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DS

Miyamoto speaks on DS WiFi

by Mike Sklens - July 13, 2004, 12:03 pm EDT
Total comments: 46 Source: GameSpot

Find out what Nintendo's doing with the wireless internet functions on the DS.

In an interview recently posted on the website of Earthbound creator Shigesato Itoi, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto made some comments about the Nintendo DS's 802.11 (also known as WiFi) wireless functionality. According to Mr. Miyamoto, the possibility of a wireless internet connection on the Nintendo DS is there, but Nintendo is not currently developing any software that will enable to DS to access it. Apparently, Nintendo is leaving this part up to third-parties. He said that Nintendo is not interested in developing internet software for the DS. The company is very interested in keeping the DS an "out of the box" experience that will require no accessories, such as a wireless router to link systems over the internet via broadband connections.

Mr. Miyamoto was quoted as saying: "We added the wireless LAN (IEEE802.11) to the DS mainly for the handhelds to communicate between each other, but if someone releases appropriate software that allows it to connect to wireless LAN access points, it could also be used to connect to the Internet."

Update: There has been a lot of confusion surrounding Mr. Miyamoto's quote. Apparently Miyamoto-san is only saying that Nintendo will not be making an application to browse the internet over the DS. They are only interested in using the WiFi to link DS systems in remote areas. According to a close friend of PGC, independent gaming journalist Chris Kohler, "If you look at the questions that Itoi asks, he's talking about using the DS as a web browser. He says it's a 'technical' question, not a 'game fan' question. And he asks if the 'specs' of the machine would be enough to support its use as an 'Internet terminal,' as Miyamoto puts it." Thanks to Chris for clearing this up for everybody.

Talkback

JaleJuly 13, 2004

This just means we wont have internet from Nintendo on DSs. Big deal. Third parties are bound to develop it themselves.

SylJuly 13, 2004

It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with >_>

stupid... very stupid thing to say.

ssj4_androidJuly 13, 2004

Nintendo needs to learn to listen to their customers about online gaming.

JaleJuly 13, 2004

Quote

Originally posted by: Syl
It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with >_>

stupid... very stupid thing to say.


Not many first party titles are well suited to online play anyway. Four Swords type games would work better in LAN and so would Mario and Metroid games.

Sounds like Nintendo still doesn't really know what they would do with the online medium. Oh well.

Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

"It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with"

I hope not. I've read this on other sites and it came across that he meant internet access as in web surfing not being included. I have no problem with that. However this line freaks me out: "The company is very interested in keeping the DS an 'out of the box' experience that will require no accessories, such as a wireless router to link systems over the internet via broadband connections."

No link over the internet AT ALL? That likely does mean no online. ARRRRRRRRGH!!!!! WHY ARE THESE F*CKS SUCH BACKWARDS THNKING OLD FUDDY DUDDIES?!! If the Revolution isn't online Nintendo = third party by 2010. This bullsh!t can only go so far.

And don't anyone think that a third party is going to bring the DS online. If Nintendo doesn't do it it means it's offline period.

ssj4_androidJuly 13, 2004

Quote

Originally posted by: Jale
Quote

Originally posted by: Syl
It also means that no first party titles are going to be online, nor was nintendo planning online to begin with >_>

stupid... very stupid thing to say.


Not many first party titles are well suited to online play anyway. Four Swords type games would work better in LAN and so would Mario and Metroid games.


Mario Kart, SSB. And about Four Swords, did you notice that there was a microphone built in? I find it weird that now their saying no online, since they've pretty much said there will be online play. Did they say internet at the press conference? Here's some quotes from Nintendo.com's E3 DS page: "The voice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with one another over the Internet while playing." "...and compete at a central game hub on the Internet, even if they're thousands of miles apart."

BTW, couldn't PGC call NOA's press phone number and ask them about this? I'm hoping it was just lost in translation.

JaleJuly 13, 2004

They have put the stuff in there so it is capable of it. They just don't want to have to sell WiFi adapters and internet as well.

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

"Here's some quotes from Nintendo.com's E3 DS page: 'The voice capabilities also could allow gamers to chat with one another over the Internet while playing.' '...and compete at a central game hub on the Internet, even if they're thousands of miles apart.'"

That really bugs me because they made us all think at E3 that they would go online and if they're not then they lied to us. Third parties MAYBE going online is not the same thing. If there are no online plans from Nintendo then they f*cking lied to our faces at E3. However this would be some pretty blatant deception here though which suggests either this is a mistranslation of sorts or NOA has very different plans than NCL.

