No, it IS perfectly fair to say Nintendo has not been proactive about online stuff.

When Wii and DS owners don't have to trade ICQ numbers to establish per-game friends lists? Then it'll be unfair.
When Wiiware and DSiWare games aren't a running gag on the Bombcast because they're nothing but shovelware? Then it'll be unfair.
When you make headline games that offer more functionality than what is required by most Xbox Live Arcade games, and instead can be reasonably compared to World of Warcraft (Pokemon MMO?), Halo (Metroid Prime?), Diablo (Zelda dungeon crawler?), or S. Street Fighter 4 (Smash Bros)? Then it'll be unfair.
When you fix all of the other little things like poor matchmaking, non-standard and non-game-agnostic online functionality (see: X360 dashboard/in-game XMB), a lack of WPA functionality in the wi-fi selection, and so on? Then it'll be unfair.
When the people playing games online is more than one-tenth of each of your competitors? Then it'll be unfair.

Until then, don't even try and say you have a good online position. Don't even THINK it.

Wow David. You took the words right out of my mouth.

I agree with all of Crooks points. Even though, I've always been under the impression Wii set themselves up to be more the "Come to my house to play a 4-player game" due to there heavy focus on those type of party games. Even with the wonky online system, I think all the measures was to keep Wii somewhat censored for the average player (which is something I doubt he'd say to avoid labeling their audience)

@David:

"a lack of WPA functionality in the wi-fi selection, and so on? Then it'll be unfair."

I connect to my WPA2 secured wireless network just fine with my Wii. When was the last time you connected your Wii to a router?

"When you make headline games that offer more functionality than what is required by most Xbox Live Arcade games, and instead can be reasonably compared to World of Warcraft (Pokemon MMO?), Halo (Metroid Prime?), Diablo (Zelda dungeon crawler?), or S. Street Fighter 4 (Smash Bros)? Then it'll be unfair."

This statement confuses me. You start off complaining about the lack of in depth games and start listing several that are quite comparable to games on other consoles. The only one that doesn't exist is the Pokemon MMO you listed, which makes no since considering the 360 and PS3 still lack an actual MMO outside Final Fantasy 11.

It seems you wanted to complain about Wii Sports and Wii Play, but got confused in your blind rage.

Personally, I feel that the only thing that is really lacking for the Wii online is online Multiplayer. That seems to be the biggest complaint from 360 and PS3 owners. I couldn't care less that the Wii is not as robust in that effect as I prefer to play games with people in the same room with me over those on another home, city, state, country.

As for their good position for online, they have more games available for download than the PS3 and the 360 (if you take out the indie games). That is all that really matters to me as I don't like playing with people who are not in the same room as me.

"I connect to my WPA2 secured wireless network just fine with my Wii. When was the last time you connected your Wii to a router?"
It's a problem on the DS. I think the Wii is fine in that regard.

"This statement confuses me. You start off complaining about the lack of in depth games and start listing several that are quite comparable to games on other consoles."
The comparisons are being made from the standpoint of purely online featureset and execution of those features. Nintendo has not developed an online product that has the same kind of massive persistence of an MMO, or has the same quality of matchmaking and social interaction as Halo, or SSF4, or many other modern products on XBL, PSN, and PC. (Although, I should probably have swapped out Diablo with a better comparison, in hindsight, as that game is showing its age)

@David Crooks - WORD.

@David,

Okay, that all makes more sense now. Thank You.

Now the question remains, is it Nintendo's responsibility to create all those games with those kind of online interactions?

From what I hear, Capcom and Square are doing some pretty good online games but mostly in the RPG department. But those are still game specific and you are probably looking for a more universal solution like Live.

" Now the question remains, is it Nintendo's responsibility to create all those games with those kind of online interactions?"

It's not, but they can't complain about not being seen as "proactive" in online gaming with out, you know, putting in some effort.

@Ephraim

I'd argue that it is their responsibility. Lead by example and the examples (from Nintendo) are few and far and frankly poorly implemented. If you don't have that much faith/support in your own system's functionality how can you expect the same of others?

When oh when will the spin and denial end...

