| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Online Service |
| Launch date | November 2005 |
| Platform | Nintendo DS Nintendo DSi Nintendo 3DS Wii Wii U (TBA) |
| Website | [6] |
The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (ニンテンドーWi-Fiコネクション Nintendō Wi-Fi Konekushon) (commonly abbreviated WFC) (stylized as nintendo Wi-Fi connection) is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services. It also runs features for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS systems. Games designed to take advantage of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection offer Internet play integrated into the game. Nintendo emphasizes the simplicity and speed of starting an online game when promoting its service. For example, in Mario Kart DS, an online game is initiated by selecting the online multiplayer option from the main menu, then choosing whether to play with friends, or to play with other gamers (either in the local region or worldwide) at about the same skill level. After a selection is made, the game starts searching for an available player.
The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was developed to be easy to connect to, safe for everyone to use, and free. Games designed to take advantage of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection offer Internet play integrated into the game. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection can support up to sixteen players on the Nintendo DS and thirty-two players on Wii. Basic features of the Wi-Fi Connection include worldwide matchmaking, leaderboards, tournaments. Additional features are available between friends who have exchanged Friend Codes.
Each game that uses the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection generates a unique twelve digit Friend Code that can be exchanged with friends and be used to maintain individual friend lists in each game. Though certain games can be played online without a Friend Code, a Friend Code is required to play with a specific person. Friend Codes are generated from an identifier unique to a copy of a game and the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID of a DS or Wii system. Using a different copy of a game or loading the same copy in a different system generates a new Friend Code.[1] In order for users to become "Friends", they must mutually add Friend Codes and will be authenticated as Friends once both have gone online. Nintendo introduced these features as conscious steps to preserve users' privacy. If a DS or Wii game is sold, but not the system, there is no risk of the purchaser impersonating the seller. If a user needs to replace his or her DS system, then the old system's Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID can be transferred wirelessly, to maintain the user's original Friend Codes on the new machine. Some games require that the user use Friend Codes to use any online functionality.
Many games have additional features that are enabled between registered friends. These may include customized matchmaking options, cooperative play, friend lists, text chat, and voice chat. Newer Wii games use the 16-digit Wii Number which is shared between all games instead of using Friend Codes, providing a benefit of not having to register the same friend multiple times across different games.
The Nintendo 3DS eliminates the factor of having one Friend Code per game, and establishes one Friend Code per console. Additionally, once a user mutually registered another person's Friend Code, the Nintendo 3DS automatically connects with any supported game title each user may be mutually playing on their own console. This, however, only applies to Nintendo 3DS-specific games. Although the Nintendo 3DS is backward compatible with Nintendo DS games, it continues to require a unique Friend Code per game as if played on any original Nintendo DS system.
In 2008, Nintendo announced a new feature for the Wi-Fi Connection called Pay & Play. Games that use the Pay & Play feature may have additional downloadable content (DLC) or services that require extra fees. These fees will be paid for using Nintendo Points. A special red Wi-Fi Connection logo with the words "Pay & Play" is used to distinguish these games from the regular free Wi-Fi games.[2]
The first games to feature Pay & Play were released in Japan as part of WiiWare on the March 25, 2008. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, Kotoba no Puzzle Mojipittan Wii and Lonpos each had downloadable content available for 100 to 800 Wii Points.[3] The first retail Wii titles to feature Pay & Play functionality are Samba De Amigo,[4] Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2.
WiiConnect24 is a feature of Wii that allows the system to be connected to the Internet even when the console is in standby mode. Games and channels that utilize WiiConnect24 can send and receive data even while the game is not being played. Players who wish to send data to friends only need to register each other's Wii System Code and not individual friend codes. Players can also send friends messages using WiiConnect24 from the Wii Message Board. When a message is received, the Wii's slot light will glow blue.
On April 9, 2008, the BBC announced that its online BBC iPlayer would be available on the Wii via the Internet Channel browser; however, some users experienced difficulties with the service. On November 18, 2009, BBC iPlayer on the Wii was relaunched as the BBC iPlayer Channel,[5][6] which is free to download from the Wii Shop Channel.[7] The service is only available to people in the United Kingdom.
The Wii Shop Channel allows users to download games and other software by redeeming Wii Points, which can be obtained by purchasing Nintendo Points cards from retail outlets or directly through the Wii Shop Channel using MasterCard or Visa credit cards online. Users can browse in the Virtual Console, WiiWare, or Wii Channels sections for downloads. A feature to purchase downloaded software as gifts for others became available worldwide on December 10, 2007. Additional channels that were not released at the console's launch are available for purchase in the Wii Shop Channel. These include: Internet Channel, Everybody Votes Channel, Check Mii Out Channel, Nintendo Channel, Netflix Channel, and the Japan-only Television Friend Channel. Currently all downloadable channels are free of charge.
