I really hope it is free unless it is better than XBL. Honestly, though, looking at Nintendo's track record with online gaming and everything I can't see them coming out of nowhere with an incredible online service. I realize they've been looking to PS3 and Xbox 360 as their mentor, but it would amaze me if they improved it enough to compete with XBL, and this is one of the very few things making me reserved about a day 1 purchase.
Another problem is simply the image that Nintendo gained all thanks to the Wii. Most households own a Wii, and let's face it, very few want it anymore and got bored with it quickly because it soon became a child's console with primarily terible, rushed games with a gem of a game as a needle in the haystack of junk quick cash titles. I'm worried about this happening again, because we're in nearly the same predicament. Everyone is frothing at the mouth to get a piece of this incredible, innovative gaming hardware, but not considering the possible control issues involved or whether it may just be a novelty and get boring quickly.
I realize that Nintendo has tried to fix these problems by having one central controller with two control sticks and a more traditional setup, but then they added a touchscreen and cameras and all that to it, which, don't get me wrong, sounds like it will be absolutely incredible if used correctly. They key words in that previous sentence? 'IF used correctly.' This is the same thing as the Wii.
The motion controls seemed like it would the best thing ever and we all had different ideas of how it could be used in incredible ways, but none of those great ideas came to fruition, and if they did, the game was either low profile or had problems making it difficult to play. I still say the second best game on the Wii was Wii Sports solely because they used the motion control very well, didn't bother adding pointless, repetitive minigames that characterize most titles populating the console, and used the innovative idea in a way that showed what it could do.
Anyway, I'm sorry for this rediculously long post/rant, but this is my first post on these forums and it sort of incorporates my last few months of thoughts regarding the Wii U.
PS: One last thing, I'm also worried that once the Xbox 720 and PS4 arrive, and their specs are revealed (which may or may not end up being way higher than the Wii U) the 3rd party devs might dissappear, just like they did with the Wii. This situation feels all too familiar. Also, so sorry for the wall of text, I tried to break it up a little bit.
Finally, I'd still love to have a Wii U, but E3 this year may very well be my deciding factor. I love online gaming AND Zelda.
TL;DR: I'm worried that the Wii U may end up going the same way the Wii did, even though it appears to be getting good 3rd party support now.
Edited by ryan31394, 22 March 2012 - 07:48 PM.