Don

[compl3x]

In the past six years I?ve been through four Xbox 360 consoles and three PlayStation 3s. Which has been a pain, but each and every time I?ve been able to simply transfer my existing system account to the new console through the magic of the internet.

You?d think that would be something Nintendo could manage rather easily, but nope. Turns out that the Nintendo Network ID you create for a Wii U will, for now at least, be tied to that console. If you lose that console ? for whatever reason ? you lose the ID that went with it. If you buy a second-hand console, and want to import your ID, you can?t. If you?re at a friend?s house and want to sign on using your account, you can?t.

Here?s the relevant statement from Nintendo?s support page:

That ?future? consoles thing is a little confusing, as it?s unclear whether they mean the next console after the Wii U, or simply Wii U machines in the future, when this feature is patched in. We?ll contact Nintendo and update if we hear back.

Hopefully it?s something that can be patched in, because boy, if people lose their accounts and their consoles at the same time, they?ll be pretty damn upset.

Can I Log Into My Nintendo Network Account on a Different Console? [Nintendo Support, thanks everyone!]

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/11/dont-losebreak-your-wii-u-because-your-nintendo-network-account-is-tied-to-it/

Derp

[migo]

Definitely wouldn't buy until this is resolved. Definitely a deal killer. Even though letting Indie devs set their own prices on the eShop made it seem attractive.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

hmm, not good.

This almost sounds like they used the same system to tie accounts to the DSi (in terms of purchase and re-download).

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

The lack of an option to recover your NIntendo Network Account is ridiculous. You shouldn't be forced to create a new account on a different console. What if the original console breaks? What if you want to log into your account on a friend's console? I'd love to know the reasoning behind Nintendo's decision to tie accounts to the console it was created on.

[argonite]

The lack of an option to recover your NIntendo Network Account is ridiculous. You shouldn't be forced to create a new account on a different console. What if the original console breaks? What if you want to log into your account on a friend's console? I'd love to know the reasoning behind Nintendo's decision to tie accounts to the console it was created on.

Considering that they promised to open up this functionality in the future, it just seems like they ran out of time to implement it. In general, it feels like they ran out of time for a lot of things and had to throw them into a huge launch day firmware update.

[compl3x]

I've seen posts saying if you have your serial no. you can contact nintendo and, I don't know, sign-in to a new console if you give them the new consolse serial no. or something.

[migo]

If it's an issue of running out of time, they should just say that and make it clear that it'll be available on all Wii Us eventually with a software update.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Nintendo is still fumbling around with an incoherent and poorly implemented online functionality. This is basic functionality and should have been implemented from the get-go.

[Lingwo]

They've been saying they'll tie your purchases to your account and be able to transfer your data between consoles since i think the DSi Shop days.

When i recently traded in my 3ds for an XL, i found out the hard way. I lost my ambassador status as it is tied to the console, not my account. Pretty good, why give us an SD card slot it we can't use it to trasnfer data!

Nintendo seriously don't have a clue when it comes to online functionality. They make decent games but everything else they do looks like amateur hour.

[HawkMan]

:facepalm:

I guess when I said that nintendo was repeating the same mistakes Sony did with the PSN on the PS3 launch, I was mistaken, They make PSN at launch look like a perfect online network...

[Glassed Silver]

Well done, Nintendo. Well done.

I must say I'm disappointed with Nintendo beyond belief.

I just cannot comprehend how they work so hard on losing all credibility amongst gamers and even casual gamers.

Glassed Silver:ios

[lnmnky]

Wait... re-read it.

There is a difference between a Network Account (for hardware) and an Network ID (for users).

Maybe it isn't actually important, as you can just log into another device with your Network ID. (and the network account just dies with the hardware).

[Glassed Silver]

Anyone else interested what the PC part may mean?

I know they don't want to open up, so it might just be a store to send stuff to your console, but still...

Glassed Silver:ios

PS: And I know it lists PC just as an example

[Blackhearted]

They've been saying they'll tie your purchases to your account and be able to transfer your data between consoles since i think the DSi Shop days.

When i recently traded in my 3ds for an XL, i found out the hard way. I lost my ambassador status as it is tied to the console, not my account. Pretty good, why give us an SD card slot it we can't use it to trasnfer data!

Nintendo seriously don't have a clue when it comes to online functionality. They make decent games but everything else they do looks like amateur hour.

The system transfer option should allow you to keep it your ambassador status. If you foolishly traded in your 3ds before getting the XL and doing the transfer then it is your fault and you have noone to blame and noone to cry to but yourself.

[Lingwo]

The system transfer option should allow you to keep it your ambassador status. If you foolishly traded in your 3ds before getting the XL and doing the transfer then it is your fault and you have noone to blame and noone to cry to but yourself.

I knew you could do a system transfer but i thought it was 2012 and everything was tied to my account, i don't mind that i have to redownload everything again. I'm not crying about it and it is my fault, i think it took me a whole 10 seconds to get over it. I am more annoyed that they still can't tie purchases to an account.

Anyone else interested what the PC part may mean?

I assume It would be like PSN/XBL where you can login and have various control over your account.

[Livin in a box]

I just don't understand Nintendo sometimes at all. It sounded as though everything was going to be much improved, online wise, this time around, but nope. Their decisions are just completely backwards and don't make sense at all. They're just shooting themselves in the foot - I know now that I'm definitely not going to get one until they get their act together (which could be a long, long time).

