The highly innovative game manufacturer of Japan, Nintendo, has played a major role in developing the global market for video games and online gaming.

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, popularly known by its acronym WFC, transformed the world of online gaming with this amazing multi-player gaming service that enables online play on the Internet with compatible Nintendo games.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF NINTENDO WFC

1. Easy to connect, safe to use, and available for free. 2. Internet surfing integrated. 3. Up to 8 players can play simultaneously on the Nintendo DS and up to 32 players on the Wii. 4. Worldwide matchmaking. 5. Leader-boards service. 6. Tournaments conducted online. 7. Downloadable content. 8. Extra features available for friends who have exchanged the special "Friend Codes" of Nintendo WFC.

NINTENDO ONLINE FRIEND CODES

Nintendo WFC games generate a unique 12-digit "friend code" that can be used between friends so as to maintain private friend lists for each game. This special facility allows the users to maintain a high level of privacy and exclusivity of play. Some of the games offer extra features that are available between registered "friends", such as customized match-making choices, cooperative play, private friends list, and voice and text chat options.

PAY AND PLAY FEATURE

In the first quarter of 2008, Nintendo introduced a new feature for WFC known as "Pay and Play". It offers special downloadable content and services that are available upon the payment of certain charges. The payment can be made by using "Nintendo Points" or credit card.

WII CONNECT24

This is a unique online feature that allows the Nintendo system to be connected to the Internet even when the console is on Standby. The user can send and receive data even when the console is not being used for gaming. It also hosts a Wii Message Board, where friends can send messages using Wii Connect24.

ONLINE GAMING OPTIONS

The online WFC service of Nintendo was launched towards the end of 2005. The earliest online games were Mario Kart and Tony Hawk's American Sk8land. At present there are over forty Wii games available in the market, 10 WiiWare games, and over a hundred DS games available worldwide that support the Nintendo WFC.

NINTENDO HOTSPOTS

In Europe and Australia, Nintendo has made arrangements with various hotspot service providers that enable free access for online gaming for Nintendo users in public places such as stores, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and airports.

NINTENDO WEBSITE FOR ONLINE USERS

Nintendo WFC has its own web portal for players who are looking for gaming information or need any kind of technical assistance with their product. The website offers live gaming data from its servers. In the U.S. and Canada, it also enables a user to connect his Wi-Fi connection ID to Personal Nintendo Account.

SUMMARY: Nintendo online offers some great user-friendly features and widely popular gaming software for multi-player online gaming. Its games and tournaments are a rage among the gaming community around the world. Nintendo is a pioneer and a leading market contender in the field of videogames and online gaming.