I guess we'll find out everything for sure in the next day or so. If this is a mistranslation then NOA will get a statement out ASAP because this is REALLY damaging. If we hear nothing from them then Nintendo did lie to us and they are going to completely kill their so far positive DS momentum.

SgtShiversBenJuly 13, 2004

Why is this such a big deal? Yes, if they do decide not to support it online, then they are lying to our faces, but they have done it before. When the GameCube was about to come out, I remember them saying that there were 10-15 titles in development for the sole purpose of online entertainment, and where'd that go? HMM!! But if the DS isn't online then oh well, we've been preaching that it's not the end all be all thing to being successful. It helps, but doesn't mean that "OH ITS ONLINE IT MUST BE BETTER." I just think it's a sort of hypocracy in our little heiarchy we have going here. If third parties don't release something that make it wireless LAN then people can do it by themselves. It's not that hard. But oh well, who cares.

SylJuly 13, 2004

Quote

Originally posted by: Jale
They have put the stuff in there so it is capable of it. They just don't want to have to sell WiFi adapters and internet as well.


I *REALLY* hope thats what this means, its not like a WiFi router is expensive or hard to get, hell, a local Schlotzky's of all places now has free WiFi.

I doubt it will be that long till some 3rd party goes online though, once that happens things should pick up.

I want nintendo to SHOW SOME REAL SOFTWARE already. Theyre not going to have enough time to pimp this thing if its still planned on being released this year.

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

"Yes, if they do decide not to support it online, then they are lying to our faces, but they have done it before."

Having lied to us before (Zelda demo at Spaceworld 2000 though I guess it's not a lie anymore) doesn't make it acceptable. I actually don't think the DS needs online support to be successful. However the Revolution will and the fact that they're still being so anti-online suggests that they're going to f*ck up online gaming for that system too. And the Revolution HAS to have online games. It will be completely inexcusable if it isn't. And in order for it to be online Nintendo has to make online games. Even though third parties can make online DS games they're not going to because Nintendo will be spreading their anti-online propaganda all over the place which will ensure that it won't take off on their systems.

SgtShiversBenJuly 13, 2004

See, that's a better stance. Instead of being like CasualGamer and saying "NOT ONLINE!! I SUCK! LOL!! PS2 LOLL!!!"

JensenJuly 13, 2004

"This feels like the GameCube's broadband adaptor all over again."

1. Except that the DS comes with the "adaptor" built in.
2. Almost every Multiplayer DS game will be multi-console multiplayer. Gamecube has very little multi-console multiplayer support, thus there is little for services such as Warp Pipe to support.

If we can play Nintendo made games multiplayer over the internet, I don't care who makes the computer connectivity/matchmaking software. I wasn't expecting DS Live!

mouse_clickerJuly 13, 2004

Isn't this almost exactly Sony's online stance with the PS2, minus a few games? Uh-yup uh-yup, I think it is.

Quote

No link over the internet AT ALL? That likely does mean no online. ARRRRRRRRGH!!!!! WHY ARE THESE F*CKS SUCH BACKWARDS THNKING OLD FUDDY DUDDIES?!! If the Revolution isn't online Nintendo = third party by 2010. This bullsh!t can only go so far.


Eh, I don't know about you, but what I got from that was you wouldn't have to buy any accessories to hook up to a wireless router and connect to other DS's over the internet.

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

"but what I got from that was you wouldn't have to buy any accessories to hook up to a wireless router and connect to other DS's over the internet."

Well this:

"the possibility of a wireless internet connection on the Nintendo DS is there, but Nintendo is not currently developing any software that will enable to DS to access it."

suggests that yes you won't have to buy any accessories because Nintendo isn't going to make any. In order to connect to the net you're going to have to buy a third party product that may or may not be made. It's kind of ironic to promote "out of the box" functionality when if I want to go online I have to not only get a wireless router but also buy software for it. This is making me have to buy TWO third party products instead of one. "Out of the box" my ass.

SgtShiversBenJuly 13, 2004

It said that about software. If they said anything about hardware then you should start feeling worried.

WuTangTurtleJuly 13, 2004

wow this is $ucks. I had a huge impression from Nintendo that they were approaching online gaming that wouldn't be costy for developers and consumers and would be profitable through WiFi, but with this statment I am confused as h3LL.

Nintendo needs to explain themselves!

mouse_clickerJuly 13, 2004

I thinkyou're jumping the gun, Ian: I'm still getting that Nintendo isn't the one making the online games, they're leaving it to the third parties. If you ask me you're twisting everything nintendo says to fit your theory.

