Complain about Nintendo's Online decisions!

Originally Posted by polymer

I sent a message, but I am getting the impression that Nintendo feels they did somthing right with the DS online, because it seems like they are going with the "we know what you want even if you don't" strategy again. Worked awesomely with the console, I am skeptical of it working with this online system.

It seems like it. DS online isn't really all that annoying or bad though that's just my opinion. However for console gaming? I definitly understand what you mean. Friendcodes are OK because it's just like a really long user name basically. However MULTIPLE friendcodes are not. We just have to get them to think that. >.>

Well, now we know that they're definitely doing the Game-Specific Friend Codes, and that they're probably not going to change that. Now, all I want to know is "Why?" This is the letter I sent to Nintendo:

"I would really like to see the elimination of Game-specific Friend Codes on the Wii. We have a contact list built into the Wii. Why can't we just use that for all games? I don't see how making the consumer type in a new number for each friend every time they get a new online game makes the experience better or even safer. We already had to contact each other and get Wii-Numbers, so why should we have to do it again for every game? I honestly do not understand the logic, Nintendo. At the very least, I would really like to have an explanation sent to me. I want to understand Nintendo's reasoning for this; I really do. I love the company, I love the games, and I love your products. Every once in a while, decisions like this confuse me, though. Please help me understand you, Nintendo."

I'll let you know what I hear back. Hopefully, it's not just the automatic response that most people are getting. I really do want to hear their reason for it.

Originally Posted by LiquidAg

Well, now we know that they're definitely doing the Game-Specific Friend Codes, and that they're probably not going to change that. Now, all I want to know is "Why?" I'll let you know what I hear back. Hopefully, it's not just the automatic response that most people are getting. I really do want to hear their reason for it.

Good luck with that. I asked them a similar quesiton a while ago:

I'm sure you are sick of answering questions about the use of game specific friend codes for the Wii but I had two quick questions.

1) Are they mandatory? If a game will have online capabilities must it use friend codes or are developers allowed to do other things?

2) If you know it (or where I might find it), what is the reasoning behind making them game specific? I can't find any logical benefit over just using the system specific codes we already have combined with game specific friend rosters.

Anyway, I thank you for your time and really don't mean to come across negatively. I love my Wii and think it is a wonderful system. I, and other Nintendo supporters, are simply concerned that the online implementation might mar what is otherwise a superb gaming machine.

The guy who answered me wasn't the same guy who usually responds to my emails and lets just say he was less than helpful:

Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,

While you have a couple of great questions, we've already provided you with all the information that we have available on Friend Codes and the Wii console. Once more information is announced, we'll post the news to our website (www.nintendo.com), so stay tuned.

Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.
Greg Hamilton

Originally Posted by mepaco

The guy who answered me wasn't the same guy who usually responds to my emails and lets just say he was less than helpful:

Dang. I hope that guy doesn't answer my E-mail...

[Rainbow]

One thing I find tedious with my wifi DS games is that, because I haven't bothered noting my Friend codes anywhere (bad me), I need to load the cartriges every time I want to share code with someone. (ok ok, I think I'll make an excel sheet for that lol)

Anyway, what I wanted to bring with that is, it would be nice if or various game codes would be accessible from the Wii system itself and not from inside the game, and it would be nice if there was a "send to friend" feature in order to easily send friend codes to the contacts we have already added to our Wii address books.

[Vectorferret]

Originally Posted by Rainbow

Anyway, what I wanted to bring with that is, it would be nice if or various game codes would be accessible from the Wii system itself and not from inside the game, and it would be nice if there was a "send to friend" feature in order to easily send friend codes to the contacts we have already added to our Wii address books.

That would be really useful actually. Feasibility depends on how friend codes work of course. From what I can tell with the DS though, they aren't truly random, but generated from the DS' serial number and the Wii wouldn't necessarily know how to generate a games code (as they aren't stored, but created each time they are needed). I may be wrong on that, but it appears to work that way.

I was really impressed with Pokemon though. It exchanged friend codes automatically when you meet someone over peer to peer WiFi (not internet, locally). Was very nice, and it even works before you get a friend code (which doesn't happen until part way through the game). [That it works before you get a friend code is one of the reasons I am pretty sure the code is created with an algorithm.]

