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What is Nintendo hiding?

Following Nintendo's less-than-thrilling announcement of text communications for Mario Kart Wii, the author asks if there might not be a more serious reason that the company has yet to integrate voice comms into any of its online titles.

From the article: "I can't help but wonder if there isn't a more insidious reason that we've yet to see meaningful voice chat from the Wii. What if the Wii CAN'T do it. What if it's such an underpowered system that they can't get it to work reliably? Remember when Sony left rumble out of their controllers, calling it "last-gen." Later we found out that the real reason was that they were getting their pants sued off for patent infringement.

I'm not buying what Nintendo is selling here (both figuratively and literally). I think they grossly underestimated the demand for voice comms when designing their mac-influenced PS2. But what the hell do I know? Why do you think Nintendo keeps screwing the proverbial pooch with their online experience?"

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JSA-Gamer - contributor
Published: 648 days 13 hours ago | News | Wii

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Silellak - 648 days 13 hours ago

1 -

I'm fairly certain that Nintendo doesn't actually know what this new-fangled "internet" is.

This is a ridiculous joke. Text-based chat in a racing game? It would make more sense to just say "We don't support any sort of player communication, sorry." I mean, for one thing, isn't a USB keyboard against the entire concept of the Wii in the first place? Secondly, why waste the developers' time implementing a chat mechanism that NO ONE will use?

The only I use see for it is in some sort of pre-game lobby area, but even still, who is going to hook up a USB keyboard to their Wii?

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Anego Montoya FTMFW - 648 days 13 hours ago

1.1 - what are they hiding?

their masculinity!

i used to LOVE nintendo, NOW i can`t stand them.

i hope i can love them again one day.

that i`ll probaly never play a REAL "NEXT GEN" Zelda kills me.

Do what you do NINTENDO, just sell ZELDA to SONY. PLEASE.

it will NEVER happen, but i wish it would.

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KeiZka - 648 days 10 hours ago

1.2 -

Montoya...

Does this mean you'd rather love men than women? Ok.

That aside, Nintendo seems to have an inherent dislike towards voice comms, reasons unknown. Also, how'd they fit it in the system? By USB? Maybe.

I myself still wait that external HDD...

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Anego Montoya FTMFW - 648 days 9 hours ago

1.3 - nah.

i love my woman.

LOL.

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KeiZka - 648 days 9 hours ago

1.4 -

Good, just had to check. Careful with the wording there, m8.

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forum_crawler - 648 days ago

1.5 - A USB keyboard...

would not be against the whole concept of the wii. In fact, I would welcome a USB keyboard for the wii since it would make browsing the Internet much easier. As for Nintendo not knowing what the internet is, well, I would have to disagree there. The browser included in the wii, is pretty good and you get a browsing experience very similar to that of your regular PC browser, FOR FREE!!!

Now, I don't know how you browse using the XBOX or the PS3 since I don't own either one of those consoles, but I think Nintendo's idea of web browsing is pretty good.

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KeiZka - 647 days 11 hours ago

1.6 -

Wii Browser does have a support fot an USB keyboard, doesn't it? I think at least that it does..?

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GamerSigma - 648 days 13 hours ago

2 - Next year....

I heard they're holding out to see if the "internet" is really here to stay.

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PS360WII - 648 days 13 hours ago

3 -

Well Nintendo has stated that they don't feel online gaming really is all that important so why would they put voice chat on a high priority?

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Silellak - 648 days 13 hours ago

3.1 -

Not having voice chat is one thing, buy why bother even implementing text-based chat? Do they really think people will use it?

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Maddens Raiders - 648 days 13 hours ago

4 - 0_o -

"I think Nintendo needs a calendar. Somehow they’re stuck in 1993 or something. How on God’s green earth is anyone playing a RACING game supposed to reach down and type a text message without pretty much throwing the game away..."

I'm looking for reasons to own a Wii. This effectively ends my search; I'll just play brawl at my friend's house. I can't justify owning a system for a handful of games + no voice chat.

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JSA-Gamer - 648 days 10 hours ago

4.1 - For the kids

My oldest is about a year away from a Wii. I will definetly get hiom one of those, but I really doubt that after bedtime it will see much action out of me.

It's a good console for families and kids. For adults with half a clue about gaming.... not so much... IMO.

