
During today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, Satoru Iwata provided information on Wii U user accounts and the Nintendo Network ID. In terms of user accounts, it'll be possible to have up to 12 on the system, with each storing their own save data, settings and internet browser bookmarks. With the console's concept of being an integral part of the living room amongst the whole family, this certainly seems to make that possible.
Setting up a user account will be one of the first things to do when starting up the system, and it'll be followed by a Nintendo Network ID; it's the ID that will drive interactions on Miiverse, eShop purchases and Wii U Chat. Perhaps most importantly, eShop purchases on the ID will be accessible by all user accounts on the system, so buying a game while logged in on one account won't stop others jumping into their own user settings and playing the same game.
The Nintendo Network ID is intended to work across all Nintendo platforms in future — we imagine a 3DS update will introduce it in good time — and as suggested before it'll also work on related services on computers and smartphones. That'll open the door for Miiverse via various browsers, or potentially managing eShop purchases while away from Wii U or 3DS.
So, 12 user accounts and Nintendo Network ID download purchases that can be played across them all: are you pleased with this announcement? You can also check out the translated video, below.
Comments 46
Hmm I still don't know about accounts... TO me having it tied seems better...
Very pleased to hear this.
I also love the idea that your Nintendo ID can link with other online services, like Orgin or Steam. Such a great feature.
Can't wait to try all of this out.
So it sounds like there still will be a friend code, but it will be done like the 3DS.
Eh.
@HarmoKnight Why?
Awesome! Can't wait to get a wii u!
Wait...
did they ever say that there won't be Friend Codes?
Seriously, Nintendo, nobody likes them.
Nobody.
@Aviator

Seems like the accounts will be linked to a Email adres rather than a numerical code this time.
More info here.
Please, write an article about Wiiware & Virtual Console system transfer.
Account based system, eh? Freaking finally. asd
hm, my old wii probably has more wiiware purchases for me... any way we might be able to import 2 wii's into one wii? Probably not...
@Robb There you go. Missed the Nintendo Direct. Thanks for that!
@Aviator
No problem.
We've now added some translated videos to the articles so far, provided by Nintendo UK.
Love the idea of a single-account purchase allowing multiple accounts to play the game instead of just the individual account that bought the game. That, to me, is how game downloads should be done. Moving on, 12 accounts is a hefty amount, so that should fit everybody in a family.
Twelve accounts is more than enough to handle all the snakes in my head.
One of the reasons I have for purchasing a WiiU is so I can finally link those Virtual Console purchases I made (on Wii) to an account. That way they are "backed-up" in a sense, in case the console breaks down (and can hopefully be redownloaded to a new WiiU).
So when they say Friend Code, I assume he's trying to explain to people new to account systems but have used Nintendo consoles before that you'll be using each other's Account ID to register friends instead of a numerical code.
So it's almost exactly like the PS3 set-up? Separate WiiU accounts, and separate online accounts?
That's not a mocking sarcastic copycat comment dig at Nintendo, I'm just asking if they are as similar as they seem. I like our PS3 set-up. The new PSN store, well that's another story.
@HarmoKnight until your console breaks down and you lose all your downloaded purchases, the user ID and account system is so much better as all that information is saved to your network ID, and all you have to do is sign in~
12 User ID sounds good to me this is great news.
@renaryuugufan92 If its lost file a police report and if it's dead, send it in to be fixed, I just don't like accounts because they are both too easy to access and to complicated, I don't even like having a bank account IRL
The time of the download will vary by connection speed and traffic.. I can only imagine how many people will download that update at once. Nintendo's servers are going to have a hard time the 18th, the 30th an the 8th
It's great to have independent saves for each user in such a comfy way.
If the savegame transfer from Wii to Wii U is only possible per SD card it seems to exclude data for some games.
@HarmoKnight
...File a police report...send it in...are you hearing yourself right now? You sound like an old man dude.
And too complicated? It's simplier, if anything. Everything is shared and linked to an email account. There. What was so complicated about that? You do that all the time when you sign into a website. The web sige is there for everyone to use, but you can sign in and have your own account.
I´m agree with @8
I wish a Wii channel called ID channel (or something like that) where we can transfer our download to Wii U without lose our games in Wii, or if we lose our games then transfer all our games without limit times between Wii and Wii U so we can continue buying games in both systems.
Ah, also the possibilities to share our Nintendo Channel data in our new ID profile in Wii U.
