My, Iwata can be quite rough sometimes, but are hotspots really the answer??

Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, realizes this is easier said than done, however. Describing it as what he calls a bitter learning experience at an investor Q&A, Iwata admits that Nintendo have struggled to encourage people to take their Wii and DS systems online.

In light of this, one of the major goals for the 3DS is to allow people to experience “Something New Every Day” through the system’s online features. In order to facilitate this, Iwata feels it is imperative that Nintendo encourage people to take their Nintendo 3DS systems with them wherever they go, which will allow the system’s SpotPass mode to download content passively for them, thus demonstrating the 3DS’s online functionality.

In Japan, Nintendo have teamed up with numerous Internet providers, retailers and fast-food joints to create numerous wireless hotspots for the 3DS (over 2,000 by March 2011). Iwata reveals that they plan to do the same in the U.S. and Europe. Speaking to investors, he said:

“We must be able to offer clear-cut reasons for the overseas users to be willing to carry around Nintendo 3DS when they go out. Although we have not come to a conclusion on whether we should explore the possibility of the likes of Nintendo Zone or, like our collaborations with NTT East and NTT West, should deal with the entities which are offering free Wi-Fi access points, we are eager to proactively expand the access points so that an increasing number of people in the U.S. and Europe too can feel that it is fun to carry around a portable gaming device wherever they go out.”

http://www.siliconera.com/2010/10/08/nintendo-emphasize-focus-on-nintendo-3ds-online-services/

Well I hope Nintendo offers similiar services in Canada. When the DS launched they made such a big deal about one resteraunt chain. Sure that is a hotspot but seriously they should have made more. A deal with Tim Hortons would have been far more effective then White Spot. Today their is no hot spots provided by Nintendo in Canada.

Same with Nintendo and McDonalds in the US. I can't connect with DS wi-fi anywhere anymore. It is a shame.

The only thing that will get people to carry their 3DS with will be either a entertaining online experience - something that keeps people wanting more - or a more dedicated online system to "play" online, as something like MS or SONY have (play online, chat online, download demos on the run, etc.)

Actually, if i were Nintendo and had the resources they have i would try to provide both platforms.

The problem with the DS they used WEP, that has really kept me for using my DS more online.
Be able to update protocols for the 3DS and use n instead of g, to make it more future proof.

This exactly. My home network doesn't even have WEP. It's retarded. :-S

I've never had any problems with getting any of my DS' online at hotels, restaurants, pubs, ferries, etc.

I REALLY don't like the idea of my vg downloading stuff without my permission. This is a thing that keeps me from buying a 3DS. I like to have control of my products. And apparently, 3DS will not be able even to turn off!

Nintendo may have been, in their eyes, pro-active on a hardware front but they certainly weren't on the software front.  Unique and/or novel use of online is great but games are where it is at. More games like Mario Kart Wii and you would have had more people online.

this, smash bros online was a laggy mess,  NSMB wii didn't even have online.  Really there was just mario kart.

   ...and at least for the wii, nintendo did everything in their power to suck all the fun out of online.  between no unified online system (to see if my friends are online) and friend codes i never managed once to actually get my friends and me together to play.  it was just too hard.

no comment on the DS, never found a good reason to even try and take it online.