News: Wii Pay and Play: Additional Charges for Online Wii Content Page 1

Wii Pay and Play: Additional Charges for Online Wii Content

22.02.2008

Nintendo have announced an expansion to the Wi-Fi functionality for Wii by introducing charges for various services: Wii Pay and Play.

During the company's presentation at this year's GDC, Nintendo's Takashi Aoyama explained that Nintendo will begin to collect "fees for some services that will allow us to adapt flexibly." With this in mind Nintendo feels they'll be able to explore new channels and ideas for Wii owners.

However, to avoid misleading consumers into buying a game to find additional charges, Nintendo will display a red "Pay and Play" logo alongside the standard Wi-Fi badge. Danger, danger!

Thanks to Kotaku and C3 reader PheonixuS for the tip.

How do you feel about these changes to the Wi-Fi service? Be sure to air your views in our comments section below.

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Jump_button 22.02.2008#1

as i say b4 i hope it somthing like Live or for games like MMOs?

as long as it not to much but it sound like they keeping the online we have now so this is adding to it?

( Edited 22.02.2008 20:31 by Jump_button )

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Zapp 22.02.2008#2

Hmmm I wonder what this could be for?!?!

I see all these people insulting the Nintendo corporation because of the lack of mature content. Yet there is something about Nintendo (at least their games) that strikes a certain unadulterated feeling of joy!!! Pokemon Y - 1048-9263-5562

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Tman!! 22.02.2008#3

I wouldnt mind paying if we got a service that was comparable to xbox live.

As long as it doesn't cost too much and the online service is improved then I really don't mind. (sorry for repeating myself)

J4K 22.02.2008#4

Nintendo's only excuse for their crap service was that it was free. It better catch up, or I'll just be irritated.

WP-Final 22.02.2008#5

Nintendo have been making profit since day 1 on Wii, the virtual console is making them millions and now they want us to fund their research? Smilie

Unless they ditch friend codes, add a Hard Drive for DLC and add voice chat support, I don't see how any good can come from this.

If all we get from this is the Mii Dancing channel and the Greeting Card channel, I'll cry. Smilie

Someone please tell me I'm wrong. Smilie

JoshSL 22.02.2008#6

So Nintendo will start making us pay for some WiFi? Fuck that. WiFi is meant to be free... and it's probably crap too.

Nintendo can get nothing right.

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Raff 22.02.2008#7

Need more info.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

mokoi 22.02.2008#8

Unless nintendo steps up in the games deptartment (Free idea nintendo---> a DOA game would be nice.) or if it is for a MMO I really see no reason to charge people.....

irfy 22.02.2008#9

I am quiet furious at this, becuase Nintendo haven't even delivered the full online expierence. Wheres the voice chat? downloadble content? extra storage? Like iFrit said, if this is for another shitty Mii channel, I will go nuts.

zcollvee (aka zafarali) 22.02.2008#10

WTF!
I can't pay nintendo for something thats supposed to be FREE! MESSAGE TO NINTENDO: I BUY YOUR STUFF BECAUSEI AM ASSURED THAT I DONT NEED TO PAY ANYTHING MORE THAN THE GAME AND YOUR WI FI SERVICE IS FREE
I cant use the wii to put my dads credit card number in. He doesn't like giving credit card numbers to the internet! Thats why I bought the Wii because I don't need to put the credit card number! What next? Pay to play SMASH BROS AND MARIO KART?
Oh ya.. NEw CHANNELS? Wait its not Wii pets or Wii "sucker web games" or wii video gameplay or maybe wii video to keep on your memory for money which we already can with GAMETRAILERS!
Not a good move Nintendo... Not a good Move...

UPDATE: You have a good fan following... Don't lose them...

( Edited 22.02.2008 23:15 by zcollvee )

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charwiimario 22.02.2008#11

I probably won't need it (I never play online), but I'll buy it if it's something extraordinarily awesome.

