As you now know, Nintendo is shutting down Wii/DS online game servers in the not-too-distant future. Seems that a few people are bugged by this, as a petition to keep the servers online has started. You can join in on the petition right here if you feel compelled to do so.

This talk brings up an interesting idea as to why these games are being taken online. Some people are finding that the service ending might have something to do with GameSpy being purchased by GLU Mobile back in Aug. 2012. GameSpy provided middleware for Wii/DS games when it came to online. Multiple games have seen their online services yanked due to the GameSpy issue, and while it's taken awhile for Wii/DS games to see this service ending, that might have something to do with Nintendo's own contracts. Whatever the reasoning, we know for sure that service is ending.

Thanks to krzysio87 and Peenbbb2 for the heads up!