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Nintendo Wifi Connection vs. Xbox Live

Matlock

Banned
Just running down the main featurelist here.

Friends List/Matchmaking
Xbox Live: Yes
NWC: Yes
Nintendo's unique new Friend Roster enables players to play online with their friends, all you need to do is set up a Friend Code by swapping a number with your friend, they will then be added to your Friend Roster and you can select to play with them online anytime, anywhere. Alternatively you can play with someone of a similar skill level. This is done seamlessly via Nintendo's servers through the use of a skill mapping system to ensure the environment is open to users of all ages and skill levels.

Stat Tracking
Xbox Live: Yes
NWC: Yes
Activision's Tony Hawk's American Sk8land will let players compete head-to-head in multiplayer games in a variety of modes. Players also can create custom skateboard art and graffiti tags, and share them with other players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The service will track global high scores and stats. Tony Hawk's American SK8Land will launch on Nov. 14.

Messaging
XBL: Yes
NWC: Unconfirmed as a standalone feature, Animal Crossing allows it in-game.

Voice Chat
XBL: Yes
NWC: No

Downloadable demos
XBL: Yes (Xbox 360)
NWC: Unconfirmed, although with the usage of wifi hotspots to deliver demo content in the past, it looks likely.

Content downloads
XBL: Yes
NCW: Yes
Activision's Tony Hawk's American Sk8land will let players compete head-to-head in multiplayer games in a variety of modes. Players also can create custom skateboard art and graffiti tags, and share them with other players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The service will track global high scores and stats. Tony Hawk's American SK8Land will launch on Nov. 14.

Feedback System/Bans
XBL: Yes
NCW: No/Unconfirmed

Online awareness in non-online games
XBL: Yes
NCW: No/Unconfirmed

Price
XBL: $50/year
NCW: Free
 
too early to say being that well, we have nothing to compare to really.

although im sure no one has any doubts that it'll have an adequate easy to use interface.
 
FREEEEEEEEE(dooooom!)

EDIT: Nintendo hasn't said that they won't include voicechat with the REV.
(Im pretty sure it's just removed from the DS due to hardware resources, or am I wrong?)
 
NWC should be far more feature rich on Revolution.
I think X360's gamer tag functionality seems very interesting, hope Revolution get something similar and you can sync it with the DS... in a way.

I don't mind paying for a nice service like XBL :p
 
It is good to see Nintendo is finally matching what ms accomplished in 2002. Unfortunately for the big N Live 2.0 is out soon.
 
its going to have to go through a lot to match the seamless experience of live. On paper it sounds good, I'll see how well it works before i can make a fair comparison.


Either way, MS teh innovative. Nintendo and Sony will take what Ms have done and implement those features into thier console online service

Gamertag
Voice (mandatory)
Take Guests Online thorugh 1 gamertag
Voice Messages
Freinds List in every online game
Link Gamertag to MSN for friends alert
Live Aware
 
The one that matters:

Free?
Xbox Live: No
NWC: Yes

And the bonus round:

Microfuckingtransactions?

Xbox Live: Yes
NWC: No

I think we all know who's the winner here.
 
mr_sockochris said:
I'll be voicechatting on the Xbox Live dashboard while playing Mario Kart with friends :)

Yeah, it shouldn't be lagging. I was chatting with the Xbox while playing WoW... :)
 
have they confirmed that there will be no voice chat? i mean, the ds does have a microphone built into the thing, it'd be stupid not to use it.
 
johns all like said:
have they confirmed that there will be no voice chat? i mean, the ds does have a microphone built into the thing, it'd be stupid not to use it.

I'd have to track it down, but they mentioned not having voice chat when they were trotting around Animal Crossing's online features.
 
Way to early to say if it is that good or not. Several things like how many games, what type of games, how many people actually will take advantage of it. It can be another PS2 online crap where the only games worth playing were the SOCOM series.
 
johns all like said:
have they confirmed that there will be no voice chat? i mean, the ds does have a microphone built into the thing, it'd be stupid not to use it.

Voice chat would probably suck too much of the DS's limited processing power for it to work in a game.
 
FiRez said:
IMHO wifi isn't very friendly with online gaming, heck even on LAN has some problems

I've had no problems playing Twisted Metal or the SOCOM PSP beta online. I've seen no difference from when I'm playing over a wired connection on XBL.
 
MbGCaM said:
Nintendo is one Generation late.

Nonsense. We're the exception, not the rule. The adoption rate of live vs the total number of Xboxen out there sucks.