Personally (I know many won't agree), I dont' want anything else for/from the Wii, only a Hard Drive to store all the WiiWare games and VC games to come.

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The Wandering Sword 22.02.2008#12

SuperLink said:
So Nintendo will start making us pay for some WiFi? &$@% that. WiFi is meant to be free... and it's probably crap too.
Nintendo can get nothing right.

The whole free online play was what made the wii special from the other systems...(besides other things)

irfman said:
I am quiet furious at this, becuase Nintendo haven't even delivered the full online expierence. Wheres the voice chat? downloadble content? extra storage? Like iFrit said, if this is for another @%#$& Mii channel, I will go nuts.

ENOUGH WITH THE VOICE CHAT!!! there are no games that need that other than for kids to curse at each other on brawl... besides, the whole voice chat is for warning teammates of snipers and startagies, there are no games on the wii that need it.... also where would you plug it in... AND don't say usb because you would need a butload of cable to keep yourself from getting tangled, and wirless headsets are normally crap (Interference...) so get over it people.... maby the next system.... Smilie

( Edited 22.02.2008 23:22 by The Wandering Sword )

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Agul 22.02.2008#13

I don't understand exactly what this is for. To play Wii games online? Is it pertaining to Wii Ware titles? General access to the internet? I also want to know how exactly this works. Smilie

One of the big selling points Nintendo used when marketing Wii, was the free online functionality (which didn't actually arrive until about halfway thru the following year :-X). This change isn't going to look good. Although, to be fair, I really don't understand what this pertains to and how exactly it's going to work. I honestly wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for a better quality NWFC experience, I'm already quite pleased with it (not that there isn't room for improvement Smilie ).

Another aspect Nintendo touted with the advent of Wii, was none other than downloadable content for Wii games. Of course, everyone was skeptical about it (including myself) with Wii's rather small internal memory and (still) no external HDD support (they REALLY need to at least remove the stupid 2gig SD card cap and allow gamers to boot VC games from them). Downloadable content is one of the big things I was looking forward to for Wii games, but if they're going to pursue that route (and I hope to God they do), they NEED to allow Wii to have HDD support for quality content and updates. I'm already overflowing into SD Cards with awesome VC games, save files, etc. and I'm certain many gamers are in the same position.

I personally don't mind the Friend Codes and I've been floored with how well the online modes work on Wii titles. Every match I've played on various titles spanning several territories have had little to no lag. That being said, Nintendo REALLY needs to leverage on-line play to the hilt as they said they would.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Mason 22.02.2008#14

I wouldn't deride it just yet - we don't know what it's for. This could be for things like DVD playback functionality, etc., as well as gaming add-ons, which is fair enough as they can't just pluck the licence fee out of thin air. I'm wary of paying for downloadable content, but I'll reserve judgment.

ENOUGH WITH THE VOICE CHAT!!! there are no games that need that other than for kids to curse at each other on brawl... besides, the whole voice chat is for warning teammates of snipers and startagies, there are no games on the wii that need it

Probably because there's no voice chat. It's a necessity for things that you can play co-op, really, and titles like Endless Ocean, Medal Of Honour: Heroes 2 and Battalion Wars 2 could really have done with it. I think there will be a solution for this coming on Wii soon, but the fact they've waited this long has already ruined it for some games.

( Edited 22.02.2008 23:49 by Mason )

knighty 23.02.2008#15

Lmao. Is this guy for real?

James2t3 23.02.2008#16

Just sounds like a precaution for games like phantasy star or FF11 which always have a fee (even on xbox live).
Maby it's for content download aswell it's all a bit vauge at the moment but just sounds like nintendo being more flexible for developers.
I cant really see a two tier service were free = friendcodes and fee = proper online stuff, but hey we can dream can't we Smilie

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patjuan32 23.02.2008#17

MechaG2,

You just want an excuse to crap on Nintendo, thats all. Do you really think that they are going to make users pay for something that they have been getting free for over a year? No, this is not what the service is for.

