Nintendo Network

Nintendo is slowly catching up in the online department, as Satoru Iwata unveiled the "Nintendo Network" in an investor presentation today. The "Nintendo Network," whose logo was just spotted on the Japanese Theatrhythm cover, will cover "competitions and communication among users, as well as the sales of digital content," Iwata said, for both 3DS and Wii U. Elements, like the "Community" building functionality, have already been implemented in Mario Kart 7.

For the Wii U, the Nintendo Network will support multiple personal user accounts per system, finally ending Nintendo's insistence on tying software purchases to a single system.

The Network may also entail digital sales of retail 3DS games. "This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure," Iwata said. "We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it."

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/wii-u-getting-user-accounts-as-part-of...

Weitere Infos aus den Kommentaren des Joystick-Berichts:

Nintendo Network is not a rebranded Nintendo Wi Fi Connection. It is an all new network.
*200 games for 3DS currently in development
*60% of all 3DS systems are connected online at any given time
*Wii U will launch before Christmas. Nintendo promises a strong launch lineup.
*Wii U will be NFC enabled.
*Nintendo will offer DLC for first party games on a case by case basis.
*Wii U will have unified account based system ala PSN and Xbox Live. Your account will no longer be tied to your hardware.
*Nintendo will announce a lot more things related to its online and digital strategy in the coming days.
*Digital will include user to user communications and sharing. Iwata mentioned the possibility of selling your copy of digital game to a friend after being done with it.
*Full Retail Games will be avalable for Download for Both 3DS and Wii U via eShop.
*Nintendo Network will be Nintendo's new online network across 3DS and Wii U.
*Nintendo will announce major alliances and partnerships with external parties and companies that were not previously considered.
*Wii U will support microtransactions
*Digital will not cannibalize retail, and retail will not cannibalize digital on 3DS and Wii U.
*Miyamoto: Wii U online has to be something totally new and progressive to attract new users.
*Wii U will be more than just improved graphics, but some games, like the new Zelda, will be graphical showcases.
*Communities from Mario Kart will become a regular feature in Nintendo games

Der Weiterverkauf digitaler Software wäre ja ein Hammer. Alles wehrt sich gegen den Gebrauchthandel, Nintendo hingegen würde dies sogar unterstützen.