Does the online check-in for classic games on Nintendo Online really matter?
One of the most common complaints about Nintendo's new subscription service (which should be launching tonight some time) is that the NES and other classic games that will be launching on the console require an online check-in every 7 days to remain playable.
There are some valid questions like "Why can't they stay active until the current subscription expires?" or "why can't I just pay for the games?". I imagine there is some super paranoid reason surrounding bypassing the online checks to get the games for free across multiple devices. Though, given the way Nintendo manages these things, that seems borderline impossible. At least, difficult enough that any such exploit would not be widespread.
But, that isn't the way Nintendo is doing things. So, let's focus on... does it matter?
Before I start. Yes. There will be some small number of people and/or some small number of occasions where the limitation will pose a legitimate issue. For instance, on long road trips, say camping, you may not have internet. And may not have it for days at a time.
Generally speaking however, I think the point is moot for two reasons. The ability to get online is fairly ubiquitous, and the namesake feature of the service revolves around being "Online". Purchasing a Nintendo ONLINE subscription when you don't actually plan to have regular access to internet is a bit silly.
Granted, since you can't just buy the games, that may not be YOUR primary reason for subscribing. But, as with anything, you simply need to be aware of the limitations and make your decisions accordingly. If you're intending to purchase Nintendo Online primarily for the sake of playing the classic games it adds, but you don't anticipate being online at least once a week, you want to reconsider.
As for availability of internet. I went on a road trip to my parents cottage in Nova Scotia off the bay of Fundy. The cottage is in a small town even by Nova Scotia standards and Nova Scotia pretty darn small. My parents only internet options are satellite or dial-up.
I brought my Switch with me, though, admittedly I didn't bother connecting it to the internet the whole time I was there. I did, however, connect my phone to internet at various places and times.
Firstly I was roaming because I'm on a budget carrier not affiliated with the big 3 in Canada. But, were I on Bell or Rogers or Telus, I could have simply tethered the Switch to my phone. In fact, I don't mind using a bit of roaming data now and then, so I even would have tethered on roaming charges if playing those games were actually important to me.
Next, internet was available at every hotel we stayed at. It was also available at many restaurants and coffee shops.
And, even on Freedom Mobile, I hit pockets of Home connectivity on the phone when in or around major cities in some provinces. Again, more ways to get online.
In short, getting connected to the internet... even for "free" isn't all that tough. Hotels and restaurants aren't technically free, but you generally visit such places at least once a week if you're away from your usual residence. So, if you're going to stay in a hotel or eat out anyway, then it is basically free.
But, even if none of that sells you. Again, the average Nintendo Online subscriber and even multiple standard deviations away from the mean will be Online more than once a week, if not more or less perpetually. And while Nintendo's service may also offer arguably the least out of the 3 major gaming platforms online subscriptions, it is also the cheapest. By a fairly large margin.
I'm not going to pretend that the restrictions won't hurt some people, some of the time. But don't pretend like they are actually all that restricting. My Nova Scotia trip was 2 weeks long. And yet, I don't think there was a period of a full week where I wasn't online with my Switch, and I wasn't even trying to keep it connected necessarily. And, on a daily basis, my Switch is plugged in mere feet from the home WiFi and is always connected.
Sure, it would be nice if Nintendo could find a way to be a bit more intelligent about how/when these classic games are locked out. And, yeah, this will probably lead to some people choosing not to subscribe on principal and some choosing not to subscribe because the limitations actually do impact them regularly.
I just don't genuinely believe it will be a very large number of the whole that fall into either category. I would argue, there is even a chance it doesn't even make financial sense for Nintendo to try and fix it.
There are some valid questions like "Why can't they stay active until the current subscription expires?" or "why can't I just pay for the games?". I imagine there is some super paranoid reason surrounding bypassing the online checks to get the games for free across multiple devices. Though, given the way Nintendo manages these things, that seems borderline impossible. At least, difficult enough that any such exploit would not be widespread.
But, that isn't the way Nintendo is doing things. So, let's focus on... does it matter?
Before I start. Yes. There will be some small number of people and/or some small number of occasions where the limitation will pose a legitimate issue. For instance, on long road trips, say camping, you may not have internet. And may not have it for days at a time.
Generally speaking however, I think the point is moot for two reasons. The ability to get online is fairly ubiquitous, and the namesake feature of the service revolves around being "Online". Purchasing a Nintendo ONLINE subscription when you don't actually plan to have regular access to internet is a bit silly.
Granted, since you can't just buy the games, that may not be YOUR primary reason for subscribing. But, as with anything, you simply need to be aware of the limitations and make your decisions accordingly. If you're intending to purchase Nintendo Online primarily for the sake of playing the classic games it adds, but you don't anticipate being online at least once a week, you want to reconsider.
As for availability of internet. I went on a road trip to my parents cottage in Nova Scotia off the bay of Fundy. The cottage is in a small town even by Nova Scotia standards and Nova Scotia pretty darn small. My parents only internet options are satellite or dial-up.
I brought my Switch with me, though, admittedly I didn't bother connecting it to the internet the whole time I was there. I did, however, connect my phone to internet at various places and times.
Firstly I was roaming because I'm on a budget carrier not affiliated with the big 3 in Canada. But, were I on Bell or Rogers or Telus, I could have simply tethered the Switch to my phone. In fact, I don't mind using a bit of roaming data now and then, so I even would have tethered on roaming charges if playing those games were actually important to me.
Next, internet was available at every hotel we stayed at. It was also available at many restaurants and coffee shops.
And, even on Freedom Mobile, I hit pockets of Home connectivity on the phone when in or around major cities in some provinces. Again, more ways to get online.
In short, getting connected to the internet... even for "free" isn't all that tough. Hotels and restaurants aren't technically free, but you generally visit such places at least once a week if you're away from your usual residence. So, if you're going to stay in a hotel or eat out anyway, then it is basically free.
But, even if none of that sells you. Again, the average Nintendo Online subscriber and even multiple standard deviations away from the mean will be Online more than once a week, if not more or less perpetually. And while Nintendo's service may also offer arguably the least out of the 3 major gaming platforms online subscriptions, it is also the cheapest. By a fairly large margin.
I'm not going to pretend that the restrictions won't hurt some people, some of the time. But don't pretend like they are actually all that restricting. My Nova Scotia trip was 2 weeks long. And yet, I don't think there was a period of a full week where I wasn't online with my Switch, and I wasn't even trying to keep it connected necessarily. And, on a daily basis, my Switch is plugged in mere feet from the home WiFi and is always connected.
Sure, it would be nice if Nintendo could find a way to be a bit more intelligent about how/when these classic games are locked out. And, yeah, this will probably lead to some people choosing not to subscribe on principal and some choosing not to subscribe because the limitations actually do impact them regularly.
I just don't genuinely believe it will be a very large number of the whole that fall into either category. I would argue, there is even a chance it doesn't even make financial sense for Nintendo to try and fix it.
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