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Nintendo Confirms Free Online Play For Wii
Via Gamasutra, an interview in USA Today with Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime confirms that the Wii's online component will be free to play. The outspoken Nintendo advocate says "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."
Gets people to pick up the hardware. Also, if people can get on for free, it's a lot more likely that they'll stick around and maybe buy a few classic games.
Random rants about technology: http://technorants.blogspot.com
It seems like with both Sony and Nintendo supplying free online match play, Microsoft will have to give in and make Live free. They can still make money selling games like Geometry Wars, and also in game content...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
This seals the deal for me! I wans't quite sure I wanted to buy a next-gen console, but this, the wi-mote, the 27-game lineup, the non-evil practices, I'm sold!
What games are they planning to have online capabilities? From what I've read, most don't have any anyway. This isn't to troll, I simply don't know of any (at least not scheduled for launch).
I like not having to pay for my DS to use Wifi, but the friend code system makes me pull my hair out. There are so many little checks and safeguards thrown in to prevent you from being able to easily and effectively add people to your friends list. I would rather pay a subscription fee like I do for XBox Live and be able to enjoy seamless integration of friends, messages, etc. throughout all my games.
"It's a reverse vampire...they....they crave the sun!"
Damn, could they make the Wii any more attractive to casual gamers? I've always wanted to play online games, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay for a game, and then keep paying more for the service.
$200-$250 price point, fun games, and free online play. The only way they could make it more attractive is to [insert natalie portman reference here].
Let's make something clear though - the highly anticipated Virtual Console (which is able to download and play NES/Genesis/SNES/N64 games) will not be free. The pricing hasn't been released yet, but current estimates are $5 to $10 for a game. I would also hope that browsing these games would be free as well (unlike Xbox Live Arcade, where you must first pay for XBL and then pay again for XBLA games)
This announcement is for games like Mario Kart Wii or (please God let this be true) Super Smash Brothers Wii. Those games will be free, and that's what Reggie was talking about.
...officially sold. I like online games, in fact love them, but refuse to pay subscription fees. I would have paid when I was young and could game when I wanted to, but I'm older and busier now so I might only get to play a game once in awhile or every night, i don't know, therefore can not justify paying a fee for an amount of time that I may or may not use.
Wow wii!
Did anyone else try pronouncing "wiinner" from TFA? Anyone who did keep a straight face?
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.
Note they didn't explicitly say "online play will be free," rather that "some online content will be free."
This still leaves the door to some subscription based services, possibly including 3rd parties. Course, some free content better than no free content.
Just seems that the general view is everything online would be free, I just don't read it like that.
For me, the Xbox was much more fun online than the PS2 due to the fact that they actively maintained the network. While I could play SOCOM and deal with the abundance of hacks and online Pro Action Replay users, it just wasn't fun compared to any time I'd sit and play Rainbow Six 3 or even Halo2. And while I credit MS for not regarding its online game system as something that could police itself, I also understand that they wouldn't have done so if it weren't for the monthly fee.
On the end-user side, the presence of a monthly fee also helps cut down on people who would not otherwise regard their online gaming as a privilege. Sure, you have brats and cheaters, but not near the amount that were on the free PS2 connection.
Here's to hoping that the improvements in the online capability of the DS (compare Mario Kart DS to Metroid Prime Hunters) will carry on to the Wii, and continue to get better.
::fingers crossed:: And maybe my dream will come true. What are the chances of Nintendo buying all companies responsible for creating Pro Action Replay and like devices, and only releasing them for competing systems? I would love to see that =)
While Wifi Connection is nice, the Friend Code system is a real pain. Hopefully they won't continue this model for the Wii.
The advantage of Xbox Live, from what I've seen, is standardization and support. I deserve a higher level of service when I pay rather than get it free...and Live has generally delivered. I don't ever remember having Live downtime in serious quantities (*cough* Blizzard *cough*), and it seems like the games on Live have strong SOPs relative to what I saw on the PS2, which is the main competition online for the XBox in the current gen. Much better to do the networking backbone on the console level, rather than force each developer to support it individually.
