Ok, 1st of all although i'm mainly a Nintendo fan, I'm above all a gaming fan, I always get at least 2 consoles per generation. But this thread isn't the "my console is better than yours" kind of thread. One should play what satisfies its needs.

 I've just been reading a lot about the price of the consoles around here and people seem to be getting something wrong. I hear WiiU costs almost as much as a X1 or PS4. Well that ain't quite true:

- If I buy a a Wii U and play it for 5 years, it'll cost me € 300;

- If I buy a PS4 or X1 for € 300 and play it for 5 years I'll  pay during that period something like € 650.

You pay for online and although I believe it's not mandatory, about 90%-100% will pay for it. Even the casuals which only play FIFA or CoD will have to.

We now have to pay for online capabilities in both PS/Xbox which is a way to milk people out of even more money. And don't believe tha "it's for better support" BS because I've never had any problems on my WiiU online play (even though it's the weakest online structure out of the 3) neither I had on my PSN. And I've played for hundres of hours on CoD:BOpsII and MK8 (WiiU) or FiFA and Bad Company2 (PS3).

Last generation Microsoft tested the waters while Sony stood back observing, using the non-paid online as difference maker. Turns out it wasn't, they realized people didn't mind paying fees for online gaming, so this gen Sony followed suit. But it really is a way for you to pay a console through yearly instalments while advertising it has just a € 300 or € 350 console or whatever. It's marketing strategy, plain and simple.

Not to mention the added value the gamepad has (although heavily criticized, mostly from non wiiu owners) with off tv play. Although this probably doesn't affect everyone, it still affects a lot of people. I've had this girlfriend for more than 7 years now, and the gamepad has been a godsend for me. Before I had WiiU I had to endure all those tv shows, soap operas and the such. Now, while she's watching the reality shows I dreadfully hate, I'm right beside her on BOps II getting ruthless awards. :D

To close it up, people who believe WiiU costs also as much as PS4/X1 are wrong. Yes you get stronger hardware but you also end up spending a lot more.

If you're going to use the price of online as a point of criticism against the PS4/X1, you should also include the huge amount of value provided by stuff like PS+. Regardless to what you think of the service, your argument comes across a very one sided when you ignore such a significant part of what is being offered.

Anyway, the WiiU's linear value isn't really relevant. To many, it's lack of 3rd party support, relatively poor hardware and comparatively poor multi-media functionality (compared to even the PS3), makes the WiiU a pretty poor value proposition.

I'm almost exclusively paying for PS+ for the free games. I don't play online enough to justify the price

To address your points:

1.) You are wrong. Probably around 50-60% of people pay for online (going by Sony and MS data). Also, casuals that pay for FIFA, Madden or CoD have to, of course, since those games no longer exist on WiiU. But, ultimately, people are willing to pay $50-$60 per year to have access to all those multiplayer amenities (but you forgott to mention the added bonus of downloadable games, cloud saves and discounts that one subscription nets them).

2.) If the only advantage you can find for the gamepad is reducing boredom with your girlfriend, there are other ways PS4 and XOne owners can do it:

- find a new, more exciting, girlfriend

- if you don't want a switch - make your existing girlfriend a dinner, learn to cook, do house chores, or make an effort to watch those shows with her

- read a book

- use PS4's remote play usinga Vita, Xperia phone or PSTV

- use a Windows Phone to gain achievements

- get a second TV and watch your shows at the same time

- Use your Pc/tablet/phone to access streaming services of your favorite porn shows

3.) So, you spend more for better/stronger hardware? Nothing wrong with that. You also spend more to have more games and a wider variety of games.

My conclusion: This is a failed thread, with completely wrong reasons to gripe about voluntary subscription plans. As you say so in the first paragraph: "One should play what satisfies its needs." If subscription plans don't satisfy your needs, don't subscribe.

I don't subscribe to PS+, and still enjoy my console and games on it very much. The only difference, I don't make threads griping about optional payment models.

You didn't clarify anything. You built a straw man. Both ps+ and xbl provide significantly more than just online play, both provide far more than the cost of subscription in games alone while also providing superior features. I like Nintendo but the reality here is price is NOT an advantage for them unless you do what you do with a straw man argument.

I will happily pay for my PSN store discounts, 2 free* games a month (well 6, own a PS3 and Vita too) and online if it means I actually have games I can play online.
Their is no way Nintendo could charge the same just for Smash and Kart and thats why they dont.

*Paying for free games technically means they arent free =P

And Wii-U is $300 for old tech. My mate's Nvida Shield tablet is a true mobile device with stronger hardware and a vastly superior screen for the same price.

Don't get me wrong i like Nintendo, but the hardware they chose is really bad value.

Me too. In fact I don't think I've played a single minute online on PS4* and I've had PS+ since Feb when I bought PS4. I also kept my PS3 which means in the last 9 months I've accumulated such a huge library of "free" games across both consoles that I really don't need to buy a game at retail ever, unless it's one I really really want. Unfortunately there are a few games I really really want so I will be buying them at retail.

So, over 5 years I will pay ~$480 (NZ) for PS+ but for that I will get 70 or more games at a cost of $6.80 per game. Even though many of those games I probably won't like or play much I will definitely value the broad exposure that i would otherwise not get. And finding those gems I never would have found otherwise makes it worth it.

* I have played online on games that don't require PS+, like warframe. Though even then I haven't played much. I don't know if Shadow of Mordor requires PS+ for the vendetta missions, but the game is great without those anyway.

So you play 5 years the same (bundled) game again and again?

Otherwise it will cost you more than €300 in these 5 years to play WiiU-games.

1) I'm wrong about the % of people, I don't know, I'll give you that, but I'm referring mostly to the people on these forums because this is essentially were I've been reading "WiiU costs almost as much as PS4/X1", and I guarantee you people in here, as avid as thet are gamingwise, about 90%-100% pay for online. As long as FIFA and CoD are concerned, I didn't know they couldn't play it on WiiU since you have at least Fifa13, CoD Bops e CoD Ghosts oit of those. Maybe those 300 hours I have on Black Ops II didn't really happen. Also you can't play MK8 or SSB online, so what? Comparing games or "my console is better than yours" wasn't the point on this thread incase you missed it in the OP

2) This point you made is so out of the line I shouldn't even bother. The point isn't boredom, not even close. Before you go all matrimonial councelor try to understand the topic at hand instead of making seamless insinuations. All your sugestions in this thread are mute and non-related (and paticularly if find some of this offensive tbh) to the OP. The only ones that make sense mean I have to buy Vita, PSTV, or whatever, which is precisely the point I'm making, you pay less with WiiU;

3) I didn't say there was anything wrong with that. More yes I agree, wider variety not so much. Anyway, like said I ain't talking about the games, because that would turn into a quality subjective discussion.

My conclusion: you didn't get the point of the thread and started with the same arguments as usual, like my games this and my games that. I'm not gripin about anything, I'm stating facts that your over-the-top love for one of the companies won't allow you to discern, so you'll continue to pay yearly instalments for your console. Good for you!

As I've seen your a bit biased, I don't care more about your opinion and I won't be replying to you anymore. I find your opinions aren't very constructive. Thank you very much.