Smashing Failure: Another fiasco for the Nintendo Wii's pitiful online gaming service.

"Super Smash Bros. Brawl: a great game-and another fiasco for the Nintendo Wii's pitiful online gaming service.

The current gold standard of online gaming services is Microsoft's Xbox Live. Xbox owners can download classics like Paperboy and Street Fighter II, games that include the option to compete against other players online or compare high scores. It's easy to keep track of your friends via their "gamertags," online identities that include a profile photo and a list of game-related achievements. The Xbox 360 also has a wireless headset that lets players communicate before, during, and after every online match.

Nothing can replace playing against someone on the same couch, but Xbox Live comes close.

Nintendo actively discourages its fans from enjoying each other's company. Hop online to play along with your Wii-owning friends, and you're guaranteed to be disappointed." writes slate.com

[neogeo]

I'm sure every owner for Wii and Smash Bro's will go return everything to the store and get a 360. If u read it on n4g it must be true!

[mazirjones]

And no, simply writing lol or haha wouldn't suffice

Looking down, maybe I'm wrong...

[tethered]

They would go for the PS3 before the 360. They wouldn't return a Japanese system for an American system. lol

I kid, I kid.

[TheDarkHado]

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ROFLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

[ruibing]

Wouldn't they much rather sell it on eBay rather than return it?

[JsonHenry]

I love my Wii. But have to admit that the online part is an abysmal failure in my eyes. Exchange friend codes? No voice chat? WTF Nintendo?!

Of all the companies that want to bring you the best and newest game experiences the big N should have been the fore runner of online play.

[thewhoopimen]

Why'd you get it then? you knew it was for kids the moment you laid ur eyes on it XD

[foodbox]

@JsonHenry

I agree with you somewhat. But Nintendo is really resting on their laurels. Another Metroid, Zelda or Mario game and I'm going to scream.

Frankly, Super Mario Galaxy is _vastly_ over-rated (IMHO). I cannot understand why people raved. It was just another 3D mario game. I was very disappointed. Now, my friends like Play and Sports, but outside of that, there is nothing that attracts me to more Wii titles. I'm a sucker, I'll probably buy the next Mario game... :)

Now as for "new", its pretty clear that Microsoft's software experience, and constant bigger-better-faster-more innovation is really driving the industry at this point.

Nintendo really is in the Game business, but "the battle for the living room" is between Sony and Microsoft.

And, outside of the BluRay in PS3, I cant see how Sony's going to be able to keep up with MS's experience with backend software. LIVE, IPTV, Messenger, XNA Community, XBLA and on and on.

Sony's really trying hard to keep up in the Big Budget Title department, and not really _shipping_ much otherwise.

Lets hope they make up some ground in 2008 this year in the AAA-title Match and the "everything else"-match too.

[ChickeyCantor]

" but "the battle for the living room" "
Even though i'm in EU, i do have a copy of Brawl....and we ( my brothers and me) don't really play online, not because the Service is to primitive, but simply because its best to be played with people in the same Room.

From this perspective, i would say: Nintendo is battling for the living room.
Like Mia Fey would say : Think outside the box, Phoenix.

[Enigma_2099]

That there are more people enjoying this game than there are people biotching about lack of online connectivity that would allow them to trash talk others from millions of miles away with their potty mouths...

[Skater]

The game rocks. Yeah they could've done more for the online but the game still kicks ass. Stop the hate.

[TheHater]

for everyone that approve this, can you not read. This article has nothing to do with the ps3, and I don't see why I should be in the PS3 section.
This article is mostly about Xbox live, and Nintendo lack of an online community.

[thewhoopimen]

Yeah the millions upon millions of Wii owners who really care about Xbox live and want an online community for what they paid for.

So tell me with the power of xbox live, why are there more wii owners?

[ajeben809]

this guy compares everything to his xbox. i got news for him. this is nintendo wii not a friggen xbox! so go and enjoy your wireless headset and payed online service!

[MadMax]

Bullsh@t, nintendo knows what its doing and thats why its the leader and always has been. Hell, part of the reason i dont go on xboxlive is because of all the retarded kids trash talking. Its stupid, weak and bugs. Other reason is because of the ridiculous fee, ive got better things to blow my money and time on. I rather play single player games and against friends over here who enjoy drinkin and puffin some trees whilst playin some Wii!

[TheDarkHado]

Wow, slow down there madmax with the drug use reference on N4G...........You must share!LOL

[btkadams]

last time i checked, nintendo hasnt been the leader in consoles in over a decade.

[ChrisGTR1]

true. nintendo has been doing amazingly well since its left the hardcore gaming crowd.

[bluegoblin]

as long as they keep making their awesome first party games i dont care how many casual gamers join the party ( yes im looking at you ZELDA =D)

[Sony sucks balls]

Will they ever release River City Ransom for the Wii arcade ?

[xplosneer]

Everyone who wants to play this game that I know just comes too our house to play it....

[forum_crawler]

I can't believe you got a disagree.

... no, people who don't want to play it, or those who want to play it don't come to your house...

