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[Cipherr]

This is most likely an "let's just do it all" move since they'd want to end Mario Kart Wii prior to Mario Kart 8 coming out. It may be required to be all-or-nothing to take Mario Kart Wii out, but that's just speculation.

Its bad speculation IMO. The Wii Mini entered the scene over a year ago in Canada I believe. It makes perfect sense now if they knew they were going to axe the online once the new generation got underway. Im much more likely to trust 10+ years of evidence that says Nintendo just doesn't care about online than I am to assume they are competent enough to axe online for the sole purpose of possibly adding sales to a single title on their current dying console.

They let MKDS reign on for nearly 10 years. I don't think they mind having more than one MK game on sale at a time.

 

[PotionBleue]

Early? The service is almost 10 years old.

It actually lasted longer than Live for the original Xbox. And you'll still be able to download your content. It's just the multiplayer matchmaking.

Sorry, made an error in the dates, it's actually:

OG Xbox
November 2002 → April 2010 (7 years & 5 months)

DS Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
November 2005 → May 2014 (8 years & 6 months)

Wii Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
December 2006 → May 2014 (7 years & 5 months)

 

[Smashman45]

Ah. 'Tis a shame. I have fond memories of the early and late Mario Kart DS days, playing with randoms and buddies, same for Mario Kart Wii and Brawl. I've been looking to get back into MKW's online, I guess I have more of a reason to. Last minute timey-times.

RIP

 

[kirby_fox]

The only thing I ever used it for was battling my cousin in NY in Pokemon and finishing my Pokedex in Diamond.

I'm amazed the Nintendo Video service on 3DS is ending so soon though. Nothing should be ending on the 3DS at the moment.

This kind of thing is pushing me more and more into believing Nintendo's QoL platform has very little to do with video games, and they are changing course.

 

[Lindsay]

R.I.P. DQIX VC store. Sellma am closing for good. ;_;

Guess I need ta buy a cheap second copy in order ta be able to replay the *full* DQIX story some day. Them story-centered DLC quests really did add to the game~

 

[Rodney McKay]

At least Mario Kat DS has the best single player in the series!

I love the mission mode in that game so much, I was heartbroken when I found out that MK7 didn't include it ;_; Still haven't picked that one up either.

 

[Azuran]

I can't wait for the eventual weekend where we all reunite for one last time and play the hell out of the games.

Looking forward to some Mario Kart Wii with GAF for the last time.

 

[web01]

Really disgraceful act just another company trying to force people to upgrade to the newest version by shutting down the servers. The points made about MKWiiU are no doubt on the ball. Many of these games still have huge and active online communities bigger than the new gen versions. Many don't even have equivalents so are leaving players in the dark.

 

[FyreWulff]

Sorry, made an error in the dates, it's actually:

OG Xbox
November 2002 → May 2010 (7 years & 6 months)

DS Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
November 2005 → May 2014 (8 years & 6 months)

Wii Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
December 2006 → May 2014 (7 years & 5 months)

Lot closer than I thought then. Although OXbox Live went down in April 2010. I remember, I was there

 

[donny2112]

They let MKDS reign on for nearly 10 years. I don't think they mind having more than one MK game on sale at a time.

Good point. However, the timing compared to MK8's release is still interesting. Maybe they want more out of MK8 than they were banking on MK7 with MKDS still available.

 

[Hale-XF11]

Oh man, this makes me sad, but only because of all the memories.

Had Metroid Prime Hunters not been overrun by hackers, I'd probably still be playing it online to this day, because I loved that game so much.

 

[Dimitri LH]

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TRY PROJECT M DAMNIT!!

EDIT: oh may 30....thought it said march. Still...

 

[PadWarrior]

I can't wait for the eventual weekend where we all reunite for one last time and play the hell out of the games.

Looking forward to some Mario Kart Wii with GAF for the last time.

I'd be down for that.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Sorry, made an error in the dates, it's actually:

OG Xbox
November 2002 → May 2010 (7 years & 6 months)

OG Xbox from discontinuation of console:
May 2008 -> May 2010 (2 years)

Wii Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
December 2006 → May 2014 (7 years & 5 months)

Wii from discontinuation in Japan:
October 2013 -> May 2014 (8 months)

DS not discontinued anywhere yet, is it?