Look at the difference between MMO and FPS online in PC games: typical FPS online is a central tracker linking to individually-hosted games, which little control over gametypes, the server's abilities, or matching players together. Extra content is sporatic, user-driven or pay-for-episodes. Third-party services like Gamespy and whatnot are available on the PC, but are unlikely on consoles. MMOs, on the other hand, provide robust, persistent networking and chat features and continued support in the form of new content. Making new content is economical because there's a continuing revenue stream from the player - this seems, to me, critical to encourage game developers to revisit their creations and create new content in existing, already-developed engines (and micropayment schemes may or may not subsitute for subscription fees).
Of course, all speculation above; we haven't seen what large-scale, free service looks like in either Sony or Nintendo's case (though as I said, Wifi Connection is promising on the bare-bones level). They may be able to deliver, but I'm skeptical that it will be as robust as what Live offers.
In accordance with E.O. 12958, this post is marked Unclassified.
I just hope that they set up the games so you can connect to random players in the same skill bracket. I don't have a DS myself, but I imagine having to go and hunt out Friend Codes so you can play online gets obnoxious after a while.
Here's his statement:
It should be noted, however, that when he says "we", he probably means only Nintendo. So, third parties may still be able to charge for their own monthly fees. We'll have to wait until the end of this month/early September to get final clarification on this.
Why doesn't some console maker make it possible to play online for free, but then on top of that sell a separate pay-service that is policed? Then if parents want something with inappropriate behavior dealth with, or something like that, they can pay for it? (Presumably that could be integrated with the existing parental control features.)
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
I thought that you could browse and purchase anything available in the marketplace with an Xbox Live Silver account? Yep, I was right. From xbox.com:
Easy to Try
Silver-level access is free of charge for all Xbox 360 owners (except those who have previously been banned from Xbox Live and Korean users under the age of 14)--there's no reason not to try it, even if you're just the slightest bit curious. It's an instant membership that's only a few clicks away. (Note that there is a limit to the number of Silver level signups per console.)
Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace
You'll find the the Xbox Live Arcade in the Marketplace, where you can purchase great casual arcade games like the classic Galaga or the smash hit Bejeweled. Just download them to Xbox 360, and they're yours to play again and again. They're perfect for casual gamers or anyone who loves great game play.
So you DO NOT need a Gold account to purchase Xbox arcade games from the marketplace, just to play multiplayer. That makes sense. With respect to browsing and purchasing arcade games, the Xbox and Wii on-line service looks indentical. You will pay to play on-line with Xbox Live though.
Why only a reference to Natalie Portman? Why not just include a clone of her with every console? That's feasible, right? Right?!
Everything I say is a lie. Except that... and that... and that, and that, and that, and that... and that.
I now think that the next Super Smash Brothers will be more successful than Halo 3.
Earn a % of cash back from Newegg, Tiger Direct, Walmart.com, and more: http://www.mrrebates.com?refid=458505
I don't know, if you're the kind of guy who likes getting hot grits poured down his pants, then a punch in the throat seems like it would be right up your alley.
I should probably sell my laptop and finally buy a TV and Wii as it appears.
Hate to pour a bucket of cold water on the Nintendo love (I feel it too), but free online gaming is not in any way special. Like, totally free if you have a PC, forget the $200 for the console and $50 for the game. Yahoo Games for casual folk. Weird indie stuff like the Google Maps RTS and MMO asteroids. Tons of demos (I'm playing the Sword of the Stars demo right now, it's ace and has free online). Enemy Territory, Nexuiz and now FEAR:Combat for the FPSers.
When you do at as far as paying for PC games, the online is free for everything except some MMOs. Plus, every console except the xbox has free online. DS, PSP, PS2, Cube (just 1 game), Dreamcast and quite a few older modem-optional consoles.
My point here is that the xbox/360 are freak gaming systems where you pay for online - on everything else you don't, so that can't have been keeping you or anyone else away from consoles before now.
Between Sony garroting themselves in public, pricing their console way out of what I consider a sane price range, and foisting Blu-Ray at a significant cost to their customers, I think the Wii will get my vote for the console I'll buy this generation.
