Mystery online Wii game will ditch Friend Codes
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at 8:29am by Jack
The latest IGN Nintendo Voice Cast podcast, by way of Joystiq, is reporting that a “major” online Wii title will arrive soon without the much-maligned Friend Codes restricting its online play.
Which one? No idea. But it’s “major.” Related to this, I seem to remember an EA title (was it Madden? I don’t recall) in 2008 circumventing the Friend Code system, so this wouldn’t be a first. It would be a “second,” and a welcome one at that for those of you who find it tedious entering all those numbers for each of your friends every time you buy a new online Wii game.
How did this unknown developer do it? They simply figured out a way to go around the restrictive online safety system and went with it. And by the way, it’s not The Conduit.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I think several other EA games have used “EA Nation” on the Wii to circumvent Friend Codes. I know for a fact that Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 uses “EA Nation.”
It’s too bad it’s not The Conduit, because that would be like hot fudge on a video game sundae. It looks like we have to settle for Friend Code syrup, though.
Let’s just hope that the reason Friend Codes aren’t used is because there are only online mode is random matches with no voice or text chat and no friend lists, etc. I’m tired of that dance.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I believe you’re right, IA. EA Nation rings a bell.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Good. If other developers start ditching friend codes, maybe Nintendo will follow.
January 19th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Well the EA Nation games run to the EA servers and not to the Nintendo servers, that’s why they can do away with Friend Codes. However I have a sneaking suspicion that this game that’s avoiding friend codes will be none other than The Conduit or the Wiimake of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.