Switch Online Service.

[VG_Addict]

Nintendo announced its online service for the Switch yesterday.

https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/

What do you think?

[Random User]

Still think their temporary NES game idea is dumb, but at the very least, 20 bucks a year is an absolute steal compared to the highway robbery that Sony or Microsoft puts you though.

[Apollo the Just]

I don't play online games enough to justify buying it, but this price seems reasonable.

[X-3]

It'll be more enticing when it gets more games, but as it stands I'd probably subscribe for a month or two when Smash comes out.

[I am nobody]

I don't care about the NES games at all, but it could conceivably be worth it depending on how they handle the discounts.

[DarkZero]

i really love the concept of virtual console games with online multiplayer, but i dont think any of the NES games they have right now are particularly great choices for it. maybe if they get contra or bubble bobble or something. what i'd be really interested to see is if they extend this to vc games beyond the NES; there are some great titles for the SNES or N64 i'd love to play online.

in terms of the price, i think it's fair. i'd be totally fine to drop $20 a year for smash online.

[CaptHayfever]

The Switch eShop has VC games to download, right?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[I am nobody]

A proper VC is supposedly coming after they launch paid online. Right now it just has a ton of NeoGeo ports.

[New! Tazy Ten]

If they do have a Virtual Console it won't be called that from what I've seen.

Eh. I'm going to wait until I ACTUALLY get a switch before I decide on this.

[CaptHayfever]

I don't really care what they call it, so much as whether I can purchase & play old games without having to subscribe.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[I am nobody]

The Switch eShop has VC games to download, right?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Turns out they're not doing one. Guess I missed the news.

[CaptHayfever]

Well, at least I still have a WiiU & 2DS.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Marilink]

Well, they say that they don't plan on using the "Virtual Console" moniker anymore, but that doesn't mean that classic games won't still be re-released. I mean, look at all the Neo-Geo games available to buy on Switch.

[Sonic 5]

I absolutely adore how bent out of shape some people are about it. $20 is a reasonable price for what's being offered.

[I am nobody]

Eh. It may not be much money, but people make a reasonable point that online has been free for a year and was free when offered on all previous consoles. If you don't see that as a benefit, then all you're getting for your $20 is cloud saves, some NES games, and ambiguous discounts. Plenty of people further don't care about the NES games, which leaves you cloud saves, discounts of some description, and an online service you were already getting for free in exchange for $20 a year. I'm sure many of the people complaining about it have spent $20 more irresponsibility, but I can see where they're coming from.

Personally, I'm interested in the reasoning for going with NES games as their bundle-in. I completely understand why they didn't copy the PS+ or XBL model and give out new games, since ports and indies seem to be doing exceptionally well as-is, but I feel like most of the people who are really excited about playing Dr. Mario or Balloon Fight online are big enough Nintendo fans that they'd have bought the service without a free games component at all. Imagine if they'd come in with a smaller number of SNES or N64 games instead - you lead with "We have SSB64 online and will add another SNES or N64 game every month" and you'd have people falling over themselves to throw $20 at you even if you only dropped something on that level a few times a year. Might even be able to charge $60 like Sony and Microsoft if you picked mostly from big names.

Maybe they're planning to sell those individually later or there's some obscure technical reason why they can't do it on the Switch. Surely they're not that allergic to money.

[Sim Kid]

I absolutely adore how bent out of shape some people are about it. $20 is a reasonable price for what's being offered.

1) It's Nintendo. People just wanna rag on Nintendo.

2) It's been free for awhile. Thus people are kinda spoiled.

[е и ժ е я]

Considering I doubt they'll be providing any killer apps for it, just the stuff they've done before - and not for free, remember - these are full-priced games people will be taking online. 20 dollars doesn't sound like much, but they can only get away with it because it's a closed platform. I love the few games I own for the system, but they're not exactly cranking them out, and I only really want more local co-op and the like.