Global Nintendo usernames/codes, please. Thanks.

Even global numbers is lame. I don't see why they're so afraid of usernames.

For crying out loud, Nintendo, no one likes the use of friend codes. I thought the friend codes were for the protection of casual players but yet casual players don't even play online. No one complains about how Xbox and Playstation use player names, making this forced system of long codes, which was dated and unnecessary from the start, an unintuitive online experience.

It makes me sad to see Nintendo stubbornly stick with bad ideas when there are more successful ways of operating out there. No one will speak badly of them if they use an idea that isn't their's once in a while, especially when they innovate so much. At the very least implement what SirLink said, one code to rule them all. Though I'd rather just see the end of friend codes forever.

What I find funny though is that games like Conduit and Mario Kart Wii have their own 'player name' systems. I can see the names of random players. This is no different to profile usernames so Nintendo aren't afraid of giving players more freedom.

( Edited 13.01.2011 16:36 by Ifrit XXII )

Friend codes are used so it's harder for you to add someone at random just by looking at their username and thus preventing a bit of the "45 year old woman contacts 15 year old with his Xbox and trades sex for candies" type of scenarios.

Hoping for a universal system number but no info has been made available for this.

Come on Nintendo. You can do it. It's like encouraging your older brother to ask a girl out or something. I don't know. Ditch the freakin codes!

Its like using the super old phone with the color reference of Game Boy.

Like using a VCR. Who is making these decisions?

Using the usernames show that you're with the times. What is this the freakin 90's? Did the Dreamcast even use friendcodes? How about the PSO (Phantasy Star Online) port that you transferred over to the Gamecube for crying out loud. Did that use codes?

Get with it.

For the love of God, Nintendo, WHY?!
This is getting beyond ridiculous. You think they would listen to developers and fans about friend codes.

Nintendo needs an account-based system.

Please, please, please Nintendo, just one global username or code please!

Nothing wrong with numbers, just make them global!

I understand Nintendo doesn't want a bad image with casuals, but c'mon, this is getting ridiculous.

EdEN said:
Friend codes are used so it's harder for you to add someone at random just by looking at their username and thus preventing a bit of the "45 year old woman contacts 15 year old with his Xbox and trades sex for candies" type of scenarios.

Hoping for a universal system number but no info has been made available for this.

Could be, but if true then that's a pathetic reason. Those type of fringe scenarios do not happen as a rule. So for the sake of those extreme-minority of cases, they're going to make the whole online experience worse for everyone?

I don't even think that it's the reason, anyway.

I have to agree with EdEN on the one Martin, it seems like Nindendo don't want to be in the spotlight for headlines like "Pedo grooms child on 3DS".

What other genuine reason could there be?

This is probably why they do it. They got complained about, even when it was just local Wi-Fi.

( Edited 14.01.2011 13:41 by Marzy )

They should really just rack up the parental controls, perhaps an option to send an email to the parent's address whenever someone wants to become a friend. Sounds strict and whatever, but I know some parents who would easily lap that up.

jb said:
They should really just rack up the parental controls, perhaps an option to send an email to the parent's address whenever someone wants to become a friend. Sounds strict and whatever, but I know some parents who would easily lap that up.

Yeah, they are already including a 3D lock feature so they might as well add other stuff for parental controls too. I even heard about an option where parents could set a certain amount of time that the kid can play a day or something.

It's going to suck for kids with strict parents but it would allow Nintendo to stop worrying about that kind of stuff.

There's some evidence here to suggest what seems to be a non-universal friend code system might not be in the future:

http://3dstribe.com/news/friend-codes-making-an-unwelcome-return-to-3ds/

Not sure what you think about it but I reckon it seems likely Nintendo WFC isn't ready yet (focus on the second half of the article). Not to mention Nintendo are keeping quiet about any online gaming features of the 3DS so I do question whether Street Fighter IV uses friend codes from a universal list off the 3DS's menu.