Virtual Console channels are channels that allow users to play their downloaded Virtual Console games obtained from the Wii Shop Channel. The Virtual Console portion of the Wii Shop Channel specializes in older software originally designed and released for home entertainment platforms that are now defunct. These games are played on the Wii through the emulation of the older hardware. The prices are generally the same in almost every region and are determined primarily by the software's original platform.
Functioning similarly to the Virtual Console channels, WiiWare channels allow users to use their WiiWare games obtained from the Wii Shop Channel. The WiiWare section specializes in downloadable software specifically designed for the Wii. The first WiiWare games were made available on March 25, 2008 in Japan.[8] WiiWare games launched in North America on May 12, 2008,[9] and launched in Europe and Australia on May 20, 2008.[10][11]
The WiiWare section is being touted as a forum to provide developers with small budgets to release smaller-scale games without the investment and risk of creating a title to be sold at retail (somewhat similar to the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Store). While actual games have been planned to appear in this section since its inception, there had been no official word on when any would be appearing until June 27, 2007, when Nintendo made an official confirmation in a press release which revealed the first titles would surface sometime in 2008. According to Nintendo, "The remarkable motion controls will give birth to fresh takes on established genres, as well as original ideas that currently exist only in developers' minds."
Like Virtual Console games, WiiWare games are purchased using Wii Points. Nintendo handles all pricing options for the downloadable games.[12]
The Nintendo DSi shop is an online store for the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems, where you can download DSiWare games and applications.
It was announced at the Nintendo of Japan press event on September 29, 2010 that the 3DS will have a Virtual Console Service with Game Boy, Game Boy Color games, as well as "classic" games in 3D. At the 2011 GDC Nintendo announced that TurboGrafx 16, and Game Gear games would be available for Virtual Console.[13] Purchases are made through the "Nintendo eShop", using a cash-based system instead of a points-based system as used for the Wii and DSi.[14]
Shortly before the release of Flipnote Studio in Japan, Nintendo announced that they were partnering with Japanese web services provider Hatena to provide the means to share works created with the software. Speaking for Nintendo, Yoshiaki Koizumi stated they chose to work with Hatena because "it takes a special skill set to maintain the User Generated Contents (UGC) site, and we don't have that skill. We rely on Hatena on that part." [15]
Flipnote Hatena is the name of both the portion of the Flipnote Studio application that connects to the Flipnote Hatena website as well as the website itself (the Japanese version of the program differentiates between the two, but not the English version). Directly accessing the Flipnote Hatena website, through this portion of the application users are able to trade flipnotes, assign ranks to flipnotes uploaded by others, and save any viewed flipnote to their own DSi. Users may also edit or even continue a flipnote created by another user.[16]
As for the website itself, Flipnote Hatena offers the ability for users to rank and comment on the works of others, as well as to embed their animations into other webpages.[16] Users may also flag submissions as inappropriate; flipnotes thus flagged will not be viewable via the DSi's Flipnote Hatena[17] and may be removed from the website altogether.[18]
The Nintendo Wii received Netflix in March 27, 2010 only for Americans and Canadians owners but a Netflix disc is required. As of October 18, 2010 American and Canadian Wii owners can watch Netflix instantly as a channel without requiring a disc.[19] Also, on July 14, 2011, Netflix was released for the Nintendo 3DS through the Nintendo eShop.
The Nintendo Wii, DS, DSi, and 3DS can surf the internet with a downloadable browser. The Nintendo Wii and DSi browsers are powered by Opera, but the Nintendo 3DS browser is powered by NetFront. The Nintendo DS also has a web browser, but you have to buy a DS card and a RAM expansion, which works through the Game Boy Advance port, to use the browser; it was also powered by Opera.
The Forecast Channel allows weather reports and forecasts to be shown on the console from the Internet via the WiiConnect24 service. The Forecast Channel displays a view of the Earth as a globe (courtesy of NASA), with which users can view weather in other regions. The user can also spin the globe. When fully zoomed out, an accurate[20] star map is visible in the background. (The Big Dipper and the constellation Orion are easily recognizable, for example.) The Forecast Channel features include the current forecast, the UV index, today's overall forecast, tomorrow's forecast, a 5-day forecast (only for the selected country you live in), and a laundry check (Japan only). The Forecast Channel first became available on December 19, 2006. Certain games like Madden NFL 07, Nights: Journey of Dreams, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can use the Forecast Channel to simulate weather conditions depending on the player's region.[21]
The News Channel allows users to access news headlines and current news events obtained from the Internet.[22] News articles are available on a globe view, similar to the Forecast Channel, and as a slide show.[23] The content is automatically updated and viewable via WiiConnect24 with clickable news images supported.
