Ahh, it’s Friday, do you know what that means kiddies? That’s right, it’s time for the latest installment of Do Work Fridays!!! This week we have a very special topic, online gaming. Now, it may look like Nintendo is trying to get online done right, but they are failing at it in almost every imaginable way.

So, let’s talk about what exactly Nintendo does wrong. First and foremost is the difficulty of finding a game online. Why is it so hard? You’re giving the service away. You’re making the games online compatible. You have built-in Wi-Fi. So, why then does it take at least 5 minutes to connect to someone in Tiger Woods? Because no one is playing it. You want to know why no one is playing it? Because you make it super difficult. And Tiger Woods ‘09 is one of the better examples because it uses you’re EA account as opposed to 16 digits of hell. Still, there are many games out there that don’t. And for those, you have to go with the dreaded 16 digit Wii Number. This number cannot be changed, no that would make to much sense. I mean, who says gamertags or IDs work? The 16 digit number is the way of the future if Ninty has it right, and we all know that they have it very wrong. Give us names we can set and possibly change. That is not asking too much. I mean, who can memorize 16 numbers? No one can, it’s been scientifically proven to be impossible. It is such a hassle that unless you directly know someone with a Wii, you don’t play with someone more than once. It just won’t happen. This is in direct contradiction to the social aspects that gaming online can present. Especially when you have a console that is the most social of all consoles.

So, can Nintendo do work and fix the online problem? Yes, they can. Do they want to? It would seem not. The Wii has been out over 2 years now and the problems that were there in the beginning are still there. Sure, they have addressed voice chat somewhat. But, that problem deserves it’s own Do Work episode so, that will be next week. I would love to be able to easily play with people online. And once I did, if the competition was fair and just, I’d like to be able to add them with one click. As it stands now, you can’t do that in many games. Online play should not be addressed on a game by game basis, it needs to be console wide. Nintendo is boasting that the Wii is the most fun of all systems, and who’s to argue? I simply ask them to Do Work! I should be able to have near the same Wii experience with a roomful of people, or through an online connection.

Check out the source of this item Do Work Fridays Episode 2!!