GDC 08: Nintendo reveals plans to start 'Pay and Play' online service

In spite of our differences, the one thing I have consistently lavished Nintendo with plaudits for is their rigid stance on online game play, i.e. that it should remain free of charge.  Sadly, it seems Nintendo is a bit more flexible than I originally thought.

At GDC Nintendo has revealed their intentions to institute a system for the Wii entitled "Nintendo WiFi Connection Pay and Play".  The service will require users to subscribe per game in order to play online, though how much it will cost, whether it will be per game or a broad subscription fee, and which games will fall under its purview has yet to be revealed. 

Of note is the specific wording used for this service, Nintendo has named it "Pay and Play" rather than "Pay for Play" or "Pay to Play".  The words "Pay and Play" conjure images of people happily being fleeced, while the substitution of the word "to" or "for" paints a far more realistic picture. Yes you can still play the game offline without paying an additional fee, but for a company that has been so adamant about its online gaming policy this seems more than a little hypocritical.

Wii games requiring subscription will have a red mark on the box stating "Pay and Play", which according to Nintendo is to avoid customer confusion.  Unless Nintendo makes some unprecedented epic strides in the quality of online play for the Wii I see the "Pay and Play" logo as an incredibly convenient way to choose which game to leave behind when you can't decide between two.

[Via Game|Life -- Thanks, Jonathan]