Nintendo Network Will Get Competitions and User Communication

I'm looking forward to it, especially as someone who doesn't have a PS3 or 360 to try it for himself. Hope this blows those other guys out of the water.

Hopefully this means we get an online accounts system to use for purchase and management of downloadable games and content, and also to replace that annoying friend code system.

@phoenix1818 Yep, I have a feeling the friend codes are going out the window.

@phoenix1818 Yep, Wii U will get online user accounts

You hear that, everypony? MK7's NL Bronies Unite community: Coming soon to Wii U near u, Fall 2012. This gaming news day keeps getting better and better!

Competitions !? Im Game when i hear that kinda stuff. I wonder how far they will take it though. Good News every week for Nintendo so far.

Sounds good. Just add demos to that list and it'll be perfect.
Also free video chat would be awesome.

@MasterGraveheart
I doubt it'll rival the big two. Microsoft spend a lot of years and money developing XBL and PSN has slowly been playing catch up since it launched.

Nintendo has been very reluctant to move into this territory, so I very much doubt they're going to instantly be better, especially in terms of the social networking and DLC add on content. But it's at least a step in the right direction.

I think a good example is New Super Smash Bros. that people can play it on 3DS and Wii U in Multiplayer...you know cross platform matchmaking. If that happens and more games will use it, then it would be great.

@FlutterShyGuy: Better watch out for the Spider-man troll communities

Sounds promising. Nintendo + a real online community = big things.

It never bothered me that Nintendo was lagging behind in the online space, but it's nice to see that they have a much better plan this time around. Yeah, it sounds like friend codes are all but gone, and the network being open to other developers services and content is going to be a huge advantage for Nintendo, I feel. Anxious to see more.

I would have thought Nintendo would have come up with something more original than somethiing so similar to the Playstation Network.

I hope Kid Icarus takes advantage of this.

Hmm, that's gonna be interesting to see. I wonder if they took outside help to design it..

But sounds good. Hopefully it'll work at least as good as PSN. I wonder if they're gonna update the 3DS to fit this too. Like, an update that takes away FC and implements this system with user names instead.

That'd be great.

Since they're copying PSN, I wonder how long before they copy Home, or something more akin to Animal Crossing with Miis. I've been impressed with the 3DS Mii Plaza - much better than Wii - experience. My wife and kids are always excited to get another Mii, especially from another region. A cross platform MMO seems a natural fit.

@Highwinter

I personally only care if it works. NWFC worked fine. And frankly, I don't care much about the Xbox Live experience. PSN doesn't really to play catch up, because it's doing it's own thing in it's own way- as Nintendo is.

I rather have diverse services than simple carbon copies. All this is is an improvement of Nintendo's current online offerings. Not a catch-up.

Nintendo better do a good job with this. If they don't get it right now, they might never get back the "Hardcore" audience they lost to the Xbox 360 and PS3.

^Agreed. I'll be hoping for the best, that's for sure.

Yesss! That's why there's been no Nintendo WiFi Connection logos. Nintendo Network will make things right. What will Nintendo call their E3 "Nintendo Network" coverage, though?

@Lordlz
I think Spider-Pig should have a community!
Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig, does whatever a Spider-Pig does!

Sounds very promising. I'm glad Nintendo is appealing to the core gamers again.

They've kind of done it with Tetris DS and some other game I don't remember you could see your stats and all those stuff and the server goes down / up / down / kind of up and they shot it down... I wish it won't be the same this time...

@22: Nintendo Network: E3 Edition?

I'm still waiting for Hammer Bro DLC in MK7

P.S. What happened to putting Game Gear Games on eShop

I am hoping it's on par with PSN!

@JimLad: Why in HEAVEN'S NAME should video chat be included? Isn't the premise of voice communication enough?

I mean, PSN and XBL have video chat features but (for good reason), most core gamers don't use these features. Why would anyone wish to see and speak to the person that they're playing against? Please forgive my bluntness but discontinuing friend codes is a GREAT thing, but enabling video chat would cause circumstances which would prompt Nintendo to put the friend codes BACK IN.

This is good news indeed but I don't think this is their attempt to copy what Microsoft and Sony have laid out for their consoles' online infrastructure. They are launching what would work for the Wii U and 3DS while offering other stuff that makes it unique. I agree with other people who said that it should work for everyone who creates an account and that our experiences on it should be smooth and makes us want to come back over and over again, whether it's to buy new games or DLC or to play online games.

Well, looks like people are gonna have to find a new thing to complain about...

... It's an RSS, er, NSS feed icon

I hope they can balance offering a large number of services and keeping it as free as possible. Let's hope Nintendo uses this as an appealing feature for their customers and not just a money-maker.

Wow a Nintendo Network...welp that's it I'm throwing my 360 out the window.