The example networked title Nintendo referred to at their E3 press gig was Animal Crossing, which was kind of interesting given that no AC title has been announced for the Wii to my knowledge. Whatever executive it was used AC as an example of how persistent, "even when you're not playing it" connectivity would open new possibilities. The idea was to visit other people's towns in AC at any time and so on.
The DS version of Animal Crossing would be an interesting precedent. The graphics are very close to the ones on the old GameCube title, which really looked more like an N64 game truth be told. Game play is very unconventional -- no real goals except as you choose, just puttering around, and, big finish, very much intended for and marketing to a different set of gamers. Does this sound like the general approach being taken with Wii?
(My kids have the DS version, "Wide World," and have successfully gotten several different adults to try it out. Their grandma enjoyed it.)
"Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
I agree wholeheartedly.
The more I hear about the Wii, the more likely I am to get one. My PS2 is gathering dust, and I won't buy a PS3.
All of the other cool stuff about the Wii plus the chance to dabble in some on-line games for no extra cost sound awfully attractive.
Cheers
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
...like Microsoft did for the XBox 360, except make it free, which Microsoft didn't do for the XBox 360.
In regards to the mention of the GC Animal Crossing looking like a N64 title, that's because it basically was. In Japan, what we know as Animal Crossing was released for the N64, but never made it stateside before the N64 was given up on by NOA. Instead, they did what they needed to do in order to make it work on the GC and released it there.
When the have online lightsaber duels.
"We will offer online-enabled games that the consumers will not have to pay a subscription fee for."
The original word was that all 1st party titles would be free online (specifcly listed was Smash Bros, it was actualy originaly stated as a release title in the first N Press conference on the "Revoloution" at E3 '05 I think). And here he is stating that they will offer games that have no subscription fee. there is no word that they will ONLY offer games with no subscription fee. I am wondering if some 3rd party games might still hold a subscription fee.
Will this be all 3rd party games?
Those with persistant worlds? (MMO on the Wii?)
PSO? (the PSO franchise currently charges a subscription, even if it started off as free)
Those that the 3rd party decide to?
Well, doesn't really matter to me. I am buying a Wii no matter what (barring some masive flip to the Dark Side by N), I am a Nintendo fanboy through and through.
Ok, every time I post, my security immage is something related to my post, wth? "entice" Yes, Nintendo is enticing us all with shiney shiney new toys.
Virtual console will be like a walk down memory lane, but (un)fortunately, most of the people I shared that lane with have all gone in different geographical directions(I'm in Europe and they are all in the US) Will I be able to play virtual console games across the internet like the person was sitting across the room? Furthermore, will I actually be able to use the Wii microphone to converse with the person? The "same room" experience can never be completely recreated, I think that game companies should try to replicate it as much as possible. I was was unimpressed by the DS online play for Mario Kart. If you are playing against a friend you cannot communicate with them in-game, really all you do is do a post-game aim conversation..bleh. And playing against strangers was pretty much like playing against the computer but only more frustrating as the computer never dropped out of the race when it was losing.
It is possible to play old games across the internet, zsnes for example does it but I couldn't get their system to work the one time I tried and it still doesn't solve the problem of convenient in-game communication.
Monstar L
I like how you throw Free around. Heres some knowledge: PC gamming does cost... just not the player. Ther servers cost money.. if not for software, for bandwidth. Reliable hosting can easily cost 20-30 bucks for only 1 game server. The money is being paid one way or another, it's just a question of whether the end user feels the pinch.
He whom you called four-eyes yesterday, you call Sir tomorrow.
I knew it was going be free, but the question really is..is it going be free and be worthwhile to play without serious problems. (lags, ads, etc..)
"I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes" ~ Laughing Man - GITS:SAC
Is it possible that Wii games with DS link capablity will now be able to work out of the box. The GBA link idea was fun for some games but the need to buy a separate rather hard to find cable to enjoy it made it something that most dont even know they can do. Animal Crossing, Madden and Zelda all come to mind as ones that really enhanced the gaming experience.
I'll have it!
I'm planning on buying a Wii, as I've always been a Nintendo fan. There are still a good few titles I'd love to play on the PS2, though.
