Mii, friend codes linked for Mario Strikers Charged [Update 2]

by Ross Miller { May 28th 2007 at 8:15PM }

Those oft-discussed Nintendo friend codes may be more universal than previously thought. In an interview with Gamers.fr, Mario Strikers Charged producer Justin Dowdeswell of Next Level Games said that the friend codes used for online games are tied to your Mii character and does not change between games.

"Each Mii created generates a Mii code that never changes. This code will thus be used for all other online games in the future," said Dowsedell (according to a translation done by Joystiq).

Each Wii console can hold 100 Mii characters. There are one trillion possible 12-digit friend codes; some quick number-crunching reveals that Nintendo can only build ten billion Wii consoles in its lifetime. Only ten billion? Way to limit your sales, Ninty. (We're going to spell this one out: that's sarcasm.)

Update: Falafelkid at Wii: Definitive speculation contacted Dowdeswell via phone, who said that "he never intended to comment on any other titles, nor would he know about how they implemented online features."

Dowsedell comments as they appear above were a translation of his original words done by this writer, which we should have made more clear. However, we feel our translation was accurate to the best of our knowledge. As it was written in the interview: Chaque Mii créé génère un code Mii qui reste invariable par la suite. Ce code servira donc pour tous les autres jeux jouables en ligne dans le futur.

We have contacted Dowsedell ourselves to learn that, indeed, he is not sure and was not speaking for how online will be handled with other games. "We're just aware of how we're handling Strikers stuff ... That's not to say it won't happen, but I'm not aware of that," he said to Joystiq via phone.

We apologize for any misunderstanding of Dowdeswell's words specifically stemming from the phrase "all other online games in the future" (intended to mean Strikers Charged matches and not other Wii games).

[Via The Platformers]

Tags: friend codes, FriendCodes, mario strikers, MarioStrikers, mii, nintendo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ken @ May 28th 2007 8:22PM

That's good to hear. I'm glad they're linked to your Mii. It will also be used in future online games too? That's cool. That keeps my roommate getting online with the Wii and ruining my stats.

Like he did with Gears of War... because he didn't want to make a second account.

*listens* oh shi... here comes the anti-Nintendo brigade!

jmcdougall @ May 28th 2007 8:27PM

ROFL 10 billion.. it wouldn't surprise me if Nintendo sells 10 billion Wiis and 50 billion DSes.. remember, it prints money!!

Daniel @ May 28th 2007 8:29PM

I still do hate friend codes, but this is a step toward usability.
A small one.

jp @ May 28th 2007 8:32PM

friends code suck why cant we create a username tht can be linked to ur mii

Ian Von Porter @ May 28th 2007 8:35PM

Get with the times Nintendo. Dump the f*cking Friend Codes and stop pretending that they are good for online play. You're making it harder for yourself than it needs to be.

Grog @ May 28th 2007 8:35PM

I'm not sure I understand this, and the linked article (which is in French) doesn't help. What the heck does it mean that friend caodes are linked to my Mii?

Ken @ May 28th 2007 8:37PM

I'm sorry, I have to do this:

"friends code suck why cant we create a username tht can be linked to ur mii" -jp

gramer suk! y do wi haf to reed frum buk? skool suks!!one!

Seriously. L2type

Ken @ May 28th 2007 8:40PM

@Grog

Basically when you get on Strikers, lets so you choose the Mii named: Kevin. The name Kevin will show up, and has a friend code directly linked to that Mii. It never changes, unless you delete that Mii.

Now if you load up Super Smash Bros, and you select the Kevin Mii; It will have the same friend code linked to it, and will have the stats from your Strikers game linked to it as well.

But if you log into Strikers with a Mii named: Sarah; The friend code is different from Kevin and will have a fresh profile.

Pretty similar to what Live has. (Except you can't have two different Live accounts, without paying for it).

Luigi193 @ May 28th 2007 8:43PM

Hey I am actually happy about this. I am a nintendo fan, i will admit it, but i don't blindly follow all there ideas. Friend codes are crap in my opinion, BUT it is a good way to prevent preditors. So i hated the inconvenence, but saw that for a GENERALLY younger audience nintendo has, it is good for protection. This is a huge improvement. I don't want to talk to strangers, i want to play them. YOu can do that in random matches. Now you can enter your friends ONE number and play against them in all games. Thats not a big inconvience.

So before people get all "blind fanboy" on me, just remember the kids and the 30 y.o. sick child molestering freaks.

StevO @ May 28th 2007 8:43PM

@ Ken

That's all fine, but how to we find our friends? Do we still have to enter 12 digit friend codes =(

Grog @ May 28th 2007 8:44PM

Thanks, Ken!

I can't wait till Strikers comes out in the States...