[ZeroXMD]

"Wahh.....Wuh.wuh..WAHHHH HHHHHHHH! It...It isn't xbox live! WAHHHHHHHHHHHH!! I can't be an annoying little turd like I can on Live! It isn't exactly like a service I pay for! WAHHHH! (buffing Microsoft's proverbial rod) WAHHH, it doesn't have bells, whistles, and cussing, WAHH"

Ok, can you play online? Does it lag? Is it free? If your answers are yes, no, and yes, then be happy. honestly, This article is just whining about how it isn't like a paid-for service. Heck, I get annoyed that I can't mute annoying ppl on COD4 for ps3 but i'm not paying for it and it runs smoothly, so I'm content and happy. Honestly, i'm sick of these articles appearing that are just long drawn out complaints about how something isn't like xbox live.

[Mr_Luke]

Another junk article, good for trash bin. Ok, what's the next?

[THWIP]

...at online. :o

[killer_trap]

well nintendo always had a negative attitude about online gaming and whether it's profitable or not. i don't have the game(not a big fan) but i tried it, and after the hassle of adding someone the game itself was a lag free xbox live or psn quality. which is good to know cause with mario kart right around the corner it's good to know wii online is fine.

[CyberSentinel]

Wiibbles don't need a mature online service anyway, they are content being treated like the children Nintendo patronizes them as.

[bluegoblin]

and i can tell you that the wii has kept me entertained for quite a long time now.I know nintendo might be favoring the causal gamer right now but you can still find awesome games for hardcore gamers.
As for the PS3 its an AWESOME system and i think that every penny i've spend on it was worth it.

[LevDog]

Dont own a Wii.. But love smash bros.. I play at my buds house all the time.. and after TRYING to play smash bros online.. I will not purchase a Wii ever.. Its literally unplayable.. Smash bros is about quick decisions and when there is like a 1 sec to 2 sec delay you cant do anything.. Wii is still the most over rated system ever.. They some how Tricked consumers into purchasing gamecube sqaured.. Graphics are the same.. Motion Control isnt as precise as everyone thinks.. all you have to do is flick your wrist..(You dont have to do the real motion).. Im still and always will stick by my statement.. Wii is a tickle me elmo.. Everyone wants one cause "its the In Thing"... you want one cause its sold out.. People want what they cant have.. Nintendo is a genius.. They made their system wanted by having it cheap and in limited supply.. Too Shay Nintendo Too shay..

[bluegoblin]

"Nintendo is a genius" and i honestly don't think that mario galaxy could have been done on the gamecube...( im not trying to argue just expressing my opinion)

[MadMax]

Comparing the Wii to tickle me elmo is just ridiculous. Nintendo is the leader and always will be. Without them you would never have had a PS3 or 360 you moron. Nintendo is about fun and games not trash talking on live! Get it right, no true gamer would ever bash on Nintendo, EVER! I own em all and am glad i have more than 1 console to choose from. Be grateful you ignorant, misinformed, childish little retarded brat. You should be so lucky!

[ThaToNeKiiDKaBaW]

thewhoopimen - "So tell me with the power of xbox live, why are there more wii owners?"

I can ask you the same question..

So tell me with the power of the PlayStation/Brand/Free PSN, why are there more wii owners?

[bluegoblin]

and is called price ;D

[forum_crawler]

It is called choice.

I am a wii owner, and a Blu-Ray player owner. Notice how I am NOT a PS3 owner and will provably never be. It (PS3) just simply does not appeal to me. I already have two, better options to the options the PS3 provides, a better Blu-Ray player, and a better gaming platform: a PC.

The video card in my PC is worth more than a PS3 and an XBox, so it isn't a price thing. It is a choice thing, and for console gaming I chose the wii, and not only did I get what I expected from it, I got much more. Who cares is it's online experience isn't like xbox live.

Here are some good points about the wii's online experience...
1. It is free.
2. If you have a wireless router at home, it just works. No need for additional accessories.
3. You don't have to put up with trash-talking people.
4. You only play with people you want to play. Simple.

I think a lot of people need to adjust their expectations. Nintendo never said their online experience was intended to compete with xbox live, or psn or whoever. Those who call the wii useless on that account should be ready to call the xbox or ps3 useless since it won't allow them to play online, browse the net, and do their taxes at the same time like they could on a PC. It is all relative...

PC > ps3,xbox,wii.

[mr_potato]

The best part of the interview is this

''While the game isn't so complex as to require communication between teammates, trash talk is a major part of the fun.''

What a genious guess im happy i dont have to deal with him on Live

[cooke15]

Its always anti Wii news that gets the highest degrees on N4G. Gotta love this sony site.

[Sony sucks balls]

I completely agree with you.

[KingKirchner]

As much as I love SSB, I'm very, very disappointed at the online. I don't even play it because it takes up to 15 minutes to find a random match (not even exaggerating) and when it does half the time it's laggy beyond the point of playability.

It even has issues when you're playing with friends. The other day I was trying to play with a friend of mine who I had registered and it kept disconnecting both of us about 5 times before it actually worked, and then it was laggy again for the first 3 matches.

I've just given up on the online on Smash Bros. and am enjoying it how it's supposed to be enjoyed, with people in the same room. It's a great game, but for online, I'll just play CoD4 on my PS3.