 

[FyreWulff]

Also now would be the time to capture all network traffic from as many Wii games as possible.

Even if they're not understandable right away, having network traffic you can replay and tear apart makes it much easier to reverse engineer than doing it blindly after the fact.

 

[Box]

Nintendo Wi Fi Connection was actually done by Gamespy. Gamespy's online matchmaking/server business was bought out recently (in internet years), and the new company started shutting down tons of games that Gamespy had provided the online service for after AGES. I wouldn't be surprised if the usage was too low for them to renew the contract for the services, or they asked too much from Nintendo to renew it (some developers said they wish they could have kept their old PC games online, but the money the new company wanted was absurd).

Is this true? Everyone else here is just speculating about Nintendo's motives based on assumptions. This might actually explain why this is happening.

 

[lordfroakie]

Welp RIP MKWii legs sells

 

[superpickleman]

TETRIS DS NOOOOOOO

If the online community for Tetris Axis wasn't so disappointing it'd be easier to let go.

 

[Lindsay]

Ack! Also R.I.P. to Phantasy Star Ø to! Better get those online quests done sooner rather than later x_x!!

 

[Amazeballs]

Prime Hunters, Lost Magic and Mario Kart DS were the first multiplayer games I played online. It's a real shame to see Nintendo cut this service, but I understand the decision all the same.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Crap, I gotta bump up The Last Story on my backlog. What online components does it offer? Anything worthwhile?

 

[FyreWulff]

Is this true? Everyone else here is just speculating about Nintendo's motives based on assumptions. This might actually explain why this is happening.

That Gamespy worked on it? Yes, it wasn't very advertised or talked about much, though.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...tems/dslite/faq.jsp+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

About the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection:
Using IGN's GameSpy Technology, DS players can connect wirelessly at many Wi-Fi Hotpsots to find their friends and begin racing, battling or chatting as easily as if they were sitting in the same room. Depending on the game being played, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection can also let players post high scores or other game statistics and other data.

 

[Jamix012]

OG Xbox from discontinuation of console:
May 2008 -> May 2010 (2 years)



Wii from discontinuation in Japan:
October 2013 -> May 2014 (8 months)

DS not discontinued anywhere yet, is it?

Xbox Went on to 2010? Why? It sold less than 5,000 units in January 2007 NPD. And the US was it's strongest market!?

 

[To Far Away Times]

I have a lot of fond memories playing Tetris DS, Bleach DS, and Mario Kart DS/Wii Online. End of an era.

I've moved on to Mario Kart 7 but I there isn't a suitable multiplayer Tetris with online play that I'm aware of. Bleach DS was pretty fun too considering that it played like a legit Japanese fighting game.

 

[Zee-Row]

It was a crappy service anyway. Never had any kind of fun with any titles that used it. Plus the rampant cheating on DS games sucked too.

 

[PotionBleue]

That Gamespy worked on it? Yes, it wasn't very advertised or talked about much, though.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...tems/dslite/faq.jsp+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Interestingly:

http://www.poweredbygamespy.com/pricing/
“Effective January 1st, 2013, GameSpy has ceased to make its software available for Licensing.

“If you’re a major label publisher or even an established development studio, you know – the ones that have released titles and real offices with cool things like HR departments, Office managers, etc. and have an Agreement in good standing (you know, you pay your bills, etc) while you will no longer be able to add new titles, your existing supported titles will continue to function while under paid support.”

 

[BBboy20]

Nintendo Wi Fi Connection was actually done by Gamespy. Gamespy's online matchmaking/server business was bought out recently (in internet years), and the new company started shutting down tons of games that Gamespy had provided the online service for after AGES. I wouldn't be surprised if the usage was too low for them to renew the contract for the services, or they asked too much from Nintendo to renew it (some developers said they wish they could have kept their old PC games online, but the money the new company wanted was absurd).

I have to ask but did anybody anticipated this new company being straight-up assholes?

