Wii U in Review: Miiverse

A lot of mystery has surrounded Miiverse since Nintendo first announced it at this year’s E3. What, exactly, would the service look like? How would it be integrated into games? Would we be able to interact with gamers who aren’t already on our friends list? It seemed the closer we got to the console’s launch, the less we knew for certain about one of defining features. Now that the staff have had some quality time with the system, though, they’re ready to weigh in with their thoughts. So, what’s our verdict on Wii U’s burgeoning social network?

Marc Deschamps

I’m not sure what to make of the Miiverse just yet, honestly. It seems like a really interesting concept, but I want to see where it’s gonna go from here. That said, I really enjoy the ability to post comments after levels in New Super Mario Bros. U. It’s cool to see what other people are saying, especially on some of the harder levels. It kind of makes it feel like a tighter community.

Seeing comments from other players adds a whole new dimension to solo games.

Bradly Hale

Like Marc said, I’m a little unsure of the Miiverse at the moment. It seems like, in time, it could be a robust system that manages to make gaming a more social experience. For what the concept could be in theory, I’m willing to give it a chance. As it stands now, I’ve had some fun with it. On more than one occasion I’ve found myself posting something to one of the game’s communities, and then fiendishly checking on that post to see if anyone commented on it or gave it a “Yeah!” (This is similar to that of “liking” something on Facebook.) I can certainly see there’s an addictive quality to it, which is important if Nintendo hopes and plans to build a strong sense of community.

That being said, I want there to be more to do with Miiverse. In its current form, it feels a little barebones. For starters, I want more profile customization. On top of that, I want some sort of achievement system, even if it can only be viewed by those on my friends list. I simply want something to show which games I own and which games I’m currently playing. This is the sort of thing that fosters unity and gives players a reason to log on every day, even if they aren’t in the particular mood to play anything. I also hope they get the load times figured out, as going from screen to screen in the Miiverse can be a lengthy endeavor. I feel I would use it more, if I knew it wasn’t going to be such a hassle to do so.

Dustin Grissom

Unlike my colleagues, I’m am completely in on Miiverse. I love feelings like no matter what game I play, there is always a strong, nice, fun community with me at all times. The community, opposed to its competition, it actually extremely helpful and supportive. I’ve already completely shied away from game guides around the internet, instead, I just post a picture of where I’m at, and ask the Miiverse community for some clues to help me out. It’s an awesome experience that can only get better. It’s like Facebook, but the community actually cares about what you have to say when it comes to video games, whether it’s questions, jokes, drawings, or accomplishments! Can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Kyle England

I am wholeheartedly in support of Miiverse as well! As a standalone Nintendo social network, I think it can stand on its own, but it’s the Miiverse integration with the games that has me hooked. Switching back and forth from a game to its Miiverse community couldn’t be easier (it could be faster though), and I love stopping into my favorite games from time to time to see what’s up. Like the other writers have pointed out, so far everyone in Miiverse seems civil, polite, and just there to have a fun time. Nintendo’s moderation seems to be working well, as I have only seen ONE penis drawing so far!

I am absolutely hooked to making silly drawings about the games too. As I am sure my Nintendo Network friends here on Nintendojo can attest, I have been drawing and posting quite a bit to Miiverse (I’m Koopaking on Nintendo Network if any readers want to follow me!). Fishing for Yeahs in the big communities is a bit hard due to the post volume, but I still love posting nonetheless. Oh, and some of the communities are really funny. If any Wii U owners get a chance, check out the communities for the shovelware games. Funky Barn has a particularly hilarious community.

All in all, I am really hopeful about the Miiverse. Let’s see if Nintendo can keep it under control as the number of Wii U owners continues to grow. I’m sure Christmas morning is going to be a very busy day in the Miiverse! I’m also excited to see how games can use the social network in the future. The first thing I thought when I saw the death messages that crop up in New Super Mario Bros. U was how similar it was to the online functions in Demon’s
Souls. I’d really like to see some games in the future that can use the message functions to make a better experience. And I know this sounds crazy, but I want to see a Miiverse fighting stage in the next Super Smash Bros. If we can do a Pictochat stage in Brawl we can do Miiverse, right?

Kevin Knezevic

I, too, will have to echo the love for Miiverse, which has easily become the Wii U’s most interesting feature. I think it’s a brilliant little application, not so much because it finally gives Nintendo fans a way to engage with one another without having to exchange cumbersome friend codes (though that’s certainly a boon in its own right), but because it actually colors your in-game experience. Nintendo Land, for example, feels so much livelier because it populates the central plaza with Miis from all over the world, and seeing comments from other players in New Super Mario Bros. U, especially ones that reflect your own thoughts on a specific course, really adds a sense of solidarity to the adventure.

Perhaps the best thing about Miiverse, though, is that it’s always right at the tip of your fingers. Like Kyle already mentioned, being able to jump into the service in the middle of a game to take a screenshot or share one of your accomplishments is the next logical step in social interaction. It’s almost a little surprising that Nintendo effectively leapfrogged Sony and Microsoft in this regard considering how slow the company’s been to embrace the Internet and online gaming, but that’s exactly what it’s done with Miiverse. Plus, you get to see some really fantastic doodles in each community. It makes even a poor artist like me want to join in on the fun!

What about you? Have you found yourself instinctively checking Miiverse? What do you think about its integration in Wii U games? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section!