I've noticed a lot of people critising Nintendo for it's online component, while PSN and XBL are often praised for their features. Over the years I've had experiance with all 3 systems (I have an Xbox 360, a Wii U, and a lot of my friends have a PS3). The one thing that annoyed me about the Xbox 360 was the subscription fee for XBL. But then, Microsoft was the only one asking money for online play.

Then Sony announced the PS4 and the requirement of Playstation Plus to play games online. My jaw (and my interest in the PS4) dropped considerably. I got a Wii U and I must say most people's criticism of the online component don't add up. Even on the Wii, I usually got into games just fine without many problems. My friend's Wii got quicker into a match of CoD then I got in a match of Halo.

The criticism I can understand is that Nintendo's online service isn't fleshed out much. You don't have achievements or trophy's or a lot of details about other players. But the Mii's and the Miiverse work just fine for me.

The one thing I wonder is the argument that the free games that come with XBL and PSN+ make the subscription fee worth it. Am I the only one that just wants to go out, buy a game (physically or digitally), own the game, and not have to bother with paying for the online service? Is the 'plug and play' method outdated? I just don't want to pay for a service that not always delivers (XBL and PSN+ can falter, as does Nintendo's Wifi connection) and offers me a bunch of games, most of which I'll never play, and which the service will lock away from me the moment I stop paying for the service.

What are your thoughts?

Playing online is fine for the most part, but not being able to chat or send messages without having to go into miiverse is a pain. I really wish there was a way for them to add cross-game chat onto wii u. I want to be able to chat with buddies even if we're not playing the same game.

I have no issue with Nintendo's online except for one and thats account being locked to console thing... I mean, it just baffles my mind that in 2014, we can't have a peace of mind that if our system fucks up, we can't simply go out, buy another system, sign in and have our games right then and there... Instead what Nintendo users have to do is go through their tedious customer service and do it that way which is just plain annoying and its the last thing u want to do if something happens to your console/handheld... Like, it works and they give it to you and its rare for Nintendo systems to break but its still just a dumb thing to do

But apart from that, I see nothing wrong with it, mostly cause its free. If Nintendo forced me to pay for it, I would just rant up the ass but since its free and mii verse has wonderful drawings, I got no other complaints

I feel like the "free games" argument is stupid. Rented games are a good reason for a subscription? Fine. That has nothing to do with why it's bullshit that it's still tethered to the online. I don't want the rental service. I want online. The online is free else where. It should be free on consoles.

Also, Nintendo's online works fine. It's the community that's lacking, not the inferstructure. Aside from the game chat issue and stuff like that, playing online works just as well as on the PS4. I've never played the XBO's online, so I can't say anything about that.

I can buy a year of Live in 3-4 hours at work. It really isn't an issue.

But could you imagine having to pay for online gaming on PC?

I'm glad Nintendo's online is free. You already pay for the console, the games, extra controllers, in some cases DLC, as well as for your internet connection at home, so I see no reason whatsoever why you'd have to pay even more yet to play online. I'm just weird like that.

If I'm not mistaken, Nintendo was working on detaching the accounts from the consoles.

I will always take free online over paid online...

Live was one of the main reasons I never wanted a 360, and PSN/Live certainly play a part in me not wanting a PS4/XBO. I'm just not an online gamer, but I do play online games every once in a while. The notion that I would have to pay 50$ a year for something that I won't be using most of the time is just ridiculous. I would much rather spend that money on games.

That said, there are some obvious ways that Nintendo could improve their online service, but even still, it does its job, and it is free.

Honestly coing from someone who uses PS+, anyone who complains about not keeping it just hasn't tried it.  There hasn't been a single time I have wanted to.  If you want to keep a game forever, chances are you bought it in the first 6 months it was out.

In my experience it tends to be younger gamers that tend to bemoan paying for online. For most adults it is 2-3 hours of work to cover a year of online gaming.

The fee leads to better technology, dedicated servers which in turn leads to a better online experience.

The problem Nintendo face is gaming seems to be heading towards an always online/persistent world future. Nintendo are already significantly behind with their online infrastructure and are not generating the revenue to convince them to invest in improving it.

Sony stepped it up by offering free games to the service which Microsoft have adopted as well. The games alone make the fee worth paying in my opinion.