Nintendo and their failure to grasp the elusive “Internet”, Part 1.

For my first real post, I’ve decided to tackle the concept of user experience and Nintendo, particularly in their  failure to grasp an on-line service properly.

We all know that the Wii has proved to fail at the internet, seeing that instead of having an easy to use community and friends system, similar to both Microsoft’s X-Box Live and The Playstation Network, they decided to use “Friend Codes”, a 12-digit hexadecimal code that you have to enter in via the remote, so already, you have to point at each letter/number and  press “A” in order to select out the digit. Then, there is no system in place for knowing if your friends are on-line.

You just have to guess. Or, do what some people have done, and use other gaming network services to set up a chat client for the Wii.

Yeah. This is why I play Xbox.

Well, now, Nintendo has a new(ish) system out, the Nintendo DSi. It’s basically a re-hash of the Nintendo DS, but with 2 cameras, larger screens, no more Game Boy Advance slot, and an SD card port for expandable memory. It also has access to a highly advanced mobile web.

Sarah had to buy one because she lost her original DS, so this gave us the opportunity to see if Nintendo has fixed their web issues.

Short answer: no. In fact, it may even be worse now, because first off, you have degrade your security settings in order to take the DSi on-line.

For those who don’t know about internet security, there are two main classifications. WEP, and WPA. WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, is an outdated form of security, prompting a user to enter a hexadecimal code. The main problem with WEP is that it can be easily hacked through key generators. WPA, or Wi-Fi Protected Access, is a much better security system, prompting users to create their own password.

Now,I know what you’re thinking,  “This is a double edged sword”. The user who uses “DougRocks” as his password is fucked. The person who uses |>0uG@R()C|<S is spectacular in creating a password.

Personally, I use WPA2, which is arguably the best security setup for wifi, however, this is where Nintendo Fails.

On Nintendo’s support site, it states that

“*Important Note* If you wish to play Nintendo DS Game Cards online, your router needs to be set to WEP security.”

That should be changed to “If you wish to use your DSI on-line, your router needs to be set to WEP security”. Sure enough, the DSi will see your awesomely protected network, but will it connect? NO.

Sadly, if you look at this page, it clearly states that the DSi is compatible with WPA, then contradicts itself with this Q/A.

“I use a passphrase for my key. Can I use this?
Some routers allow you to enter a Passphrase. This is then converted to a key number. When you are entering a key into the Nintendo DS, the actual key is required. The Passphrase will not work.”

I wish that there were someway I could more easily show that I am Facepalming myself right now. This image will have to do.

This is when Picard tries to get online with his DSi.

Now, this is a terrible choice for Nintendo, making their users downgrade their security because  their device doesn’t actually support WPA.

Seeing the network and using the network are two different things. Nintendo, please, as an open letter to you, fix this problem. I personally had to reset the security on 5 computers and the Wii, just so that your should be easy-to-use mobile device could access my network.

However, I am not done with Nintendo and their lack of usability. Next, I will write Part 2, which will be about how doing something as simple as setting up an account with Nintendo in order to go online with the DSi is an incredibly annoying process.