Nintendo hosted a Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation today in which Satoru Iwata fully detailed the Wii U’s Nintendo Network ID, unboxed the new console, and engaged in an awkward conversation with Reggie Fils-Aime using Wii U Chat.
The biggest news from the presentation is that the Wii U completely does away with the Wii’s horrid Friend Code system and replaces it with a universal Nintendo Network ID. With the User ID players can connect to other Wii U owners, access the eShop, and use the network services on the system. Additionally, each Wii U system can have up to 12 Nintendo Network ID’s on it and content purchased using one ID will be playable by all the other accounts on the console.
In other words, the Nintendo Network ID is very modern and familiar for anyone with a Gamertag or PSN ID.
Iwata also hosted a “Wii U unboxing ceremony” during the presentation, which has a certain amount of entertainment value, but pails in comparison to the (hilariously awkward) Wii U Chat demonstration between Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime.
Even if you don’t care at all about the Wii U, the Chat segment is worth taking a look at just to see Reggie draw a heart for Iwata and then frantically wave goodbye to him.
Sorry, the video is currently unavailable.
Source: NeoGAF, MCV