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BrotherNick - 648 days 8 hours ago

4.2 -

You guys and your voice chat...how about having fun with people? like real ones, not ones you see here.

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mr_potato - 648 days 3 hours ago

4.3 -

Burned and Burn finnaly someone understands the definition of gaming to have fun.

Mad props to you Nick, I love these fanboys.

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BloodySinner - 648 days 13 hours ago

5 -

"What is Nintendo hiding?" - What's there to hide? They have nothing.

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5.1 Iamback | 648 days 13 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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Intrepid - 648 days 13 hours ago

5.2 -

There are plenty of new IPs. They just don't get any hype because Nintendo advertises the system, not the software.

Disaster: Day of Crisis
No More Heroes
Sadness
Baroque
Zack and Wiki
de Blob

... to name a few.

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5.3 Iamback | 648 days 12 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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Intrepid - 648 days 12 hours ago

5.4 -

Well, Disaster is from Nintendo and Sadness is a 2nd party game.

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forum_crawler - 648 days ago

5.5 - Interesting...

That while Nintendo "has nothing", they still sell more consoles than everybody else...

I am sure the other consoles would love to have some of that "nothing" Nintendo has going for themselves.

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SRpirate420 - 648 days 13 hours ago

6 -

i think nintendo don't want to implement it because they have no control over what we say online. people be getting pissed over getting wrecked by some 7 yr old in japan only for someone to curse the kid out over his tv speakers in front of his family. nintendo is catering to families and new gamers so they kinda want to keep things g rated. just my opinon

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Exhaust - 648 days 13 hours ago

6.1 - So why do text chat then?

People can type nasty things just as much as say them. In fact the only people to use this text chat feature will probably be griefers typing nasty crap to kids.

What is Nintendo hiding? They don't think online gaming is important they've said it many times. This just proves it.

Sony didn't think online gaming was important either so now they're playing catch up. Nintendo is so far behind they'll never catch up.

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sidar - 648 days 13 hours ago

6.2 -

how are they " far behind" they can update the firmware in the Wii , updating the devkid, upgrade their Wii servers....

they are not far behind, its just their way of handeling stuff.
not that i agree with all.
but if you look @ how mario karts online channel will be be, i say they arnt behind at all.

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SRpirate420 - 648 days 12 hours ago

6.3 -

i agree with you, exhaust, yeah people can type nasty stuff to but picture how sad them people are to do it. i.e. im gonna put my cotroller down and type this kid a nasty comment (in game) cause he made me crash. come on now that is pathetic. and who in the hell is gonna stop their game to type something.

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ItsDubC - 648 days 12 hours ago

6.4 -

The difference between text and voice communication is that text is much easier to censor using software.

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BrotherNick - 647 days 23 hours ago

6.5 -

I like your comment, makes a lot of sense. I think it's fine not having voice chat...it's not like an fps where people can tell each other tactics and stuff...same with brawl, if anyone were to do anything other than talk crap I'd be surprised, and I'm happy voice chat is not there. Imagine a new gamer...and the gamer is being sworn at online and being called obscenities like what happens on xbox live...it's sad that people feel they can get away with it, and well it ruins the idea for everyone else.

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solar - 648 days 13 hours ago

7 -

voip > typing

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sidar - 648 days 13 hours ago

8 -

"What if the Wii CAN’T do it"
DS did it too you know >_>.....
plus i do remember reggie saying the system can do it.

"Using a USB keyboard, your impossible task is to taunt and interact with your opponents while in the middle of a driving game"

...isnt chat enabled during LOBBY mode?
some people need to do some freaking Research before they make abuse of those few KB spreading trough the web.

@madden
just for you
" some f*ckers need to do some freaking research*

there ya go, its not fanboy crap, unlike you i just express my self about people who are being total douchbags...

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Intrepid - 648 days 13 hours ago

8.1 -

You're right. They've already stated that they're considering it, proving that it's possible. The problem is Nintendo's rules and regulations concerning safety. You can't go into matchmaking in Halo without being called a c*** or d***. Nintendo doesn't want to deal with that... not yet, at least.

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Maddens Raiders - 648 days 13 hours ago

8.2 - LOL -

how nice of you to edit your tirade laced fanboy temper - tantrum.

