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Post by Nester the Lark on May 12, 2010 15:23:45 GMT -5
Wired.com has an article on Nintendo's downloadable software policies. Specifically, it discusses how VC and WW games are linked to the console it was downloaded to instead of a user account, meaning that the games are not intended to be transferable to other consoles (except in the case of a malfunction). I've heard from people who really hate the VC and WiiWare specifically for this reason. They feel that if they own multiple Wiis, then they should be able to play all of their downloaded software on all of them. They also don't like the idea of the games not being tied to an account, and thus there's no safety net if the console malfunctions or gets destroyed (altho it is possible to link the console to a Club Nintendo account). On the other hand, the policy somewhat works for Nintendo since they have a drastically lower failure rate than either Sony or Microsoft. Plus, Nintendo typically doesn't release constant upgrades to the Wii like Sony and Microsoft do for their systems, so there's little reason to keep purchasing new Wiis. However, that's beginning to change with Nintendo releasing the DSi XL, and some users discovering that they could not transfer their DSiWare games to their new system. And now, some people want to upgrade to the black Wii, presenting the same problem. Technically, tho, it's part of their user agreement, so if you are downloading games, then you've already legally submitted to it. Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts on this situation are. Are you discouraged from buying VC/WW games because of this? Have you ever needed to transfer games to another console? Personally, I don't think Nintendo has the best online policies. It does show short-sightedness on their part not to anticipate the inevitable. But I think they will likely come up with a solution of some sort because I don't think it would be characteristic for Nintendo to screw over its customers that badly. |
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Post by Nester the Lark on May 13, 2010 14:19:19 GMT -5
No opinions about his? I would've thought this might be a touchy subject.
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Post by Koopaul on May 13, 2010 15:09:23 GMT -5
Oh well. This stuff is brand new to Nintendo. They're really late with this downloading content and stuff compared to everyone else. So I always assumed their download system would be a bit flawed. They'll get it right next time.
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Post by TV Eye on May 13, 2010 15:19:58 GMT -5
Meh, I've never bought anything over Nintendo's store, so it doesn't bother me at all.
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Post by Johans Nidorino on May 13, 2010 20:19:39 GMT -5
I guess if I had more friends who I played Wii with in person, it could affect me in the sense that I wouldn't enjoy taking my Wii to their home just to play together a particular game that only I own.
It doesn't affect me much because:
1. I don't have many local friends that own a Wii.
2. Most friends that own a Wii live far away, even outside my country. If I feel like I'd kill to play with them a particular WiiWare game online, I usually send them the game as a Wii Shop gift.
3. Neither my friends nor I own that many Virtual Console or WiiWare titles anyway.
But even so, I really wish you could play your games on other person's system. That's how things have always been done when friends gather and they don't own the same games. If downloadable games are meant to be equivalent to retail games, they should try to change their policies a little.
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Post by Shrikeswind on May 13, 2010 20:36:52 GMT -5
I personally see no issue with it, and I can explain why. First of all, while these games are non-transferable, they're also friggin' CHEAP. Let's use Sonic & Knuckles for my example. I download Sonic & Knuckles for the Wii and PS3. My Wii cost me $200 and my PS3 cost me $300. Let's assume Sonic & Knuckles has the same cost on all systems, $8. Both my Wii and my PS3 break down. Now I have to go and buy a new Wii and a new PS3. With the PS3, I'm putting down $300 to be able to have Sonic & Knuckles constantly available to me, alternately, I rely on my friend to play it for free, but bother my friend and have to go out of my way every time I want to play Sonic & Knuckles. I buy a new Wii, it runs me $200 again, and I have the added cost of Sonic & Knuckles which costs $8. I paid $416 with my Wiis, while I paid $608 with my PS3s. For one game, sure, but in order for it to become I problem I'd need a certain number of games on my Wii and an equal value of games on my PS3. For the sake of consistancy, we'll only use $8 games. I know you can get games cheaper and more expensive, but let's keep it consistant and average. At $8 a game, I'm paying as much for my games on my Wii and my PS3 at 25 games, $800. Anything under 25 games and the Wii's the better value. More than 25, and it's the PS3. Assuming I buy both at the same time and they both break down at the same time, an unlikely situation for a number of reasons, but one of the biggest is that the Wii, as you mentioned, Nester, has a lower failure rate than the PS3, so I'm less likely going to have to put down so much money.
Now, the reason I don't mention the 360 is simply for the sake of keeping the post shorter and I'm more familiar with the PS3's console price.
