1. The Concept is “Just Simple”

Iwata - Alright, let’s start with introductions.

Aoyama - I’m Aoyama from the Network Development Division, Network Business Group. I mainly ensured that this project progressed from beginning through to completion..

Iwata - This is the second time you’ve been on “Iwata Asks”, isn’t it?

Aoyama - Yes. The first time was on “Wii Channels”. By connecting the Wii to a network the Wii Channels and what-not become more and more enjoyable, so I kind of naturally ended up being involved in this.

Iwata - Next is Hatakeyama-san.

Hatakeyama - I’m Hatakeyama, also from the Network Business group. In addition to taking the lead on this development project I handled a wide range of things including the back and forth with Buffalo（※1）, creating the messages displayed on the settings screens, and quality tested the Wi-Fi Network Adapter.

※1　Buffalo＝ Maker of various computer accessories, based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

Iwata - And last is Fujihara-san.

Fujihara - I’m Fujihara of Network Development Division, Circuit Design Group 1. I mainly handled the overall hardware development, like the design of the electrical circuits and firmware evaluation（※2）.

※2　Firmware＝ Software that controls hardware and is integrated internally to the device.

Iwata - Firstly, I’d like to ask a brutally honest question. If you go into a computer shop or similar kind of store, there are all kinds of devices for connecting to the internet via wireless LAN by all kinds of makers - so how did Nintendo end up putting out the Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adapter?

Aoyama - A question that cuts right to the chase. (laughs)

Iwata - I bet that there aren’t a small number of customers who feel “why does Nintendo have to go to the trouble of putting out that same kind of product?”

Aoyama - Indeed. Even though we say “just connect the DS or Wii to the internet!”, it’s a world that can be incredibly hard to understand for those who don’t have the knowledge, and so the biggest reason was that we felt that we wouldn’t be able to get those customers to connect without support from Nintendo. Even if you try to read those thick instructor booklets, they’re filled with all kinds of terminology you might not know.

Fujihara - There are plenty of people who don’t even know just what a router（※3）is. So even if you tell them to set the router on their own, most of those people would probably just give up.

※3　Router＝ Device that broadcasts information on the network to another network.

Iwata - But now we’re in an age where broadband is widespread, and it’s commonplace for the common Japanese household to have their computer connected to the internet 24/7.

Hatakeyama - Yes, although that’s connected through a wire, and the wireless ratio is currently only 30 to 40 percent.

Aoyama - So if someone goes to the store because they want to set up wireless to connect their DS or Wii, some people won’t have any idea where to buy what.

Iwata - Retailers that sell games aren’t necessarily guaranteed to sell wireless routers. Electronics stores probably do, though they’re in a different section.

Aoyama - I think that people who aren’t used to computers might feel intimidated trying to go to the PC sales department. And even if they do find themselves in the section with the wireless routers, there are 10’s of different kinds being sold, and still wouldn’t know which to buy even if they asked for help from a store clerk. (laughs)

Hatakeyama - And that’s why I felt it was important for Nintendo to put out a product that a customer could buy knowing, “this is all I need to easily connect my DS or Wii”. Buffalo had a development proposal for a low cost, simple wireless router, so we decided to partner up.

Iwata - Hatakeyama-san mentioned “connecting easily”, but what kind of settings have to be done?

Hatakeyama - The blue connector on the back has to be plugged into your home’s router or ADSL modem, and the other gray connector has to be connected to the LAN cable that plugs into your PC… Then the router mode switching function automatically detects what kind of device it’s hooked up to, and it switches internally.

Iwata - Although you’re saying “easily connect”, that explanation still sounds pretty difficult. (laughs)

Everyone - (laughs)

Hatakeyama - No matter how you explain the functionality it always sound difficult. (laughs)

Aoyama - To put it another way, the blue connector is the internet-side, and the gray connector is the PC side. So, you just reconnect the cable that’s plugged into your PC to the blue connector, and take the LAN cable that comes with the device, plug that into the gray connector and your PC. It’s then made so that it automatically connects after that.

Iwata - In other words, by connecting the Wi-Fi Network Adapter between your PC and the device that connects it to the internet, it will automatically decide what kind of network environment it’s hooked up to and switch to the necessary mode.

Aoyama - Yes, and then finally you just press the button on the device and select AOSS（※4）from DS or Wii internet settings, and you’re done.

※4　AOSS＝ Proprietary technology of Buffalo, Inc. that performs wireless LAN and security settings just with the press of a button.

Iwata - Are you 100% successful in connecting when doing this?

Hatakeyama - There are lots of different kinds of internet connection environments. So there’s a possibility that, for instance, it can’t automatically detect if you’re in a building that micro-manages the internet connection, like in some condos.

Aoyama - In order to avoid any confusion, even in these kinds of situations where it can’t automatically detect, you can still switch to router mode using the mode selection switch（※5）, giving you a 100% chance of success. Actually, that’s the case in my condo, as it were. (laughs)

※5　Mode Selection Switch＝ A switch located on the top-rear of the device with three options: Automatic Mode, Bridge Mode and Router Mode.

Iwata - That being said, there’s still cases where you have to set it manually.

Hatakeyama - Yes. I’d estimate that about 10% of customers would need to use an internet browser on their PC to set it manually. However we’ve tried as much as possible to avoid any specialized wording and made the settings screens as simple as possible in consideration of novices. So if they just perform settings as instructed on screen, in most cases they should be able to connect to the internet.

Iwata - In addition to easy connection, what other aspects did you focus on?

Hatakeyama - Increased security measures. To put it simply, from a hardware perspective, the DS won’t win any awards for security. So using any normal home router for connecting your Wii or PC, since you can only set one type of security, you end up having to lower it to the DS’s level.

Iwata - When we began the Nintendo Wi-FI Connection（※6）we had technically savvy customers point this out - that you would get a lower security level with information being relayed using your PC as well.

Hatakeyama - Yes. That’s why we implemented Multi-Security on the Wi-Fi Network Adapter - in other words, being able to use two different types of security methods at the same time.

Iwata - So it’s set up so that PCs and the Wii can be connected with higher security levels, and at the same time the DS will still be able to transmit. Also, when using the Nintendo DSi which was released the other day, conventional DS software will function at the usual DS security level, but the Nintendo DSi Browser, the Nintendo DSi Shop and software developed specifically for the DSi have the option of using stronger security methods.

Hatakeyama - Indeed. So those who are worried about security can also use this device with confidence.

※6　Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection＝ Wireless Internet Service presented by Nintendo. Players can enjoy gaming over the internet not only in Japan, but with fellow gamers around the world as well.