I love Super Smash Bros. Honestly, one of my favorite games ever. With Melee, it was the dawning on the online era, Ps2 was just getting there online functionality working, and soon after Xbox appeared with Live and Halo, and Xbox and Ps2 took over online.
The Gamecube has one game that was online in all that, Phantasy Star Universe. Not bad, because at the time you could play I think 6 player online total, with 2-4 player split screen (I think, cant remember, didnt want to care after there was really no online play). I, like every other Cube owner, didnt buy the ethernet attachment or the keyboard controller, cuz it was pointless.
Now, back to Smash Bros, I bought a Wii, because I was bored of Xbox for a couple month span, and bought a Wii specifically for Smash Bros, because 1. I was excited for online play, and possible ranking online, and 2. Sonic is the bomb.
Well, 1 year later, and I have yet to play one online match in Brawl. Nintendo dosent have a online network, and the Virtual Console dosent count, its just all games port from NES, Super NES, and SOME N64 games, Zelda included obviously.
@Knight
You are a old school gamer. I dont mind playing with people in the same room, but all I had at one point was a 26" flat screen at one point, and that was pretty hard with 2 player split screen. Also, if someone brought a xbox over with a Tv, my online connection went through the floor everytime, and didnt help the cause. Sometimes playing alone is just easier and funnier, for yourself, selfishly saying.
Nintendo dosent have a online network, and no matchmaking in any games, on top of no support for hardly any games, and the games that do have online support, the support dosent work.
Nintendo needs to actually do something, because to me, they just seem like a bunch of stoners just sitting on the couch while everyone else is busying making games and making a better online experience then Nintendo seems to think it has.
Miyamoto, your my idol, but come on, shut your mouth.

To echo most others here, Crooks nailed it.

My complaint with the Wii and DS online functionality is the lack of a good, uniform interface. Trading Friend Codes is unwieldy. Inability to have voice chat greatly detracts from my desire to use it as well (and no, Wii Speak does not count). When I played Brawl online with friends, we had to have laptops next to use to use skype while we traded friend codes to play a game together. Not an ideal set up to say the least.

I have a feeling that Nintendo knows exactly what they are doing...

Being proactive doesn't mean doing everything that someone else is doing and not doing anything on your own. Being proactive also doesn't mean that people won't have complaints about certain features or lack of features. He didn't say "we have the best leaderboards" or something, so it doesn't make sense to try and contradict him by pointing out Xbox Live's matchmaking, etc. If a company is thinking ahead and acting accordingly in some area, then they are being proactive in that area regardless of where their competitors are at in different areas.

Nintendo pulled off some very impressive hardware engineering to get the Wii Connect 24 service always online, without generating enough heat to force the fan on and without sucking too much power. This always on connection is the service Miyamoto refers to in the article, and Nintendo is using it, and the other systems don't have it, so yes, they can say they've been proactive with online technology. He then says straight up that he feels Nintendo hasn't been proactive with "online activities such as MMOs." So trying to contradict him by complaining that there isn't a "pokemon MMO" is senseless.
For comparison, Xbox 360 at $150+ more than the Wii didn't even come with Wi-Fi in the box. Compared to Nintendo's online hardware, you could easily say Microsoft was not proactive. Except perhaps being proactive about screwing you out of an additional $90 to get a wireless connection. The Xbox Live system was proactive software, but that doesn't mean that Nintendo wasn't proactive with their online tech. I think you've confused the meaning of the word, and are now comparing features in a separate context.

Why should Nintendo care? When mothers buy Wii Sports Resort for their overweight child hoping it's a substitute for exercise, I don't think online functionality is a big concern to them.

I agree with Jed on that, to most of the games that Wii has, online functionality dosent matter at all.
Also, dont compare Xbox with Wii, first of all there two completely different consoles. Ones HD, others not, one has a hard drive, the other uses SD cards. One has a huge online network, the other dosent. One has really really really horrible motion controllers, the other is just getting motion controls, that hopefully dont suck. Also, yeah the Wii has wireless, but personally, wireless sucks. I will take a hardline any day over the horrible inconsistency of wireless. Thats why some kids drag down the online experience on xbox with the stupid wireless that just dosent want to work.
Nintendo has great ideas, but they are just sitting on those ideas, no doing anything about it.

