What if Nintendo decides to take back the offer? Or never offered something in the first place?

No, RocketBird. That's not accurate. The Internet Channel was a free download to early adopters, who tacitly assited Nintendo with product and service development. The Channel was then migrated to a purchase-only product. Presumably, many people purchased. Now it's free. This is not a price drop, it's a price elimination. With no material difference in the product.

It's not the point though,you haven't got a free NES game you should never have been charged for the IC in the first place, Nintendo realised this and did the honourable thing but instead of issuing your 500 points back to spend on any VC/WW game you wanted,which you would have been able to do had you not had to pay for something that should be free, they decide to do it in such a way that will maximise the chance's of you purchasing one of their games.It's very clever in a way. I'm not bothered to be honest I got it free anyway and yes your right it's only 500 points but it makes me laugh the way you guys are saying you got a free game, aren't Nintendo kind etc.Are you guy's blind?

How can Nintendo be making money from giving something away, aren't they potentially losing money since they are giving away a game someone might have bought where it not for this promotion type thing, I suppose by making it NES only they are making it less likely someone will pick a non Nintendo game, which I presume would actually cost Nintendo if people did that, seeing as they would have to pay that developer.

@Luigi78-No, I'm NOT blind. Basically, those 500 points are being used for two downloads (the Internet Channel, and a NES game). Therefore, the game is free. If it's not free, than maybe someone needs to enlighten me.

No ,you paid for the game when you purchased the IC. Is it really that hard to understand? The IC should be a free application because a) It's very basic b) it dosen't suppport many sites c) when your paying £200 for a Gamecube with a fancy controller wi-fi and a free browser should be the very least you expect.

I bet this gets locked....but when? I'll put my bet down for today.

How much are you putting down for your bet?
I bet that this topic will be locked in a couple of hours. For my bet, I'm putting down a pony who has drank too much vodka.

A Gamecube with a fancy controller and Wi-Fi?
Hmmmmm...

Do you like Microsoft or Sony?
Because I smell fanboism on your breathe.

hope it doesn't get locked.I wasn't trying to start anything.just trying to put my point across.Sorry it may have sounded a bit ranty ,I'm just in that kinda mood today. you know I love all you guys and girls really right?

Why would this thread get locked? It's a largely civil discussion of "business 2.0" as it relates Nintendo - which, you know, is kinda relevant on this site.

Can't wait to get home and update mine and start watching Revision3 in my room on my TV.

Your so far from the truth. If anything I'm a nintendo fanboy(thats why i love this site) and i lurve my Wii but I'm also a realist and I don't think everything nintendo does is golden ,thats all. K?

The notion of getting a free game or getting back your 500 points back is almost mute. Once someone walks into a store and pops down twenty+ bucks for a card that person's money becomes property of Nintendo (minus tax and whatever mark-up the store may or may not issue). It doesn't matter when or how he or she chooses to spend said points, it all still belongs to nintendo...I assume, I don't know, I just assume, that Nintendo at gives royalties to non-nintendo companies each time their product is downloaded. Meaning, if someone buys Sonic, sega gets a few cents per download. Whereas if someone buys a Mario game, it all stays in house...BUT the point is, it doesn't matter to the consumer. Once they've paid for the card, the Money becomes Nintendos. So nothing is free here, we are just getting a second chance to use our already purchased points. I actually think Nintendo did the moral thing by giving an option for another game. I don't really think they had any legal obligation to do so. They could have said 'hey, they used our product for x amount of time...we're only going to give them 300 points back' THAT would have really ticked people off.

Why would it get locked ? Is this a Nintendo funded site ?

I am gutted. The old internet on wii played BBC iplayer, now it doesn't! Nintendo have ripped me off!!!
1. i dont want a NES game
2. BBC iplayer won't work
IM SO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!! ×(

Australia has same offer only when I first downloaded the channel I was not forced to pay 500 wii points (It was originally a free download).
I found it to be pretty slow and deleted it when I needed room for the VC games may try it again now.

I am watching the office on NBC.com on my Wii right now. This is awesome!

Actually Just said that because of the "discussion/argument" going on. Thought someone might do it eventually if they thought it was getting out of hand.

@Link to the future- couldn't watch that before, huh? I wonder if I can watch heros now?

@longtimegamer NBC.com didn't work for me before, anyway. Hulu didn't work, sadly, but I need to try other network websites. Heroes is on NBC, isn't it. If it is, then it should work.