An Improved Wii Online Interface - Would you pay for it?

Zen Davis

Zen Davis

Banned
For something more akin to the Xbox Live service than the current Wii setup, would you pay to 'upgrade' the current online Wii setup? More specifically, would you be willing to pay for some of these:

* Gamer tags for user identification
* Avatars, or gamer pictures, for association with gamertags
* Mottos for display on gamer profiles
* Gamer zones which represent gaming style and influence player matchmaking (Recreation, Pro, Family, Underground)
* Ability to change one's gamertag for 800 Microsoft Points
* Game achievements are listed with gamertags and can be compared with friends' achievements
* Reputation rating which is voted on by other players who decide to either prefer or avoid another player
* Gamer scores which are a total of a player's achievement points
* Friends list, which is a list of a player's chosen friends
* Recent player list, which lists the last 50 players one user has played with
* Xbox Live Marketplace content
* Multiplayer online gameplay
* Enhanced matchmaking using cumulative gamer score, reputation, location/language profile, skill level, and gamer zone.


Or are you happy with the free online interface? Although I would personally pay a minimum for added reliability for wi-fi games and infastructure, I wouldn't pay much more than that. What about you guys?
 
Considering at best it would be mandatory for only new games, and at worst it would be totally optional for developers to make use of, no. I wouldn't pay for it.

Something like this has to be done right, from the ground up, and at the very start of the service. It's too late now.
 
Add:

*Headset support, and that majority of player have headsets.

I would pay $20 a year.

The reason I pay $35 a year for XBL because it has much more online games.
 
Not a chance. Only reason I play online is because it's free. All of those are nice features, but not something I'd pay for.
 
I wouldn't pay for it. I'm not big into online gaming, and I don't see the Wii having a lot of games like Gears, Halo etc that are the types of games I do like to play online some.
 
No. The only thing I wish you could do is download things in the background. I'm just talking about the store, though. I've yet to play online with the Wii.
 
Meh. A gamer card would be nice, with listed games, etc, but I wouldn't pay for it. A better connection interface might be worth paying for, but not much.

I might pay $10 a year or so for something more like that, with better connections, maybe $20 if there were achievements that mattered (like you convert achievements into wii points or something) then I'd feel like I was getting my money's worth.
 
[quote name='daroga']Something like this has to be done right, from the ground up, and at the very start of the service. It's too late now.[/quote]

The Xbox didn't have Live until it was about a year old, and look at how it turned out.
 
At first I thought this was going to be about the browser that you could have downloaded at one time. Any way no I would not pay for it. I think they do need to change the set up of the Wii though. Really only thing that needs changed is you do need something other then the long number they give you. They should let you make a name to use online. Like the gamer tag microsoft uses. That name would be used for all online games. So if you play it online or post your score it would be with that tag. If you have friends that play you should have a friends list that covers all games. Does not need to be like the one on live. Just put the name in it and then tells you if they are on and maybe what game they are playing. It should let you send them a message to play a game.
 
[quote name='lmz00']The Xbox didn't have Live until it was about a year old, and look at how it turned out.[/quote]But Live has probably ended up as it was originally created. It didn't get any sort of dramatic overhaul in features and interface. Putting some sort of Live polish on the Wii online would be on top of what's there/planned to be there, which may or may not result in something worthwhile.
 
Nintendo is just too damn conservative about online. Even if they moved to a pay service, I can't imagine it being anything close to XBL.

I'd rather have it be free for what it is now.
 
i like the idea, but I', not sure if I want to pay for it. It depends on what they would do exactly, how much it would cost, and of course what games are online.
 
I'd pay $10(I'd prefer 1000 Wii points:D) a year just for better servers and a guarentee future online games use the Wii system code, unlike Strikers.
 
[quote name='lmz00']The Xbox didn't have Live until it was about a year old, and look at how it turned out.[/quote]Right, but Xbox Live was in place before there were online games. And remember that the original Xbox's setup was fairly bare-bones compared to the 360's Live.

So, not only will not every game work with an updated Wii online interface, but not even every online game (since we've got, what, 2 now?) will run on it.

Thus, it's too late.
 
i mostly play games by myself.

when i do play with others, they're usually physically sitting in the same room as me. and in the event that i do play online, i don't bother finding random people to play against, i play with friends that live in different cities, or friends that are just too lazy to come over.

so no... i wouldn't pay for online anything. it's a fun little bonus when included in a game, but i rarely take advantage of it now, nor do i plan to in the future. it's just not why i play games.
 