Ken @ May 28th 2007 8:46PM

@StevO

I've been looking around, and there will be a way to "upload" all your friends into the game you're playing (sorta like an Address Book), in the near future. Big Brain Academy uses the Wii Friend List address book to add those friends to the list.

Little to no information has been released about address books for games like Strikers and Super Smash Bros, but I'm going to remain optimistic and say that you'll have to enter your friend's friend code in once, and it should store it on the internal memory-- for future games.

Ken @ May 28th 2007 8:48PM

@Grog

Our European brotheren are enjoying the game as we speak, and so far the game has been getting pretty good reviews.

If you've not played the first, you're definitely in for a treat.

Beni Nkangoh @ May 28th 2007 8:59PM

Ok, I'm going to be fair here.

Do you complain about entering phone numbers? If not, then just stop reading right here. Your alright.

If so, then lets go through some things.

1.) Phone Numbers are 10 digits. XXX-XXX-XXXX
Friend codes are 12 digits XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
People love complaining about everything. The difference is minimal. If you have settled about friend codes are can live with them after this realization. Then stop here. (Albeit friend codes still suck!)

2.) Ok so you still think that entering friend codes are stupid and they should die and etc. I want that to, guess what, its not going to happen. To easen your mind lets do some more compassions.

By now you have probably already thought. "Hey, but I only have to enter phone numbers once on my cell phone and it saves automatically... so yeah." Guess what? You only have to enter a friend code once per friend. Same with phone numbers.... hmmm?

3.) Still not happy? Ok, I'll admit, I'm running out of ideas to convince me (and you) that friend codes aren't THAT bad. Anyway, here is my last one.

So you know that its only one friend code per friend and it saves automatically like cell phones and telephone numbers.. but. What about a universal friend code?

Ahh my friend. Look at the news story above. :D

Grog @ May 28th 2007 9:01PM

I didn't play the GC one (I think I was working on my master's at the time), but I've heard good things. And of course the reviews (and Penny Arcade's Friday strip) make it look like a lot of fun.

Plus, I'm really just looking for more fun multiplayer games to hold me over till Smash Bros. comes out.

NvM @ May 28th 2007 9:03PM

Awww Good news.
Hopefully Nintendo will be able to beat their handheld counterpart in the online race.

mysteryman64030 @ May 28th 2007 9:12PM

For those lonely folks out there who can't make any friends but on the internet here is the solution. Just go to

digg.com/gaming_news/Wii_Friend_Code_Database

Just Google Wii or Nintendo DS friend codes and you will find an endless amount of resources for all of your social needs.

JonnyBoy2U @ May 28th 2007 9:19PM

FUCK FRIEND CODES.

Seriously...if Brawl is using this shit then thats the last straw for me. I'm calling Nintendo and complaining amd if you're a TRUE FAN of Nintendo then you'll do the same. Nintendo is stupid and retarded if they think anyone in their right mind actually agrees with the concept of Friend Codes. At the very LEAST they should give us TWO options. Friend Codes and No Friend Codes/General Lobby and User Name. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. I mean really...Nintendo is really pissing me off.

Nik @ May 28th 2007 9:17PM

I'll believe it when I play Pokemon Battle Revolutions and Mario Strikers Charged with the same friend code. Until then, my faith in Nintendo's online plan is 0.

Okay, maybe now its a little more than zero.

REUYL @ May 28th 2007 9:16PM

Nintendo, just ditch friend codes for goodness' sake.

Beni Nkangoh @ May 28th 2007 9:22PM

Hey uhm. JonnyBoy.. maybe you should take less time hating on Nintendo and more time paying attention in that English class of yours. Trust me, when your teacher says it will help in the real world. Believe...

Borat @ May 28th 2007 9:25PM

Better than before I guess. At least you could identify each other according to the Miis?

Also, does this mean that the friends list for each Mii is going to transfer from game to game? It better.

BPM @ May 28th 2007 9:26PM

JonnyBoy, most DS games have featured non-friend modes.

Friend Codes are only if you want to play with/against certain people. Otherwise, you can play against random strangers (which are sometimes in the same skill rank as you... Maybe).

Are Friend Codes annoying? Very. But it's not like they're needed ALWAYS. Most games are still playable online without them.
Heck, Tetris DS is better that way. My rank won't go up if I beat only my friends. :P

btboy500 @ May 28th 2007 9:29PM

This is a great idea, but it makes the Wii system code seem completely unnecessary, considering that messages delivered to specific Mii's makes more sense than it being given to the system.

JonnyBoy2U @ May 28th 2007 9:32PM

@Beni

Look I'm as big a supporter/fanboy of Nintendo as the next but that does NOT mean I support everything they do without questioning its logic or reasonability k? I can complain about Nintendo if I want since I own a Wii and I've owned every Nintendo console starting with the SNES.

