The way to approach online multiplayer of Nintendo It is different from that of the other console manufacturers, Sony and Microsoft, and in general to almost any other similar service. Instead of opting for unique username, Nintendo opt on Wii and later systems, including Switch and with the only exception of Wii U, for Unique Friend Codes. Among the Wii hardware and software documents leaked on the network this weekend is a developer-oriented presentation explaining why.
When Nintendo started developing the Wii Wi-Fi connection they took into account four obstacles: "Networks are difficult to configure", "It is difficult for new users like me to participate", "Bad people ruin my online experience" and "It costs a lot to connect to a network". To avoid those problems they relied on three pillars: free, comfortable and simple. But keep in mind that the vision of Nintendo's online multiplayer is different. They wanted "create a comfortable online environment that feels like inviting friends to play at home".
The use of friend codes have to do with comfort. That principle was "adopted to overcome the two psychological barriers of 'difficult for new users to participate' and 'concerned about malicious online people' https://igamesnews.elespanol.com/". two solutions: That players have the option to play only with friends and limit communication to users who have exchanged friend codes.
As part of that Nintendo leak, an internal powerpoint was found that spells out the reasons they went for friend codes. Apparently they thought signing up for screen names would be too confusing for the audience, and they would be frustrated if they didn't get the ones they want. pic.twitter.com/LWzM0BRhIb– Imran Khan (@imranzomg) May 4, 2020
Nintendo considered using usernames for the Wii online
In the document, filtered through docdroid and featured on Twitter by Imran Khan, former editor of Game Informer, it is stated that Nintendo considered using usernames instead of 12-digit codes, but the latter method was chosen for two reasons.
The first of them was that there was "a high probability of names being duplicated" of the players. "When this happens, multiple re-entries are required" of user data, which Nintendo says conflicted on the principle of "simple", with which they tried to overcome the psychological barrier that "it is difficult to configure" an online network.
The second reason has to do with the "comfortable" principle. Nintendo did not want a user to receive invitations from a stranger I would have tried name combinations, as this would conflict with the safe and relatively closed online game to friends that the Japanese company wanted.