Registering accounts later than some other chrisb since 1997
Games that I can play online for free are the games I play more often. There's a reason why my WoW trial account never got upgraded, you know. It's the same reason I continue to play Counter Strike, Gunbound, Albatross18, StarCraft... etc. Free online play. It just makes sense.
Blame the developers of SOCOM for developing a crappy cheater-friendly game, not Sony for not policing the network (which is the whole internet). PS2 online games function exactly the same as any PC online game, and somehow many of those remain cheat free. And don't complain that PS2 games can't be patched, runtime patching from files on the memory card which could be downloaded from the developer's servers is a perfectly viable option.
Nintendo is really trying to emphasize the ease with which one can do just about everything with a Wii: input is intuitive, online play is free and wifi is automatically enabled, etc.
However, all this ease of use can be a bad thing if it limits how we can use the system. The DS' online play, for example, was designed to be easy and straightforward, but in doing so it severely restricts the experience. In-game chat is nonexistant, friend codes are a pain in actual practice and it doesn't support WPA encryption. I see the same problems potentially popping up for the Wii. What if I don't want my box connected to the Internet when I'm not playing games? What if I want to be able to play online with random people, and not have to use a site for swapping friend codes? What if I want to use something stronger than WEP encryption?
Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to the Wii, because I trust Nintendo to deliver straightforward, fun games that Just Work. They have a good track record on that. What they don't have is a good record on online gaming.
I just hope they don't go so far in trying to make online gaming cheap, easy, and safe that it ends up being a royal pain to play. Then again, I suppose there are far worse things to be afraid of.
The great thing about this is that instead of using a $600 console and paying monthly fees to purchase, download and play Pac Man, you can use a $300 console without paying montly fees to purchase, download and play Pac Man!
--- What?
I've played tons of online RTS (etc) games with my friends and I was often the one being the server. Yes, I pay for bandwidth, but I'd pay for it anyway (I like to work from home, and remote working likes bandwidth).
Slashdot - Mutual Assured Discussion
I really, really hope the Wii doesn't only support WEP like the DS does. It's bad enough having to run my wireless network in degraded security mode. Maybe they will go with WPA2 and somehow upgrade the DS in the future?
I'm not crazy -- this was already confirmed during E3: E306: Wii WiFi To Use Those Stupid @$#!ing Friend Codes
"Will I be able to play virtual console games across the internet like the person was sitting across the room?"
Unless some games are specifically tooled for this purpose, I wouldn't expect it at all. None of those games were made with the idea that the other player would have a ~100ms response time.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
Just because the ability to go online may be free doesn't mean the actual content will be.
And read this statement carefully: "We will offer online-enabled games that the consumers will not have to pay a subscription fee for."
What that implies to me is that any game with online-support will allow a gamer to play online without being charged. That's essentially the same model for every PC game with online play excluding MMOs.
That statement says nothing about whether or not downloadable games will be free and certainly doesn't mention anything about subscription-based games like MMOs.
I don't think Nintendo is doing anything wrong here; I just think people are reading too much into the statement.
I'd let her hit me.
As an MBA student having just studied the rise of the video game industry in the late 80s, lead by Nintendo, this article makes perfect strategic sense for Nintendo. The industry then was catagorized by "Demand Side Increasing Returns." Rather than the typical increasing returns created on the supply side by economies of scale or scope, demand side increasing returns occur through network effects. When there is a large installed user or support base for a product in a category such as this, there is a large incentive for consumers new consumers to purchase from the established player rather than from new entrants. Just like what Microsoft has done with the OS (not implying Nintendo is like Microsoft, but their strategies are similar in this regard).
This demand side increasing returns effect is only magnified by the current environment. By significantly innovating in the category and undercutting the competition on up-front costs, Nintento is set to build a substantial user base very quickly. This user base will feed upon itself with the free internet access, as this will draw many players who will have to purchase a Wii to play with other players online. Nintendo wins in the end because their licensing agreements for game development and production are very favorable, giving them a substantial fraction (20% or more historically) of game sales. They will quickly recover any loss or marginal profit on providing a cheap console with free network access through game consumption. And consumers won't complain because we are quite happy to spend $400 on games spread out over several years when we only feel it in small chunks as we periodically purchase new games.
