I'm fine with a Nintendo console with a fully fleshed out online system more like Xbox live.. as long as it doesn't come at the expense of the quality of local multiplayer. This is the trait that makes the Wii so appealing and what it thrives on. If Nintendo simply tries to be like Sony and MS, especially while abandoning what set them appart in the first place, they will fail. They tried to be like Sony and MS (somewhat) with the Gamecube and look how that turned out.

One thing that the Xbox 360, and especially the PS3 is lacking, is local multiplayer. And I'd rather not have the next Nintendo be 75% online with its multiplayer as well.

And Call of Duty, Gears of War, and Helo also have some form of local multiplayer. That cannot be a mere coincidence that it's a feature on such hit series.

It won't change until next console, so yes.

Wii online sucks, it's laggy and horrid. I never play online because of that.

Pachter is right. The Wii probably couldn't get on the multiplayer feature bandwagon. If it was going to happen, it would have already happened.

In any case the importance of local multiplayer is probably dropping. The proportion of households with children and the number of people per household are both falling. Nintendo will need to address this diaspora of people.

I've never thought about it this way until I read your post, but it seems they are trying to sweep away local multiplayer much like 2D, thinking that the "new and improved way" (3D or Online multiplayer) somehow gives the same-but-better experience. That is not always the case, however. Just as 2D has its place in games, so does local multiplayer.

Call me when PS3 or 360 can pump out a 15~20 million seller multiplayer game like Wii Sports, Mario Kart or NSMBWii.

And before someone says CoD: I'm talking about single platform sales.

Sure, Mario / Pokemon.

@Mr. Methrahla  call me when Nintendo makes an original title, those games you mentioned are IMO kinda bland.  Im all for Wii's local multi thing they got going on, it pisses me off that the HD devs threw Online in our face and hoped that no one would notice there was no local multi. ITs sad and lazy, I read in GI that one of the devs saying that to have local especially split screen is like asking the console to do twice the work and online is actually easier. Screw that dev, with his lazy crap, you've been doing it for years and you dont want to no more because its too hard??? get another job. Wii is on the other end with really bad online. Their was no excuse for the SSBB to be that bad online, why the hell was the game delayed??? MKW was the only one that got it right, but i dont like that game so it does nothing for me. NSMBWii could have had online. a level editor or something. I hope next gen we can have a console that gives us both

Or give them Modern Warfare 2, but then note it took a record marketing budget.

i dont really care actually, i'm not against it though. But like Naum said i leave online gaming to the PC.

only use my wii and xbox 360 for single player games.