hassle free. Having to visit internet forums to find friends codes of people with the same game as you, and then having to post a topic to see who wants a game isn't exactly ideal.
Closing Comments:
Despite the many rants and criticisms of the system, its highly unlikely that Nintendo would change its online system during the Wii's lifespan, and especially as the console is doing so well. Although, should there be another Nintendo console, whether it be a new next-gen or a handheld, Nintendo will seriously have to reconsider its decision to stick with the friend code system or it could perhaps risk losing the support of loyal fans or developers.
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