Nintendo Network IDs Tie to Just One Wii U Console

[MikeWehner]

Nintendo Network IDs Tie to Just One Wii U Console

Your new online identity has some unfortunate limitations, at least for now.

If you picked up a Wii U on launch weekend, you should know that your Nintendo Network ID can only be used with the console on which it was created. This means that unlike other systems with online offerings, you won't be able retrieve your unique Nintendo identity on a friend's console or a replacement unit if your Wii U meets an untimely end.

Nintendo revealed this interesting tidbit on its support website. "A Nintendo Network Account can only be used on the console where it was created. In the future, you will be able to use your Nintendo Network Account with future Nintendo consoles and other devices, such as PC's," the company promises.

Each Wii U console can support up to a dozen unique Nintendo Network IDs, so you should have no problem making an account for each member of your family, but they are currently tied to your console, and your console alone. This means that things like your Miiverse account will only work if you're at home.

The company hasn't provided any window for when the ID swapping functionality will be implemented, but for now let's just be glad that we're not still dealing with Friend Codes. The horror!

Source: Nintendo [http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wiiu/en_na/account_your_account.jsp]

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[Charli]

There's not enough facepalm in me.

...Nintendo your authoritarian views on Online game-play killed the hardcore hopes of your last console. Why would you make similar mistakes again?
Start hosting those accounts properly and dynamically NOW or developers are going to be turned off porting their Call of Duties and games reliant on Online game play to your console.

Doesn't matter what future plans you have, either start from the get-go with accounts not intrinsically linked to a console and alterable/fundable online via a computer or just hold off on the feature.

Consumers are attracted to an illusion of freedom, if you start off with a limitation that shouldn't even exist, that's a negative.


But indeed, moving away from the friend codes is a step in the right direction. It just now needs to come out of it's hidey hole and stop shying away from the prospects of large scale online play.

 

[dagens24]

I don't understand how Nintendo is so consistently obtuse with their online implimentation; it's madness.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Intersting point is that the Nintendo quote doesn't actually say anything about ever opening this up on the WiiU. In fact, it explicitly says "future Nintendo consoles" so I'd say that anyone thinking/hoping this is something that will be reversed in a coming system update should probably cool their jets.

 

[Vault Citizen]

It's like Nintendo like being behind. This offers no protection to customers whose Wii U might get stolen or suffer from accidental damage

 

[ArgyleBandit]

I suspect they're concerned about a Sony style hacking attempt and are trying to keep the system secure while they roll out their new network.

 

[Beautiful End]

So...what about those people whose system got already bricked...because of the Nintendo update?!

Nintendo, you stupid.

 

[Korten12]

I suspect they're concerned about a Sony style hacking attempt and are trying to keep the system secure while they roll out their new network.

This. Lest we forget, the Sony hacking incident is actually the biggest recorded case of hacking and identity theft in history. That sort of bad publicity is something major companies want to stay as far away from as possible. If Nintendo says that they're going to roll out more user ID freedom at a later date, then I'm sure they will. Right now, I just guess they're focusing on keeping everything secure.

I doubt it was the biggest, please link to where it says that. Not saying it wasn't big, but the biggest? I doubt it.

 

[Roxas1359]

Nintendo, I know you're still new to the whole online services thing but let me just tell you this: this is by far the stupidest thing you could ever do.

 

[Rad Party God]

Hereby, this cute lil' song is dedicated to you, Ninty:

 

[Epona]

Nintendo revealed this interesting tidbit on its support website. "A Nintendo Network Account can only be used on the console where it was created. In the future, you will be able to use your Nintendo Network Account with future Nintendo consoles and other devices, such as PC's," the company promises.

Future Nintendo consoles? As in not current Nintendo consoles like the WiiU?

It's possible that you won't be able to move your NN account until the WiiUThem comes out.

 

[Scarim Coral]

The more news I read about the Wii U flaws, the more reasons for me to not buy it.

 

[Ariyura]

Hereby, this cute lil' song is dedicated to you, Ninty:

God, I need to own this song! Thank you!

 

[RicoADF]

And with that any interest in this console left me with a tip of the hat

 

[-Dragmire-]

Nintendo, I know you're still new to the whole online services thing but let me just tell you this: this is by far the stupidest thing you could ever do.

Actually, they had some online services in 1988 on their Famicom system. Nintendo's coming full circle.

The Famicom Modem (Family Computer Network System) is a video game peripheral for the Family Computer released only in Japan in 1988 that uses a card based format like Hudson Soft's/NEC's PC Engine. It allowed the user access to a server that provided game cheats, jokes, weather forecasts, and a small amount of downloadable content. It could also be used to make live stock trades. It did provide online play but all of it's games with online play were ports of cartridge games and are now very rare to find as of now. The idea of downloading content would later be used in the Super Nintendo's Satellaview, the Nintendo 64DD, the GameCube, the Game Boy Advance Cable, the Nintendo DS's DS Download Play, the Wii's WiiConnect24 and it's shop, the Nintendo DSi's DSi Shop, and the Nintendo 3DS' eShop.

... I just found out about this recently and it's fascinating to me, with such a large lead on having an online service it's a wonder why they have such a hard time with the concept.

 

[Roxas1359]

snip

Huh, didn't know that. Thanks for sharing that tidbit. Still, this is a really stupid idea from Nintendo and is really a huge con for them. Especially since I'm seeing reports of Wii U consoles being bricked due to a firmware update.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

"But it prints money!!!"

Ahem

Seriously, Nintendo needs to stop kneecapping their customers. Just because they don't complain, doesn't make it right.