I'd buy Nintento stock if it hadn't allready skyrocketed.
To add to your list I believe some Turbo Graphix 16 games will also be available for the Virtual Console.
Less than 20 years ago, Nintendo WAS evil... Restrictive publishing contracts, inability to sell the console at a lower price (problems with KMart, over 2 cents!), all the problems with Camerica (Game Genie) and Tengen, and more recently, antitrust allegations in Europe... Nintendo didn't always play nice.
Sure it might be free, but that doesn't describe the extent of the online capability. If it's anything like Animal Crossing DS, well, then I'd rather pay for the service like I do for Xbox live. I don't really only want to play smash brothers against friends I know and have a code for... I want to go to a game-browser list that Nintendo runs and find a game to join. Voip, stat tracking, etc. would be nice too. Even if it means I have to pay for them. Metroid Hunters improves it somewhat, but it doesn't let you text or voice chat to people who aren't on your friend-code list (a la Animal Crossing). Obviously Nintendo might not make the service that limited, but given their track record so far, I'm more apprehensive then not. Yes, Xbox Live costs a pretty penny, but for the most part the service it offers is worth the money, in terms of both features and stability.
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.
He did not say "we will offer all"...he just said "we will offer online-enabled games..." This guys is a *salesman* first and foremost. A salesman - i.e. what he didn't say is just as important as what he did. This is a shell game played with words and misdirection. You could say the same exact things about Microsoft's XBox Live service's "out of the box" capabilies - "online-enabled games that consumers will not have to pay a subscription fee for...etc etc" All of those things are true of the XBL Silver account...you just can't play head-to-head without a gold account.
Hate to point it out, but if you're going to mention the $200 cost for the console in your comparison, you should probably throw in the cost of your PC as well. Seeing as you're playing newer games, it's probably significantly more than the console cost.
Please ignore any obvious problems in this post.
Hmm, I think multi-player Animal Crossing (the new Wii version they've announced) would be sweet.
Just think, you could visit your friends towns, do a group thing to ambush Nook and whack him with nets, and trade cool furniture!
.
I'm actually serious, it's a cool game.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
My response: "I've played on Live with all the 13 year olds cussing in my ear. I don't think I want to see them."
I believe the term you want is "Shitcock", also known as John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory (G.I.F.T.).
"The Wii console is going to be Wi-Fi enabled, so essentially, you'll be able to plug it in and go."
These guys have to get their pitches straight.
I have a PS2/Xbox, but was waiting for the XBox360... when it came out, I was like "eh...".. It's funny, I stopped playing my Xbox in favor of PS2 specific games...
Now then I say, okay, I'll wait for the PS3... Well, with the $599 price tag, and maybe another "eh..." factor, looks like the Wii might be the winner! Totally unexpected.
Good, Cheap, Wireless, Online, Fun = Wii.
Modesty is one of life's greatest attributes
Er... my PC cost upwards of free. $1000 or so for a decent mid-range computer and $0 - $60 per game. Free online play or not, PC gaming is still != completely free.
Suppose the idea of paying a fixed monthly fee (around $10) and being able to play any game from the Virtual Console (like Napster's current offering)?
Nintendo has already made tons of money on the older games, and porting them isn't going to be really difficult. OTOH, generating a constant revenue flow from stuff that paid for its development years ago is a viable business model. I'd pay a small monthly fee so that I can play any game I want rather that buy a lot of games and find out that they're not fun anymore. Also, the storage space on a Wii is limited and games can't be copied, so if you buy a lot of these you'll fill up all memory and will have to either delete games (the ones you paid for!) or buy a new Wii (just because of the memory!) in order to get more.
Marketing towards casual gamers? I consider myself a hardcore gamer and wasn't considering the "revolution" but once i saw the wiimote, price point, games (new zelda :) ) and now free online play!? I just hope i get to the store early enough to get a decent place in line.
yeah, they got alot better with socom 2 and 3. With downloadable patches to the memory card. Even downloadable content to first the optional hard drive and now to usb sticks. Also with credit card verification in socom 3, there is even less cheating, but there is still some glitching going on. I like xbox 360's ability to report cheaters quite easily. Though one can't deny that there is much less insentive to police and maintain your games if people aren't paying a monthly fee.
