Nintendo confirms free online play for Wii...

[Apossum]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-08-14-nintendo-qa_x.htm

Q: A few years ago, Nintendo made a conscious decision to lie low when Microsoft introduced Xbox Live and began promoting its subscription online gaming service. In retrospect, does that look like a good decision?

A: I wasn't here. What I can tell you is the way we've approached online play now is really with a view to the masses. With Nintendo DS (a dual-screen handheld player), for example, we offer free Internet play in a wide-ranging series of games. Our focus is getting as many consumers to enjoy that online experience as possible. And we've done that.

Q: You're not pursuing a subscription model?

A: We view online gaming as essentially an enhanced way to enjoy the gaming experience and drive more sales of hardware and software.

Q: How do you extend your online strategy to Wii?

A: It's the same premise. We will offer online-enabled games that the consumers will not have to pay a subscription fee for. They'll be able to enjoy that right out of the box. The Wii console is going to be Wi-Fi enabled, so essentially, you'll be able to plug it in and go. It won't have hidden fees or costs.

Guess this isn't "new" but it's now confirmed.

[Moxio]

If they can make a decent friend system or some kind of lobby system or SOMETHING like that (not any friend codes) I'd be happy. It doesn't have to be as elaborate as Live because I definitely wouldn't expect it to be for free.

[DeathDealer]

Cross my fingers for no Friend Codes. or at least with like an automatch where you can choose to save someone to your list if you play them through an automatch. I hate that animal crossing is so difficult with the swapping of codes and coordinating having an open gate at the right time.

[Ikohn4ever]

free is the best price, but i would want it to be lag free or as lag free as possible

[javeryh]

I thought "Friend Codes" were confirmed. I doubt I'll ever play the Wii online unless they make it easy and accessible like Live. I don't want to write down long passwords or anything else equally stupid.

[My Name Is BoB]

If they do friend codes hopefully you'll have the same one for every game you play, instead of keeping track of 10 different codes.

[Riyonuk]

Wow, this sounds great. I dont think they will do friend codes, thats the DS.

[ArthurDigbySellers]

Nintendo has pretty much said that friend codes or their equivilent will be used. Friend codes are only needed to play with "friends" anyway. If you want a quick match, you can boot up your DS or Wii and be in an online game in a minute.

I hope they have one unified friend code, but I highly doubt it. We're going to have to live with the system that they've come up with. It's worth it for free, IMO.

[Riyonuk]

When you say unified friend code, you mean like my console has the code instead of each invidual game? If so, that wouldnt be half bad.

[botticus]

To summarize: Friend Codes are fine, as long as it's universal friend code. The only annoyance is when each game has to make up their own friend code. Otherwise it's the same system as most online services; the only difference then is the anonymity when playing someone without friend codes.

Of course, I only have one friend that I will be playing with online, unless some CAGs adopt me.

[Riyonuk]

Well it would be cool if they had groups, and like CAG had a friend code, and you enter that and you would see all CAG's online. You click the name, they say Hi, and then the battle begins :)

Just an idea, but it would be really cool if it would alert you like of upgrades for your games, like an extra boss, mode, weapon, arena etc. , and then they would offer players a way to (If there good at programming) offer there own creations to the masses, because mods rock. Paid programmers just dont have the time. I'm sure there would be plenty of people out there eager to make something awesome, and put it available free for download.

But then theres a dark side to that, some jerk is gonna make a virus or something and then all hell is going to break loose.

[Vinny]

To summarize: Friend Codes are fine, as long as it's universal friend code. The only annoyance is when each game has to make up their own friend code. Otherwise it's the same system as most online services; the only difference then is the anonymity when playing someone without friend codes.

Of course, I only have one friend that I will be playing with online, unless some CAGs adopt me.

Yes, a universal friend code would be great... having individual friend codes suck. It would also be great to be able to transfer your data from one system/game set to another one.

And I'll take you online once I get a Wii.8-)

[Spades22]

Darn I was hoping they'd have a server system where it just lists all the game started and you can join one....however as long as I CAN play against real people online, it would make my day. If its good online I wonmt hesitate getting the Wii...