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Brainstorm: What Happened to Connectivity?

Posted by Bob Mackey

When Nintendo launched their limited campaign of GameCube/Game Boy Advance connectivity, I was an English-majoring undergrad (AKA "that dude with too much free time") with two friends who were nerdy enough to also have GBAs, link cables, and a high tolerance for gimmicky hardware tricks. Our time was limited to the three main games playable for this sick intercourse between console and portable gaming systems: Pac-Man Vs., Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. The first two titles gave us our share of fun, but the last one marks one of the best (though brief) multiplayer experiences I've ever had in my life.

I've never been too excited about online multiplayer, because--for me, anyway--it's always been alienating and lacking that distinct sense of entertaining madness that comes with a group of friends screaming at each other in the same small room. So I was a bit bummed when Nintendo dropped their connectivity plans so soon after starting them; despite requiring a lot of gear to get working, the whole GBA/GameCube pair-up allowed for some amazingly unique multiplayer experiences. And now that the worldwide takeover of both the DS and Wii has made countless homes equipped with enough Nintendo hardware to start their own GameStops, a newer and easier form of connectivity could bring back some of that joy I experienced so briefly five years ago. But why has Nintendo dropped the ball?

I've always wondered why Nintendo limited Wii/DS interaction solely to the downloading of demos when so much more could be done between the two systems. Sure, Miyamoto and company may still wake up screaming with bad memories of last-gen's connectivity going over like a lead balloon, but wireless technology has made things much simpler now. And considering how happy Nintendo is to foist confusing, unintuitive features on its audience (*cough* friend codes), a Wii and a DS making sweet wireless love seems too simple to screw up. Considering the low budget nature of Four Swords Adventures, why not throw up multiplayer episodic content for WiiWare? It'd be an inexpensive undertaking, and the press would go crazy for a "new" Zelda game being released for a Nintendo platform that sees its share of garbage. I could just be crazy, but I always thought system connectivity wasn't explored nearly as much as it should have been.

Any thoughts on this?

Related Links:

Miyamoto Says Something Was "Missing" From Zelda: Twilight Princess. We Know It, Too.
The Legend of Zelda: Manifest Destiny
Pick Up Chicks In the Zelda Mobile

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Posted Apr 16 2009, 12:00 PM

Filed under: the legend of zelda, gamecube, game boy advance, bob mackey, the legend of zelda: four swords adventures, connectivity

Comments

Austin said:

I suppose Nintendo is allowing more connectivity with their latest Crystal Chronicles game, but not necessarily between both systems, just encompassing both of them.

Yes, some wireless multiplayer Four Swordsesque action would be fantastic! But Nintendo can be oddly stubborn, seemingly making choices that knowingly won't make them money.

Weirdos.

April 16, 2009 12:33 PM

Roto13 said:

There are a few games that take advantage of DS/Wii connectivity. Namely Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, Pokemon Battle Revolution, and My Pokemon Ranch. There aren't too many, though. I'm hoping when Wind Waker inevitably gets the New Play Control treatment, it will allow you to use the Tingle Tuner with the DS.

How did you know I started re-playing Four Sword Adventures last night anyway? This site seems to know what I'm playing.

"But Nintendo can be oddly stubborn, seemingly making choices that knowingly won't make them money."

Because if there's one thing Nintendo doesn't know how to do, it's make money?

April 16, 2009 1:04 PM

Derrick Sanskrit said:

I've been bitching and moaning for over a year about the need for a Wii/4xDS Four Swords, but I'd never thought of it being WiiWare. That's an amazing idea and it's a horrible shame Nintendo will never do it.

April 16, 2009 2:54 PM

LBD "Nytetrayn" said:

It's not quite the same, but there is the feature in Animal Crossing: City Folk that allows you to export your character from the DS's Wild World into the Wii title. That's sort of on that level.

But yeah, I wish they'd do more, now that there's no need for a $20 cable to connect the two units.

April 16, 2009 11:14 PM

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