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.

Re:Say it ain't so!

[bigman2003]

This actually makes a lot of sense.

Both companies are aiming at the same 'simplistic' demographic.

"We make games that are easy to understand, and you can pick up quickly"

"We get you on-line, no matter how dumb you are"

People always complain that the Xbox and PS2 are less 'accessible'. So I think that Nintendo has found a good partner.

Sounds better for Nintendo than AOL

[tessaiga]

According to the article, AOL agrees to advertise Gamecube games by "spotlight[ing Nintendo products] on key AOL and AOL Time Warner websites". In return, Nintendo bundles more AOL coasters and agrees to feature AOL as their ISP of choice for internet games they don't plan to develop. We all remember Nintendo reporting [go.com] that, unlike Sony and Microsoft, "We still don't see online gaming as a mass-market thing".

The same IGN press release announcing the partnership even rushes to point out that "this does not indicate the unveiling of a new online gaming approach from Nintendo. Nor does it signify that we have changed our position on the current business viability in the online console gaming field." Unless I'm missing something here, sounds an awful like saying "Yep, we'll use you if we ever want to go online, but we don't, so we won't."

Re:Say it ain't so!

[NanoGator]

"How can Nintendo make such a poor decision? Don't the Japanese hear stories of how hellish AOL's connection speeds and busy signal rates are?"

Nintendo has stated before that they won't do on-line until they can make it reasonable for the player. They don't feel that a per month subscription is a good idea. AOL's big enough (and available enough) that they can probably work out a close to free approach. Maybe paid for advertising or something?

I didn't immediately balk at this story. An alternative provider doesn't immediately pop into mind. Remember that Nintendo's not after the niche audience here.

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

[sabinm]

What is probably going to happen (whether in this iteration of Nintendo's console or the next) is that AOL will offer a service much like XBOX Live's newly integrated browser with buddies and all. So instead of paying 29 a month for a gui for you internet service, you get 29 or 15 or 10 a month for a Gaming ISP, that is a clone of Xbox live out of the box. Think of it. AOL already has content delivery, streaming movies, and broadband to spare. Why not piggy back on it and make a viable gaming platform without having to rely on independent gaming companies or digging too deep into your pockets to do so. It is a intelligent move by Nintendo, to get *instant* online capabilities, and a coup for AOL time Warner, because there will be a whole new demographic (a growth area at that) that will subscribe to their AOL service.

Plus AIM is one of the superior IM clients out there.

Stupid question

[Anonymous Coward]

So if I don't use AOL, I don't get online multi in Nintendo's games? I already have a broadband ISP account. I don't want to sign up for AOL's "bring your own connection" service, since AOL's exclusive content has no appeal for me. Can't we have peer to peer connections for 2 player? Just enter your friends ip address and away you go.

Answers? Anyone?

Not simplistic.

[Inoshiro]

Nintendo is working towards producing games that have an easy enough control scheme, but contain a great depth of gameplay (good examples of such games are Ico, Pikmin, Monkey Ball, Animal Crossing).

It's a good decision because gaming won't be free of people who decry its "violence" and won't be free of stygmatization until it's at least as mainstream as movies. Nintendo revived gaming in North America. Sony made it 3D. Now Nintendo is trying to make the initial barrier less so more people can game.