Nintendo to introduce “Pay to Play” service for some online Wii games

By Levi . February 23, 2008 . 5:55pm

Nintendo to introduce Pay to Play service for some online Wii games Thus far, Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service has been free for all games. But that's going to change in the future, at least for some games. Nintendo project leader Takashi Aoyama revealed at GDC that Nintendo will be instituting a "Pay to Play" feature for some Wii games in the future. This seems a bit strange, as Nintendo has always taken a firm stance in the past about their online service being completely free. Fees will be paid for with Wii Points, and to avoid confusion, Pay to Play games will have a red icon instead of the blue "Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection" icon. No specific games have been announced to use this service yet, but if I had to guess, I'd say that there's a fair chance that the next Animal Crossing game (if it features online) will use this service. It just seems like a perfect fit. That's merely speculation on my part, though. One thing's for sure though. It'll be interesting to see how this service pans out for Nintendo. 


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  • seiya19

    Awful, awful news…

  • seiya19

    Awful, awful news…

  • daizyujin

    I am sorry but they just don’t offer enough to justify paying anything.

  • Daizyujin

    I am sorry but they just don’t offer enough to justify paying anything.

  • Kaoro

    I usually think Nintendo is pretty good to its customers, but their online services aren’t really fun to use when they’re free. I would never pay to use Nintendo Wi-Fi services, especially if it has no voice or text chat and keeps using those awful friend codes…

  • Kaoro

    I usually think Nintendo is pretty good to its customers, but their online services aren’t really fun to use when they’re free. I would never pay to use Nintendo Wi-Fi services, especially if it has no voice or text chat and keeps using those awful friend codes…

  • Joe

    Im fine with it, of course if we paying for their online service they better be good enough to match Xbox’s.

  • Joe

    Im fine with it, of course if we paying for their online service they better be good enough to match Xbox’s.

  • TacoBeaver

    im fine with it… I think nintendo is just starting to screw up like nexon, and why should we pay? or perhaps they meant nintendo USB connector users?

  • TacoBeaver

    im fine with it… I think nintendo is just starting to screw up like nexon, and why should we pay? or perhaps they meant nintendo USB connector users?

  • Andrew

    I suppose it was inevitable.

    Out of the three hardware manufacturers, Nintendo has always been the best at making money. Even when they weren’t the leader, it seems…

  • Andrew

    I suppose it was inevitable.

    Out of the three hardware manufacturers, Nintendo has always been the best at making money. Even when they weren’t the leader, it seems…

  • 360sucks

    haha i didn’t know nintendo had online service

  • 360sucks

    haha i didn’t know nintendo had online service

  • Nonoko

    Better start making some content worth it. I’m not paying just play some game with a friend code online, no freakin way.

  • Nonoko

    Better start making some content worth it. I’m not paying just play some game with a friend code online, no freakin way.

  • Trapt

    anyone have any idea how far in the future this is?

    Brawl online will totally be worth any price, though it will be free when it comes out in March.

  • Trapt

    anyone have any idea how far in the future this is?

    Brawl online will totally be worth any price, though it will be free when it comes out in March.

  • Paralys

    Well, look at it this way, its like this, if you buy a cell phone, you pay to use it, even if you paid $200 USD for your phone, like i did with the Motorola Rokr z6, you still pay a monthly fee for making calls on the phone or using the internet on the phone.

    It would be absurd to make someone pay a monthly fee for playing offline, but if youre playing online, i see no issue what so ever to have to pay to do so. No one complains about phone/internet/tv/electric bills, this is no different and youre still able to opt out and play all the free games that already exist.

  • Paralys

    Well, look at it this way, its like this, if you buy a cell phone, you pay to use it, even if you paid $200 USD for your phone, like i did with the Motorola Rokr z6, you still pay a monthly fee for making calls on the phone or using the internet on the phone.

    It would be absurd to make someone pay a monthly fee for playing offline, but if youre playing online, i see no issue what so ever to have to pay to do so. No one complains about phone/internet/tv/electric bills, this is no different and youre still able to opt out and play all the free games that already exist.

  • tubzy

    i think that its stupid that nintendo wana start makin people pay 2 play all there duwin is coppying da 360 just 4 a bit more money in nintendos poket wen they dont rily need it its allways bin free wats da point in randomly makin people pay 4 certan games

  • tubzy

    i think that its stupid that nintendo wana start makin people pay 2 play all there duwin is coppying da 360 just 4 a bit more money in nintendos poket wen they dont rily need it its allways bin free wats da point in randomly makin people pay 4 certan games

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