Nintendo: Fix your online gaming service!

From Steve "The Nintendo Dude" Bogda of DAMNLAG.com:

"I love playing games online. I love playing Nintendo games. Playing Nintendo games online is the physical equivalent of slicing your forehead open and smashing it with a salt-lathered spatula.

Besides the fact that it's indeed Wi-Fi, there is absolutely nothing to like about Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service. Nada. Zlitch. Black hole. There is no bright side of things when dealing with such a barebones, disabled service. It's like trying to find positive aspects of a baseball player with no limbs."

[boogeyman999]

I think Nintendo needs to honestly fix their entire approach to the online market. Hardcore gamers and casual gamers both do well on MS and Sony consoles; it's time for Nintendo to step up their game.

[BeaArthur]

Agreed. I mean honestly, friend codes? You can't talk to anyone and you don't actually get a user name. Not a big deal for me because I only play Mario Kart online but their whole approach needs to be redesigned.

[Pillage05]

Yes it sucks, but online play isn't necessary for their core audience. The codes are meant to protect kids. I can't see them doing much different in the future. If I were a parent, the wii's online service is the only one of the three consoles I'd let my younger children use(if at all).

[randomwiz]

In my opinion, Nintendo has lost the hardcore gamer for next gen. They will be way behind in online service, and they don't have any hardcore IP's to carry over. Nintendo really needs to step up their game.

[iFLOWLIKEWATER]

I think Ninty is working on it. Reggie hinted at it a while back when he said they were looking at Xbox Live and trying to do something like that, but with a "Nintendo twist". Sad thing is though, it more than likely won't happen until the next console. But if they can pull something off with a software update I would be severely impressed...

[corneliuscrust]

is probably more friend codes :(

[menoyou]

if Nintendo uses friend codes on the new DS im not buying it and neither should any of you

[SinnedNogara]

They've done some things right (Virtual Console) but I agreed with this article 100%, it's ridiculous. You can't even check if your friends are online, it's pointless. And I have an idea what that new game should be to start the service. Anybody else here wants Marvel vs. Capcom 3 & a new Power Stone remake????

[Valay]

Very well written and I agree with a lot that was said.

[Mastersnake10]

The pulp fiction references had me laughing.

[Obnysalt]

I like pie

and this article

[Primewax]

Seriously, what the crap? I played Smash Bros online once, ONCE, and got fed up and quit. 100% agree.

[corneliuscrust]

its a blast offline, but online is broken.

[Genki-JAM]

I agree with this. Nintendo's online is like a constant kick in the balls while eating a delicious pie. You get something yummy, but DAMN your balls hurt too much to enjoy it!

[giantchicken]

Really funny article but everyone knows the wii is terible.

[mrv321]

They can't hear your beyond the dump trucks of money.

They have a port just for the money they make each minute... their hookers have ferrari's.

[ActionBastard]

What online service?

[Sigh]

that Nintendo is lacking at. I just don't like the thought of having to give out friend codes and the stability of the online. Hopefully they've been working on something new and announce something regarding it @ E3.

[sinclaircrown]

I doubt we'll see much improvement until they release they're next console. I think Nintendo is hoarding the money from the Wii sales, and maybe working on something huge for their next gen system.

Hopefully. I mean they were once the console kings. They just need something that appeals to more than the casual gamer.

[Highlife]

I view this as more of a kids system. I like to play mario kart and smash bros with my kids on it. I don't have much of a problem with it. My kids can go online and I don't have to worry about stupid people swearing, taunting, and other bad things. If this was how PS3 or Xbox was then I would have a problem cause that is the system for me.

[Titanz]

The Nintendo Wii is the first time they incorporated online around their system(Nintendo channel,Firmware updates,Internet channel,etc.).

While I do agree that Nintendo's online service is somewhat lacking, at least its far better than its pre-successor(The Nintendo Gamecube)

[dkgshiz]

Friend codes are just mega fail.

[lizard81288]

but more or less you had to do some stuff, i can't remember.

anyway, yes. i hate friend codes. 1st off, they are long. 2nd, most of the time to fight, lets say pkmn, your really only going to fight that person once, unless you really like to fight them, which makes friend codes more of a pain. i also would like a who's online. nothing like waiting 5 minutes for a pkmn battle, because you don't know what they are doing.

Brawl's online was a BIG letdown. its a joke, when hackers and coders can make a better netcode (brawl +) then something is wrong.

well, atleast in TvC, you have a random wi-fi feature(which the DS needs more of) and you can save their FC's without having to type them in.