Microsoft - The Wii doesn’t even have online

[goddog]

Sky Render said:

I think the most fascinating thing here is that so many existing gamers think that the Wii's way of doing things online is somehow wrong, when in reality, it's just different, and very much designed to pander to the sorts of users it's drawing in.

Friend Codes are not particularly friendly to the internet-savvy, but to a concerned parent who doesn't know what their child might see or hear when playing online, they're the best thing ever. It gives them added security concerning what their children experience online. The lack of direct text communication in Mario Kart Wii was also intended along those lines. And for older players, it helps them avoid markedly bad online experiences by preventing trash talking (something which, in spite of what certain gamers think, is NOT appreciated or wanted by the vast, vast majority of interested-in-being-online gamers).

Through the lens of the internet-shy, the Wii is a great system to get into online gaming with. Only to die-hard fanatics do its precautions come across as being overbearing or Draconian.

 

Id argue thats overly protectionist, and an option should be built in for running without friend codes, for those of us that like to talk. I dont talk smack, but i do enjoy talking about other games, and depending on the situation, using stratagy to play a game.

Id have to say only the internet-phobic are the ones that enjoy friends codes... the people who think everyone is a pedophile out for their kids, or a scammer.

erring on the side of freedom of expression is always better then on the side of protectionism