Satoru Iwata talks about the newly branded Nintendo Network, which will cover both 3DS and Wii U...

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has been dropping the first hints about what the future of online services on Nintendo platforms might hold. It all starts with a new name for a new umbrella online network that will cover 3DS and Wii U. Out goes Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, in comes 'Nintendo Network'.

Iwata brought up the 'Communities' feature in Mario Kart 7, in which players could create their own Community to set the rules and conditions for races. Other players could then join the community end enjoy races together. It is this kind of system that Nintendo will use as a foundation for going forward. By this method, Nintendo will be able to offer "valuable services and proposals" to users more directly. Things like competitions, user communication and digital downloads would all be covered under one wide-ranging network.

Paid downloadable content too is well on the way. The already-released first party downloadable game Tobidasu Pricla Kiradeco Revolution (Japan only) will be receiving purchasable DLC from Nintendo down the line. Square-Enix's musical retail title Theatrhythm Final Fantasy will also offer additional music tracks as paid DLC.

However, Iwata warned against equating DLC on Nintendo Network with the sort used for many "social games". Nintendo is committed to offering content whereby the user knows beforehand what it is they're paying for. Iwata said Nintendo will not be allowing for situations where "consumers cannot know in advance which item will appear as the result of their payment and they have to repeat the payments and, before they know it, they end up spending a huge amount of money in order to obtain the items they originally wanted to purchase."

On the subject of digitally selling packaged software - in other words, downloading full retail games - Iwata confirmed that the infrastructure is already there to do this on 3DS, and will be there for Wii U. However, while the president noted that the significance of this field will increase in future, the company has not decided when it will pursue this line of business, citing the relationship with retailers and wholesalers, and the issue of SD card storage on the consumer's end.

Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto also chimed in, stating that Nintendo's online network would have to based around a totally new concept in order to be different.