Nintendo Brings User Generated Content to DSi

December 18th, 2008, 20:58 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo is embracing user generated content in a big way with one of its first DSi Ware games. In Japan today, the company shared details on a program that will let users of Moving Notepad (known in Japanese as "Ugoku Memo Chou") post their animations to the internet to be viewed by all.

The company is teaming up with web services provider Hatena for this service. Hatena will be operating a website called Ugomemo Hatena. This site is set up like a media sharing site similar to YouTube, with comments, rankings, and even embedding options. Instead of sharing videos, though, users share the animations that they've produced in Moving Notepad. The animations are uploaded directly from the DSi title.

Once uploaded to the Ugomemo Hatena site, anyone can view the animations. However, in order to leave comments and ratings, you have to be a registered member at the site (registration is free).

DSi users can access the Ugomemo Hatena site content directly from their DSi via the Ugomemo Theater section of the Moving Notepad program. Also operated by Hatena, this section of the program allows users to not only view the animations of other players, but to download, edit and upload them anew.

All this user generated fun will be completely free of charge. Even the main Moving Notepad software will be downloadable for free.

The user submission system won't kick off until December 24, when Moving Notepad becomes available for download to the DSi. However, the Ugomemo Hatena site is already active with submissions provided by Nintendo and Hatena employees. Go there so see what kind of content you can expect from the more talented animators among the populace.

For those who are concerned with misuse of this service (Moving Notepad does allow users to make use of pictures taken with the DSi camera), Hatena has announced one initial regulation. There will be a time lag of at least 30 minutes between an animation being available for viewing at the Ugomemo Hatena site and it being accessible on the DSi. Users of the website will be able to flag content as inappropriate. Such content will not be made available on the DSi.

As part of this announcement today in Japan, Nintendo noted that it's in talks with Hatena about extending the service to overseas markets in the future. Don't be surprised if you see a similar user generated content program when the DSi launches outside of Japan.

http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/939/939521p1.html

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