PixlBit

So Before the last day of BaD I figured I'd take the time to point out that the Wii is now officially a dead system (Well duh I knew that!" You're probably thinking).  But despite some rumors Nintendo still has the wi-fi  kicking...until now. Nintendo is pulling the plug on Nintendo Wi-Fi for Japan on both the DS and Wii. Now this will have some significance because it will more than likely hit worldwide as well. But what exactly does this mean?

This DOES NOT affect the Wii or DS shops.

Other services unaffected are:

-DS(i) Browser
-Netflix (Wii)
-Hulu (Wii)
-Youtube (Wii)
-Internet Channel (Wii) 
-Paid services

However, it does mean that anything requiring a Nintendo Wi-Fi connection will be rendered unplayable online. On May, 20, 2014 (My birthday ironically) wi-fi will be kaput on games like Smash, Mario Kart Wii, etc. and all just in time for the wii u releases of Mario Kart and smash bros. u later down the road (Convenient timing heh!?) You could see this one of two ways. 

1) Nintendo is trying to get people to adopt the wii u

2) Nintendo feels it's time to kill off its old systems.

Now I'm mixed on this because it seems rather odd. I mean the Wii U is backwards compatible with Wii games...so why kill off the wi-fi? If we go by system adoption this really doesn't make sense. Are there really so many jaded gamers who feel that it's needed to fight tooth and nail to keep their Wiis functional? Don't get me wrong there are so many benefits to the wii. If you still have an early model wii you have complete backwards compatibility with almost any Gamecube game. Then there is the expansive virtual console/wiiware line up which is much larger than wii u's, all those great wii games, and if you're a fan of japan only games or Smash Project...you may have a modified wii to some degree. But how does killing wi-fi connection to every game that features it help?

Now it's fine if you want to kill off a dead system. Nintendo does this quite often. When the N64 came-SNES phased out, Gamecube came-N64 phased out, Wi came-N64 phased out. And it's the same with handhelds. Heck even some titles that were supposed to be Gamecube games like Donkey Kong Barrel Blast and Super Paper Mario became wii games or Animal Crossing was originally an N64 game before heading to the Gamecube.

So yes go ahead and grant the Wii a merciful death, but you don't have to shut off wi-fi to do it. Maybe Nintendo feels that they do. And maybe I just can't see the reasoning. And in all honesty I'm not sure how it can work. I know it will affect every game which I find baffling. I mean there are still people who play Pokemon: Black & White 1 & 2 and essentially you screw the gamers over who have a 1-3 year old game...It just doesn't make sense. It forces players in a situation that not many will be happy with, especially if it does happen to go global. Right now it's Japan only, but it's only a matter of time. So what are your thoughts on this? I honestly find it perplexing, but there may be no middle ground. Does killing Nintendo Wi-Fi hurt or help Nintendo? All comments and feedback are appreciated.