Battle of the Online Networks - WiiConnect 24
Via Gamedaily
Nintendo missed a HUGE window of opportunity when they released the Nintendo GameCube and didn't include any kind of online options. The company released a broadband adapter for the system, and a couple of games, mainly the Phantasy Star Online titles, took advantage of the peripheral. But Nintendo didn't really do anything in terms of a network, leaving the likes of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Super Smash Bros. Melee to be played off-line. Fortunately, the company's been making huge steps since that time, what with the Wi-Fi Connection network for the Nintendo DS, which is a big hit. The Nintendo Wii, arriving in mid-November, will take further advantage of this network with a variety of downloads and features.
Pros: The Virtual Console looks to be STACKED with content. Not only does Nintendo have a vast library of their own games to choose from (NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64), but they also have the full support of Sega with their Genesis titles, and Hudson Soft with their Turbo-Grafx games. This could lead to hundreds of games eventually available for the service, with ten new titles hitting each month. Furthermore, the menu system looks great thus far, with numerous options through the online connection to check out, including news and weather. And the fact that the Opera browser that the system uses will initially be free upon the system's release is music to everyone's ears, I'm sure.
Cons: The online play of the WiiConnect service has not yet been addressed. We know that the initial launch line-up won't consist of online-supported features, particularly third-party games. We're figuring that Nintendo's waiting to lay out actual online play features with their 2007 releases, including a Pokemon game and the recently delayed Metroid Prime 3. Also, browsing through pages with the Wii-Mote looks easy at first, but scrolling up and down and trying to input messages looks difficult. And where's the "rental" option for these games? When the Virtual Console was first introduced, we had an option to either "buy" or "rent" the games. Now only the "buy" option is there.
Overall prognosis: It's good that Nintendo's finally foreseeing what online features are all about, and the WiiConnect 24 service looks to be loaded with content and goodies. Now if a few things can get addressed, such as online play against others and browsing capability, we could see a great service in the making- just like the Wi-Fi Connection.
