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[Vitet]

Why is his ass in the front?

 

[Always-honest]

Why is his ass in the front?

that's no ass, wink, wink.

 

[Vinrau]

The Nintendo investor Q & A has been translated.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/110426qa/index.html

In slight connection with the question about Wii's concept before, honestly speaking, Wii's future could have been different if Nintendo had made better partnerships with outside companies in the field of network services at the early stages of the penetration of Wii. In other words, Nintendo might have been a little obsessed with the policy "Jimae-shugi" at that time. Although we have already put ourselves back on track, we would like to clearly differentiate what is our true strength from what we can basically do by ourselves but can be done better by more skillful outside specialists in order not to fall into that trap again. You may be aware of some features which I am implying now in relation to the future developments of Nintendo 3DS and Wii's successor system that we announced yesterday. I am sorry I cannot say anything more specific today.

 

[M74]

Network services? Big online developments incoming.

Spoiler

Took 'em long enough.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

The Nintendo investor Q & A has been translated.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/110426qa/index.html

Interesting - "jimae-shugi" is basically "self-sufficiency", isn't it?

The obvious implication there is that network services are going to be handled by outside specialists, rather than relying on Nintendo's own limited resources, I think. Good news?

 

[Graphics Horse]

Hopefully not talking about a Netfront browser.

Why is his ass in the front?

 

[radioheadrule83]

Jimae Shugi is the mentality of needing to be self-sufficient... Nintendo is saying that it can do some things itself, but that they can probably get better results by outsourcing. He implies a connection to that statement to forthcoming 3DS and Wii2 features, which is intriguing...

 

[Lupin the Third]

Oh please let it be Steam, please let it be Steam....

Or at least let Valve be involved somehow....

 

[Krev]

Network services? Steam powered Stream confirmed.

But seriously, only good can come of this.
Reuters really screwed up the translation when they said it was about marketing partnerships, huh?

 

[M74]

Oh please let it be Steam, please let it be Steam....

Glutton for disappointment?

 

[[Nintex]]

I can see it now...

"Yeah nice specs and all but Nintendo's online system totally sucks"
Nintendo: "True, but Valve's doesn't"
"0__o"

 

[Lupin the Third]

Glutton for disappointment?

Yes! Yes!!

BELIEVE

 

[Log4Girlz]

Glutton for disappointment?

Ok, so reasonable expectations:

Dual GPU R700
4 GB of RAM
Holographic Blu-Ray
Touch sensitive OLED tablet/controller AND Wii-mote packaged
1 TB harddrive
Steam online service

 

[AceBandage]

All for the low low price of $799 USD!

 

[luffeN]

I can see it now...

"Yeah nice specs and all but Nintendo's online system totally sucks"
Nintendo: "True, but Valve's doesn't"
"0__o"

Followed by an "anyway, let's talk about games" from Reggie

 

[AceBandage]

Followed by an "anyway, let's talk about games" from Reggie

Like the console exclusive Half Life 3.

 

[Lupin the Third]

Wasn't the Wii's online infrastructure based on GameSpy tech? They have done partnerships before for networking.... that was just a bad choice of partnership.

 

[AceBandage]

It used GameSpy's servers, but it was completely Nintendo's Netcode.

 

[Graphics Horse]

Followed by an "anyway, let's talk about games" from Reggie

Netflix confirmed!

 

[1-D_FTW]

Ok, so reasonable expectations:

Dual GPU R700
4 GB of RAM
Holographic Blu-Ray
Touch sensitive 3D OLED tablet/controller AND Wii-mote packaged
1 TB harddrive
Steam online service

Fixed for the obvious omission.

Wasn't the Wii's online infrastructure based on GameSpy tech? They have done partnerships before for networking.... that was just a bad choice of partnership.

Wasn't that Gamecube? I really hope they've got their stuff together this time. The cynic in me wonders if that quote wasn't referring to the DOA WiiConnect, but who knows. Maybe they will swallow some pride and actually go big this time.*

*Not implying Gamespy is big.

 

[Lupin the Third]

It used GameSpy's servers, but it was completely Nintendo's Netcode.

