Alright, I'll stop pouting and post again.

I've been thinking about the delay and the evidence seems to be that it was largely, if not entirely, due to efforts to create/improve the online features.  Unlike many video game delays which I believe are often artifially planned or staged to maximize marketing impact, the delay of Smash Bros Braw is economically disadvantageous.  Releasing the game after the holidays just makes no marketing sense no matter how you slice it - so I am inclined to believe that the delay was truly caused by efforts to implement those online additions.

But here's a thought.  If Nintendo was really smart (ie greedy and underhanded) they should have axed all the online features and released the game on December 3 as promised.  People would be disappointed with the subtraction, but they would have still bought the game.  Then, Nintendo could continue to smooth out the online features, secretly of course, and then suprisingly rerelease the game later in the year with those features and call it some bullshit like Super Smash Bros Braw:  Championship Edition.  It would be the same game but now with online features.  Hell, they could even add one more new character to sucker in people who can't justify rebuying the game simply for online features alone.

This way, Nintendo could have both took advantage of the preholiday market AND sold the same game a second time to the same people.  I'm sure people would complain and you, reading this, naturally hate the idea.  But can you honestly say you would not do precisely what I have outlined and end up buying both games (remember, you didn't know the second version was in the works when the first edition would be released)?

But here's a thought.  If Nintendo was really smart (ie greedy and underhanded) they should have axed all the online features and released the game on December 3 as promised.  People would be disappointed with the subtraction, but they would have still bought the game.  Then, Nintendo could continue to smooth out the online features, secretly of course, and then suprisingly rerelease the game later in the year with those features and call it some bullshit like Super Smash Bros Braw:  Championship Edition.  It would be the same game but now with online features.  Hell, they could even add one more new character to sucker in people who can't justify rebuying the game simply for online features alone.

That would be funny... Though, I'd be pretty pissed. But I don't think Nintendo has done anything underhanded or greedy... Correct me if I'm wrong.

But anywho, this is an OK update. 6 out 10 really. It could be useful to see how someone plays, and try to figure out how to counter it. You see what I mean? I still think they might be building to a major update... I don't know, though.

This way, Nintendo could have both took advantage of the preholiday market AND sold the same game a second time to the same people.  I'm sure people would complain and you, reading this, naturally hate the idea.  But can you honestly say you would not do precisely what I have outlined and end up buying both games (remember, you didn't know the second version was in the works when the first edition would be released)?

Part of the reason I've always liked Nintendo is that they don't pull underhanded garbage like this.  It's true, they could easily have done this, and made twice as much money on the same game.  But, they have good business ethics, and I admire that.  They don't release stuff they know is faulty just to meet a deadline.

New wii-ware games are going to be coming out soon. The big one I've seen is Pokemon Ranch, where you buy this pokemon game off of Wiiware that allows your miis to interact with mii-style pokemon.

I'm assuming GH3 and Rock band will work the same way, so it makes sense that Smash bros would put their updates there also. I'm also pretty sure Marvel Alliance has a bundle of characters for download coming from Wiiware soon too.

What kind of characters/stages do you think would be included if they made online buyables?

The Wii only has a limited amount of space, though, and they have no plans to release a harddrive anytime soon, even with the announcement of Wii Ware. I wouldn't depend too heavily on a lot of games supporting DLC on Wii for the time being. I understand DLC for Guitar Hero 3 isn't available on the Wii at the moment, though they do say it may happen eventually. I don't think Rock Band is even officially announced for Wii yet, though there's practically no doubt it's coming eventually....but they might just wait until DLC is hammered down. Maybe they're waiting for the Wii Ware service to "go live" before allowing it, I dunno.

I'd rather NOT have some 540 pound naked trucker cursing me off when I drop-kick him off the bottom of the screen in online play, thank you very much.

virtually every online service in the world has curse filters.

Nintendo will learn their lesson eventually. It'll take them time, but they'll come around.

It'd be pretty awesome if it happened before Brawl though. Online rankings = fuck yes.

Nintendo will learn their lesson eventually. It'll take them time, but they'll come around.

It'd be pretty awesome if it happened before Brawl though. Online rankings = fuck yes.

I don't know that they will. They're making money hand over fist, and the people complaining about friend codes or the lack of ladders and ranking boards are largely the hardcore gamers. The casual market's not too concerned about them....they don't even really play that many online games. And they're making up more and more of the market share, and easily outnumber the hardcore. Ultimately, the fact that they aren't losing money because of the Friend Code system is going to mean that they have no reason to "learn" anything.

I'd expect Sony and Microsoft to change before Nintendo does. Microsoft's already gone on record as regretting the fact that they're viewed as a console only for hardcore gamers, and have started a big program to try to get the more family friendly market, including enhanced parental controls in the latest update, or so I'm given to understand. We may not like it, but Nintendo's is probably closer to what console online programs will be like in the future than Microsoft's or Sony's.