I would but not alot of money since I am already paying for Live. They would also have to add onlne to a bunch of their Virtual Console games to get me to pay.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']Well what about the next generation Nintendo system? The HD one. What about then?[/QUOTE]

Possibly, if that system also brings killer online FPS games etc....which is well should if Nintendo wins this gen and gets more 3rd parties on board.

Main problem currently is stuff like Wii Sports, Mario Kart, Mario Sports games etc. are just infinitely more fun playing with friends in the same room.

Games like Halo, Gears etc. are better online as split screen sucks in those type of games (and Lan parties are too impractical IMO).
 
Remember Nintendo is catering to the casual crowd, the people who will play Mario Strikers for about a month then stop. Paying to play online is not something a casual gamer would want, they want to jump online with no problems. Right now it is very easy for a casual person to go on and play a random person online, so I don't see Nintendo moving from the current set up.

That said I really do not see how FCs stop child predators, there is already very limited communication with both sides, switching to a non FC system would still provide the same protection but with some more ease of use.
 
[quote name='zerowing']Remember Nintendo is catering to the casual crowd, the people who will play Mario Strikers for about a month then stop. Paying to play online is not something a casual gamer would want, they want to jump online with no problems. Right now it is very easy for a casual person to go on and play a random person online, so I don't see Nintendo moving from the current set up.

That said I really do not see how FCs stop child predators, there is already very limited communication with both sides, switching to a non FC system would still provide the same protection but with some more ease of use.[/QUOTE]
Well, then you can't forget about the hardcore. I mean, Microsoft might be catering to the Hardcore, but they didn't forget about the casual, eg viva piniata, Banjo kazooie.
The best thing for Nintendo to do is:
-Keep the free system
-NO MORE FRIEND CODES
- Bluetooth mic capablity
-Online games that USE the mic.
-Option to block Mic/Profane words for kids so parents don't have to worry. (but then wouldn't people resort to leet?)
-Leaderboards andw Acheavement translation(like 1 acheviement= 800 points or something).
-Wii channel subscription, like 4000 for $30 a month(or maybe buy 2 get one free?, im not so sure about this one.)
-And did I mention NO FRIEND CODES?
 
I'd pay for it in the sense that I would buy and Xbox 360 if I wanted an online oriented video game experience. As it is I'm fine with Single player Nintendo with a smidge of online on the side to dip my Wiimote into.
 
One of the greatest mysteries of Xbox Live is how Microsoft got people to pay for online functionality that PC gamers had been enjoying for years for free.
 
[quote name='MisterHand']One of the greatest mysteries of Xbox Live is how Microsoft got people to pay for online functionality that PC gamers had been enjoying for years for free.[/QUOTE]

xfire is the closest thing, and thats still really just a giant friends list.
 
[quote name='Doomed']I'd pay $10(I'd prefer 1000 Wii points:D) a year just for better servers and a guarentee future online games use the Wii system code, unlike Strikers.[/quote]

I guess nobody really understands the way that Microsoft or Nintendo online services work. There are no servers other than for matchmaking. Once the matchmaking server links the players, it then switches to a peer-to-peer network between those player's 360s or Wiis.

Sony is the only service that uses dedicated servers (or PS3s as the case may be) for some of their online games - Resistance, Warhawk, and maybe Motorstorm. In those cases, you are actually connecting to a server which is hosting the game which reduces much of the lag you get when playing P2P. Sony is most likely providing dedicated servers only for its first party games.
 
[quote name='lebowsky']I guess nobody really understands the way that Microsoft or Nintendo online services work. There are no servers other than for matchmaking. Once the matchmaking server links the players, it then switches to a peer-to-peer network between those player's 360s or Wiis.

Sony is the only service that uses dedicated servers (or PS3s as the case may be) for some of their online games - Resistance, Warhawk, and maybe Motorstorm. In those cases, you are actually connecting to a server which is hosting the game which reduces much of the lag you get when playing P2P. Sony is most likely providing dedicated servers only for its first party games.[/quote]Well, there are additional servers in the mix, but not for use with gaming. i.e. if you log into Mario Strikers, some server somewhere is storing the daily/weekly rankings, etc. Those sorts of things don't really require much in the way of maintenance, though, pretty static/linear traffic.
 
[quote name='daroga']Considering at best it would be mandatory for only new games, and at worst it would be totally optional for developers to make use of, no. I wouldn't pay for it.

Something like this has to be done right, from the ground up, and at the very start of the service. It's too late now.[/QUOTE]

daroga for the win. Its an all or nothing situation. Live only works as well as it does because its mandatory and realatively well intergrated. That being said, it isnt clear if Live is financially sucessful.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']Well what about the next generation Nintendo system? The HD one. What about then?[/QUOTE]

For starters, dont assume it will be HD. Nintendo wont commit to an HD setup until the HD TV market penetration is sufficient. Sufficient as defined inside of Nintendo.