From the old 2007 press release: http://kotaku.com/#!243737/nintendo-taps-gamespy-for-wii-online

As part of an ongoing partnership with Nintendo, GameSpy has developed middleware technology to enable Wii titles to offer community features, such as friend rosters, advanced matchmaking capabilities and comprehensive rankings data.

I think we can safely blame IGN/GameSpy for Brawl.

EDIT:

Pokemon Battle Revolution, the first Wii game to utilize the technology, launches on June 25, with multiplayer features similar to those leveraging GameSpy technology in several Nintendo DS titles.

Prior to this development agreement for Wii, GameSpy and Nintendo brought gamers wireless community options for Nintendo DS . The service provided an innovative network for portable video games, allowing people around the world to link easily and wirelessly to play games. The partnership represented GameSpy's first foray into portable games.

Explains a lot, doesn't it? Of course, Nintendo did limit themselves with their ultra-cheap Wi-Fi chip on the DS....

 

[duk]

I wonder how ninty will get this puppy under $400, by then ps3/360 will surely be under 300-350 for the top sku with move/kinect. gonna be a really hard sell to the casuals in the beginning and wii owners may or may not upgrade.

i think wii 2 needs to gain a lot of the hardcore crowd before ps4/720 comes out for it to be successful. i think ninty knows this and wants a 1.5-2 yr head start.

 

[Log4Girlz]

I wonder how ninty will get this puppy under $400, by then ps3/360 will surely be under 300-350 for the top sku with move/kinect. gonna be a really hard sell to the casuals in the beginning and wii owners may or may not upgrade.

i think wii 2 needs to gain a lot of the hardcore crowd before ps4/720 comes out for it to be successful. i think ninty knows this and wants a 1.5-2 yr head start.

Its going to need to be 350, no way will people swallow 400 for a Nintendo system. If they even THINK of doing it, then they are going to have to package a fucking amazing title with the thing. They'll cheap out here or there with the hardware to get the price down.

 

[From The Dust]

Its going to need to be 350, no way will people swallow 400 for a Nintendo system. If they even THINK of doing it, then they are going to have to package a fucking amazing title with the thing. They'll cheap out here or there with the hardware to get the price down.

Pikmin 3 would be a good bundle for core gamers (not the "matoorz" ones)

 

[Lupin the Third]

Yeah, I think it's a safe assumption there will be a noteworthy price drop on both the 360 and the PS3 platforms announced at E3 (or at least on the PS3, which, if Nintendo goes with Blu-ray, will be the most comparable unit on the market). I predict $250 on PS3 and maybe $149 for the 360 4GB.

Nintendo will not charge more than $350, but I feel $300 will be more in-line with what they will aim for.

EDIT: Pricing the console high (i.e., 360 launch levels) could be a big gamble: Either hardcore gamers will recognize a "perceived value" in the "latest, greatest, new hardcore thing," or it'll price itself out of the market with something that's just different enough that people aren't willing to pay $400+ for it. It can get risky.

 

[duk]

Its going to need to be 350, no way will people swallow 400 for a Nintendo system. If they even THINK of doing it, then they are going to have to package a fucking amazing title with the thing. They'll cheap out here or there with the hardware to get the price down.

that's what i am thinking too but BOM for a controller with a 6in hi-res screen? that can't be cheap, how much are they thinking of selling additional controllers for? if this is a type of system that many ppl will want to connect to stream content then they need to keep price of controller down as well.

maybe they used 3DS to test the waters for a high priced nintendo system too. either way, the experience better be relatively ground breaking ala wii to gain instant adoption.

otherwise if sales are so-so til ps4/720 then they will be in big trouble, but that's wayyy to far to tell right now.

 

[JaseC]

Oh please let it be Steam, please let it be Steam....

Or at least let Valve be involved somehow....

Well, last September Gabe promised 3 surprises over the coming 12 months. Almost 7 months later, we're 2 down* with 1 more to go...

* I don't believe Valve have stated as much, but it's widely considered that the introduction of micro-transactions in Steamworks and Dota 2 constitute 2 of the 3.

 

[Lupin the Third]

Well, last September Gabe promised 3 surprises over the coming 12 months. Almost 7 months later, we're 2 down* with 1 more to go...

* I don't believe Valve have stated as much, but it's widely considered that the introduction of micro-transactions in Steamworks and Dota 2 constitute 2 of the 3.

