Friend Codes Redone for Wii: One per system!

[nmaster64]

In contrast to the DS's horrid system of having one friend code per GAME, it seems the Wii is looking at one friend code per CONSOLE.

Here's the evidence, from Iwata Asks:

Originally Posted by Tamaki

Once the console is online, it can also be used to share all sorts of information with friends. That isn't to say, however, that all of your information is available to other people. I should just stress the point, in case anyone gets the wrong idea, that this network basically works in the same way as the one for "Animal Crossing" on DS. That is, connection is not possible unless both users register each other. That means there won't be any unwanted communication from strangers, like harassment or suspicious spam messages.

Basically, we've designed it so that you can exchange information with your registered friends. I'll give an example of the kind of information that could be exchanged. Let's say someone buys a new game. When they switch on their console, a question could appear on the screen: "Do you want to let your friends know you have bought this game?" If you select "Yes", the message "X has bought the game Y!" will pop up on your friends' Message Boards. You can send messages like that from within the game, or you can make your own message to send to your friends. Actually, the example I just gave is still under discussion and has not been finalized yet. But I think it gives you an idea of the kinds of things that would be possible.

Originally Posted by Kuroume

If we chose to, we could allow each family member to have their own account. But that just isn't what Wii is about. To give a very straightforward example, we're aiming at a console for everyone to use, but if we allowed everyone to have their own account, you would need to enter a password to use the console. To switch on Wii and be presented with a screen asking for your user name and password...well for me, that would have been unacceptable. In discussions, pretty much everyone agreed on this point.

Originally Posted by Aoyama

Besides, everyone would see you entering your password on the TV anyway!

It's quite obvious the system they're describing wouldn't work at all if friend codes were on a per-game basis...