Power Source: Putting It All Online

Disclaimer: The proceeding article is editorial content. The views expressed are those of the author and do not neccessarily reflect the official position of the Advanced Media Network.

So it’s finally happening. Nintendo is taking a serious stance on online gaming and is launching its first Wi-Fi enabled games for the DS very soon. I am very excited about this, but also a little confused. I have never played any online video games and am very curious to see how the whole thing works. One thing is certain: online play will be a necessity for games in the next generation and Nintendo mustn’t be the exception. We have seen some of what they plan to do but the company must carefully tread the path and make good decisions regarding their online service. Things are looking bright so far, but there are some things they need to do to please their customers and make the Nintendo Wi-Fi service an integral part of the gaming experience.

Nintendo dipped their toe in the online water during the Gamecube era, creating a modem and broadband adapter to satisfy only one interested developer. It didn’t go over well and it seemed like Nintendophiles would be stuck without online gaming for quite a while. It made sense in a way. It takes a long time for an extra service like this to evolve to a point where it is practical and profitable for a company. During that time, online gaming went from a niche market to very mainstream as broadband became more affordable and easier to use. What once was an amenity is now a necessity, like high-speed Internet in a hotel room. Now a broadband connection is a staple in most homes and people want to use it to its utmost potential. Xbox Live became a major boon to Microsoft and is looked at as the model for online gaming. For the next generation consoles, online gaming will grow even more and will be a very important selling point. Nintendo can’t be left in the dust this time.

So far they have made the right moves, if admittedly a little slow out of the gate. There was no reason that the DS should have been out for a whole year before its first online game was available. Still, what is passed is past and the future is what is important now. Not only does Nintendo have a comprehensive online plan for the DS and eventually the Revolution, but it is also going to be free to the consumer. Free is a powerful word and it will be a big boost to the service. Now, in the future I know that not everything will be free, but when I buy Mario Kart DS on November 14th, I can get online with it immediately with no additional cost to me. That is a very strong selling point for any game. I remember getting Phantasy Star Online, and while I enjoyed the game, I only ever played it offline. I really just didn’t want to shell out the money for the expensive modem adapter and then purchase a Hunter’s License specifically for the game. I had already spent 50 bucks, and now they wanted more? I don’t think so. Being able to play Mario Kart right out of the box is a real plus for me and it has me very excited for the 14th.

Speaking as an online newbie, I am also concerned about the complexities of setting up a Wi-Fi network. Keeping it simple is key. Nintendo is doing that too by releasing their own inexpensive router that can be used for DS gaming. You can just plug into your USB port and you’re ready to go. However, things get more complicated when they start talking about public Wi-Fi hotspots. As they have stated some places will be “Nintendo Wayport Enabled,” which really just means your DS will work there. Places that want to charge for the service will require you to have a laptop so that you can pay the fee and then piggyback the signal to your DS. I understand that this is not Nintendo’s doing and it has to do with the way these hotspots are set up. You can’t access them without first going through their payment web page system. Even for free networks, without being privy to the network’s security settings you can’t configure your DS to work with it. Therefore you may not be able to use your DS just anywhere there is Wi-Fi. Usually with places that charge for the service, gamers log on to their web browsers to pay by credit card, something the DS can’t do. Or can it?

One thing that needs to happen as soon as possible is the creation of a web browser for the DS. There may be some homebrew applications made to do this, but Nintendo really needs to release their own official version, maybe even as a firmware upgrade. Surfing the net on a DS would be a real pleasure, and much easier than on other handheld devices. The touch screen really opens up the possibilities for an easy-to-use interface for web browsing. The stylus could be used along the lines of a mouse pointer for clicking through websites. Also, a touch-enabled QWERTY keyboard could be used as well making it even easier to type messages in a forum or chat room. Have you ever tried typing on a PSP? With enough practice you can get good at it, but it is far more tedious than pecking keys with a stylus would be.

The inclusion of a popular IM system might be neat as well. Pictochat is great, but it is limited to functioning between DS units. An AIM or MSN Messenger service could reach users on standard PC’s. Of course, if Nintendo really wanted to be brave, the company could offer a PC version of Pictochat and challenge the big boys by creating their own IM network. Nintendo fans might jump at something like this. And when it comes to paying for Wi-Fi hotspots, with a web browser I would imagine you could view the company’s interface portal and pay for your use right through your DS. Now you’ve got one device that does it all.

Chatting online is great and instant messaging can be a lot of fun, but nothing beats actual online in-game chat. The DS has the voice capabilities already with its microphone and headset jack. Now all we need is the ability to trash talk right in the middle of schooling our opponent in the use of the screw attack. It doesn’t look like Mario Kart DS will have any voice communication features, but hopefully future titles like Metroid Prime: Hunters will. In-game chat can really add to the experience of playing online and helps to create a whole community of gamers. I know Nintendo is worried about the safety of its customers, especially children, but the feature is just too important to ignore. That’s what the DS Key Codes are for, right? They could always lock out chat from users who have unrecognized codes. In addition to voice chat, I know it was mentioned at one time that the DS was capable of using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) connections with the proper software. This was demonstrated at E3 where users could talk to “Mario” in New York City through a DS. VOIP could even be used to contact regular telephones, giving users the option of using their DS as a wireless phone. I do not know if Nintendo has plans to pursue this technology commercially but it would be a good idea to help expand the uses of their system.

Of course, all this stuff doesn’t really matter without the games to utilize the features. What would I like to see for DS online? Well, while I love the idea of going toe to toe against other gamers all over the world, I also really like cooperative game play. It would be great to be able to form teams using the code keys from other DS units and play campaigns with all your friends, be they your next-door neighbor or internet chat buddy. We don’t yet know if Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles DS will be online-enabled, but it would be a great idea. Personally, I’d like to see some old school co-op games making an online comeback like Life Force or Contra. You could even have more than two players! Back on the competitive side, I like to think outside the box. I’m sure there will be a plethora of first person shooters and fighting games. Online Smash Bros. is a natural, but I’d be happier seeing some great online games like Pac-Man Vs., which is one of the best multiplayer gaming experiences ever created. They could even use the special features of the DS and create special modes like Pac-Pix or even a maze editor. This would be a snap with the touch screen and stylus to draw the maze. Of course, voice chat would be an integral part of any “Party Game.” With the online service though the party can be literally anywhere!

There are really a lot of options for Nintendo’s Wi-Fi service. So many possibilities have been overlooked for so long and it is great that Nintendo is finally getting on the ball. Like I stated before, I’m new to online gaming and I am both excited and wary. I don’t currently have the necessary infrastructure at home to use the service, but there are plenty of places where I can. I hope to find online gaming rewarding enough to invest in the proper equipment, but only time will tell. A comprehensive online plan is critical for success in the next generation and it will give Nintendo a real boost in public perception and sales. Getting connected will help keep the DS on top where it belongs will prove to be a critical feature in the Revolution to come. We are about to enter a bold new world of gaming with Nintendo and I am glad to be taking the trip with them.

Brian Langlois is an editorial columnist for AMN. Readers can catch his columns regularly at Power Source with Brian Langlois on GCA and DSA.best