I remember watching E3 when the Wii was first unvieled and hearing that we would go to bed one night and the game would update via WiiConnect24 offering whole new gaming experiances the next day. The idea right aways popped into mind that you would be able to download new missions , maps and content all while you sleep.

But so far the WiiConnect24 feature has been largely un-used. When I bought Brawl and MarioKart one of the very first things that entered my head. Nintendo is going to blow us away with downloadable content. Yet nothing has actually been made. While on the X-Box free downloadable maps for games like Halo and Frontlines:FuelOfWar are abundant. Of course Live could never compete with WiiConnect24.

So why are updates still needed rather then automatically updating while we sleep. Where are the new maps for MarioKart or new characters for Brawl? If Nintendo used WiiConnect to its full potential Nintendo's online network would give Live a run for its money!

Examples of ways Nintendo would kick 360's butt!

MarioKart (New maps)

Brawl (New Character)

Conduit (New Maps)

While sometimes to play Live you have to download maps and delay your fun. But if WiiConnect24 was used more often Nintendo gamers would never have the problem of not being able to play online due to lack of maps!

Brawl u get a free level everyday.

The use of WiiConnect24 is obviously limited by the available storage on the Wii. It's mostly used for email messages and update notifications.

Mario Kart also uses WC24 to distribute rankings and tournaments (effectively new levels).

The Wii is already kicking the 360s butt in the most important way, sales.

MS has to do those things to attract sales. Not only to improve game sales themselves, but also to get people to pay for Live.

I don't know if improving WiiConnect would really improve sales all that much.

You use it for the most important thing, play online.

It was pretty cool to get messages from Galaxy from Luigi, but you're right. Wiiconnect has been largely unused. I'd love to see that blue light more often.

for shareholders? Yes.

for gamers, BIG NO.

Live is beating Nintendo's online network. But Nintendo has all of the potential to have a great online network. I mean seriously when WiiConnect24 was first announced it sounded like the Live Marketplace killer. But now years later the question has to be asked where is the new maps/characters and gameplay aspects Nintendo announced would be present. I want my Tails unblocked over the web for SmashBros:Brawl or my new track for MarioKart.

Nintendo needs to take the lead and implement WiiConnect24 into its games. I bet we'll see it implemented in AnimalCrossing!

You're right that WiiConnect24 is very powerful tool, but:
First, WiiConnect24 is in everything Wii does online, since it is "Wiis network service".
Second, weather and news channels use its "24" feature as well as message board. Also the channels preview images update via WiiConnect24 (current weather, latest news headlines, Nintendo channels latest features, new WiiWare and Virtual Consoles releases, everybody votes channel new polls etc.).

So yes, it's largely used already, but as someone said, the small internal storage limits its use at "full potential" (notice that the "full potential" would easilly fill up PS3:s HDD quickly). One of the benefits of the "24" feature is, that it works with small storage, but the minus with small storage is, that the number of channels ("swap files", where the changing data would be stored) is limited to a certain number.

Also you should keep in mind, that Nintendo is still testing its service for the future, it will still improve on Wii, but will hit full scale for Wiis successor.
Every next gen console will have a WiiConnect24 kind of online.

@stof: Now you're talking about only message board, WiiConnect is used in every online stuff Wii does. Read the above.

@Jo21: No, for gamers too. Which happens to be proven by sales...

@Joelcool: But Wii already has better online than 360 and WiiConnect is implemented in quite a few games. Now you're wanting "pay to play" content for games that aren't supposed to use it. By looking at new tracks in Mario Kart, i wouldn't work because of online where everybody wouldn't have the new tracks.