Miyamoto discusses Nintendo’s Wii U online strategy, not aiming to be top online company
This information comes from Shigeru Miyamoto…
“We’re not going to sit here and say that our goal is to become the number one online gaming company, because that’s not our goal. But, understanding that the types of experiences our consumers like to play do often contain elements to them that can be improved or may even require an online connection and also knowing that the system is going to have a browser I think suggests that obviously internet and internet connectivity is going to be very important for the system.
For example, there are opportunities to take advantage of online to expand a local, same-room multiplayer experience by connecting that to the internet and making new types of play that way. Also by having the smaller screen, being able to go online and perhaps see what game your friend is playing or see what TV they’re watching, I think there’s a lot of possibilities for how you could use that. Certainly internet functionality is something that will be important for the system.
We have introduced Miis to the world and everyone will hopefully have their own Mii, so obviously I think there’s possibilities along those lines there. And I will say that this is a system that will have a great deal of appeal for its online connectivity. A key word for Nintendo in the online sphere has been creating an experience that’s comfortable for all players, so we’ll still look at that and stick to our idea of trying to create an online experience that’s welcoming to everyone.”
Nintendo has started to take online gaming more seriously, but it will never be their number one priority. Still, it sounds like the Big N is a bit more serious this time. They’re working with publishers and developers to implement their own networks, though I’m wondering how Nintendo will handle their own online functionality.