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Well, R.I.P. Mario Kart DS and Gen IV and V Pokemon.
Besides them there's little.
Brawl I guess

Spoiler

pfffhahahaha

 

[faceless007]

I still have some DS games with DLC I haven't gotten to yet (Picross 3D, Layton 4). Maybe I'll try to pick them up soon.

 

[Hidden One]

Wow thats dumb. So Pokemon DP-BW2 will all suffer.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Xbox Went on to 2010? Why? It sold less than 5,000 units in January 2007 NPD. And the US was it's strongest market!?

No, you misunderstand. It was discontinued in May 2008, but online services were turned off in May 2010. I provided the alternate figure because the total lifespan of the service is not super valuable as opposed to the length of post-retirement support.

 

[Box]

That Gamespy worked on it? Yes, it wasn't very advertised or talked about much, though.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...tems/dslite/faq.jsp+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Well it's just strange to see someone have a pretty plausible explanation while everyone else in the thread is speculating in a completely different direction. I don't know what to make of it. Usually the thread comes to some sort of consensus.

 

[kiguel182]

If I hadn't lost my DS I would be really sad about this.

No more pokemon online trade or battles, I guess I'll never have my perfect team now.

Also, no more Mario Kart online since I don't have a 3DS or a WiiU.z That's a bummer.

 

[FyreWulff]

Interestingly:

http://www.poweredbygamespy.com/pricing/
“Effective January 1st, 2013, GameSpy has ceased to make its software available for Licensing.

“If you’re a major label publisher or even an established development studio, you know – the ones that have released titles and real offices with cool things like HR departments, Office managers, etc. and have an Agreement in good standing (you know, you pay your bills, etc) while you will no longer be able to add new titles, your existing supported titles will continue to function while under paid support.”

Hmm, interesting

I have to ask but did anybody anticipated this new company being straight-up assholes?

Nope, but they made themselves look like assholes pretty damn fast

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/new-gamespy-owners-glu-mobile-shut-down-multiplayer-servers-with/

A few weeks ago, the online multiplayer servers for Sniper Elite were suddenly switched off by Glu, the third-party service we had been paying to maintain them. This decision by Glu was not taken in consultation with us and was beyond our control. We have been talking to them since to try and get the servers turned back on. We have been informed that in order to do so would cost us tens of thousands of pounds a year — far in excess of how much we were paying previously. We also do not have the option to take the multiplayer to a different provider. Because the game relies on Glu and Gamespy's middleware, the entire multiplayer aspect of the game would have to be redeveloped by us, again, at the cost of many tens of thousands of pounds.""

 

[Pikawil]

How does Poke bank work with the DS games?

And by how does it work I mean how do people transfer from the DS games to the bank?

Pokémon Bank takes the Pokémon directly from the DS cartridge plugged in the 3DS; the online connection here is done entirely on the part of the 3DS. So don't worry about Pokémon Bank.

 

[Hours Left]

Dragon Quest IX isn't on the list. It's staying up?

 

[catmario]

It's bad.... really bad.

Especially Wii Wi-Fi closure is totally bad.

People who want to play Smash bros brawl's multiplayer before WiiU Version release, will be mad about this.

 

[Jamix012]

No, you misunderstand. It was discontinued in May 2008, but online services were turned off in May 2010. I provided the alternate figure because the total lifespan of the service is not super valuable as opposed to the length of post-retirement support.

My bad. Sorry about that.

 

[Bloodworth]

Yeah, the GameSpy connection is making this all make sense (totally forgot about that). At least Nintendo isn't getting things shut down without warning.
EDIT: The Rebellion case happened in 2012? So Nintendo's probably been ponying up the money to prolong this as long as they reasonably could.

 

[faceless007]

Do we know when exactly Nintendo discontinued the Wii (w/ online)? I'd be surprised if it was more than a year ago. I think the last Wii Sports/Sports Resort bundle was released in time for holiday 2012.

 

[tsab]

Some of us still aren't sold and need a little more pre-release hype.

