E306: Wii Wi-Fi To Use Friend Codes, Mario Galaxy Details

During an interview with IGN Wii, Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development’s general manager, Takahashi Tezuka stated Wii online service will utilise friend codes as a means to allow you to play against others.

IGN Wii: What is your plan for the Wi-Fi Connection and how might it compare to Xbox Live?

Takahashi Tezuka: Well, the Wii Wi-Fi Connection works the same as the Nintendo DS one. It’s the three qualities that we emphasize. It’s easy, safe and free.

IGN Wii: Will it have a central interface a la Live that all games will interact with, or will it be different on a game-by-game basis?

Tezuka: It’ll be just like the DS so the interface will depend on the software.

IGN Wii: Will Wi-Fi Connection on Wii also use a Friends Code system?

Tezuka: Yes.

IGN Wii also asked Takahashi Tezuka about Mario’s upcoming Wii title, Super Mario Galaxy.

IGN Wii: Let’s talk about Super Mario Galaxy. What length are you striving for with the game?

Tezuka: We don’t know yet. Whatever feels best for the controller is how long it will end up being.

IGN Wii: Many of the land masses in Galaxy are smaller than we’ve seen in other Mario titles. Will there be bigger ones in the final version?

Tezuka: We can make them as big as we want. I can’t tell you what we’re going to do, but the capability is certainly there for us to make them bigger.

IGN Wii: Will all of the levels be based on or around moons and stars, or will there be other areas to explore?

Tezuka: I’m not sure about the variety. We’re looking at a variety of sizes. But about a variety of level types, I cannot say right now.

IGN Wii: What other gameplay features are you exploring with Super Mario Galaxy?

Tezuka: Nothing I can reveal today. We’re trying a lot of different ways to interact with Mario, so please look forward to what we come up with.

IGN Wii: What about Galaxy’s multiplayer mode?

Tezuka: We are exploring some options. We’re looking at some ideas. More than, say, any sort of versus play, I think we’ll be more inclined to do cooperative style of play. More than a cooperative style than a versus style.

IGN: Will you be able to play as Luigi?

Tezuka: I don’t know. We shall see! [Laughs]

Source: IGN Wii.