Topic: Why doesn't Nintendo ever advertise their free online aspect?

Obviously we all know that the Wii U's advertising has been lackluster (to put it likely), but one thing I particularly find odd is that I have never seen anything pertaining to the fact that Nintendo's online system doesn't require a paid membership unlike the other two consoles. One would think that such a distinct difference would be worth pointing out, but I guess not?

Because Nintendo doesn't attack their competitors...

They don't advertise their free online aspect because of two things.
1. They hardly advertise at all.
2. Whatever team they have assembled to handle the advertisements, isn't doing a very good job.

Did you not see Reggie's statements on their competitor's upcoming lineups?

As for the question at hand, look at all of the games Nintendo has put online into on the Wii U.

Oh yeah. None. It's not a focus for them. Instead, they should focus on telling consumers what they themselves are focused on.

Okay, that's a stupid response. Here's a different reason:
Nintendo's current online structure doesn't emphasize online play as much as their competitors. With stuff like game-invites and the ability to directly join a game not being implemented into the system, it hampers how much people will use the online abilities of the Wii U. When compared to the 360 and PS3, it just isn't up to the par.

Addtionally, a big reason why people play games online is to play with their friends. All of the games that have and will have online on the Wii U by the Christmas season, barring Monster Hunter, have way bigger user-bases. Stuff like COD, Assasin's Creed, Splinter Cell, and the like all have way more people on it on other systems, making for a superior online environment. Why advertise that your system has free online when it probably won't matter to most people since they can actually play those games online with their friends on the PS3?

When Mario Kart and Smash Bros show up, it won't matter that they have free online. Nintendo will just be able to say "we've got Mario Kart and Smash Bros online, suckas," and people will play them simply because they're the games they are, not because the online is free. Simply put, it's not as good of a thing to focus on as other things.

Who would they aim at? Gamers who are always online and know most of this stuff anyway?

The reason why Nintendo doesn't advertise that much, is because Xbox One and PS4 aren't out.

Right now at least Nintendo Network isn't worth advertising. We saw what happened this generation when Sony tried the weaker online services and trying to push it. It just led people to go too the rival system. Nintendo does need to get the Nintendo Network brand out their and more public but they don't do it by talking up their opponents. They do it by putting out out software that really takes advantage of the service.

The Wii U's online may be free but the system doesn't have a lot of the popular online games as well as lacking features/polish of modern day Xbox Live and Playstation network.

I don't think the end user really cares that much. People are used to the subscription model so it's not as big a deal as you might think it is. News flash, people buy gaming machines to play games so if you want to sell them you tell people about the games. If you don't have games it won't sell. Simple.

So many threads coming up with excuses and complaints about why the Wii U isn't selling. Trying to come up with reasons why the price drop and steady flow of games isn't enough. The truth is that's all they can do, it's all anyone ever does. If it fails it'll more likely be because the other guys are taking the limelight not because of some failure to advertise a back-of-the-box bullet point.....

The U's online is busy getting up to par with MS and Sony's current systems, let alone their next-gen outings. There just is nothing to advertise.

Nintendo believes Games speak louder than features. Every time Nintendo speaks about stuff like that they always mention how they are always focused on their games, not features. I didn't know Nintendo had Cloud tech until earlier today.

There aren't many games on the Wii U right now that utilize online.

Honest question how would Nintendo advertise it. They can't point to a first party game that uses online in a non miiverse style. I think Monster Hunter is the only exclusive with PI online.

Yup. Spotpass on both the Wii U AND 3DS is technically a cloud feature.

When something is downloading while you're playing a game on Wii U, that's cloud.

Downloading while in standby/sleep mode(3DS) is cloud.

Cloud is the ability to connect to the internet and perform tasks while other processes are taking place.

Miiverse messages popping up on games like NSMB.U, Nintendo Land, RE: Revalations, ect. is cloud.

Once Nintendo gets their final OS out, I'm sure we'll be seeing more use of it, as well as alot of other features, including 3DS communication.

They don't?

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/28/nintendo-president-on-...

Because Nintendo has always advertised their system as a party/family system that everyone gathers in the living room to play together.. and the fact is.. other than maybe Monster Hunter.. there really isn't much that people are playing huge online right now anyway...and with the limited install base at the moment it would be somewhat foolish when the competition could just destroy the whole advertising campaign.. by saying something like 2 million plus online at the same time... anyone with a Wii U knows that Nintendo cannot compete on that front currently... as far as what does Nintendo have on their network.. not much.. the only games that come to mind.. is Ninja Gaiden 3 RE.. which is technically a Tecmo game not really Nintendo.. and Game and Wario... (Not sure about NSMBU or Super Luigi I think they might.. can't remember off the top of my head though). If you advertise your free online wait until you have some games that is going to draw a million players etc. online.. like Super Mario Kart.. and Smash Bros.. then start advertising the living day lights out of it..

I agree with many of the statements/arguments presented in this thread but honestly this is probably the biggest reason
And I don't even think any of the first party games have online....right? We're in 2013...

I just made a complete list of them...

1. Game and Wario

2. (Pending on how you look at it) Ninja Gaiden 3 RE

that's all time to call it a night...

Good Night Nintendo Life..

This^ Wait till Smash and Mario Kart. I doubt we will see any online before that. (with first party games)

Please. That's hardly considered "attacking". The 90s ads between Nintendo, Sega, and eventually Sony were true attacks. Heck, one of Sony's ads for PS4 attacked Microsoft directly before they pulled the 180 on used games.

Game & Wario doesn't have online multiplayer..lol. And Ninja Gaiden isn't a first party game.