Like the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U will feature friend codes so that strangers won’t be able to purposely harass dutiful gamers. You can, however, be Wii U buddies with strangers via Miiverse, according to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. Iwata says Wii U players can friend people on Miiverse who share similar interests.

Expect to hear more details regarding Miiverse as we get closer to the new console’s launch.

Also, on Nintendo platforms up to this point, in order to become friends with people on the same system (specified people with whom you could exchange data), you were required to mutually enter numbers called “Friend Codes.” This was set in place in order to prevent negative gameplay experiences caused by a few people who might derive pleasure from anonymously harassing strangers, so that games could be played without that worry. On the Wii U, you can become friends with people who share your tastes through the Miiverse, so increasing the number of people to enjoy games with is its critical mission.

HOLY SHIT!!!

As expected

i like friend codes

Friend codes was a great decision, now I can use my real name and can change my name whenever I want.

You are one of a kind sir lol

I like friend codes too

friending people should always have some kind of filter, that filter is friend codes, and it works for me

The concept is nice, the problem it's that those friend codes are too long. Having an username is so much better, I can just type "DieAppleDie" and add you, no need to type 12 digits.   

Well, there's the conflict a lot of people have with usernames.  Many of the ones they want are taken.  So then someone has to make theirs Icantthinkofausername153195139591 or something (exaggeration).