Hello Infendo readers. I come today inquiring information on the state of Brawl’s online mode. There’s no other way to say this, but online has crapped out…big time. Unfortunately I have yet to connect to a single random match. That’s right. It has been over a month and a half and I can hardly login without getting error code 85010. I try twice a day, but to no avail. I know I’m not alone.

Yes, I know Nintendo fans have been known to be impatient, picky complainers, but you have to admit this is a bit ridiculous. Call me crazy, but when I purchase a game that has online support clearly implemented I expect the mode to work. I realize servers/connections are going to overload/fail at the start, but again a month and a half! Thankfully many can connect via friend matches with ease. Though for me it’s unplayable when it takes 3 sec to throw a shield up or jump into the air due to immense lag.

Nintendo, I’m really trying to think of an acceptable excuse for these issues, but I really can’t think of any. I really wish I didn’t have to type up such a disgusting post, but I’ve had my fill. I love ya, Nintendo, but you’re killing me here!

Have you been able to connect to any random battles?

Embargo is up on all Nintendo Media Summit content. Through a mess of WiiFit and Wiiware titles, Mario Kart Wii made a showing complete with online friend matches against Nintendo of Japan. We know Europe and Japan are having a blast with online right now, but US gamers have yet to have a go. IGN Nintendo team had a chance to put the US versions online mode through its paces.

…As far as online performance goes, Mario Kart Wii can boast a flawless 60 frames per second for single player online, and what appears to be a locked (or mostly locked) 30 frames per second for two player online. The single player affair is where the game really shines though, as the experience is extremely smooth, even going as far as to make people passing by ask whether what they were seeing was on or offline at all. We tried it not only at the summit itself, but also at the San Francisco and LA IGN offices, and the experience turned heads. It’s worth a mention that Mario Kart Wii uses the same predictive online system as the DS version, so you’ll see racers popping around at times or reacting late to what you’re seeing, but it’s a sacrifice to save the framerate, so as long as you’re expecting it (and understand that the game isn’t cheating you) it’s still very entertaining…

Be sure to click over to IGN to read their full impressions. This really does look to be a great addition to Wii’s online library (if there is one). Though the graphics aren’t a “huge” upgrade from Double Dash, 60fps is worth the sacrifice. Mario Kart Wii Launches in the US on April 27th.

What do you think? Will Mario Kart Wii’s online pwn?

On Friday, the final day of this year’s Game Developers Conference, Nintendo’s Takashi Aoyama dropped a proverbial “megaton” when he revealed plans to implement a “pay and play” online program for Wii.

In frustratingly ambiguous fashion, Aoyama announced Nintendo will soon introduce a new service for online Wii gaming requiring players to “pay and play.” Users will subscribe to the service on a game-by-game basis using Wii Points purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. But he did not discuss which titles will utilize the service or how many Wii Points a subscription will cost.

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It didn’t take THQ long to capitalize on the good press and success of its latest handheld Worms title.

Only days after the critically acclaimed Worms: Open Warfare 2 released to market on DS/PSP and reinvigorated the long-running strategy franchise, THQ and Team17 Software announced an exclusive and surprisingly ambitious Worms title would be coming to Wii in early 2008.

In a Sept. 6 interview with IGN, Team17’s Karl Gilbert lifted the curtain on Worms: A Space Oddity. Particularly noteworthy in his glowing preview was his description of the game’s elaborate online component. Gilbert promised customizable four-player online matches, editors-a-plenty and even downloadable content via WiiConnect24, something even Nintendo has yet to deliver.

It sounded too good to be true. Which is probably because it was.

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The Smash Bros Dojo officially confirms that online multiplayer will be available for Super Smash Bros Brawl.  You can play with friends you know or ‘anyone’ in a random bout.  The random battles will not be ranked and you will not know the names of your opponents.

Other features revealed are:

• in-game taunts can be pre-programmed and triggered using the + Control Pad
• a Sandbag punching minigame to play while waiting for online games to start
• the ability to change the icon that represents you (even using your Mii)

The site also teases us by saying there will be a number of other services that make use of Wi-Fi with more news to come.

With just over ten weeks until the game is released and more information still coming, is Brawl shaping up to be everything you hoped for?

Several hardcore Mario Kart fans sent in this new tidbit concerning the much anticipated Mario Kart Wii. Apparently ONM (Official Nintendo Magazine for the UK) has leaked some exciting new details including…

• Improved online battle mode
• Pull off stunts in midair
• Tracks from the DS version will be added
• 16 online multiplayer!

That last bit of news just made my day. 16 players online…this is gonna be sweet!

Thanks to: Luke, chickenstalk, and rootbeer77

According to Nintendo, the above cities have played more games on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (including both DS and Wii games) over the past two weeks than any others. Will someone please explain to me what is going on in Struthers, Ohio? The city only has 12,000 inhabitants??!!