My friend's uncle's babysitter have a boyfriend that works as a janitor for Nintendo, he says that they might release a collection of all 3 Metroid Prime soon. I wouldn't buy them personally on launch, wait for an evitable pricedrop at 9.99€

 

[drgambit]

This is more like the end of an error:

Nintendo WiFi used the most insecure form of wireless communication out there (WEP), and while most hardware manufacturers were busy adopting more advanced forms of wireless security Nintendo turned a blind eye and forced consumers to have insecure networks. I for one am glad that this is being shut down permanently.

 

[Eusis]

OG Xbox from discontinuation of console:
May 2008 -> May 2010 (2 years)



Wii from discontinuation in Japan:
October 2013 -> May 2014 (8 months)

DS not discontinued anywhere yet, is it?

There's also the angle of when priorities shifted: The OG XBL was up for almost 5 years post-360 launch. DS to 3DS is a bit over 3 years (ok, this isn't TOO bad) while for Wii U it'd have been about a year and a half (this is kind of bullshit.)

This is more like the end of an error:

Nintendo WiFi used the most insecure form of wireless communication out there (WEP), and while most hardware manufacturers were busy adopting more advanced forms of wireless security Nintendo turned a blind eye and forced consumers to have insecure networks. I for one am glad that this is being shut down permanently.

Yeah, I admittedly finally gave up when I realized that for Layton I'd just switch back temporarily or plug in an older router, and the most relevant games (Pokemon White 1 & 2) would still work just fine on newer security. Still, if I hadn't made the switch beforehand this would've officially sealed it, there's just no reason to stay on WEP when the devices holding me back don't even go online anymore.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Dragon Quest IX isn't on the list. It's staying up?

Nah, SE is so determined in making sure DQ is erased off the face of the earth in the West that it won't be acknowledged even in such cases or announcements.

 

[PotionBleue]

Nope, but they made themselves look like assholes pretty damn fast

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/new-gamespy-owners-glu-mobile-shut-down-multiplayer-servers-with/

Ugh. No wonder why Nintendo switched to Amazon's cloud services from 3DS on…
If all this happens to have been caused by GameSpy when it could have lasted longer then it's really sad.

 

[redmetal86]

This is more like the end of an error:

Nintendo WiFi used the most insecure form of wireless communication out there (WEP), and while most hardware manufacturers were busy adopting more advanced forms of wireless security Nintendo turned a blind eye and forced consumers to have insecure networks. I for one am glad that this is being shut down permanently.

Isn't that only on the DS though, since the Wii can also use WPA?

 

[faceless007]

This is more like the end of an error:

Nintendo WiFi used the most insecure form of wireless communication out there (WEP), and while most hardware manufacturers were busy adopting more advanced forms of wireless security Nintendo turned a blind eye and forced consumers to have insecure networks. I for one am glad that this is being shut down permanently.

That's a question of the wireless circuitry used by the console to connect to a home network, not the servers running the online service. And the Wii supported WPA2. WEP was just for the DS.

 

[Eusis]

Ugh. No wonder why Nintendo switched to Amazon's cloud services from 3DS on…
If all this happens to have been caused by GameSpy when it could have lasted longer then it's really sad.

Yeah, Nintendo's usually fairly good about long term support (how long until they finally stopped fixing Famicoms?) so it definitely makes sense that they'd go until literally no one was playing online or at least it was in the double digits at best... buuut the people who bought the relevant part of GameSpy wound up being complete assholes and/or idiots, and so here we are.

That's a question of the wireless circuitry used by the console to connect to a home network, not the servers running the online service. And the Wii supported WPA2. WEP was just for the DS.

I think there's some newer stuff Wii U supports but not Wii, but Wii U will route through that so it's a moot point as long as played there if I'm right. Important thing is that Wii U will be connected to modern security and can be used for playing Wii games online still, so it's kind of crap there.

 

[Stimpack]

Holy crap! Seriously? God damn, Nintendo.

 

[Roo]

This is more like the end of an error:

Nintendo WiFi used the most insecure form of wireless communication out there (WEP), and while most hardware manufacturers were busy adopting more advanced forms of wireless security Nintendo turned a blind eye and forced consumers to have insecure networks. I for one am glad that this is being shut down permanently.

Ignorant post is ignorant