It doesnt really make too much sense. The Wii U is an attempt to draw the "hardcore" crowd looking for a next-gen device to their console - maybe to attract some gamers from xbox/ps3. This friend code system is not necessarily bad but it still seems inferior to the avatar/gamertag system of xbox and the psn account system for ps3. Not necessarily a huge deal for anyone buying a console but you would expect nintendo to get every little advantage to attract players.

If the source is going to make such a false claim, then you shouldn't listen to it at all.

Reggie did say that there will technically still be friend codes. But based on what has been said, it's fairly easy to see how it will all work.

1. Friend Codes are there, but only necessary for those restricted heavily by Parental Controls. This prevents young children from friending random people.

2. Without Parental Controls active, player will be given a lot more freedom, including the ability to communicate with and friend people met online (without ever seeing any sort of code), auto-exchange friend codes with people via this "Gamer Card" thing (if that turns out to be more than just rumour), and search for people by account name (which would also avoid seeing the actual friend code).

This is the sense I'm getting from what Nintendo has said. Friend Codes are still there, because they're the unique identifiers, not unlike IP addresses. But the new account system will mean that Friend Codes will only be necessary when one of the two people involved are heavily restricted by Parental Controls (because under such restrictions, chatting with/friending random people and accounts being public will be blocked). It becomes a best-of-both-worlds type system, and would not even slightly bother regular gamers.

If my sense is wrong, then I think Nintendo have made at least one mistake somewhere along the way, because I can't see a better way to set the system up than what I've said.

LOL an article based on 0 information, it says it will be refined could be anything i'll just wait to seet at GDC or Tokyo Game Show.

Dude, you should read our posts and the article. We just don't know yet!! Come on. If the console has good games and an attractive online model, you shouldn't let a false article throw you off.

If they did use numbers, honestly, I wouldn't blame you it is a retarded thing to do. But even then you should still consider getting it.

What a horrible article.

1) Wii friend codes don't contain letters
2) "Hopefully, the 'simpler method' means these codes won't be as long, or you have the ability to create your own code. Obviously, it's still not as easy as a Gamertag, but Nintendo has never been a company to follow the beaten path." To say Nintendo doesn't follow the beaten path is one thing, to say never is another... Does the pro controller ring a bell Mr. Bitner?

What poor journalism and anti-Nintendo junk.

Iwata on friend codes:

On Friend Codes

Iwata: We’re not completely getting rid of Friend Codes, but a function of the “Miiverse” will simplify the process of making friends with another user in the platform by eliminating the need to input Friend Codes.

Few things--

on the 3DS, the friend code has been whittled down to 12 digits.

On Xbox Live, at least (I've rarely used my PS3 for online play), you can set it so that you only hear friends before you even go online.  You can also mute anybody that's annoying, individually.

It's true that you only enter the code once per friend but, like Kylie said, you can't add friends just using the hardware.  You have to find a way to communicate outside of the hardware.  Sometimes, I'd face a worthy opponent in Mario Kart 7 or Super Street Fighter 4 and they'd get the best of me.  I'd like to tell them "Good game" or add them as a friend but it's impossible.  I just get to see their Mii in my Mii Plaza.

From the OP:

“There are friend codes, but it’s not the existing friend code system. What do I mean by that? Here’s what I mean: you will be able to identify people as friends and have a certain level of interaction vs. a different level of interaction for the more general population. The method by which you identify someone as a friend is a lot simpler than what’s happening today with Friend Codes.”

So, it WILL have friend codes it the quote from the OP is to be believed.  Just a variation that hasn't been explained, yet.  For that reason, I'm gonna wait until we get more info before condemning it.

One more thing--for peope saying we should be able to create our own friend codes, how exactly would that work?  If I could create my own code, I'd choose 0000-0000-0001.  I'm sure somebody else would do the same thing.  It's like picking your own phone number.  It's just not an option.

I believe the people who were proposing that possibility were saying that it could include letters and/or numbers, and did not have a fixed length, but I could be wrong.