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RAF-TECH - 648 days 13 hours ago

9 - they are hiding.

from the true nex gen lineup

Gears2, MGS4, GTA4

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Killjoy3000 - 648 days 13 hours ago

10 - ...

nintendo just keeps dissapointing there consumers and laughing all the way to the bank. its sickening, really.

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Intrepid - 648 days 13 hours ago

10.1 -

How? By providing the best 1st party games available? Is it even deniable? Blame 3rd parties for underestimating the Wii's ability to sell. They're the ones providing us with sh!t.

However, Nintendo is to blame for keeping voice chat from us. They have no choice but to implement it unless they want to be neglected completely.

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sidar - 648 days 12 hours ago

10.2 -

"nintendo just keeps disappointing there consumers "

wait what.......i bet the people who are ma's and pa's don't even know there is such thing as online play, and if they do i'm sure they don't know the level of online play PS3 and 360 offer.

next to that....how do you know consumers are disappointed?
don't make stuff up, i take you don't like the wii so why even bother telling people false claims?

im actually spurprised, people pretend nintendo is doing something really bad.....but in fact arent they taking a step in the right direction? adding online play!!?

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forum_crawler - 647 days 23 hours ago

10.3 - Not really...

I am a Nintendo customer, and I am not disappointed that the game has no voice chat. On the contrary, the console is much more than I expected it to be, and it keeps getting better and better, so I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo enabled more features as time goes along... After all, they've never completely revealed all the tricks the console has under its sleeve.

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Killjoy3000 - 647 days 15 hours ago

10.4 -

ok intrepid thats just your opinion but the bottom line is nintendo has been dishing out the same franchises theyve been feeding us for 20 years. and then nintendo has the nerve to pass themselves and their creations off as "creative" and "innovative. oh and of course the customers feed in to their BS. the truth is, nintendo has not innovated much upon anything what with their gimmickiy controls, last gen hardware, and no infrastructure of any sort. now im not a fanboy and im jnot saying that sony and micro$oft are innovating upon a whole much but im just saying people need to realise that the nintendo wii will follow in the GC footsteps. die in a year. the system will pretty much be useless in 1 full year from now.

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ItsDubC - 647 days 14 hours ago

10.5 - Killjoy

Ppl said the Wii would die in a year... a year ago. Its sales have already passed the GC's lifetime sales, so the Wii's fate is already different from that of the GC.

"nintendo has not innovated much upon anything what with their gimmickiy controls, last gen hardware, and no infrastructure of any sort."

Don't get opinion confused w/ fact. Whether something is "gimmicky" is completely subjective. Of course, anyone who downplays the significance of the Wii's motion controls will see the console's hardware as "last-gen" because this is what differentiates it from its competitors.

If by infrastructure you are talking about online infrastructure, the Wii has online play and therefore has such an infrastructure. It is not as robust gameplay-wise as Live or PSN, but it exists and is still evolving like the other services.

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Killjoy3000 - 647 days 13 hours ago

10.6 -

wii gtames like super mario galaxy and twilight princess are cool and all but id rather just play them on a regular gamepad. and also when the wii is degraded to crappy minigames such as cooking mama and carnival games thats when you know there is no thirdparty support at all. oh and hey buddy, there is no infrastructure for wii. its not community based at all (i was talking about online games for wii). playing brawl is gonna be like playing ad hoc on my psp. just because youre playing online doesnt mean you have a fully fledged infrastructure. nintendo wont admit it, but they have given up on any kind of community based online game for wii (if it can even happen).

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Killjoy3000 - 647 days 13 hours ago

10.7 -

forum crawler thats because they dont have any tricks up their sleaves. they have an 8 of spades, a 6 of diamonds, a 2 of diamonds, a 3 of hearts, and a jack of clubs.

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ItsDubC - 647 days 13 hours ago

10.8 -

When did an infrastructure require a community aspect in order for it to be considered an infrastructure?

You seem to know a lot about what Nintendo is and isn't going to do in the future. How so? Animal Crossing Wii may very well be an excellent community-based game.

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Fishy Fingers - 648 days 13 hours ago

11 -

Nintendo's key was getting the "game" (or fun) off the screen and into the living room. They've excelled, who honestly plays the WII much when alone? talk to the people in the room.

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Axelay - 648 days 12 hours ago

12 -

Maybe, just think about it guys, perhaps online is not so important.

