Nintendo, AOL Enter Into Online Agreement

Thanks to IGN Cube for their story that Nintendo of America have reached an agreement for AOL to be the 'official preferred ISP' for GameCube. Nintendo have apparently informed IGN that "...developers who choose to create online games for GameCube will be licensed AOL connectivity software that will enable their games to connect online through AOL", but Nintendo also clarified that "...this does not indicate the unveiling of a new online gaming approach from Nintendo", making this partly an oddly cryptic co-marketing announcement, rather than any major breakthrough.

My Take Between The Lines (Salt Grain Included)

[Babbster]

I see this "partnership" as being something brought on by developer dissatisfaction with Nintendo's online strategy thus far. I expect that Nintendo chose AOL as a viable stopgap solution giving them access to already existing middleware that they can give to developers, without having to invest any additional money in R&D to get a solution out themselves.

I would further theorize that Nintendo sees this as a way to shut people up about Gamecube online connectivity which I don't think they're going to support to any large degree in this console generation. I think they've decided that they're not really going to make any money on GC connectivity, so there's no point in developing anything permanent for it.

If Nintendo is actively pursuing any online plans, they are probably slated for the next console. You know, the next console which they've now pledged will not come out later than Sony or Microsoft despite their early assertions that the Gamecube would have a much longer lifespan than the average home console.

My prediction for Nintendo's TRUE entry into the online arena? I'm glad you asked (haha). With their next console, Nintendo will roll out with Internet capability built in. At launch, it will have at least two first-party, online-playable games which will be playable through Nintendo's brand-new online service. Further, that service will cost about the same as Xbox Live (matching any price increases that MS implements over the next two years).

Nintendo has made their position regarding online play quite clear. They aren't going to commit until they figure out a way to make money on it, and I don't think they believe an online capability for the Gamecube is a money-maker.

Re:Say it ain't so!

[Kethinov]

Nintendo partnering with AOL? C'mon, that's like Ghandi partnering with Satan!

Yeah that pretty much sums it up. But it's not as if Nintendo hasn't fucked themselves in the past though. Don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo. They've always been my favorite console just because they make such wonderful quality games. But I've lost faith in their corporate ability years ago.

It all started when they got rid of Squaresoft. (Or when they let Squaresoft defect. Whichever interpretation you prefer.) No more Final Fantasies on Nintendo. Big problem.

Then they go and shoot themselves in the foot with the N64 / Gamecube. Playstation / Sega was using CDs; 700mb data freedom by now. Nintendo still used cartridges which seemed to max out at 128mb data (based on my ROM ripping experience.) Then Xbox / PS2 come out. They use DVDs. 4.x gigs. GC uses minidisks. 2 gigs is it? Xbox plays DVDs. PS2 plays DVDs. Gamecube? Sorry. You get the picture. Nintendo is using obsolete or less powerful technology in their consoles from, what I've been told, is fear of piracy. And judging from the progress on www.emutalk.net [emutalk.net] and various other Nintendo emu sites, all that extra effort didn't get them much.

Then, as if that weren't enough, despite pleading cries from die hard Nintendo fans like myself, Nintendo announces they are dropping all plans to develop online games.

To top it all off? Now they've teamed up with the Devil. Nintendo sure has lost their way. :(

Probably more good than bad... (I hope.)

[FauxReal]

Well my first reaction was *groan* "I can't believe they'd partner up with such a retarded ISP." But then I realized... "Oh, wait... I'm a net savvy slashdot reader... I'm not exactly the AOL target market." Which would be families who like things easy and homogonized... kind of like AOL users. It's not like Nintendo is going to force people to use AOL. They might provide free coasters in their console boxes. Either way, I think it helps Nintendo because it would give them in your face exposure to the millions of AOL users. Who knows maybe the cute goodness of Nintendo will bring a little more family fun into the home instead of bloody frag/crash/shoot fests. (Not that I'm apposed to that type of gaming fun... It's just not so appropriate for 12 year olds.)