Browsing around the web today I saw that IGN had recently posted a looksy at the online play for Smash Bros. Obviously interested I read through it and came away even more hyped for its release in early March. A few weeks ago Nintendo released some footage of their Tokyo and Kyoto offices battling each other via the online play. Needless to say that everything was practically lag-free and rendered incredibly smoothly. IGN's offices also recently took to Wii-motes battling their Los Angeles and San Fransisco offices after getting their hands on the import copy. Even being a considerable distance further apart than the Japanese offices, the online play remained seamless between the American firms.

Connecting and dueling your friends requires that you exchange your friend codes, not your Wii system number like some people had assumed. Unfortunately the game doesn't support voice interaction from headsets, but you can send text one-liners via the traditional D-pad + A Button. Also, you can apparently be a spectator to matches and bet on fighters with coins that you collect throughout your fights. The game seems to run very nicely on one shared connection (with IGN's sexy connection speed though). However, how will it hold up on the average American household connection? We're shaking with excitement for its release. Max and I will be sure to give your our opinions when we give the full review shortly after it hits store shelves early next month.

Source: IGN: Smash Bros. Brawl: Connecting Online