The News Channel became available in North America, Europe, and Australia on January 26, 2007. Content is in a variety of languages provided by the Associated Press, which currently has a two-year contract to provide news and photos to Nintendo.[24] Canadian news is submitted by the Canadian Press for publication. Japanese news is provided by Goo. European news is provided by Agence France-Presse.
Starting with the August 6, 2007 update, the News Channel shows a news ticker in the Wii Menu. However, not visiting the channel for a period of time will result in the ticker not appearing, until the channel is viewed. A December 20, 2007 PAL region update increased the number of news feeds to the channel, sourced from a larger number of news resources and agencies, providing more news that is available per country.[25] As with the Forecast Channel, the News Channel is not available in South Korea.[26]
Everybody Votes Channel allows users to vote in simple opinion polls and compare and contrast opinions with those of friends, family, and people across the globe.
Everybody Votes Channel was launched on February 13, 2007, and is available in the Wii Channels section of the Wii Shop Channel. The application allows Wii owners to vote on various questions using their Mii as a registered voter. Additionally, voters can also make predictions for the choice that will be the most popular overall after their own vote has been cast. Each Mii's voting and prediction record is tracked and voters can also view how their opinions compare to others. Whether the Mii is correct in its predictions or not is displayed on a statistics page along with a counter of how many times that Mii has voted. Up to six Miis can be registered to vote on the console. The channel is free to download. Each player can make a suggestion for a poll a day.
The Check Mii Out Channel (also known as the Mii Contest Channel and the WatchMii Channel), is a channel that allows players to share their Miis and enter them in to popularity contests. It was first available on November 11, 2007. It is available free to download from the Wii Channels section of the Wii Shop Channel.
Users can post their own Miis in the Posting Plaza, or import other user-submitted Miis to their own personal Mii Parade. Each submitted Mii is assigned a 12-digit entry number to aid in searching. Submitted Miis are given 2 initials by their creator and a notable skill/talent to aid in sorting.
In the Contests section, players can submit their own Miis to compete in contests to best fit a certain description (e.g. Mario without his cap). After the time period for sending a Mii has expired, the user has the choice of voting for three Miis featured on the judging panel, with ten random Miis being shown at a time. Once the judging period is over, the results of the contest may be viewed. Their selection and/or submission's popularity in comparison to others is displayed, as well as the winning Mii and user.
The Check Mii Out Channel sends messages to the Wii Message Board concerning recent contests. Participants in certain contests can add their user and submitted Mii to a photo with a background related to the contest theme. This picture can then be sent to the Wii Message Board.
The Television Friend Channel allows Wii users to check what programs are on the television. Content is provided by Guide Plus. The channel is said to be "very fun and Nintendo-esque".[27][28] A "stamp" feature allows users to mark programs of interest with a Mii-themed stamp. If an e-mail address or mobile phone number has been registered in the address book, the channel can send out an alert 30 minutes prior to the start of the selected program. The channel tracks the stamps of all Wii users and allows users to rate programs on a five-star scale. Additionally, when the channel is active the Wii Remote can be used to change the TV's volume and channel so that users can tune into their shows by way of the channel.[29] The Television Friend Channel launched in Japan on March 4, 2008. It is not going to be launched outside Japan, as most countries, unlike Japan, have a guide built into set-top boxes and/or TVs.[30]
The Digicam Print Channel is a channel developed in collaboration with Fujifilm that allow users to import their digital photos from an SD card and place them into templates for printable photo books and business cards through a software wizard. The user is also able to place their Mii on a business card. The completed design is then sent online to Fujifilm who print and deliver the completed product to the user. The processing of individual photos is also available.
The Digicam Print Channel became available from July 23, 2008 in Japan. It will be available in Europe, Australia, and North America in the future.[31]
The Today and Tomorrow Channel[32] became available in Japan on December 2, 2008, and in Europe, Australia, and South Korea[33] on September 9, 2009. The channel was developed in collaboration with Media Kobo and allows users to view fortunes for up to six Miis across five categories: love, work, study, communications, and money. The channel also features a compatibility test that compares two Miis, and also gives out "lucky words" that must be interpreted by the user. The channel uses Mii birthdate data but users must input a birth year when they are loaded on to the channel.[34]
A video on-demand service channel was released in Japan on May 1, 2009, it will also be released in North America in the future. The channel is a joint venture between Nintendo and Japanese advertising agency Dentsu. The channel's interface is built around a virtual living room, where up to 8 Miis can be registered and interact with each other. The virtual living room contains a TV which takes the viewer to the video list. Celebrity "concierge" Miis occasionally introduce special programming.
