"We have reached an era where even a single-player game experience [can] have a social component that is very important. And I think ... that social component is mandatory."
- Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata explains why the company will include a social network specifically for gamers in Wii U, with the upcoming console's "Miiverse" feature. Iwata told Kotaku that he believes the way users share their media experiences with others online now resembles the sort of social interactions they had as kids in the real world. For example, friends playing the same game would give each other tips and compare their progress. With Miiverse, which acts as a built-in Facebook-like service enabling Wii U owners to post and read messages about their games, Nintendo seeks to mimic those interactions, turning even single-player titles into an online social experience. Has the way we share and discuss our game experiences online really reached the point where having social features is critical for single-player games? Or even mandatory? Will we soon see players and critics who are disappointed when new single-player games don't include them?
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