14 DAY TRIAL // The upcoming Nintendo Wii U console won't have a single online network, like Microsoft's Xbox Live or Sony's PlayStation Network, as Nintendo is keen on allowing publishers the freedom to set up their own platforms on the new device.
Nintendo presented the Wii U last month at E3 2011, and impressed a lot of people with its high-definition powers, unique controller as well as the promise that it will rival current platforms like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 in terms of capabilities.
One such area is online infrastructure, where the current Wii has been severely lacking in front of its rivals.
We've heard a few details about the service, but Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has now admitted to Forbes that it will be leaving the task of creating an online network to the game publishers, instead of offering an all-encompassing service.
"We've said that the Wii U will have an extremely robust online experience," the executive said. "We've seen what our competitors have done, and we've acknowledged that we need to do more online. For Wii... what we're doing is creating a much more flexible system that will allow the best approaches by independent publishers to come to bear.
"So instead of a situation where a publisher has their own network and wants that to be the predominant platform, and having arguments with platform holders, we're going to welcome that. We're going to welcome that from the best and the brightest of the third party publishers."
This is quite an interesting idea, but it makes sense, given how inexperienced Nintendo is in terms of creating online infrastructures, fact highlighted by the recent Nintendo 3DS handheld, which still is quite closed, as opposed to other devices like the 6-year old PSP from Sony.
Still, the company should at least try to implement some sort of global services, like a messaging or voice chat system, which can be accessed no matter the specific network the player is currently using.