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Post by TV Eye on May 13, 2010 23:46:47 GMT -5
Actually Shrike, games on Nintendo's store are hella expensive.
Sony charges $6 for all PSone games that don't require any overseas copyright claims. For the latter, a $10 fee is put on, and this is for games like Final Fantasy 7 and Metal Gear Solid.
Nintendo is charging $8 for some old Genesis game and $10 for shitty N64 games.
Also, $5 for NES games, what? Shouldn't they be like a dollar? I don't know. Seems a little overpriced for something that came out over 25 years ago.
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Post by parrothead on May 14, 2010 0:21:44 GMT -5
I believe Nintendo is trying to make it more difficult for anyone to dump DSiWare, WiiWare and even Virtual Console ROMs (though there are original console ROMs), so they can make it easier to sell their products.
Perhaps sometime in the future there will be handhelds with massive, built-in hard drives, no game cart ports, and either a browser and shop channel combined or separate.
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Post by 8bitretroshit on May 14, 2010 0:52:23 GMT -5
Because everybody can dump their roms on XBox Live Arcade and the PS store, right?
I'm still afraid my US Wii might break down since I don't know how I can get it replaced. You know, since it's foreign. I think I spent over 200 US bucks on VC/Wiiware stuff by now so if the thing breaks, welp.
A Nintendo account system would be great, but knowing Nintendo it won't show up until their next console is released.
For over 2 months.
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Post by Dances in Undergarments on May 14, 2010 1:52:56 GMT -5
Oh well. This stuff is brand new to Nintendo. They're really late with this downloading content and stuff compared to everyone else. So I always assumed their download system would be a bit flawed. They'll get it right next time. What? No. Nintendo aren't our 4 year old brother, whom we are supposed to be encouraging with "oh well, that was close enough, you're such a clever boy'. They're a multinational company who fucked up every single bit of their online implementation, which is amazing considering they weren't even going into uncharted territory here - all they had to do was copy Xbox Live or even the PSN. It is a huge oversite. I am looking at getting my mum a Wii, or myself a new one and letting her keep mine, when I move out. But so much shit is locked to the system. She wants her Wii Fit data, her Miis, etc. I want my game saves, my VC / Wiiware, and, hell, my Miis. How do we both get them? Surely this situation, wherein I'm planning to give Nintendo more goddamn money, should be encouraged by them. |
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Post by Fryguy64 on May 14, 2010 4:15:35 GMT -5
That's the basic thing - Nintendo makes a lot of its money from regular hardware upgrades, new system colours, etc. The kind of people who hand-down or sell one Wii to buy a black one, or replace their DS with a new model, will also be the kind of people who spend quite a lot of money on the online shop. Their online policy is basically going to kill that market or leave a lot of very unsatisfied customers. The galling thing is just how much money I have spent on WiiWare and VC, and how all of that money is tied to this particular machine. Why can't I have a personal Nintendo Store account and tie my Wii, my DS and perhaps even my Mii to it permanently? It could all be quite simple. Nintendo could allow each Nintendo Store account to have one Wii and one DSi/XL/3DS model to be tied to it at any one time. If you register a new system, your games can only be played on the registered system. It would require some firmware upgrades and likely would require a simple online transfer process to ensure both systems have the right registration information... But surely that (while restrictive enough to prevent multiple copies of the game being tied to several machines) is a lot simpler than sending both machines to Nintendo  |
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Post by nocturnal YL on May 16, 2010 9:24:07 GMT -5
Accounts won't work for people like me, people who don't live in a region with the presence of Nintendo.
Actually, I'd like to question the very policy of the internal flash memory being internal. I can't move it across systems, make backup copy or whatever is needed to provide at least an acceptable user experience.
Be prepared to experienced a drop in reputation with the next big thing comes out, Nintendo. Paying that much for doing what emulators could have far surpassed without the ability to copy and stuff? Now Nintendo, stop complaining about piracy until these are fixed.
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jun 22, 2010 19:33:05 GMT -5
According to GoNintendo, it appears that Nintendo is considering a different approach to downloadable games, but it doesn't sound like any changes will be made until the next generation of consoles. In the words of Reggie Fils-Amie: It is certainly something we're looking at. Our current approach is a device-based approach. The content is tied to a particular device. Until we move to a different type of an approach like an account based approach you're not going to be able to transfer the content. We are looking at how best to bring that to life. The step function change we want to see is going to need to be on a new device, like the 3DS.
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