Topic: Nintendo 'Cannot Promise' Universally Free Online

[Webmalfunction]

Don't worry though. It's not as bad as you think.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30969

Nintendo "cannot promise" that all online services will be free of charge no matter what, as reported by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata during the recent investors meeting.

"[Nintendo] cannot promise here that Nintendo will always provide you with online services free of charge no matter how deep the experiences are that it may provide, but at least we are not thinking of asking our consumers to pay money to just casually get access to our ordinary online services," Iwata said.

On PlayStation 3 currently, the PlayStation Plus service allows users to pay to get a new selection of games to play every month, in addition to other premium features. Meanwhile, the regular PlayStation 3 online access remains free-of-charge. It is unknown if this could be the kind of plan Iwata is referring to.

[Chozo Ghost]

As long as online gameplay is free I'm satisfied. If they charge for everything else, so be it. Just have online gameplay be free.

[Ian Sane]

If Nintendo wants to charge for online stuff I think they need to get a lot better at it.  You can cut them some slack since it has been free thus far.  But they're the worst of the big three at online.  Currently they don't have what I would consider a sellable product.

[Spak-Spang]

I really like the idea of free with bonuses for those that have a subscription.


Bonuses could include:


Getting access to virtual, WiiU Ware games a week early. 
Demos of games for free to play.
Faster download times.


An online cloud based VC console...that allows you to play select games of the month for free...including special demos of upcoming games.


Special online tournaments with prizes. 


If Nintendo did this, and allowed 3rd parties to have access to this infrastructure as well...it could make paying for the online worth it...and still allow free online for those that want free online for basic gaming.

[NWR_insanolord]

As mentioned in the article, I think if Nintendo were to charge for something it would be more along the lines of what Sony's doing with Playstation Plus, with the core functionality remaining free and the subscription getting you bonuses like cheaper/free games and DLC.

[Pixelated Pixies]

As @Spak-Spang says, one of the few online services that I could see Nintendo instituting a subscription for would be Virtual Console. I would be willing to pay a monthly charge to have access to the whole Virtual Console catalogue (you know, if I didn't already own most of them already). I'm not sure how that would work with licensing or what cut the IP owners would get from the money coming in, but it seems like it might be worth exploring.

[lolmonade]

When I read the article, I assumed Iwata was talking more about MMO subscriptions than anything, but it definitely wouldn't be a bad idea on their part to consider a PS+ model. Playstation Plus has quickly become an enticing subscription plan to be on if you want to try new games that you wouldn't necessarily buy outright.

[Ceric]

I meant to respond to this earlier and thought I had.

Paying for Faster Downloads would be fail on Nintendo part.  Nintendo should provide everyone with as much speed as possible and heres why.

For Miiverse to work it needs to entice people to purchase games others Suggest.  Its needs to be a streamless endeavour that is effortless. 

Suggestion -> Demo -> Purchase -> Suggestion

The current eShop setup is not that way.  It really needs to be super painless to work.  I do think the Playstation Plus model could really work for Nintendo with the discounts, remote game saves, early access, etc.  Those are truly Value Adds without artificially taking away from people.