Holy crap Jed, stereotype much? That's a DUMB comment and you agree with it Lombardi?

Miyamoto is pure genius IMO. That being said, many of us in the game space have seen Nintendo's aversion to the internet for quite some time. I think it’s partly fear of losing customers outside of their proprietary stronghold, but mostly a fear of exposing their customers (younger kids) to the internet. I have heard many times that Nintendo viewed the internet as a big sea of potential children predators. Not sure what their stance is now, but they clearly need to step up big to change this part of their culture or Sony may take the next round.

Well Chris I didn't want to state the more obvious "It has Zelda so people will buy it regardless" stereotype.

I play Phantasy Star Zero on my DS, connect to my wifi router, get excellent matchmaking with random players from all over the world, use the pictochat functionality to communicate with them (yes, it's not as good as actual voice chat) and can rate and save those players to connect with them in the future. And all without having a 12 year old kid screaming at me that I am a black homosexual (in far more vulgar words)!

Nintendo has the infrastructure and the goods, it's up to the developers to make use of them which is just not happening. If anything, I would agree with Carlo that Nintendo needs to lead by example in this regard, but there's nothing stopping developers from taking the reins...

I've been a Nintendo fan my whole life, and even I have to admit that their online is kind of lame compared to other systems. Then again I very rarely use online for my consoles (own a Wii and 360 at my house, play PS3 at my friend's house)

However, while I'm not a big fan of playing online, I will say that each of the consoles has their pros and cons when it comes to the online experience. The Wii has great downloadable service (Virtual Console) and online multiplayer is fun on the when it isn't chugging or it requires friend codes( which is rare). The 360 has excellent online capabilities, but quite frankly charging money for something that is usually free is pointless. The PS3 tends to have both free online multiplayer and decent downloadable service, but it tends to crash quite a bit and very few people are on (of course both of these instances are from my personal experience).

Guess the point I'm trying to make is that while I am disappointed with Nintendo's online support, I wouldn't call it terrible, since it does have some good points. But then again, I see online support as a luxury, not a necessity.

Something fun to try: read all of David Crook's posts with the voice of "Comic Book Guy" from the Simpsons in your head.

Nintendo has always been the most conservative company in gaming and without doubt their,cough,online
is atrocious. When i want metroid,mario or zelda i play the nintendo gear but when i'm online it's either psn or live and the news / weather don't count as online gaming.

Then again they did say online was a fad....it will pass though i can only say pass them by while they're eating their pixels.

With the DS having wireless built in for DS to DS gaming, the DSi having more connectivity capabilities, and the Wii having built in WiFi, Nintendo has taken some critical steps in making their machines online capable.

But the software end is extremely lacking to the point where it is, for lack of a better word, unfocused.

2010 is a different era than 2006, the year the Wii launched. Social online games on the PC are a massive hit, Apple has had incredible success with the iStore, and Microsoft has polished the online console experience to be more social than ever (Party mode is the best thing to happen to online console gaming).

Has Nintendo made any progress since 2006? Even Sony, a company playing catchup in this regard, as made incredible strides during that period. I do think Nintendo is trying, but things have been progressing at a slow pace.

When I try to answer the above question though, I realize that the allegation that Nintendo has not been proactive has a lot of merit. Sony, Valve, Apple, and MS have done a lot in the last 4 years...Nintendo's progress in comparison is nearly insignificant.

I think it would be a waste of Nintendo's resources to try to do something similar to XBox Live's online multiplayer. Microsoft can simply do online multiplayer services better than their competitors, while Nintendo has other strengths. For example the Virtual Console focuses on Nintendo's strengths. Microsoft and Sony don't really have the quality (or quantity) of classic titles that Nintendo has. The main fault I have for Nintendo's online plan is a lack of a hard drive on the Wii. If the Wii had more built-in memory storage, then that would improve their Virtual Console service.

Overall I'd say they've been fairly proactive in the online realm though. They simply have a different approach from their competitors.