It has been statistically shown that helmets increase the risk of head injury.
I don't rely on the built-in communications capabilities of any game. I always use Teamspeak with a bluetooth headset from my PC, separate from the actual game. This way, if there's a problem with the game my friends and I can still converse and try to determine what's wrong.
But, FWIW, that was my first since the NES :-) I've been PC-only since Civilization, and Nintendo have only now lured me back. Twilight Princess, oh GOD...
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
Im kinda the same way...I guess im just an old fart but I remember back in the prodigy and compuserve days when you would download the game or get it on disk for free then pay a monthly charge to play it. Now they want you to pay the same price as a standalone game AND a monthly fee. I flat out refuse.
One effect that this will have on the market is that you'll see XBOX and PSP3 drop their pay to play online models after a time. If Wii can keep the pressure up and get the "fun player" market they will force some very interesting changes on the console wars.
You couldn't pay me to own an XBOX right now, but I'd play with a Wii... hey, wait a minute... this is just a trick to have me say something about my Wii.
More like WII-Fi.
I hope they'll add multiplayer support to old games - Mario Tennis 64 (among hundreds of others) online would be awesome!!
I know this may be a bit challanging, but if it could be done, I know a bunch of my non-gamer friends would be MUCH more interested in buying a Wii.
Find Escorts, Strippers, Massage Parlours, Swingers
I know I won't have a problem with the Wii's internet capabilities, but is Nintendo really banking on a substantial portion of their market having WiFi enabled houses? I still see WiFi as a specialty item, only used by geeks and business people. Am I wrong to think about it like this? Is the WiFi adoption rate actually very high?
I also know they will have a USB->Ethernet adaptor, but this will be less than convenient for most people, who don't keep their dsl/cable modems in their living room. Also, will it come with the system, or at least be cheap? I think it should be included with the system, if Nintendo really wants to get people on board with online play.
Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
Now I know why I recently bought a Wireless Router. So I can use it with Nintendo Wii.
I just hope Nintendo doesn't blow it with the games. It sucks to blow money on a console that doesn't have good games. "Super Mario" isn't what is considered a good game.
\
I am not a Wii-news-of-the-day reader so would someone kindly summarize what is known (not guessed) about the:
- Wii release date range
- Wii console pricing range
- Wii game pricing range
I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
The funny thing is though mine is doing the same thing. My PS2 gets Exactly as much use as my Guitar Hero Controller. That doesn't mean I want to get rid of it though. There is after all a sequel coming out. :)
I haven't been a console gamer since the SNES and N64. Those two got me through the Navy. Played a bit of a friend's Playstation, and mostly read walkthroughs for him, but that was about it.
The Wii is looking more and more attractive. Since I've decided to move to Linux, rather than Vista, I will have to become a console gamer for any new games. Palladium and the Fritz-chip can get stuffed. Blu-Ray and everything else that phones home.
Going back to a controller is like losing a good friend (keyboard). Plus there all the cheat codes and trainers available on the PC. It's just a simpler way of gaming, and I enjoy some complexity.
All things considered, I will probably buy a Wii. It'd be nice if I could hook the thing up to my Dell 2405 LCD monitor. That would work out well with my schedule, not to mention headphones and general space-saving/clutter.
Woooohoooooo... I mean Wiiiiiiiiiihiiiiiii
Hmm... free naked and petrified Natalie Portman with a pre-order? Someone call up those guys at GameStop!
Yes, good point, the PS3 has a huge advantage in cost.
At $50 a year, if you plan to use a console for more than two years the PS3 does have a price advantage. The premium 360 pack has about as many features as the $500 PS3, and only costs $100 less. Only if you are goping to play the console standalone is the 360 really cheaper, and that's not what the majority of 360 owners are doing.
That's why it's pretty much inevitable Microsoft will drop the Live charge right around the time of the PS3 launch.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Does the wii come with a microphone? I thought it the wiimote only had a speaker on it.
What I like about Nintendo of late is they've tried to win based on gameplay, price, functionality, and fun. Microsoft and Sony have to try to counter that by innovating.