Now go f*ck off you little baby. If you can't handle grown folks language then don't read my posts.

NvM @ May 28th 2007 9:33PM

@20
You can play 95% of online nintendo games without em.

steve @ May 28th 2007 9:34PM

wait...im a bit confused
is there going to be a lobby where you can verse people you dont know
or can you only play against people whose friend code you know

o and to anyone that is telling people their english is bad.....if you can undertsand it then its good enough for a comment on an internet blog. some people just instant message chat a little too much.

Miz @ May 28th 2007 9:41PM

The only thing that ever bothered me about friend codes was the fact that there was a different one for every game, even if all the friends on the list were the same. Other than that, I think the principle is solid, reasonable, and very helpful for dealing with young kids who want to play online.

Since this gets rid of the one thing I didn't like, and a single set of codes will apply across all games, I'm very pleased.

Beni Nkangoh @ May 28th 2007 9:44PM

@ JohnnyBoy

Seriously. Pay attention in English. Your spelling is horrible. And if English isn't your first language. Then at least speak in your first language so you don't have so many speller errors.

Sheesh.

Beni Nkangoh @ May 28th 2007 9:50PM

@ 27

I would presume the Wii stores all of the friend codes you enter. Then if you play another game that uses friend codes. Then it simply ports over. (Your friends list) Without you having to enter them again.

Slaziman @ May 28th 2007 9:52PM

Jesus Christ people, think of the children. On Xbox Live you get verbally abused left and right, do we really want that for the kids playing Wii? Let's be honest, most children (ages 1-10) will only get a Wii. It's cheap, and most of the great games are children compatible, and kids generally don't give a shit about graphics. With so many kids playing Wii, it would be stupid for Nintendo to let them talk to strangers. You could argue that the parental controls could've been tweaked for this, but as we can see from the article saying that the Wii's internet browser is a gateway to pr0n, Nintendo made the right choice. Lots of parents are irresponsible, with Friend Codes the children are protected by default.

Crackman @ May 28th 2007 9:53PM

LOL @ JohnnyBoy thinking his language is what adults use. What a punk loser.

Beni Nkangoh @ May 28th 2007 9:55PM

Actually, most of the people who purchase Wii's are adults. Not to mention that its selling more then the 360 and will soon have a larger install base then it.

As for the Internet Channel and Porn. That only happens on Windows because there are pop-ups and spyware. For that to happen on Wii, well lets just say your child has seen some skin before.

Rubang B @ May 28th 2007 10:00PM

You only need friend codes to play UNRANKED matches against your friends, for like say, practice, or to mess around with weird cheats on or something.

You do not need friend codes at all to play RANKED matches against people of similar skill levels in your region to try to become the player of the day or to try to top the leaderboards for the 3 month season.

And for those people who want a lobby where you can just go talk to strangers... let's just say that if you play StarCraft or Diablo or WarCraft for long enough, the probability of stumbling across people cybering in a prviate room is very very high. Maybe Nintendo doesn't want this to happen on their servers? And you only have to enter my friend code once and from that point on you'll see my name, Rubang B, not my friend code. You'll never see the code ever again.

The reason Pokemon Battle Revolution is not part of this new code-per-Mii system is because it came out in Japan before Nintendo set up their new system with GameSpy, and because it works in conjunction with the DS games which have their own special friend codes, so it's not really compatible the same way. Those go per DS/cartridge, not per username. Now I can have 100 accounts on my Wii. I can use my Rubang B Mii for my real stats that I oh-so-deeply care about, and use an Akbar or a Borat to practice or something. I expect to see a bunch of wacky celebrity Miis on the leaderboards.

Slaziman @ May 28th 2007 10:01PM

Sure, most of them are adults, but there are lots of children too. Besides, I wouldn't want my grandma to be harassed either...

Think about it people, all you are losing is voice chat with strangers and the ability to add strangers to your friend list, BIG DEAL.

jman @ May 28th 2007 10:04PM

oh come on...leave johhny boy alone...if its readable (sp?)...then its fine!

Oh and as long as i can play with random ppl then im fine with the friend codes...cuz if i wanna play with friends ill invite some over...

Beni Nkangoh @ May 28th 2007 10:06PM

Well voice chat would be moot to begin with since Nintendo didn't bundle a microphone. Same with PS3 games.

I've been on XBOX Live, its horrible. So many racist idiots, emos, jerks, pedo's, etc.

nick @ May 28th 2007 10:13PM

The number of possibilities when using 12 digits sure benefits Nintendo, but how does it benefit the consumer? They're like a pain to try to remember. And if someone else gives me their friend code? Forget it. Write it down if you can remember yours.

