Pay-2-Play is Fun!
I don’t know why there is so much debate over charging for online multiplayer. Nintendo wanted to provide a free online experience that differentiated itself from the Xbox 360 but as the saying goes “You get what you pay for.” Now Nintendo is struggling to keep up with their promise for Free online play and the door is now open for games to feature pay-2-play. Some argue that the Nintendo Wii isn’t made for online multiplayer and if this is a true statement; I can understand why Nintendo is methodical with there online plans. Nintendo claimed it would be a free online environment and now they are softening their stance and there’s nothing wrong with it.
I am a Wii/360 owner and I understand the commitment to online multiplayer and the only way it can be truly achieved, is if we give Nintendo the utilities they need. There is a time and a place for FREE. Some downloadable content should be free while others should have cost. To have a list of friends with the ability to chat with them at anytime and game demos should be free. A true online multiplayer experience can not be done without the proper funding. Sure you can have a free online multiplayer experience but can it be enjoyable in an age of instant gratification.
Wii owners tend to be supercilious when it comes to online gaming. We want to play Mario Kart online multiplayer but we don’t want to pay for it. Nintendo has over 20 million console sold. That’s 20 million consoles that are Wi Fi enable and online multiplayer capable. Is it even reasonable to think that Nintendo can support a fraction of its owners without compensation? Nintendo has to deal with 24hr support, bandwidth, match making and server support for millions of Wii owners, for FREE. Its no wonder there’s been so many issues.
When Microsoft started online multiplayer there were only a few million. They ironed out the kinks and bumps until they got it right. Though there are issues from time to time, it really is an awesome service. It’s well worth $50 a year. In this gaming generation online game play is a must and it is the future. Nintendo should charge a flat annual fee to play online. Sure it’ll be painful at first but the outcome will be playing a contemporary console; instead of an antiquated dinosaur. Change is good.
Posted by Roger Thorpe, Apr 07, 2008 11:01 AM
XYchromeBandit wrote on Apr 07, 06:54 pm
Nintendo's online play is really disappointing. I am skeptical about paying to play but anything is better than we have now. The online game isn't that noticeable until you play on Xbox LIVE.
torky wrote on Apr 08, 05:19 am
I have played quite few games on the Wii online, from Strikers, MoH:H2, Guitar Hero, Battalion Wars 2, etc. They have all worked great. All are free. I don't want to pay for online gaming. I don't care if they want to charge for advanced online features like unified friends lists and voice chats, but to charge simply to game online with random opponents or friends would be bad. I've used LIVE and it's fully of potty mouthed teens. Please Nintendo, don't emulate LIVE, it's a cess pool. It has a lot of potential, but the user base simply ruins it. Nintendo's strategy is simpler and doesn't allow the user base to destroy the experience. Please keep online gaming free. Thats the way it's supposed to be.
eHerbieInReverse wrote on Apr 08, 01:45 pm
Isn't it quite possible to just allow voice communications with friends, exclusively? That would solve this huge problem that people see with "potty-mouthed" gamers.
javier wrote on Apr 08, 01:53 pm
Torky, I don't know how you get to play without problems... Wii on-line sucks and I agree, you will never appreciate on-line gaming until you have a 360. If you don't like somebody... mute him takes half a second
Stuart Grimshaw wrote on Apr 09, 09:35 am
"Wii owners tend to be supercilious when it comes to online gaming. We want to play Mario Kart online multiplayer but we don’t want to pay for it." That's a bit unfair, I wouldn't mind paying for a service similar to the XBox's Live platform, but I would object to having to pay for a system where I have to know someones random string of random characters, whilst simultainiously having them know mine, then have to arrange to meet online and just hope we're both there on cue.
Wolf26pack wrote on Apr 10, 12:08 am
You know what, I don't like that they are taking back there word on having a free online experience. We have to pay more for everything now a days. People may think Wow what a Cheap Ass. Well think about this!!! Nintendo has been making a $50 profit from each one of these consoles sold. Not to mention how the DS is selling and all but lets calculate just the Wii lets see... Wii - 20 Million x $50 = 1 Billion Dollars Profit. Now I know the money goes into many other aspects of the company weather it is the DS or the Accessories or R&D but the point is the Wii is still sold out and they are raking in the Profits. I know that they could provide free online gaming to the masses. Now I agree Additional Game Content could be charged for as long as the Content isn't already on the disc but, Charging to play online Multiplayer is a crime. I grew up with free multiplayer abit online but I mean come on. I won't ever pay to play online. I am not going to pay to play and be part of the community who gets ripped off. In the end the online features that came with the Wii weren't thought all the way through and now WE LITTERALLY HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THERE LACK OF THINKING. Now Imagine if you had to pay for every firmware that came to the PS3,360,Wii. Don't let it come to this because Corporate Greed has no Limits!!!
Sean wrote on Apr 13, 12:31 pm
If the Wii Pay 2 play happens. I WILL NOT use wifi. I would just sell my wifi and Play with my friends.
RaSaan wrote on Sep 29, 03:26 pm
I can see a small, yet hurting lawsuit coming out of it which wil hurt Nintendo in the long run.... Honestly, good games are out there like: SUper Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart, all EA games which offers "All Play", the old and UPCOMING Rock bands..... But when you think about ir really hard, The Wii has been out now for More than a YR, Actually 2 (I think). Point is, You can count with your hands the GOOD Wi-Fi games and probably come up short of 10. They don't even have consistency in releasing Great Online titles like the PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles. Now here is an idea for Nintendo that they can get away with. If they launch a patch on all future Systems that they ship they explains they will have that new feature, "Wii Pay 2 Play," They can pay monthly or yearly through Wii Points. But trying to go after your loyal consumers that already invested into the Wii with the understanding their WI-FI is FREE would be contradicting on their part. That's the issue that will be a MAJOR disaster. It should remain FREE. Unless Nintendo offers everyone who already has a Wii a few months free, explaining the changes, while charging everyone else who gets it straight out of the box (Similiar to the way they did the Internet Channel). The issue is it goes back to the fact, the games right now ARE NOT WORTH IT. NOW HERE'S an idea!!! The DS is getting a Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Release a GTA for the Wii with some kind of Multiplayer option and begin charging for the online DEAD ON... That will drives sells from Rockstar, Wii Consoles everywhere, sucess in launching your Pay-2-Play.. Seriously, who wouldn't PAY for GTA Online?