Current online platforms 'not particularly well suited' to the Nintendo approach

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes that the numerous years Sony and Microsoft have spent developing their online platforms has left Nintendo behind and that rushing to "overcome or catch up" to them wouldn't be a smart strategy.

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At an investor relations meeting during E3 Iwata was asked how Nintendo's online strategy will differentiate, catch up to, surpass and compete with Microsoft, Sony, iOS and Android.

Iwata answered by saying that current online gaming networks can't be replicated on the Wii U, and admitted the competition is too far ahead for Nintendo to catch up.

"I think that what we see in terms of online gaming networks on existing dedicated gaming platforms is not particularly well suited to the approach Nintendo has taken," he said.

"Therefore, I can't sit here and say to you that we can very quickly overcome or catch up to other companies, which began to work in the online field from many years ago and have been building these online networks on other platforms, and I don't think that would be a smart strategy, either."

Instead of emulating its competitors, Nintendo will be using Miiverse as the foundation to build its online platform on. Although the Nintendo president enthusiastically described the various social applications of the Wii U Miiverse, he did not address aspects such as multiplayer, market transactions and connectivity.

"We think that one fun area of possibility, as we have discussed, is for people not just to enjoy the games but also communicate with others about topics relating to the games," he said.

"We also believe that the 'Miiverse' will serve the purpose of giving people an opportunity to discover other games that they haven't yet started playing.

"In other words, please think that we have built an integrated recommendation engine into the Wii U system's main menu screen."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/353614/iwata-xbox-live-and-psn-are-too-far-developed-for-nintendo-to-catch-up/

How do you feel about this? 

Me?  I don't like it.

Holy shit. Nintendo is going to invent internet forums.

I read this and while it is true that Sony and Microsoft have been working on their services for years now, all I can sit and ask myself is:

What the hell have they been doing all these years?

Sounds good to me, I think Miiverse is going to be a huge hit. It's going to have non-compulsory Accomplishments which imo is a good thing, some games aren't really suited to having Achievements and Trophies and will have friends lists, video chat and audio chat. That's all you need, isn't it..?

You may think so, but remember who they are supposed to be targetting. I doubt this news goes over well with the PS360 crowd.

More ps3 fanboy nintendo negativity...haven't had enough of that lately.

This post has been moderated ~Barozi

I would like them to go in depth and let us know exactly what their online service provides because to be 100% honest. Enough of this secretive crap. The damn thing is supposed to be less than 6 months away.

Nobody wants to put money down now without knowing what the hell they are buying and certainly don't want to put down the money last minute either.

Check my games collection and then come back. I have dipped into everything, with Nintendo being just as prevelant as Sony.

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/profile/14887/euphoria14/games/collection/#content

Have nothing worthwhile to contribute? Then stay out of the thread.

As for negativity... it is straight from Iwata's mouth buddy.

I don't see what Nintendo Network won't do that, say, PSN can (and LIVE to the same extent, maybe barring party chat features). There's going to be non-game content, online multiplayer, the ability to connect with the community, VC/Wiiware and downloadable retail games

What is the competition doing that's so far ahead of that?

I think this is more a declaration that Nintendo isn't going to be pursuing parity with the competitor networks.

That is precisely the problem, we don't know.

In game invites? Matchmaking? Ability to compare achievements with friends? There is a big list, but Nintendo keeps to much a secret right now and it is worrisome.