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l Drop Dead Ed l - 648 days 12 hours ago

13 -

I might use text based chat! I would love to put pwning phrases for the other people to read while I smoke them!

I just don't see why Nintendo is going to charge for online when really there's nothing good enough to pay for...you can't do anything online which is sort ofa downer.

Well at least you don't have to put friend codes on your texts...then again Nintendo is the conservative parent in this family of consoles...anything can happen or better yet anything can be blocked or worded as "an unnecessary thing for the public to have"

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Axelay - 648 days 12 hours ago

13.1 -

Exactly no need "unnecessary things", this game brought the only thing that mario kart was lacking at least on console.
So why do people complaining.

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wiizy - 648 days 12 hours ago

14 - lol

to me smash bros, mario kart , wii fit and animal crossing is enough for wii to outsell competition 2 to 1 the whole year. but i know nintendo is hiding 3 big games , i hope at least 3

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wiizy - 648 days 12 hours ago

15 - lol

and a price drop.. i would like to see the wii 199 with wii sport around when wii fit comes out.

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Axelay - 648 days 12 hours ago

16 -

Wii sport is one of the main reason, people are attracted by the console why drop it.
I think the smart move is to bundle the console with others games who need to be expose: bundle with casual game and bundle with "hardcore games"
Didn't nintendo announce a bundle with mario kart ?

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PS360WII - 648 days 12 hours ago

17 -

wow so many people not intrested at all in Nintendo want to talk about Nintendo... or at least they just want to talk down on them.

Again you guys complain about all the racial slurs, cursing, slander, people talking about killing you in real life that is found in LIVE and PSN and you wonder why Nintendo doesn't want that... uh-huh

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ItsDubC - 648 days 12 hours ago

18 -

All my cousin does w/ voicechat is talk $hi+ when he plays on Live. I get annoyed just watching him play.

I have no desire for that on the Wii.

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Fishy Fingers - 648 days 12 hours ago

18.1 -

and nor do Nintendo. I honestly dont think the WII needs it. I've never seen or read someone say "hey its a great game, but where's the voice chat??"

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1 Kaz Hirai | 648 days 13 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

2 MiniMii | 648 days 12 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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Intrepid - 648 days 12 hours ago

2.1 -

First off, Kaz Hirai works for Sony. Secondly, the Wii can handle great online play. Nintendo chooses not to implement it because of rules and regulations. It's already been said that Mario Kart has stat tracking/leaderboards that put most games to shame. They chose not to include voice chat. They weren't constrained by hardware limitations like most ignorant people on this site believe.

The ignorance is astounding...

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Niclas - 647 days 19 hours ago

3 - hahahahahahahha

Everybody who bought a wii, is getting screwed so bad..
Have fun playing your last-gen POS gamecube 1,4 .. no.. nintendo didnt have ANYTHING to show at GDC, its embarasing ..

And Intrepid r u kidding me ? Friend codes and no voice chat ? no demos only sh*tty N64 games u can download, and have like 2 of, because of your lame 500mb retarddisc HAHAHA .. sell your wii, and buy a real gaming console.. cuz its only gonna get worse (more more more GC and PS2 ports on the way ROFL)

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permutated - 647 days 19 hours ago

3.1 -

You're an idiot.

There are plenty of great 1st party titles for the Wii.

Just because you want big, epic games with crazy multiplayer options doesn't make the Wii a bad choice, just a different one.

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3.2 leon76 | 647 days 18 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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feejo - 647 days 14 hours ago

4 - NIN is for kids

They really don't need to ear the bad people screaming insane words in the mic.

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streeks1984 - 647 days 14 hours ago

5 -

bottom line is they should have put it in I fail to see why they would choose otherwise.

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KeiZka - 647 days 12 hours ago

5.1 -

Because you say they should have? I'd still like to think that it isn't a necessary aspect to gaming, even though it might be a good addition. So I'd rather say they could've put it in, but thus far they haven't lost that much at all by not putting it in.

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6 MiniMii | 647 days 12 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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Niclas - 646 days 11 hours ago

7 - hehe

No a wii is not a different coise .. its a stupid choice..

Seriously .. playing Mario galaxy and the wii's other "Great titles" (LOL) while you know someone else a little more brainy than u, is sitting playing Halo3 or Bioshock or COD4, is like having 2 bang a disgusting whore while he is with Jessica Alba rofl

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