Miiverse Is Like Facebook for Nintendo Wii U Fans

One of the leaders of Wii U maker Nintendo has described the Miiverse service that will launch alongside the console as similar to Facebook in many ways, even if it is only aimed at those who are interested in the device the company sells.

Satoru Iwata, the president of Nintendo, has told Kotaku that, “We have reached an era where even a single-player game experience have a social component that is very important. And I think, again, that social component is mandatory.”

Iwata believes that the rise of social platforms like Facebook makes it easier for players to connect with their real-life friends and see whether they are also interested in the same gaming experiences.

Iwata adds, “I feel that we need to create—or present—a gaming platform as the place to create that ‘social graph’ for folks who are in gaming circles, I guess. So that’s kind of the reason for creating Miiverse.”

“If you look at gaming services, for example if you look at Xbox Live, one of the more traditionally or generally accepted features of the gaming service is the ability to play with folks at different locations at the same time,” he then mentions.

The Nintendo president says that the long-term ambition for the Miiverse is too create a space where even single-player oriented gamers can feel like they are enjoying a social experience, with the empathy and connection that are associated with it.

Nintendo has not yet announced an official launch date or an official price for the Wii U home console, but they are expected to be known after a special event that will take place on September 13.

The new console has been described as more powerful than the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, and Nintendo has sought to attract more third-party developers to the platform.

Via: Miiverse Is Like Facebook for Nintendo Wii U Fans