See? It's nice to dream, isn't it? How often does a new console like this come around?

"It's the mooooost wonderful tiiiiime of the industryyyyy....."

 

[1-D_FTW]

Well, last September Gabe promised 3 surprises over the coming 12 months. Almost 7 months later, we're 2 down* with 1 more to go...

* I don't believe Valve have stated as much, but it's widely considered that the introduction of micro-transactions in Steamworks and Dota 2 constitute 2 of the 3.

I still don't get what the incentive would be for Valve. Unless they're running the store and getting 30 percent (which would never happen), I don't see what their incentive would be. It would have to be because Nintendo is paying them a large contract to run it. Is that enough to divert resources from Steam when Valve would have no ownership in its growth? It would have to be an eye-popping number.

And I can't see Nintendo giving too much control of their DD system either.

I agree Nintendo should poney up a truckload of cash and just hire Valve to implement/run Steamworks as the default online system. It would be a brilliant coup and would overnight allow Nintendo to have the best online infrastructure. Just don't see Nintendo being humble enough to pay Valve what it would require.

I have no doubt Valve games on Stream would use Steamworks, I just can't see Nintendo doing what's necessary for all games to use it.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Yeah, I think it's a safe assumption there will be a noteworthy price drop on both the 360 and the PS3 platforms announced at E3 (or at least on the PS3, which, if Nintendo goes with Blu-ray, will be the most comparable unit on the market). I predict $250 on PS3 and maybe $149 for the 360 4GB.

Nintendo will not charge more than $350, but I feel $300 will be more in-line with what they will aim for.

EDIT: Pricing the console high (i.e., 360 launch levels) could be a big gamble: Either hardcore gamers will recognize a "perceived value" in the "latest, greatest, new hardcore thing," or it'll price itself out of the market with something that's just different enough that people aren't willing to pay $400+ for it. It can get risky.

The only other way I can swallow an expensive console is actually if the online system in place truly is awesome. If I can get an app store with cool apps that make this system a little more than just another console, and almost a poor man's pc (kinda like what smart phones are) and a great DD service..shit I'm sold.

 

[JaseC]

I still don't get what the incentive would be for Valve. Unless they're running the store and getting 30 percent (which would never happen), I don't see what their incentive would be. It would have to be because Nintendo is paying them a large contract to run it. Is that enough to divert resources from Steam when Valve would have no ownership in its growth? It would have to be an eye-popping number.

And I can't see Nintendo giving too much control of their DD system either.

I agree Nintendo should poney up a truckload of cash and just hire Valve to implement/run Steamworks as the default online system. It would be a brilliant coup and would overnight allow Nintendo to have the best online infrastructure. Just don't see Nintendo being humble enough to pay Valve what it would require.

I have no doubt Valve games on Stream would use Steamworks, I just can't see Nintendo doing what's necessary for all games to use it.

I wouldn't dwell on the idea as it's not going to happen. Although, it is an interesting concept, to be sure.

 

[1-D_FTW]

I wouldn't dwell on the idea as it's not going to happen.

Took about 2 minutes to type and that's all the thought I'd give to it

 

[The_Darkest_Red]

I still don't get what the incentive would be for Valve. Unless they're running the store and getting 30 percent (which would never happen), I don't see what their incentive would be. It would have to be because Nintendo is paying them a large contract to run it. Is that enough to divert resources from Steam when Valve would have no ownership in its growth? It would have to be an eye-popping number.

And I can't see Nintendo giving too much control of their DD system either.

I agree Nintendo should poney up a truckload of cash and just hire Valve to implement/run Steamworks as the default online system. It would be a brilliant coup and would overnight allow Nintendo to have the best online infrastructure. Just don't see Nintendo being humble enough to pay Valve what it would require.

I have no doubt Valve games on Stream would use Steamworks, I just can't see Nintendo doing what's necessary for all games to use it.

I think we need to focus less on why it won't happen and more on how awesome it would be if it did.

Seriously though, I agree with what you're saying, there are a lot of reasons why it doesn't make much sense. It sure would be nice for us gamers, though. A Nintendo system with decent hardware and a best-in-class online infrastructure would be a dream machine for me. Then again, even if they got all of that right they could always just screw up the controller... I am both skeptical of Nintendo and full of faith in them simultaneously.

