Unfortunetly, I don't think that it matters that you, personally, don't mind talking to strangers. What matters are parents. It's a family friendly machine after all. What do you think those friend codes are all about. IGN did predict something about a headset coming to the Wii, one that would let parents listen to what was being said, as in sound coming through the TV. But that's more wishful thinking than any real news.

And no, I don't see any chance for Brawl having voice chat. They already have a way to communicate, its just lame.

Arc2012

The whole point is, you can go into the settings and control the highest game rating that is allowed to play on the machine so a kid can't play a mature game, so why can't there be a ranking system that allows a certain level of online play? No chat, friend chat only, or open chat. Nintendo trusts the parents to regulate the content of game played on machine, so why not accessibility in online experience?

You'll never end the fanboys bashing Live... Most of which probably never even played on it. The fact remains that Live is the best online service you can get on a console. Argue if you will but the feature set and options ARE NOT equal to anything on the PS3 or wii. Now, if you still don't feel the need to purchase Live, THEN DON'T!!! Simple... But don't start up a ***** storm because you don't agree w/ M$'s buisness practices.. OhSnapitz

It's not even Microsoft's business practices. Its ANY sane business's practices. You are in business to make money. Period. They have not changed that since the launch of live. And, I could point out, that the price has not increased, even though the feautures have. I have been on since the beginning, and it kicks serious butt compared to what it was in it's infancy.

Most of the people crying about it already are paying for it...so my first point is...you need to cancel your account RIGHT NOW and submit your reason of cancellation to Microsoft as too high of a price. Otherwise, you sound like a complete fool, because as long as you are paying for it, why should they stop?

Think about it like the gas prices. Everyone is capable of riding a bike, riding a bus, or carpooling. They could have "boycotted" gas in a sense by using it less...but did they? No, so prices still go up. Pretty cut and dry to me.

Secondly, I look at it like the Bungie map pricing. Now, I know Bungie says they don't have control over the final price, but they have never said they would do it for free. Anything they do beyond the original projects timing, and funds, still has to be paid for somehow. Everyone lives in fantasy land and thinks that developers are going to sit for an extended amount of time AFTER the initial product launch, and work for free to bring you new maps that are quality, or anything at all. As a business owner, one that wants to stay in business anyways, you have to step back and think, is it healthy for my business to let my staff work for free and deliver new product, all the while not charging, cause most of the little girls and boys don't like that? Please.

Thirdly, look at the Wii Online, and PSN. Blech. There is a reason. No income into that department, means less resources and focus on the end product. And you end up with something that isn't anywhere near Live in quality or depth.

At what point does a business just start giving a service away for free that they have been charging for the whole time? Would you start a business and start giving things away just to maintain an image? I promise the image you want won't be the one you end up with if you do things like that.

Free Xbox Live isn't going to make my mom and dad play just because there is no price attached anymore than giving me free tickets to a movie is going to get me there unless I want to be there. Gamers will pay for it, they still are, the numbers don't lie, and it should continue like that. If you don't like it, take a break from your incredibly exciting lives of making imprints in your couch cushions and go mow a couple of lawns. It really isn't that much.

What is the best game to play online vs on the ds? Graphics, lag, fun.....

Im sure people will have 2 or 3 choices, but ultimately, if you had to pick one.....