Not only that, Nintendo has the uber-super-omega level nuclear bomb of Pokemon, online, for free, for every little brat with a DS and a desire to use his hacked team of mutant bugs or whatever the fuck to crush other hacked teams of mutant raccoons online

Wireless is cool, free wireless is even cooler
 
Victrix said:
Nonsense. We're the exception, not the rule. The adoption rate of live vs the total number of Xboxen out there sucks.

Not only that, Nintendo has the uber-super-omega level nuclear bomb of Pokemon, online, for free, for every little brat with a DS and a desire to use his hacked team of mutant bugs or whatever the fuck to crush other hacked teams of mutant raccoons online

Wireless is cool, free wireless is even cooler

The number of pokekids who like to trade their pokemon on DS have no bearing on the feature superiority of xbox live.
 
Victrix said:
The adoption rate of live vs the total number of Xboxen out there sucks.

Actually, it's 10%, which is really, really good. The figure you really need to look at is broadband penetration.
 
Free is very nice. No voice chat is a big bummer, though. I'd trade free for voice chat, frankly, but it's not quite a dealbreaker.
 
Lunar Aura said:
hokey portable vs full fledged console much?


When people make comparisons to Live! i think they mean Rev.

You know MS dont see DS or any other handhelds as a threat
 
Well in Tony Hawk you can record a couple seconds of your voice and use it online. :/

but yeah, I wish more titles utilized voice chat. With some games not being able to quickly communicate with other players makes you feel like you're just playing the cpu.
 
Well they did have that DSSpeak demo at E3 didn't they? Wasn't that like a voice over IP application? Other than nailing down the resource useage I can't see why they couldn't encorporate that into future titles.
 
i still dont see why people complain about the service when a year is the cost of 1 game and the service is unmatched. just dont buy that one junk pile game you KNOW you buy once a year and get live.

"With some games not being able to quickly communicate with other players makes you feel like you're just playing the cpu."

i totally agree with this and its the main reason i like live. online play with no voice seems so dead. may as well be the CPU.
 
I'd gladly pay for the wi-fi connection if it meant I could talk to the people I'm playing against! :lol

I can't believe they've left out voice chat! Is that confirmed? Jeez, that is the single worst thing about online PS2 games (or the few that I could get to work online)
 
I just think that by the end on 2006 Nin, Sony, and MS will all be pushing their console online service, and the only one that will cost money is XBL. I think Sony will use advertising and synergies with other divisions (movies, music) and fees associated with a marketplace idea to offset the logistical cost of providing the service. Sony online will be free for damn sure. When Sony and Nin are free...MS will have no choice but to drop their fee for XBL Gold.

It will happen. Oh yes it will happen. *maniacal laughter ensues*
 
If it happens then that's cool with me. Making a service free will always sound better than charging for it

But Xbox Live works so well that it's worth every penny. I usually spend about 60% of my game time online when I buy an Xbox game. The service just works so well and so smoothly that it's changed gaming forever, IMO (in a positive way)

I'm also surprised Ninty haven't included an option like "Live Aware". That's a very important part of the service :(
 
Lunar Aura said:
i still dont see why people complain about the service when a year is the cost of 1 game and the service is unmatched. just dont buy that one junk pile game you KNOW you buy once a year and get live.

"With some games not being able to quickly communicate with other players makes you feel like you're just playing the cpu."

i totally agree with this and its the main reason i like live. online play with no voice seems so dead. may as well be the CPU.

thats actually a big plus for me... i didn't mind the dumb assholes online when it was quake and they had to type stuff in... i could ignore that. I don't play online games to make friends or trash talk. i play to compete, and the best thing about people is that real intelligence is more interesting than artificial intellignece, plus you can get some bragging rights when you win. The worst thing about real intelligence is that sometimes it's attached to annoying, obnoxious people.

When i play xbox live, i play without a headset because i just don't want to hear people. something about hearing somebody's voice when they are being an asshole actualy gets under my skin and pisses me off much more than reading text. So if i'm getting really angry, and i actually want to reach through my TV and choke somebody, then i'm not having much fun.
 
Lunar Aura said:
i still dont see why people complain about the service when a year is the cost of 1 game and the service is unmatched. just dont buy that one junk pile game you KNOW you buy once a year and get live.

"With some games not being able to quickly communicate with other players makes you feel like you're just playing the cpu."

i totally agree with this and its the main reason i like live. online play with no voice seems so dead. may as well be the CPU.

Having sex for free, or having sex with the same person for 50$. You choose.
 
Even if the service is sort of like playing a Blizzard game online (with ads on top), I wouldn't mind. Free is what matters.
 
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