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Nintendo has officially announced Nintendo Network, the new online service for 3DS and Wii U.
Nintendo Network will enable fans to purchase download extra content for their games, download games, take part in competitions, communicate with other users and set up their own personal accounts on Wii U.
Satoru Iwata officially announced Nintendo Network at a financial briefing.
Introducing Nintendo Network, the company's President said: "Unlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers."
Community matches and DLC
Iwata used the Community matches in Mario Kart 7 as an example of how Nintendo Network can work and he also referred to Tobidasu Pricla Kiradeco Revolution, a Japanese 3DS game which is the first 3DS game that enables fans to buy extra DLC.
Additionally Square-Enix plans to release paid-for DLC content for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, a rhythm action game that will be released on February 16th in Japan. Fans will be able to purchase extra music for the game when it's released in Japan.
However, Iwata reassured fans that they won't end up spending a fortune on extra content. He said that fans will always know exactly what they're getting before they spend money. "Nintendo believes that its packaged software should be sold to our consumers in a form so that the consumers will know in advance that they can enjoy playing the software they purchased just as it is," said Iwata.
"We believe that our consumers will be able to feel more secure if we offer our add-on content as an additional structure in which those who love the game will be able to enjoy it in a deeper way for a prolonged play time."
Digital software available via Nintendo Network
Nintendo is also considering the digital distribution of packaged software so some games will be available to buy in the shops or download. Apparently the infrastructure for this is already built into 3DS and it will be rolled out for Wii U.
Iwata conceded that Nintendo would need to consider the required memory capacity on consumers' SD memory cards.
Wii U personal account system
Finally, for Wii U, Nintendo will introduce a personal account system that's compatible with Nintendo Network. Iwata promised that this personal account system will be improved for families who are using the same console.
What do you think of Nintendo's plans for Nintendo Network?
looking forward to it. anything is better than nothing...
This is great news! I knew they'd do it, they almost HAD to do it to be fair. I can see Nintendo's service being a little more streamlined than PSN and XBL. All my wishes are coming true with the Wii U just one more... and thats some form of an achievement/trophy system. They have dabbled with it 'accomplishments' in the Mii Plaza but I think 'Coins' would suit Nintendo perfectly
"Coins". No, no, no. "STARS" should be the Accomplishment system if that's what they intend to do. I for one don't care about Achievements and the like but if it became a reality then that's fine too. The only thing I really care about is downloadable content, as long developers don't make games that make progress harder and slower if you choose not to purchase an extra.
Nintendo have said, or atleast implied I believe, that they won't put achievements onto the systems like the competitors have. So I doubt we'll get anything like this soon...
But everything in this news article was great news! Can't wait for Nintendo to catch up
I dont mind just as long as they dont make it like having to pay for animal crossing dlcs and everything like that or it'll be just like xbox charging you for anything they can
As long as they scrap friend codes in this new network it'll be an improvment. If Nintendo doesn't improve on the WiFi Connection system then they'll get a beating from the online systems of the next-gen xbox and Playstation, but I'm hopeful that I'll be satisfied enough
Has anyone else noticed when they're connecting to an online game of Mario Kart 7, that the words 'Connecting to Nintendo Network' come up, I'm told that it's different for North American users though, so a little strange!
I hope they DON'T add a achievement system, they are a cheap way of making the player play the game longer. Can't remember who said it but it was someone from Nintendo who commented on why they haven't got them and they said it's because they want the player to discover (for example) different locations by themselves and because theirs a achievement that tells them to.( it was something along them lines).
Cannot wait for this! hope they let you link the 3ds and wii u accounts. Cmon extras on mk7! This and a new mario game announced today, what a great day.
I've got a 16GB SDHC card so downloading big games won't be a problem to me! I would love more demos and lots of DLC, both free and paid for. Seems like a good idea to me.
"We believe that our consumers will be able to feel more secure if we offer our add-on content as an additional structure in which those who love the game will be able to enjoy it in a deeper way for a prolonged play time."
Hopefully this will mean that we don't get DLC for games at launch. Things which could and should have been in the game already!
That's great news, even if Nintendo were a little late to the party, but at least we've got something like it now. Guitar Hero was the only game that did downloadable content on the Wii and that was handled in the game itself. Progress has now been made.
Nintendo Network's about 6 years too late, to be honest. This type service should have been available for the Wii since day one, like Xbox LIVE or PSN. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that they've finally made this service for their consoles, but they're rather late to the party.
This and a new mario game announced today, what a great day. 
