A few months ago I started to see advertisements on the web instructing people on how to connect their Wii to the internet. Just tonight I also saw a prime time television advertisement during Big Brother (I have my reasons, ok!?),  which advertised Mario Kart completely from an online-gameplay perspective. I'm quite excited, as I presume this shows that Nintendo realize they need to do more on the online gaming front and they're willing to push for it.

What do you reckon? Will adverts like this help Nintendo build a better online-gaming reputation?

(ad was in the UK)

thats good if nintendo is advertising the online portion of the wii

I hope so I would love to see more people try out some of the great gems like World of Goo and Swords and Soldiers on wiiware.

If they do fix the clumsy designed UI menu for Wiishop and dump FC's

yeah the friend codes need to be dumped for each individual game

To head off the imminent discussion, yes, Nintendo should change their online system, but no, they can't do it until the end of the generation. I mean, they would have to set up a completely different online network, which would raise immense complications, as that would be them maintaining a 3rd network for all their functions (aside from WFC and WiiConnect24), since it's impossible to apply updates retroactively on the Wii, and otherwise they would have to drop online support completely for old titles

To address the topic at hand, i agree that Nintendo is trying to promote their consoles' online functions more aggressively. They have that partnership with GameTrailers to promote WiiWare, they have that 1000 Free DSiWare points thing, and i have been seeing more advertisements regarding the online functionality of titles (with AC:CF), but i've also seen their online capability advertised in stranger ways, like when i see a commercial for Comcast High Speed Internet, they show a Wii Wheel when they speak of it's gaming capabilities.

You were watching Big Brother? Ha ha ha ha!!! Just kidding. Don't worry I am forced to watch it as well.

Not sure there is any point them advertising how to get online if you still have to deal with the crap friends codes and there are are still games with terrible lag.

What Nintendo NEEDS to do and what you WANT them to do are different. I also doubt they are doing anything to the current system. What people don't seem to realize is that the current infrastructure isn't all that changeable. If they do change it all older games would not work. Any effective changes would have to be made on the Wii side and to future games. This won't happen it's pretty darn clear Nintendo and support software has dropped off to non existence. All they seem to do now is fail at stopping homebrew.

Not sure. Let's check Nintendo's big games this year to find out.

Wii Sports Resort - negative

New Super Mario Bros. Wii - nope

Doesn't look like they are. I don't really feel that WSR needed online, but they could have added it to a few of the modes if they wanted to. NSMBW on the other hand, I really feel should have online. I'm probably not going to buy it because it won't be a very good solo experience and I don't think I'll have many opportunities to play local multi.

Let's hope.