Nick

@echoshatter:"I was seriously hoping for this. Multiplayer has really become the make it or break it point for me when it comes to buying games as I expect a very decent amount of replay value in my games."

I understand that some people prefer multiplayer based games for their replay value, to each their own, but I have to say that your hopes were really misplaced if you were looking for that in Prime 3. Retro had never announced intentions for standard FPS multiplayer, but rather, add-on content with WiiConnect24. Whether that'll happen, we'll have to see, but the main Prime series by Retro has always had a primary focus on the single player.

Nintendo's best chance for a very popular online game is quite obviously Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a title that they have repeatedly expressed interest in implenenting online gameplay for. If Brawl doesn't have online play, then there's a legitimate reason for complaint.

Nevertheless, there are other Wii multiplayer games expected to have online features, such as Mario Strikers Charged, Battalion Wars 2, Madden 08, FIFA 08, Geometry Wars: Galaxies, Guitar Hero III, Ghost Squad, Rock Band, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, NBA Live 08, likely Mario Kart Wii, and etc.

@Crono:"This is a bad move, no matter how you look at it. What benefits do we get having no multiplayer vs having it included, even half assed included?"

The primary benefit from not having online multiplayer is that the developers have more time to devote to making an excellent single player campaign. Your references to the multiplayer in Prime 2 and Hunters is very misleading in terms of it being a feature. The multiplayer in Prime 2 was a very shallow experience that took time that I'd rather Retro spent making the single player. Hunters was a multiplayer focused game by NST that had a very forgettable tacked on single player aspect, thus, it was enjoyed for completely different reasons than your average Prime game.

"There was no reason to delay the game this long if multi-player wasn't added. This game was supposed to LAUNCH WITH THE SYSTEM."

Do you not agree with the maxim, "A delayed game is eventually good, but a bad game is bad forever?". How could you possibly know that there was no other reason to delay the game except for multiplayer? Do I wish that the Wii launched with Brawl and Prime 3, as originally hinted? Not if it compromised the quality of the games.

This is a great idea, but it makes the Wii system code seem completely unnecessary, considering that messages delivered to specific Mii's makes more sense than it being given to the system.

My friend code is 313605-396635 btboy500

@Mr Khan

That scene was from the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes commercial.

The last game I bought was Super Paper Mario, and the last DS game I bought was Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for $5 thanks to the article you had on it.

It has already been demonstrated by Elebits, that developers are fully capable of using entries from the address book, meaning that Pokemon Battle Revolution's game specific friend code was an exception, not the rule, especially considering that it's linked with a DS game, which required game specific friend codes for technical reasons.

@Jake,
"And yes, graphics do matter damnit. Do you think that Gears of War would be a game of the year candidate if it was a PS2 game with crappy graphics even by PS2 standards? Hell no."

If the answer is no, and there's a widespread sentiment that games should be considered GotY candidates because of good graphics then I'm truly concerned for the industry overall.

"People who say graphics don't matter probably have never seen GT HD or Gears in HD. It is friken amazing. Expensive, yes. Not worth the money, possibly. Absolutely friken awesome if you have it, oh yes."

I've definitely seen Gears of War in HD on GameTrailers, and there's no doubt that it's graphically impressive. The primary question on my mind however, is whether it's fun, because it's only a matter of time before more polygons are pushed in games, but if the experience isn't fun, then it doesn't matter.

@Derbeste,

Actually, I can see how this makes perfect PR sense, without it meaning that Bungie is sincere about Halo 2(it seems that they're going overboard in disparaging their own creation). Given that Halo 2 has sold pretty much all it ever will, putting it down so much only serves to bring up Halo 3.

Personally, I've been waiting to get a 360 for the price reduction, as well as the new chip, so it looks like I'll have to wait a little longer...