Topic: Online Structure

Honestly, it seems like the biggest reason for the NX to release would be for Nintendo to take another step in its online structure. Do you think we will see something comparative to Xbox Live and PSN or do you think we will see something closer to what the Wii U and 3DS already have?

I hope we see something similar to PSN and Live. We don't need massive servers but an online account that allows us to use purchased products over multiple systems is a must at this stage.

While I don't think the reason for the NX being released is to improve Nintendo's online structure (the reason is keeping shareholder's happy), I do hope that Nintendo takes a long, hard look at Live and PSN and utilizes some of the systems they are using.

Here's to hoping, Live, in particular, is such a nice online system. Lots of functionality, connectedness, etc.

But please, DO NOT CHARGE FOR ONLINE. That's a quick way to make me not buy the next Smash Bros game.

I totally agree, I want at least 1 console to keep online "free." It is a big reason why I haven't bought XBone or PS4.

Yea, the free is nice. But you can't have your cake and eat it, too... maybe? Steam doesn't charge, and it has the same sort of ecosystem as Live/Plus. So I guess the possibility is out there to have a robust online system and offer it for free, but a subscription charge probably helps a ton when it comes to upkeep and features.

That is why I don't mind them being behind compared to Xbox Live and PSN, just some basic online features and group chat. I don't need Cloud Saves, ESPN apps, Free Monthly games, etc.

I wouldn't mind having an online system something like the PS3 has with PSN. Make it so online multiplayer is free so people can play Smash, Mario Kart etc and some apps like Netflix, Hulu without a plus or gold membership but then have an optional plus or gold account that people can pay and offer those subscribers cloud saves, other apps like ESPN maybe discounts on games etc. That way they everyone can play multiplayer online games but if others want stuff like clouds saves they have that option too.

I find that a slippery slope, just like how the PS4 made PS+ mandatory it can be difficult to keep expanding on what games can use or what you can deliver to consumers when only a portion pay for it. Having it free takes a companies focus away from features and keeps it on games. That is just my opinion.

EDIT: Also if Nintendo does charge for Online, even if it is an optional charge, people will expect it to be comparable to Xbox Live and PSN, and that is a dangerous race to jump into.

Quoted both as it's the same response. Personally I wouldn't mind paying a monthly fee if it meant better (and more frequent) eShop sales, a regular release schedule for VC titles at better prices, more demos of games to try, improved Amiibo support in games etc. I know that Nintendo won't offer those improvements for free so I'm willing to help fund them. That said, multiplayer should be free to all users and perhaps the only distinction between paying and non paying subscribers is timed released of VC titles or discounts. Just like what PSN does with PS+ subscribers getting a 10% discount on most sale titles.

Screw the paid subscription, there is a reason why XBox Live is toxic and would never work for PC, and it's not the quality of it.
Nintendo needs to do like PC and alow publishers to use their own servers for multiplayer and only focus on downloads and maybe hosting for indies.

Anyone remember AA, BF2, COD:MW? The publishers had "official" servers as well as let people host their own. They also alowed people to pay so their servers would be "official" while unpaied you couldn't level up on.
There was hackers in COD:MW but they would get banned quickly, then COD:MW2 switched to no private servers and hackers ran ramped.

Publisher's can pay for the servers, no use in Nintendo trying to do everything then charging us for it.

Well, that can turn some publishers away causing another issue with 3rd Party support, but I do agree with some of it.

@DarthNocturnal: Dude, those free games are fantastic. Don't just gloss over them. This month I got Assassin's Creed: Black Flag for FREE on my Xbox One. That's nearly worth the entire price of Live for the year. And I BELIEVE (though I could be wrong) that once you download a game for free from the Gold program, you "have" it even if you let your Live account expire in the future. The same cannot be said for PS Plus, though.

Actually, yes, I just checked. Once you download the free game, you have it as long as you keep it on your system, even if you would let your Gold account lapse. As long as it's on the hard drive, you own it forever more.

It's pretty fantastic. I think Metal Gear: Ground Zeroes is being offered next month.

@DefHalan:
I'm sure that would be their excuse, but I remember reading sevral times "we would love to have put "game" on the 360, but MS wants to force us on XBlive" not to mention most publishers already have servers for PC so it's not like an extrra expence. This also means they dont have to create custom code for the NX version of the game to work on Nintendo servers. On top of that, makes updates easyer and lets them have more control over their own product. And you know publishers love user statistics and information gathering that they can't do if they are forced to use Nintendo servers.
Allowing publishers the choice of useing their own servers should hve them flocking to Nintendo

1. Ethernet port

2. Pack-in first party ear piece/mic

3. Two-tier system:
a. Free- 15 hours of cumulative online gaming each month
b. Premium- Unlimited online gaming hours, "free" downloadable rentals from the back catalog each month

4. Voice chat options for parents

5. Commitment to voice chat support for all first party titles

6. Commitment to online play in all first party multiplayer titles

@Syntech: I was actually saying that at the beginning of this generation about the Wii U. (Maybe not the flocking part, but that it would be a good move) But it wasn't that big of a draw. Having Microsoft/Sony basically pay to get your online working on their systems is a much better solution for 3rd Parties apparently. Those subscription fees go to paying for that kind of stuff and less about actually improving the servers and online capabilities. I feel like subscription fees are a lot of smoke and mirrors, they say it is for one thing but they use it on other stuff.

_{Also I am not a fan of the "Free" games, it just feels pointless. If I want a game I will buy it, if I don't want the game then why would getting it for free change my mind, I won't have time to play it because I have games I actually wanted to play.}

@DefHalan: Only on the internet could I find someone who dislikes free lol

Dude you'd say you're "not a fan" of a cheese pizza and a gallon of water while you were starving to death in the middle of a desert if it meant the chance to disagree with someone on an internet forum lol

The free games are awesome. Just stop. Not everyone has the time or money to buy games when they initially release, and chances are, with two games per month for 12 months a year, you're going to be offered a few games for free that you always wanted to play but never got the chance to for one reason or another. And those games alone usually equate to the price of a yearly subscription (or more). It literally makes a subscription worth your money.

@DefHalan: They were flocking toward it and that's when the WiiU bashing started. EA wanted to requier all WiiU owners to download Origin on their WiiU's to play any EA game, single player or multiplayer. Add to that Origins operates in the back ground and collects and sends user stats. Nintendo told them to piss off and EA got pissed and went from "WiiU is the best thing ever" to "This POS sucks and can't run games... which we already showed demos for"

@rallydefault: They were charging those subscription prices before they were giving away "free" games. To go along with your pizza analogy, these free games feel like I buy a Pepperoni Pizza and they give me a small cheese pizza for "free." At first you think, "free food awesome," then you eat some of your Pepperoni and put the rest in the fridge. The cheese is just sitting there not being touched because it isn't what I wanted. If I wanted a cheese pizza I would have ordered it, but instead you give me something I didn't want and never use it. There is also the case where you buy a Pizza and then a few days later they announce a free pizza giveaway, now you feel ripped off for paying for a pizza. To me the "free" games create negative feels, I know this isn't a popular opinion but it is mine. Feel free to disagree but that doesn't make my opinion less valid.

_{if I owned a PS4/XB1 I would probably never buy a game and just wait for my subscription to pay for them. I have a big enough backlog where it probably wouldn't matter}