But assuming a new Nintendo system, sure I would give a Live style service a try. To be honest anything is better than the cludge that exists now.

But remember, Nintendo will stop at nothing to avoid negative situations for children. This whole friend code business stems from the desire to avoid being the medium in which some kid had something bad happen to him.
 
[quote name='foltzie']daroga for the win. Its an all or nothing situation. Live only works as well as it does because its mandatory and realatively well intergrated. That being said, it isnt clear if Live is financially sucessful.[/QUOTE]

Just being mandatory for new games would be fine (assuming it could launch sooner--i.e. in time for Brawl).

Nothing online so far (Pokemon and Strikers is all right, at least that has actually online play?) remotely interests me anyway.
 
[quote name='foltzie']For starters, dont assume it will be HD. Nintendo wont commit to an HD setup until the HD TV market penetration is sufficient. Sufficient as defined inside of Nintendo.
[/QUOTE]

It will be. The next system launch will be 2011. HD penetration will be pretty high then. You already can't buy a TV bigger than what 32" that's not HD? Plus the switchover of broadcast to being required to send an HD signal will help further it along a bit.

Then factor in that the poll on Everyone Votes already showed it 51% 4:3 to 48% 16:9 and it's pretty clear that the market penetration should be there in 4 years.

But if not, and Nintendo launches a non-HD system in 2011, then I'm done with them. It was hard enough to let it slide this time, let alone that far into the HD tv generation.

[quote name='foltzie']
But remember, Nintendo will stop at nothing to avoid negative situations for children. This whole friend code business stems from the desire to avoid being the medium in which some kid had something bad happen to him.[/QUOTE]


I'd imagine a pay service could offer more security. Could build in more filters adn blocking options, could use some of the revenue to hire people to monitor games for problem members, sort through complaint reports etc.
 
This is a bad idea. Apart from game-specific friend codes, which protect no one and aggravate everyone, Nintendo is the gaming oasis from pwning teenaged hardcore gamers, with whom I must interact on the internet, but am happy to avoid on my game console. Tokens, tags, headset smack-talk... I wouldn't want it for free.
 
No I wouldnt pay for it. Its fine the way it is now IMO. I really like the Mii's and enjoy Wii Vote too. Plus being able to surf the web online for free from the TV is nice if im feeling extra lazy.
 
[quote name='bluesyncopate']This is a bad idea. Apart from game-specific friend codes, which protect no one and aggravate everyone, Nintendo is the gaming oasis from pwning teenaged hardcore gamers, with whom I must interact on the internet, but am happy to avoid on my game console. Tokens, tags, headset smack-talk... I wouldn't want it for free.[/QUOTE]


Yeah, that's a big concern of mine too actually. There are enough 12 year olds tossing out racial slurs etc. on X-box live.

I'd expect it to be even worse on a Nintendo systems since their market always skews the youngest do to their family friendly reputation/games.
 
i'm probably a bit older than some of you (35) but I've been playing multiplayer games on the PC for a long time now.

I don't care about friend codes or gamer tags or reputation. What the Wii is missing is the sense of community.

I would pay for:
1. A multiplayer platform -- this is the biggest thing that the Wii is missing, and why I tend to play my old original Xbox rather than the Wii more often than not.

2. Voice Chat (with parent controls to disable it / require a password to enable)

3. Friends list / clan support

I am no longer a hard-core gamer because my job/wife/kids/responsibilities won't allow it. However the Wii should offer support to this playstyle if it ever wants to compete online.
 
I would pay to never have to enter another code to play online with someone. What retard at Nintendo thought this was a good idea?
 
I'm fine with the way Nintendo has it set up now. Yes, the friend codes are annoying as hell, but thank the pedos for that.

The only thing I ask for is online Smash Bros, and online Mario Kart. Otherwise, I'm good with my Live service.
 
[quote name='-Never4ever-']I'm fine with the way Nintendo has it set up now. Yes, the friend codes are annoying as hell, but thank the pedos for that.

The only thing I ask for is online Smash Bros, and online Mario Kart. Otherwise, I'm good with my Live service.[/QUOTE]

ya cuz I'm tired of getting molested via xbox live. :roll:

friend codes need to go.
 
I'd pay to turn my 16 fucking digit friend code into a fucking word. Give me a break. However, I won't pay until there is at least 1 compelling online game on Wii.
 
[quote name='-Never4ever-']Yes, the friend codes are annoying as hell, but thank the pedos for that.[/quote]

I hope you aren't serious.
 
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