A food delivery service channel was released in Japan on May 26, 2009.[35] The channel is a joint venture between Nintendo and Japanese on-line food delivery portal service Demae-can. The channel offers a wide range of foods provided by different food delivery companies which can be ordered directly through the Wii channel. A note is posted to the Wii Message Board containing what had been ordered and the total price. The food is then delivered to the address the Wii user has registered on the channel. It is only available in Japan.
The Nintendo Channel (also known as the Everybody's Nintendo Channel in Japan) allows Wii users to watch videos such as interviews, trailers, commercials, and even download demos for the Nintendo DS. In this capacity the channel works in a similar way to the DS Download Station. The channel provides games info pages and users can rate games that they have played. A search feature is also available to assist users in finding new games to try or buy. The channel has the ability to take the user directly into the Wii Shop Channel for buying the wanted game immediately. The Nintendo Channel was launched in Japan on November 27, 2007,[36] in North America on May 7, 2008,[37] and in Europe and Australia on May 30, 2008.[38] The Nintendo Channel is updated with different Nintendo DS demos and new videos every week; the actual day of the week varies across different international regions.
An updated version of the Nintendo Channel was released in Japan on July 15, 2009,[39] North America on September 14, 2009, and in Europe on December 15, 2009. The update introduces a new interface and additional features, options, and statistics for users to view. However, the European version is missing some of these new additional features, such as options for choosing video quality. In addition, a weekly show known as Nintendo Week began airing exclusively on the North American edition of the channel, while another weekly show Nintendo TV, is available on the UK version of the channel.[40]
Mario Kart Wii allows players to install the Mario Kart Channel on their Wii console. The channel can work without inserting the Mario Kart Wii disc into the console, but to compete in races and time trials the disc is required. The use of the Mario Kart Channel allows for a number of options. A ranking option lets players see their best Time Trial scores for each track and compare their results to those of their friends and other players worldwide, represented by their Miis. Players will have the option of racing against the random or selective ghosts, or improving their results gradually by taking on the ghosts of rivals, those with similar race times. Users have the option to submit these times for others around the world to view. Players can also manage and register friends using the channel and see if any of them are currently online.
Another feature of the channel are Tournaments, where Nintendo will, on a regular basis, invite players to challenges similar to the missions on Mario Kart DS. Players are also able to compare their competition rankings with other players.[41]
The Message Board allows users to leave messages for friends, family members, or other users on a calendar-based message board. Users can also use WiiConnect24 to trade messages and pictures with other Wii owners, conventional email accounts (email pictures to console, but not pictures to email), and mobile phones (through text messages). Each Wii has an individual wii.com email account containing the Wii Number. Prior to trading messages it is necessary to add and approve contacts in the address book, although the person added will not get an automatic notification of the request, and must be notified by other means. The service also alerts all users of incoming game-related information.
Message Board is available for users to post messages that are available to other Wii users by usage of Wii Numbers with WiiConnect24. In addition to writing text, players can also include images from an SD card in the body of messages, as well as attaching a Mii to the message. Announcements of software updates and video game news are posted by Nintendo. The Message Board can be used for posting memos for oneself or for family members without going online. These messages could then be put on any day of the calendar. The Wii Message Board could also be updated automatically by a real-time game like Animal Crossing.
Users with the Wii Speak peripheral are able to access the Wii Speak Channel. Users can join one of four rooms (with no limit to the number of people in each room) to chat with others online. Each user is represented by their own Mii, which lip-syncs to their words. In addition, users can also leave audio messages for other users by sending a message to their Wii Message Board. Users can also share photo slideshows and comment on them. The Wii Speak Channel became available in North America and Europe on December 5, 2008.
The PDP Headbanger Headset is a product created by Performance Design Products, who are known for creating various accessories for the Wii and other systems. The headset is used for chatting online with games. The headset is not wireless so it has to be plugged into the Wii by a USB cable. Although it's a third-party product, it's licensed by Nintendo.
