Miyamoto ponders charging for Wii online connectivity, being more proactive in the online space

“… Probably the other thing that we are desperate to realise is the core [online] business structure. Do we need to demand customers pay monthly fees to enjoy online activities? Or give an online subscription that is free of charge, but then offer something extra for people that pay, so that they get some extra value? With these core business strategies I think we are less active than we should be. To be honest, I think it’s rather unfair whenever I hear such comments – that Nintendo isn’t proactive when it comes to its online strategy. The fact of the matter is that we always want all Wii consoles to be connected online, all the time, so Nintendo has never been less than proactive in that kind of endeavour. It is true, though, that Nintendo hasn’t been very proactive in developing such online activities as an MMOG. But when it comes to our endeavours that try to take advantage of internet technology, where we can provide our customers with more fun and entertainment, then I think we can say we have been very, very proactive and well-received. And that attitude won’t be changed at all in the future.” - Shigeru Miyamoto

I can’t even imagine Nintendo charging for the online service on Wii. There’s really nothing to it, other than there being a connection that lets you download WiiWare/Virtual Console games, and videos. Nintendo will have to really, really embrace the online world on their next platform if they plan on charging for it.

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