Nintendo Land devs explain lack of online multiplayer

Nintendo has explained why it decided not to include online multiplayer in Wii U launch title Nintendo Land.

Developers wanted to encourage players to interact in the real world, with the virtual theme park's attractions specifically designed for players sitting next to each other.

[chillhomie]

Still think it would've been sweet to have online multiplayer with this game and nsmbu

[OneAboveAll]

Bad decision in my opinion. This isn't the 90's any more. I want to play online and now that i'm older me and my friends can't get together to play much like we could when we were kids.

Very missed opportunity for me and my friends to play Mario online without 4 of us having to leave our homes and drive over to our friends so we can all play together.

They could have made an awesome 4 player arena shooter with the Metroid game alone. Let's hope this doesn't become a fad. Smash Bros and a new Mario Party better have multiplayer online.

[LuridShadowX]

"I want to play online and now that i'm older me and my friends can't get together to play much like we could when we were kids."

Exactly. Most of us gamers that grew up in the SNES-N64-Gamecube era have since become adults, going to college, working jobs, etc. Most of our friends have moved on as well, and it's become a rare thing to even SEE each other, let alone play games on local multiplayer. Online multiplayer would've only helped matters.

That said, though, I'm sure Nintendo is just covering up the fact that they were too lazy to program online multiplayer into the game and are relying on the "It just doesn't fit the bill" message, even though it clearly does.

Oh well. Still a decently fun single player game, though.

[Drainage]

no excuses

[Triggytrolls]

I think it would of been nice to have the option to play online, even though I fully intend on playing Nintendo land with the misses and the family, but when they don't want to play it would of been nice to play online.

On the other hand a lot of the coop games need communication, and I can't see that happening with the lack of a headset included with the console.

Playing online is nothing like it used to be, especially on the 360. Nobody talks any more, it's very quiet online when you're playing with randoms, kind of sucks.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

I couldn't imagine playing Nintendo Land with people that aren't in the same room. Some games are just better played with other people in person. Could you imagine playing Wii Sports bowling over the Internet?

Still, if people want the option to play online who is Nintendo to say they can't?

[Munnkyman]

Ive had a lot of fun with Nintendo land because of the great interactions I have with friends when they are over. But online wouldn't be as fun but would still be great since my friends aren't over here all the time