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

Wait I just realized that by software they mean that the games themselves could contain the code for online play. For some reason I was thinking there would be some program I would have to buy seperately. That really doesn't make sense. Sorry about that.

Still that's a huge hassle for third parties and it's going to really limit online gaming on the DS. Why would a third party create an online DS game when Nintendo is not providing any assistance? This is virtually the same as the Cube online model: Nintendo does nothing and so everyone else does nothing.

ruby_onixJuly 13, 2004

Here's my take on this.

Quote

According to Mr. Miyamoto, the possibility of a wireless internet connection on the Nintendo DS is there, but Nintendo is not currently developing any software that will enable to DS to access it. Apparently, Nintendo is leaving this part up to third-parties. He said that Nintendo is not interested in developing internet software for the DS.


AFAIK, "The Internet" and "Online" are two different things. (Like IRC, Usenet, and e-mail. They're all "Online", but none of them are "The Internet".)

Quote

Mr. Miyamoto was quoted as saying: "We added the wireless LAN (IEEE802.11) to the DS mainly for the handhelds to communicate between each other,


AFAIK, the DS has two wireless modes. The 802.11 standard, and a custom Nintendo-designed one that has an even longer range. So if the Nintendo-designed one is superior, how does having the 802.11 help the "handhelds communicate better"?

Quote

but if someone releases appropriate software that allows it to connect to wireless LAN access points, it could also be used to connect to the Internet."


Notice they didn't say "connect to another handheld via the Internet." Of course, that could've just been a translation thing.

I know that Nintendo has seemed rather bullish and belligerant about online gaming. When asked about it, Miyamoto has frequently said "Online support is "an extra", like a multiplayer mode, but that said, how many times have I gone the extra mile to give you guys a multiplayer mode?"

I know it's tough, but have some faith that Nintendo knows what they're talking about.

mouse_clickerJuly 13, 2004

Ian: It's also practically the same as Sony's online model for the PS2, keep that in mind. The only difference is Sony encouraged 3rd parties to make online games, which I definitely think Nintendo should do with the DS. Just because they're not supporting online play themselves doesn't mean they should discourage 3rd parties from doing so if they please.

Honestly, though, I always viewed handheld online play as being little more than using the internet to connect to other DS's the same way they're already using the wireless LAN- am I off base here? And if not, would you even really need servers or anything to support online play? If not, I'm at a bit of a loss as to why Nintendo refuses to support online play, since they seem to love LAN so much.

Berto2KJuly 13, 2004

There goes the dream of a near perfect Animal Crossing DS face-icon-small-sad.gif.

nickmitchJuly 13, 2004

I don't think that Nintendo will support online play untill we all join hands across america.
Nintendo should just say, "Hey, 3rd parties, go for it!" and if it works for them then go for it themselves.

theRPGFreakJuly 13, 2004

............I want AC online!!!! face-icon-small-sad.gif

Bill AurionJuly 13, 2004

Ummmm...I didn't read these latest comments...BECAUSE I'M LAZY face-icon-small-smile.gif

The company is very interested in keeping the DS an "out of the box" experience that will require no accessories, such as a wireless router to link systems over the internet via broadband connections.

Now unless I'm mistaken, he says that it will be used for gaming "online" here...

Not to mention that Reggie brought up the "online gaming with the DS" thing during the press conference, I think this interview may have been taken out of context...

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

"Read that over and over until you get it"

Every time I read it it means "no accessores like a wireless router which is used for linking systems over the internet." The last part is a description of what a wireless router does. It's not saying that Nintendo wants to link systems online using something else. If that were the case it would read "...experience that will require no accessories, such as a wireless router, to link systems over the internet via broadband connections." Note the extra comma which complete changes the meaning of the sentence. If the extra comma were there that would be great but it's not so that to me means the last few words are merely a description of what an wireless router does.

ssj4_androidJuly 13, 2004

Everyone who says online and internet are two different things is getting confused. The world wide web it the http stuff. The internet is what it goes through. So online gaming would be on the internet.

JensenJuly 13, 2004

"Why would a third party create an online DS game when Nintendo is not providing any assistance? This is virtually the same as the Cube online model: Nintendo does nothing and so everyone else does nothing."

As I said before, it is nothing like the Cube online Model. With the DS, every multiplayer game will be able to be played online, because every multiplayer game requires a network connection. What gamecube games have network modes? Mario kart DD has a crippled network option...

What I want to see is the multiplayer Revolution/DS connectivity games over the internet.