Blade2t3, it's a neat idea that you have but Nintendo would never implement a two tier online system. Their whole online strategy deals with keeping people safe from predators, pedophiles, and foul mouth teenagers. They are not going to change this.

This service is probably the result of talks with Square-Enix and Sega about having MMO's on the Wii and downloadable content for 3rd party games such as maps, songs,or whatever they offer.

If you guys remember, the team that develops Guitar Hero stated that they were working with Nintendo on getting downloadable songs on the Wii. This is the service to do that.

Kangaroo_Kid 23.02.2008#18

Don't worry guys, I'm sure it's just so Nintendo can place another level of internet security on WiiConnect 24. They're only doing it protect us, I surrender my wallet unto you Nintendo!

But seriously, does anyone even know what the fees will be for? They said only some games will feature the new red WiiConnect logo so it's fairly obvious that they won't make you pay for the whole service. It'll most likely just be for DLC or any possible MMO's. I think Nintendo might just be covering their bases at the moment.

Agul 23.02.2008#19

patjuan32 said:
MechaG2,
You just want an excuse to crap on Nintendo, thats all. Do you really think that they are going to make users pay for something that they have been getting free for over a year? No, this is not what the service is for.
Blade2t3, it's a neat idea that you have but Nintendo would never implement a two tier online system. Their whole online strategy deals with keeping people safe from predators, pedophiles, and foul mouth teenagers. They are not going to change this.
This service is probably the result of talks with Square-Enix and Sega about having MMO's on the Wii and downloadable content for 3rd party games such as maps, songs,or whatever they offer.
If you guys remember, the team that develops Guitar Hero stated that they were working with Nintendo on getting downloadable songs on the Wii. This is the service to do that.

Wait. What? Holy crap, that's like the hundreth time I've been misunderstood today! lol I'm not crapping on Nintendo at all. I'm just trying to give a logical reason why we should take a wait and see approach and give them the benefit of any doubt because we don't know what exactly this pertains to. I said I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for better quality service but I've been quite happy with how well online functionality has worked with Wii. For crying out loud, Friend Codes don't bother me. Smilie

I did explain my disappointment with several things Nintendo didn't do right away at Wii's launch and still hasn't done (yet?), but I'm not trying to come down hard on them. Nothing is perfect, and these are areas I see room for improvement, but believe you me, I'm quite happy with Nintendo and what they've done with Wii. Smilie

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Dr_R 23.02.2008#20

Crumbley said:
Need more info.

The absolute voice of reason.

Don't start getting your knickers in a twist until you know what they're asking you to pay for. Personally, I doubt it's online play, as they seem pretty set on their current model. Perhaps it's a game download subscription system a la Gametap?

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JoshSL 23.02.2008#21

I'm thinking it won't be dlc, especially since Sakurai mentioned dlc doesn't really work on Wii.

Unless of course, Nintendo have a hard drive planned alongside this? Smilie

I'd only pay if the WiFi was really good, sort of like what Blade said.

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Cheesing It Up 23.02.2008#22

Sounds to me it'll be for additions to games after they're released. Extra levels or characters or whatever. I suspect some of them will be worth it, but most won't.

russraine 23.02.2008#23

Having read the statement it isn't suggesting the normal free wifi will end (the blue logo) but that new features won't be free, which is fair enough I think.

Lynk 23.02.2008#24

Sony do Voice Chat on PS3 for free, and the DS voice chat is free so they can't charge us for that.

Add me on anything. I'm always looking for new friends/opponents/town visitors/chances to appear more popular than I actually am.

Raff 23.02.2008#25

Dr_R said:
Crumbley said:
Need more info.
The absolute voice of reason.
Don't start getting your knickers in a twist until you know what they're asking you to pay for. Personally, I doubt it's online play, as they seem pretty set on their current model. Perhaps it's a game download subscription system a la Gametap?

Having said that, I fully expect it to be something shit. Nintendo cannot do 'services'. Right down to their distribution, they fail in every conceivable way.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

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