Unlike many industries today, the games industry will continue to grow and get better for consumers because it is being fought with new ideas and enjoyable products, rather than in a court room.
I find that comforting, and I fear the inevitable (in the U.S. market at least) day where the big gaming companies just try to out patent, out copyright, and outsue each other to gain ground while holding on to stagnant products.
Live is indeed a good service, and Microsoft has had time to refine it pretty well. But the features and UI it offers are not secret, and eitehr Sony or Nintendo are free to see what worked and then improve upon it.
I have no idea if either the Nintendo or Sony service will be any good, but it seems to me the odds are high that at least one of them would be almost as good as live. I just don't see that Microsoft can last long being the only ones in a group of three charging for online matchmaking.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I don't think Microsoft can really afford to see how free online services fair when it could make a big difference during the Christmas sales season to consumers. This is the sales period where Microsoft needs to make huge numbers to convince people they have really beaten Sony. If Sony posts higher sales in Q4 at the most expensive price it will ever be at, then what will the rest of the 360 lifecycle look like?
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
--
Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.
I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay for a game, and then keep paying more for the service.
This is precisely why I haven't gotten into MMORPGs. I'll consider paying $50 for a game. I will NOT pay every month to keep playing.
Hopefully Nintendo will have so much success with this console that others stop the business model of trying to milk their customer's dry.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Correction: A 3Shitty. Who in their right mind would by the core model. *Shudder*
Who would be stupid enough to pay $100 more for the "priviledge" of supporting HDMI and the DRM it contains? Who would do so when playing games and movies is unaffected by simply using component inputs which more existing HD sets support right now anyway?
The $500 PS3 is the only model to buy, to pay $100 more is to pay to guild the shackles that will hold you.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Try guild wars.. easy enough to play, always seems to have "event" weekends, new expansion packs.. and no online fees. Only had the server chug down twice since it came out.
Like Xbox Live? Or will you have to use a site like http://www.nwiifi.com/ to see when your friends are online like you have to now with the DS Lite?
Well, that's true, but I was replying to a slashdot poster, i.e. someone who already has a computer. The point that there are quite a lot of totally free* online games still stands in that case, of course demanding games like Nexuiz don't qualify, but there's plenty of browser-based or lightweight stuff. There are MUDs you can play online via telnet using a seventies terminal where even a 386 or PDA is overkill.
*unless you're counting electricity or wear-and-tear on the mouse or something... but that would be excessively pedantic even for slashdot.
What a great idea... Thanks!
yours truly,
Reggie
As another poster mentioned, online play for VC is unlikely because the games are not made to expect lag. See ZSNES's netplay and zbattle.net for online multiplayer SNES. I have never tested, but the devs say the lag is plainly visible even across a LAN. I have played Tetris Attack (which is very fast-paced) on zbattle.net without any problems (except being bad at Tetris Attack :), so I do not know how feasible it really is for Nintendo to do a ZSNES netplay-style emulate on both machines and send controller input over the network.
Centralization breaks the internet.
This is really good news for the fans of the Nintendo. I used to own a nintendo, and they are still some of my favourite games. Hopefully this will be a good selling point for nintendo to get them back on the market. I'm sure it wont be enough to compete with ps and xbox but it could be enough to keep them in the market.
http://www.gamerzneeds.net/-For all your Gaming Needs
How come Nintendo can put Wi-Fi in the box when Microsoft is charging much higher prices for their console yet they also charge a fortune for that Wi-Fi dongle thing?
** Some emphasis added
From the Slashdot article:
"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."
I hope they bring back Ice Hockey for the Wii-Mote.
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3 fats, 1 skinny FTW!
http://www.flyingomelette.com/reviews/nes/icehock
They're rumors for a reason. Either way, Nintendo wrote the book on this. Look into the Adventure of Link for the NES. I don't know why everyone thinks they're the "friendly" company now or whatever, they haven't changed since before WWII. Nintendo is done and has been done since the end of the SNES, simply because they continue with the kiddie shit. If you think their newest console is going to change that, you're in for a rude awakening. Mark my words, Project Midway for the win.