With Nintendo's recent announcement about "Pay and Play" for the Wii, we have to admit -- we're a little worried. The company didn't say that it would be bringing this service to the DS, but we're sure the idea is being considered.In case you missed it, "Pay and Play" will require Wii owners to subscribe to certain games that they use online services for. Titles requiring this service will have a red icon on the box indicating that the users must pay to play, rather than the lovable blue Wi-Fi circle pictured here. (Note: More details on "Pay and Play" have yet to be released, so it's still unclear what online services will require users to pay.)
So, it's time to put on your analyst caps. Will DS owners face the same fate as their Wii counterparts? We think it won't happen, since there's no convenient way of shelling out money over the DS (it has no equivalent to Wii Points). But, what do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-22-2008 @ 4:15PM
Ginger_Slav said...
I think that you should add another option. IMO the current DS will not be affected by this but the next DS will, as I also believe that next DS will have VC, DSware and better online (so more MMOs)
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2-22-2008 @ 6:15PM
triften said...
I'm in agreement with the first comment. At this point I doubt that Nintendo will begin charging for WiFi on the DS. The next handheld, more likely.
2-22-2008 @ 4:21PM
Roto13 said...
Paying for online play on the DS sounds... awkward.
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2-22-2008 @ 5:29PM
DonWii said...
Agreed.
2-22-2008 @ 4:35PM
Nigeria said...
This probably won't effect us DS users. The DS is infallible...
Plus, what games would require payment to pay online? A precedent has already been set with almost every genre that can sport multiplayer already online with free Nintendo Wi-Fi.
Except if a company brings out one of those tired MMO games, the DS won't be effected. Probably.
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2-22-2008 @ 4:42PM
TheCoats said...
i think eventually it will effect DS users.....such as MMO games etc.......but NOT COOL GUYS REALLY NOT COOL!!!!
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2-22-2008 @ 4:45PM
Aluvendale said...
I really hope they don't make me pay to play. Depending on how it works, I might not even buy the game.
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2-22-2008 @ 4:49PM
kevin said...
I can see this making sense if they worked something like the xbox live interface - monthly subscription for access to online content and play. Who knows, it may make it easier to police games and make cheating less likely.
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2-22-2008 @ 5:13PM
The Theory said...
Whatever happens, I sure wouldn't pay to play. I've held off on playing for xbox live... and there are actually games on there that are fun to play online.
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2-22-2008 @ 5:31PM
Roto13 said...
"Affected", people. Not "effected."
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2-22-2008 @ 5:41PM
Saphion said...
Anything that brings me anywhere near another Phantasy Star Online (not Universe!) on a Nintendo console is A-OK in my book.
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2-22-2008 @ 6:39PM
Brello said...
At this point, I don't think the Wii or the DS's lame excuses for online capabilities can be salvaged. They're extremely mediocre. If friend codes are in the next generation of Nintendo systems, I'll eat my hat. Please don't make me eat my hat, Nintendo. I like this hat.
Nothing like waiting for Mario Kart while it tries to find a fourth person when you're only playing with 2 other friends. *sigh*
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2-22-2008 @ 9:35PM
Michael K. said...
I refuse to pay to play games in any way. I already pay enough for the systems, controllers, and the games themselves, there's no way I'd pay to play them too.
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2-23-2008 @ 3:23AM
Basman said...
But Wii online is shit. How on Earth can they expect us to pay for it?
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2-23-2008 @ 12:37PM
Plokosh said...
I think that if it were to happen on the DS (which I really doubt), Nintendo would have to really step its game up on its online service. I wouldn't pay to play on WFC, there just isn't a diverse online service, like say XBLA.
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2-23-2008 @ 12:56PM
PF said...
If I have to pay to play a game online, I won't play it online. Games cost enough as is, without an additional cost for extra content or a monthly fee to play online.
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2-23-2008 @ 8:44PM
Wes said...
I think this is obviously for games which will require a lot of bandwidth between clients and servers. OR thirdy party games which dont want to abide by Nintendo's WFC rules...
In either case I think this opens up MMORPGs on the DS. Which is something ive been dying to see.
I doubt it means the end of existing free games with small numbers of peers, like many people seem to be fearing.
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2-24-2008 @ 2:39AM
MiharuChan said...
Honestly I don't think it'll happen. It wouldn't make sense. I don't know about you all but for me the wifi on the DS is really wonky. I'm always getting lots of lag time or randomly disconnected. Nintendo would first have to fix all of the kinks before I would even think about paying.
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2-25-2008 @ 7:23PM
T.K. said...
This makes me so mad that Nintendo is considering this!!! This is the reason I love the Wii over the XBOX so much more, online playing never cost money!!! It was never a hassle for me to ask the parents if they would pay for the online gaming... but now I might have to ask them....
But as for the DS, I agree it probably won't be done on it until the next Gen version comes out. There really isn't that many online games for the DS that are worth paying for. Actaully there isn't any yet.
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