This is how wii do it...

Online play that is.

And from what i've read, it's not brilliant i must say.

Smash Bros for the Wii is going to have online play, but it's the most basic form of online play i've ever heard of. You've got 2 different options for playing online, playing against friends that are already registered in your game or playing against strangers. Playing against strangers there's no ranking at all and no stats, you won't know their name and you won't be able to talk to them. All they'll be to you is Player 2.

I kinda understand why Nintendo have done this, they're desperate to be the console the whole family can enjoy and this will mean that young kids can play fine against adults without the whole worrying concept that i don't need to explain here.

There'll be no verbal abuse as the wii has no microphone at the moment.

The only shitter is the fact that nothing is ranked so a casual player (which most Wii users are, lets face it) will have no chance against the hardcore players who have completed it within 1 day of getting the game. And who doesn't like stats? 73% of people love pouring over their stats (poor quality joke, i know).

It's a good idea but it's also a bad idea. It's nice for casual gamers but there can't be any longevity there as it's just pushing the online gaming community backwards 5 years.

But then, as you well know, i don't play online coz i keep getting thrashed so this might be the turnaround i want. When i win i want EVERYONE to know my name, when i lose i just want to slink away quietly. Of course no-one knows my name because i've never actually won.