 

[Emitan]

If Kotaku posts a story about the Stream using Steam I know why. All according to plan.

 

[JaseC]

Took about 2 minutes to type and that's all the thought I'd give to it

Fair enough.

I'm going to have to find a hat to eat in the off-chance that it does happen. Until their online system is detailed, as the old adage goes, "Nothing is impossible".

 

[luffeN]

Like the console exclusive Half Life 3.

Oh man, even if they only joke about it, it would be glorious

 

[Raide]

Really don't see Steam being a good idea. On a Nintendo console where only Nintendo games sell well, what happens when you introduce Steam, where gamers buy everything only on Steam? Nintendo will be pissed if Steam starts taking over their Boxed games sales, plus Nintendo love bundling software and hardware/peripherals. Also, Valve would want a huge cut to start doing Nintendo games.

Both companies love making money but are they prepared to share it? Also, Console Manufacturers love showing off sales figures, Steam, not so much.

 

[JaseC]

Really don't see Steam being a good idea. On a Nintendo console where only Nintendo games sell well, what happens when you introduce Steam, where gamers buy everything only on Steam? Nintendo will be pissed if Steam starts taking over their Boxed games sales, plus Nintendo love bundling software and hardware/peripherals. Also, Valve would want a huge cut to start doing Nintendo games.

Both companies love making money but are they prepared to share it? Also, Console Manufacturers love showing off sales figures, Steam, not so much.

You're misunderstanding. When people say "Steam" in the context of online infrastructure, they're talking about Steamworks. It's highly unlikely you'll see the actual Steam client (or, at the very least, the Steam Store) on a console for the very reason that it'll tread on the platform holder's toes, as you said.

 

[Emitan]

What? Steam for infrastructure, their store doesn't necessarily have to be there.

 

[Raide]

You're misunderstanding. When people say "Steam" in the context of online infrastructure, they're talking about Steamworks. It's highly unlikely you'll see the actual Steam client (or, at the very least, the Steam Store) on a console for the very reason that it'll tread on the platform holder's toes, as you said.

Ah sorry, my misunderstanding.

At this point, anything would be better than what Nintendo normally do. Steamworks would be ideal.

 

[Datschge]

Wasn't the Wii's online infrastructure based on GameSpy tech? They have done partnerships before for networking.... that was just a bad choice of partnership.

GameSpy is still involved, at least when playing online (PAL PES in my case) GameSpy servers in the US among Nintendo servers in Japan and local NoE servers are used for matchmaking.

 

[Emitan]

So I can't blame GameSpy for the travesty of Brawl's online? How do I blame then?

 

[From The Dust]

So I can't blame GameSpy for the travesty of Brawl's online? How do I blame then?

Game Arts?

 

[luffeN]

What? Steam for infrastructure, their store doesn't necessarily have to be there.

But if it was there most of the publishers and developers would already be familiar with it.

 

[Fernando Rocker]

Please, Valve... be you, please.

 

[Fernando Rocker]

In the field of networks in particular, however, I admit that we cannot do business in pace with the changes in the world and the requests from consumers only within our company and with development companies we have long been in touch with. I am not sure which term suits us as collaborations for this purpose, M&A or partnership. Anyway, I feel that we would spoil the party in a negative way if "we sticked to create everything by ourselves" based on the policy "Jimae-shugi," and eventually it would make our business slow.

At least Nintendo admits that their online system sucks.

 

[Wolves Evolve]

Its not going to be Valve. My god. They don't play in that space. Its going to be bloody Gamespy and we all know it.

 

[From The Dust]

Nintendo is strongly hinting at some something at E3. of course he isn't giving up anything more than "you will see at E3." obviously some upgraded online info and western collaborations

 

[Fernando Rocker]

Its not going to be Valve. My god. They don't play in that space. Its going to be bloody Gamespy and we all know it.

Maybe it was a mistranslation and the leaked name was Steam instead of Stream...

Spoiler

Believe.

 

[poppabk]

Its not going to be Valve. My god. They don't play in that space. Its going to be bloody Gamespy and we all know it.

They want to though. The PS3 steamworks shows that they aren't afraid to go into the console space. Cross PC and Cafe play would be pretty cool.