Originally Posted by LiquidAg

Well, now we know that they're definitely doing the Game-Specific Friend Codes, and that they're probably not going to change that. Now, all I want to know is "Why?" This is the letter I sent to Nintendo:

"I would really like to see the elimination of Game-specific Friend Codes on the Wii. We have a contact list built into the Wii. Why can't we just use that for all games? I don't see how making the consumer type in a new number for each friend every time they get a new online game makes the experience better or even safer. We already had to contact each other and get Wii-Numbers, so why should we have to do it again for every game? I honestly do not understand the logic, Nintendo. At the very least, I would really like to have an explanation sent to me. I want to understand Nintendo's reasoning for this; I really do. I love the company, I love the games, and I love your products. Every once in a while, decisions like this confuse me, though. Please help me understand you, Nintendo."

I'll let you know what I hear back. Hopefully, it's not just the automatic response that most people are getting. I really do want to hear their reason for it.

Your reasoning is really good, I just relized if Nintendo is trying to make a safer enviorment with friendcodes how is that working if the only way to get a friendcode is by talking to the person in the first place, wow so basically friendcodes are nothing more than an annoyance.

Originally Posted by Kieyran

Your reasoning is really good, I just relized if Nintendo is trying to make a safer enviorment with friendcodes how is that working if the only way to get a friendcode is by talking to the person in the first place, wow so basically friendcodes are nothing more than an annoyance.

Thanks. Yeah, that's exactly my point. I don't understand how it makes it "safer" for online gaming.

The initial Friend Code (or Wii-Number) makes sense. It's annoying, but it keeps you from being able to add friends willy nilly, and that keeps little Timmy and Susie safe from people who lie online...at least through the Wii. They can still get on any message board (except Nintendo's) and trade numbers, but at least Nintendo can say they aren't contributing to the problem. I understand that.

But when I first heard about Wii-Numbers, I was excited (not at first... at first I was disappointed , but then I realized it could be good) because that meant ONE Friend Code for your system, rather than one for each game! Obviously I was wrong. I guess what somebody said earlier is true. The Wii-Number is just a standard Friend Code, and the "game" it applies to is sending Miis and messages. That's all.

Oh well. At least the Wii has upgradeable Wii-Ware, so maybe we'll see an improvement in the future. For those who didn't get a Wii at launch: right after the Wii came out, they did actually add some options to the Wii Settings (it used to only have 2 pages), including better Parental Controls. So at least we know they're capable of and willing to add/change features on the Wii. Here's hoping...

I just got the cookie-cutter reply back from Nintendo. Here's what I said back to them:

"Howdy,

I realize that y'all get a lot of E-mails, especially about this subject. But could you please send me a reply that actually answers my questions? I know that this was a pre-written reply, and I know that it is necessary and sufficient for most E-mails that you receive. However, I already know this basic information, and I'm asking for a little bit more. I'm not angry. I'm not being unreasonable. I simply want a genuine answer from someone (yes, it can be you, Shane O'Neil) who will try to explain Nintendo's reason for this decision. I'm not going to argue or complain. I just want to know why. Please, Nintendo... You've never let me down before, and I know you won't do it now. Thank you for your time.

A Sincere Nintendo Fan,
Sam Harvey"

Shane O'Neil was the name on the E-mail from Nintendo. Hopefully, this will do the trick. At least we know that they're reading them (since they are replying, specifically, about the Friend Codes on Wii). Maybe someone will read my reply and throw me a bone. *crosses fingers*

Originally Posted by LiquidAg

I just got the cookie-cutter reply back from Nintendo. Here's what I said back to them:

"Howdy,

I realize that y'all get a lot of E-mails, especially about this subject. But could you please send me a reply that actually answers my questions? I know that this was a pre-written reply, and I know that it is necessary and sufficient for most E-mails that you receive. However, I already know this basic information, and I'm asking for a little bit more. I'm not angry. I'm not being unreasonable. I simply want a genuine answer from someone (yes, it can be you, Shane O'Neil) who will try to explain Nintendo's reason for this decision. I'm not going to argue or complain. I just want to know why. Please, Nintendo... You've never let me down before, and I know you won't do it now. Thank you for your time.

A Sincere Nintendo Fan,
Sam Harvey"

Shane O'Neil was the name on the E-mail from Nintendo. Hopefully, this will do the trick. At least we know that they're reading them (since they are replying, specifically, about the Friend Codes on Wii). Maybe someone will read my reply and throw me a bone. *crosses fingers*

I really hope you get a good reply and be sure to post it here. I think we can finally get something out of them.