Start with... ANYTHING online (Score 1)

I'd say their first step might have been to actually make some sort of presence online in the first place! I remember having discussions at the GDC [www.gdconf.com] with a guy from Nintendo who said they had a modem for the 'Cube ready to go, but weren't likely to release it unless "they needed to".

Bottom line is why patent something you don't even seem intent to use (yet, I guess.) I know, I know... forward thinking and all that, but this is not a company known for their strides in online goodies, from what I recall.