The system supports multiplayer gameplay via a local wireless connection or over the Internet. Expanding upon the connectivity of the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo 3DS features an "always on" background connectivity system that trademarks suggested was named "CrossPass",[42] which can automatically seek and connect to wireless network nodes such as Wi-Fi hotspots, sending and downloading information in the background while in sleep mode or while playing a game. In Nintendo's September 29 conference, the confirmed Western names of the CrossPass Tag Mode service would be StreetPass and SpotPass, with SpotPass being the ability for the 3DS to seek Wi-Fi signals and automatically download content while in sleep mode and StreetPass being the passive communication between 3DS systems held by users, an example being the sharing of Mii avatars.[43]
During the 2011 Game Developers Conference, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime announced that Nintendo has partnered with AT&T to provide free access to AT&T hotspots via the Nintendo 3DS. Users will be able to connect to these hotspots in late May.[44]
The background connectivity allows users to exchange software content regardless of what software is currently in the console. Sharing content is stored in a "data slot" in the console. Using this data slot, Nintendo 3DS users can readily share and exchange content for multiple games at the same time, whenever they are connected, even when playing unrelated games.[45] Using the console's background connectivity, a Nintendo 3DS in StreetPass Mode can automatically discover other 3DS units within range, establish a connection, and exchange content for mutually-played games, all transparently and without requiring any user input, even when the console is dormant. For example, in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, if the user passes someone with the same software, he has a battle to collect trophies from the other player.[46]
It can be customized to fit the user's preferences, including opting out of it altogether for selected software.[47] One application being considered is functionality to "automatically acquire magazine and newspaper articles", similar to networked e-book reader applications.[48] Other improvements to online functionality include how Friend Codes are implemented, with only one code necessary for each console, as opposed to the DS and Wii where individual Friend Codes are required for each piece of software.[49]
The Nintendo 3DS also supports a new messaging system, similar to that of the Wii's Message Board. The service allows users to receive messages from Nintendo via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, but messages cannot be sent by the user. The 3DS will alert the user when they have received a new message via the Notification LED.[50]
The first Wi-Fi Connection games were Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk's American Sk8land for the Nintendo DS, both released on November 15, 2005, followed by Animal Crossing: Wild World in Japan on November 23 and in North America on December 5. The first Wii Wi-Fi Connection games were released in 2006 in Japan and in 2007 overseas. In Japan and North America the first game was Pokémon Battle Revolution. In Europe, Australia, and New Zealand the first game was Mario Strikers Charged.
Currently, there are 96 Wii games, 25 WiiWare games, 93 DS games and 2 DSiWare game available worldwide that support Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
The Nintendo DS has an 802.11b wireless adapter built in allowing the DS to access the service via any compatible wireless network. Public hotspots that use a captive portal can be accessed after login using the Nintendo DS Browser.
The Wii has an 802.11b/g wireless adapter built-in. It is compatible with WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption. The Wii is also AOSS compatible as of the 3.0 system update. The connection settings allows players to configure access to and save settings for up to three different networks. Connection settings can be detected automatically or entered manually. The Wii does not have an Ethernet port built in, but can be connected via wired LAN with a USB Ethernet adapter available from Nintendo and third parties.
If a compatible wireless network is not available, the Nintendo DS and Wii can also connect through the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector. Broadband Internet access is not required to make use of this connectivity, though it is recommended to reduce network latency. It was priced at the Nintendo Online Store,[51][52] however it has since been discontinued due to legal issues. Many third party products provide similar functionality.[53]
Nintendo is working with hotspot providers to allow free access in public for Nintendo DS users. In 2005 Nintendo made an agreements with Texas-based firm Wayport, Inc. to provide access in McDonald's Restaurants in the U.S.[54] However, the deal was not renewed and has since expired. A similar partnership with FatPort to create free hotspots in Canada was announced by Nintendo of Canada on October 19, 2005.[55]
In 2006 former Director of Marketing for Nintendo of Europe Jim Merrick announced that Nintendo was planning total of 25,000 hotspots in Europe,[56] with 7,500 in UK alone thanks to a partnership with The Cloud and BT Openzone.
Nintendo of Australia initially announced on November 17, 2005 that they would roll out only 26 hotspots across the country, in partnership with selected Electronics Boutique, Myer and Dick Smith Powerhouse stores. On April 14, 2007, Nintendo announced that over one thousand additional free hotspots had been added in a partnership with Telstra Wireless, providing access in selected hotels, airports, Starbucks cafes, and McDonald's restaurants.
| Hotspot providers with free access to Nintendo DS users | |
|---|---|
Nintendo created the official Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection web site as a portal for gamers looking to access the service or whom were in need of troubleshooting assistance. The website had live statistics and data from the service's servers and recorded high scores and service status. It also allowed a user to link his or her Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Connection ID to a My Nintendo account. As of November 2008, the site has closed in North America and has now moved into a subsection of the Games section on Nintendo.com.
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