Free Online (Wii U) vs Paid Online (PS4 and Xbox One)

[Eddie_Raja]

WolfpackN64 said:

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 Is the 'plug and play' method outdated?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?

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.