I fail to see how a friends code is a good thing. Should be an annoyance (if it isn't already). C'mon Nintendo, you improve the control, you introduce gaming to the masses, but you over complicate meeting friends online?

Rubang B @ May 28th 2007 10:11PM

The Wii is getting Manhunt 2 and No More Heroes, which are currently having some sort of arms race to be the goriest game of the year.

The 360 had Viva Pinata and the PS3 has Super Rub a Dub.

All 3 systems have Surf's Up!

You're telling me that kids only play Wii and not 360? Why is it that 95% of the Gears players on Live have those really high-pitched voices? Either they haven't reached puberty or they're all girls and the statistics are wrong.

Kids play all systems. Right now Nintendo's taking over the old folks with Brain Age and Wii Sports. I think Microsoft and Sony are fighting over 14-20 year olds while that target market is becoming less relevant due to Nintendo's market expansion. Not irrelevant, but slightly less relevant as more gamers are um, "created."

JonnyBoy2U @ May 28th 2007 10:13PM

Since when did Joystiq become English Class? Shut the fuck up you pussies. If you have nothing better to say related to the topic at hand and instead want to focus on my writing or my use of certain terms then you truly are the pathetic ones. This is the Internet in case you didn't know. My GPA is NOT riding on how well I type each every single word. Nor is it indicative of how intelligent or not so intelligent I am (especially since as many people have already pointed out its completely readable and understandable).

As for FC's vs Lobby I already said that we should have OPTIONS. As in choices. As in the freedom to decide if we want to use either FC's, Lobby, or a combination of BOTH. I think FC's are fine for little kiddies if thats what the parents desire. However I know that even as a child I wasn't stupid and I wasn't naive when it came to Online. But w/e some kids are retarded so yes we "must" protect them. However for those of us who are in the young adult age range (myself included) or even older we should NOT have to suffer this bullshit just to be able to play Online. And if turns out that its required for Super Smash Brothers Brawl that will be the height of stupidity on Nintendo's part.

Thank God I got an XBox Elite. I'm a Nintendo fanboy but Wii60 is truly one of the greatest things ever invented!

Slaziman @ May 28th 2007 10:12PM

So all you are really losing is the ability to add strangers to your friend list, cry me a river...

Slaziman @ May 28th 2007 10:14PM

With kids I meant ages 1-10, anything above that and they will fall into the "Xbox 360 is for teh cool boys" trap. Are there ten year olds in Xbox Live?

Grog @ May 28th 2007 10:15PM

You do realize that these options you're asking for already exist, right? You can play your friends by using friend codes or just play a random opponent, Considering this is in current games (Mario Strikers), I would assume that it will be in later games like Smash Bros. as well.

JonnyBoy2U @ May 28th 2007 10:18PM

@Grog

You do realize we are NOT able to communicate or select these "random" opponents your glorifying Nintendo for making available for us right? I'm not going to apologize for wanting to first go into a lobby and being able to talk with and converse with a few people before I DECIDE ON MY OWN TERMS which strangers or random people I want to compete with. A random computer or server is just not going to cut it...get it? Good!

Slaziman @ May 28th 2007 10:19PM

@JonnyBoy

You can join matches against strangers in Mario Strikers, I assume it's the same with Brawl. What are you bitching about? Boohoo, you can't add strangers to your friends list, big deal man. You can still play online without Friend Codes, why are you crying?

nitemare @ May 28th 2007 10:22PM

I don't get the big gripe with friend codes, its actually easier, if i'm not mistaken when i signed up for xbox live, because i didn't have a hotmail account i had to fill out a whole sign up form to get a user name.. my only gripe with friend codes is the fact that they changed for every game, but once put in they were extremely simple because they stay in, no more seeing them, just your friend's name-- just like a phone number--

and Nintendo has made it easier for exchanging friend codes, your system has built in messaging that you obviously can use because you're on the net...

i only wonder if in the instant message service in madden 08 or in Fifa will work in the random matches...

Rubang B @ May 28th 2007 10:22PM

You type your friend code ONCE. You can even store it on your AIM buddy list if you want. You can copy and paste it to your friends and they enter it. No need to remember it. Just save it to a .txt on your desktop or e-mail it to yourself or even enter it into your phone. The possibilities are endless!

So when Strikers comes out in the U.S., we all pick our Miis, connect, and we all come on here and paste our FCs into our comments and have a little Joystiq readers Strikers club going on. Sounds like fun to me.

Ken @ May 28th 2007 10:24PM

@JonnyBoy2U

People like you are the reason why I think Live is trash.

"Shut the fuck up you pussies." should be reserved for middle school arguments. If you're still in middle school (or... if not) please, come back to us when your balls drop and you hit puberty. Thank you! :)