RadiostormJuly 13, 2004

The DS has the ideal set-up for online games; one screen for ability/communication/equipment management, the other for actual gameplay. Not making any first-party online games is a waste of potential. :/

Nice to see that the knee-jerk reactions have subsided.

Really the biggest disappointment here is the revelation that Miyamoto doesn't have any working ideas for online gameplay yet, at least for the DS. Nintendo's certainly onboard with the wireless LAN opportunities of the DS (since every multiplayer game will use that feature), and they've thrown on Wi-fi so that they can keep their future options open, especially for third-parties.

But despite making allowances on the hardware side of it, it doesn't look like DS online titles are in development at Nintendo... not that playing portable games Online is necessarily a good idea... actually, it's downright weird. Forget it...

I just wonder if Miyamoto's and Nintendo's Online "writer's block" is limited to the DS, or if it extends to the console arena as well?

Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Blaster009July 13, 2004

Quote

Originally posted by: theRPGFreak
............I want AC online!!!! face-icon-small-sad.gif


As do I... I thought that with the use of LAN displayed at E3, AC DS could go online as well, and people could trade items without having to go through the whole "password" thing...face-icon-small-disgusted.gif

Uncle Rich AiAiJuly 13, 2004

We all fail at the intarweb! face-icon-small-thumbsup.gif

Kirby_PopStarJuly 13, 2004

http://hosting.picgoo.com/uploads7/pictochatds_secret.jpg

Nintendo won't let us down... there has to be a way to use Picto-Chat with someone really really far away... right?

RennyJuly 13, 2004

Interesting parent directory. :¬D

ruby_onixJuly 13, 2004

Quote

Everyone who says online and internet are two different things is getting confused. The world wide web it the http stuff. The internet is what it goes through. So online gaming would be on the internet.

*holds up hand*

That would have been me. But the core of my opinion still stands. I think Miyamoto was referring to "the Web".

He's saying that the possibility for a web-browser on the DS is entirely there, but that Nintendo has no interest in developing one.

If Nintendo's "custom wireless protocol" is superior to 802.11, then why is 802.11 there at all? Apparently to connect to other consoles (via the Internet). But not to connect to the internet (for it's own sake). Unless of course, some third party wants to go in that direction.

Or at least that's my take on this.

Perfect CellJuly 13, 2004

Wow If Nintendo wont support online on the DS, then its a big weakness when the PSP Comes rolling in... I sometimes wonder if Nintendo wants to actually beat Sony.

MarioJuly 13, 2004

It's better than online, it's no-line!

SylJuly 13, 2004

Wow, that *clarification* made a huge difference.

So, nintendo won't be making a web browser for the ds, big deal.

The cool thing, however, is that there *IS* a possibility of a web browser for the DS. But the resolution is probably too small for comfort.

UrkelJuly 13, 2004

Boy, am I glad that I usually don't check this site early in the day.

I missed all the rage-over-absolutely-nothing bit.

"This is virtually the same as the Cube online model: Nintendo does nothing and so everyone else does nothing. "

The main difference is that the Cube modems were sold separately. Third parties don't believe that enough Cube owners have broadband adapters to warrant putting in an online mode if not enough people can even use it. The DS has these capabilites built right into it, so Nintendo itself doesn't need to pimp online in its own games in order to get people to buy some modem.

Ian SaneJuly 13, 2004

Thanks for the clarification. Considering how most of us (especially myself heh heh) reacted you can see how much of a hot issue this is. I feel much much better now. And although many of us freaked out considering what we thought this meant I think our reaction was justified. We didn't overreact we just reacted to a mistranslation.

Bill AurionJuly 13, 2004

As I said...Nintendo fans get their panties in a bunch over a pin drop... ^_^

Cubik83July 13, 2004

That's because Nintendos' pins are usally in the 5 tons> weightclass...

KDR_11kJuly 14, 2004

It'll be online like the GBA is going in Japan. Yes, in Japan the GBA is online with the wireless adapter and a hotspot. Means downloads, online gaming, etc. Currently the GBA hotspots are limited to toy stores,but with the DS using WiFi as well it might be able to use normal hotrspots, too.

Koopa TroopaJuly 14, 2004

Quote

That's because Nintendos' pins are usally in the 5 tons> weightclass...


I think you mean "Never Happening" weight class face-icon-small-wink.gif

Chode2234July 16, 2004

Quote

Originally posted by: Cubik83
That's because Nintendos' pins are usally in the 5 tons> weightclass...




you mean the Never Happening type.....?

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