Wise move, Nintendo. Wise move indeed...

Can't deliver a good network service without charging for that. Sony learned that and later implemented PS Plus. That stuff costs money to maintain and optimize. Plus Nintendo already came out and said they're not going to try and compete with MS and Sony in the online department. So prepare for a sucky experience.

Considering Nintendo's lack of large scale online play, it would be ridiculous for them to charge.

+1, Nintendo.

Good. It stupid to charge money for those things

Now let's make sure it's at least a competent online service.

This leaves the xbox as the only console who charges to play online. This scenario will make Sony and Nintendo networks to growth a lot.

I'm inclined to agree, having to pay for online play where you just add unnecessary bells and whistles to justify the charge is not the way to go.

There is the main reason i don't own a 360.

Finally a hardware publisher with common sense besides Sony. GO NINTENDO!!!

Smart move Mr. Iwata. All honesty, if you are going to build a console, at least offer a free online service when a good number of games (especially in the shooter category) have most of the experience done online. If you want, do what Sony does with PlayStation Plus. By subscribing, you get beta keys, discounts, and other little incentives that drives the continuance of the service. Unlike Microsoft who, even if you pay, will shut down all the servers.

Pretty nice from a consumer stand point.

Good call on Nintendos part. They need to prove they can hang with Xboxlive before I want to spend money on it. The online feature for the Wii was atrocious.

And to the people still b*tching about Xbox live costing money, if 5 bucks a month is something you need to worry about than gaming isnt the hobby for you, not trying to pull the poor people card but seriously, its 5 bucks A MONTH! In California minimum wage is 8 something, so for less than an hours work you can pay for Xbox live. I know gamers like to cry about EVERYTHING that isnt handed to them but grow the *** up.

well duh.

That is the best idea for them if they want people to be drawn into their online play. I just hopes its better the the ragular wii.

Good call. Make it free, polish it and please forget about friend codes.

The Wii's online was so bad, I'd be really hard to sell on a paid service without at least seeing a massive improvement first hand, so I honestly think this might have been their only option.

Knew this for a long time

Cool, I hate Xbox.

It's typically hard to charge people money for crap.