@DiscordedTeeJay People could just guess my account # and hackmy games, I'm not too worried about it when it comes to NL and other websites because the worst they could do is say something to false about me, but I buy a lot of games and I wouldn't want a hacked console that deletes of formats data
@HarmoKnight: If you are worried create another eMail just for the Nintendo ID that you don't share with others. Also, I seriously doubt Nintendo would allow brute force attacks on accounts to get passwords, not to mention they take a lot of time and resources... They will get caught before breaking in. (SOURCES: I'm currently in the university majoring in computer security.)
And... Hacked consoles that FORMAT data (do you even know what to format is)? What are you talking about? The 3DS is pretty hard to mod, i can assure you the Wii U will be as robust.
Other basic security measures can help, like a strong password: longer, upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Man, it's vital to know all that when on the internets, be it you are a "techie" or not. If people can guess your account number... Then don't put six ones as a password next time...
It's not that I've had an account hacked (and 6 ones? I'm not that obvious..) but I just dont want people from other places to be able to guess and guess right... Unless you cant do anything without the system, which is possible, I just want a choice, accounts are ok for people who want them, but I dont
Great news about accounts. About time
Interestingly, it seems an Achievement/Trophy/Reward system won't be coming to Wii U, at least at launch. What do you think of that?
I hope this links to the 3DS and they put Miiverse on 3DS to
Hallelujah! Here's hoping it comes to the 3DS so I may actually be tempted to purchase some full games digitally.
Can't wait until this comes out so I can get it for my Nintendo 3ds xl I have about 118 games and I use it everyday and plus wish this came out this year but if it comes out next year that's fine because then next year I can just buy it on the nintendo network ID store then it can be downloaded to my nintendo 3ds xl what Nintendo should come out with is a service so say you are camping where you can't get internet you could have a wireless attachment on your nintendo 3ds or nintendo 3ds xl so you can use the internet wherever you go that would be Awesome
Gah! I can't wait... Just 2 weeks left.
Anyway, 12 accounts? Pretty boss. I won't need any more than 4 though. My parents won't play it. My brother will. I will. And maybe I could get my girlfriend to play if she ever comes over to my house.
And one "extra."
@HarmoKnight You're hilarious!
@Aviator: Actually, a Nintendo rep confirmed that it will use usernames instead of friend codes
@EvisceratorX I was serious... Why is it people think I'm kidding when I'm not, and when I am joking, people get defensive?
Seems legit..
It is great. I love how you can share the downloads but each person has a personal save file and settings. Whenever my bro and I play RE5, he always has to pause to change the aiming from "inverted" (how I use it) to "normal". Things like that could be easily avoided.
And talking about that, what happens with multiplayer games? Do I log in with my user and then select the others within the game?
seems good then
@HarmoKnight Maybe its because you said you'd file a police report for a bunch of digital games? Reminds me of that episode of Big Bang Theory were Sheldon calls the police when his WOW account was hacked.
I like that games are sharable between accounts and makes me hopeful they'll do that with the 3DS's e-shop.
So you have one Nintendo network ID for the system and not for each account?
@HarmoKnight If you're that paranoid about it, wouldn't you rather have an account system so that you can easily get all your games back if you lose them? Would you really want to go through that ridiculous process of filing a police report and sending that to Nintendo?
@Zombie_Barioth Well that's what you have to do as of now and when you send the report to Nintendo they give you back your games for FREE it's not that hard
Doesn't seem to answer the main question, if we lose/break our Wii can we just buy a new system, register our Nintendo ID and get our purchases back? That scenario seems to have been avoided and it's the main reason not to like system tied purchases.
Very excited about the upcoming week. Should be fun to unwrap and figure things out that media doesn't let us know before hand. Great that lots of people have so many questions making everyday till the 18th a fun (albeit frustrating experience lol)
Speaking of which here's my frustrating "do not know right now" question...
Had 2 Xboxes, I have a great family that loves playing on weekends, Dead ISland, Black Ops (regular, zombies)... So I had the main gold account and would install games in each with my master. Than every time there were DLC's I would sign in on the 2nd Xbox ( that I rarely used) and download content. That allowed family to share with their live accounts.
I'd go back to my bedroom Xbox and sign in and get the content allowing me to play as well. Now this was great, had a family that could share as I seem to be reading here except they miss the part where a family needs multiple consoles.
I have both my wiiu preordered. Obviously on xboxes you couldn't be signed in on 2 consoles at once. Who thinks this would also work with wiiu Nintendo ID or am I just a dreamer.... I know devs, publishers need their money and I give considering in any of these scenarios I still have to buy 2 of each game (hmmm E-shop )
So any thoughts no this and signing in to get your content onto multiple Wii u.....
@HarmoKnight Sorry, I thought you were being sarcastic. People have been complaining for years about there being no accounts for Nintendo and then I look at the first comment once Nintendo finally announces accounts...
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