One unanswered question has been lingering in the air since Nintendo’s big coming out party for the Wii U last week: How will the online infrastructure be an improvement over past Nintendo consoles (if at all)? Developers must know, right? Well, apparently not.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 director Katsuhiro Harada didn’t sound like he had confidence in Nintendo’s new online system, during a roundtable interview at Namco Bandai HQ. When asked about how the Wii U's online infrastructure will compare to that offered on 360/PS3, Harada responded:

"Not quite sure at this point. I don't fully understand it. We’re still working with Nintendo to find out about their network."

With a US release of November 18, it's hard to believe this response. Harada emphasized that the netcode will be as solid as those of competing systems, but it's still a mystery how players will connect and play online. He also wouldn't confirm whether the Wii U exclusive modes will be playable online.

"User accounts are tied to consoles, however. To purchase games from the Nintendo eShop, use Miiverse, or the video chat function, you will have to register a “Nintendo Network ID,” which will require you to input a password, gender, date of birth, e-mail, and area of residence. A single Nintendo Network ID can be used to download software and purchase add-on content, and this content will be available to all user accounts on the Wii U console in question."

"Iwata also adds that the Nintendo Network will work with network services from other software developers. Once you link your Nintendo Network ID to other services, you can use it as an all-encompassing ID that lets you sign into each separate service.

Your Nintendo Network ID will also be available for use on Nintendo devices that are released in the future. Additionally, it will also be compatible with planned services that will be rolled out on PCs and smartphones, which will allow you to browse the Nintendo eShop and Miiverse without a Nintendo device."