[TheLegendOfMart]

I think they are just scared of having another Wii being cracked open and easily pirated, if they lock everything own there is less chance of piracy.

[Glassed Silver]

I think they are just scared of having another Wii being cracked open and easily pirated, if they lock everything own there is less chance of piracy.

BS.

Everything gets hacked sometime.

It just adds discomfort to the honest buyers again if anything.

Then again this measure doesn't seem to be related to piracy prevention at all to me, maybe I'm just missing something here...

Glassed Silver:mac

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

I just don't understand Nintendo sometimes at all. It sounded as though everything was going to be much improved, online wise, this time around, but nope. Their decisions are just completely backwards and don't make sense at all. They're just shooting themselves in the foot - I know now that I'm definitely not going to get one until they get their act together (which could be a long, long time).

Well Nintendo do finally allow people to have a username, a friends list of up to 100 people and have the ability to block people - Something Xbox Live had from day one, 10 years ago...

I cant help but think Xbox Live was still more functional when it launched 10 years ago than what ever Nintendo have come up with now, I just don't understand some of the decisions that have been made either.

[TheLegendOfMart]

BS.

Everything gets hacked sometime.

It just adds discomfort to the honest buyers again if anything.

Then again this measure doesn't seem to be related to piracy prevention at all to me, maybe I'm just missing something here...

Glassed Silver:mac

What was BS about what I posted?

Sony did it right, it took years for the PS3 to get hacked and even then you can only do it on a handful of hardware revisions.

I think Nintendo have gone a bit OTT but you cant blame them, both the Wii and DS were easily hacked, they don't want the same thing to happen again, hence the Wii sandboxed emulator that doesn't have access to the Wii U OS and account lockdowns.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

I guess bringing your account to other people's places is a big thing among the kids today? I am seriously asking, as in my day you did not bring your account anywhere, that was not around. You brought your entire console.

So I guess I do not see the big deal with this as it does not affect me personally. So I am curious, what is the biggest impact of this? Saved games? I could see that being the biggest deal. You are at a friends, you are further along in the New Super Mario game, so you want to load up your save. That is about the biggest thing I can come up with why this sucks. Are there other reasons?

[Tarvis123]

I'm assuming people are worried that their Wii U's will break and won't be able to transfer their account to their replacement Wii U. I'm not really worried about it, since the wording on the website makes it sound like this is just a temporary thing and they are working on making it transferable, and I've also never had a Nintendo console break on me except for the yellow flashing screen on the old NES. (Probably just jinxed myself now). Either way, I would think Nintendo Support technicians could do this if it was needed and hopefully it will get changed where it's not locked down so tight.

I wasn't expecting much in regards to Nintendo online capabilities, but so far I'm somewhat impressed. While it's missing some key features obviously, I'm just happy a console finally has releases in stores and on their online shop on the same day of release as where I live makes obtaining games at a store or waiting for a delivery can be inconvenient at times. Miiverse is also pretty neat and helps give the feeling of always being connected to other gamers regardless of what you are doing on the system. I spend a lot of time on the main menu just watching other people's drawings pop up as everyone seems to be the next da Vinci.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I guess bringing your account to other people's places is a big thing among the kids today? I am seriously asking, as in my day you did not bring your account anywhere, that was not around. You brought your entire console.

So I guess I do not see the big deal with this as it does not affect me personally. So I am curious, what is the biggest impact of this? Saved games? I could see that being the biggest deal. You are at a friends, you are further along in the New Super Mario game, so you want to load up your save. That is about the biggest thing I can come up with why this sucks. Are there other reasons?

It's not just that. Someone may need to sell their console but buy it again at a later date. Another person may need to replace a broken console. Imagine how you'd feel when you learn that the games you bought with your Nintendo Network Account are tied to the console you bought them on. Wanting to log into your account at a friend's house is a minor annoyance compared to what I just mentioned.

[jerzdawg]

Simple answer, if you dont like the current method, dont buy games from the Nintendo Network. Sure it sucks but I also dont think this is the end of this. Nintendo made it very simple to transfer your purchases from your Wii to the Wii U so why would they make it so difficult to transfer from one Wii U to another.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

I guess bringing your account to other people's places is a big thing among the kids today? I am seriously asking, as in my day you did not bring your account anywhere, that was not around. You brought your entire console.

So I guess I do not see the big deal with this as it does not affect me personally. So I am curious, what is the biggest impact of this? Saved games? I could see that being the biggest deal. You are at a friends, you are further along in the New Super Mario game, so you want to load up your save. That is about the biggest thing I can come up with why this sucks. Are there other reasons?

I'm not a "kid" however yes for me that's a big feature i make use of on the Xbox 360.

At Uni we had a gaming night each week, everyone brought there profile / saves on a memory stick and we would play a different game each week.

Even now i will get together with some mates every couple of weeks and have a gaming session, as i have two 360's people just bring there profile round and were good to go. No effort to get a 4 player gaming session going with 2x people on each console. Plus along as one profile on each console owns the DLC that content can be used when the profile is signed in to live, regardless of if it was purchased on that console or not.

I can see how that would not bother a lot of people, however i personally think features like that are great if you game with friends.