Rumor: Wiimote with mic, VoIP support
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ May 24th 2006 at 4:55PM }
Nintendo has hinted that there are still Wii functions that have yet to be revealed. One of the latest rumors suggests that one of these functions is built-in microphone support.We know that the Wiimote houses a speaker, but what if the controller also contains a microphone? And if that should be the case, could the Wiimote also double as a VoIP-supported communication device? Sure. Throw in a voice-activated phonebook and we're talkin' universal functionality (i.e. an incentive for "non-gamers" to buy in).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SLy @ May 24th 2006 5:00PM
That makes sense. Iwata, make it happen!
Silent_shadow900 @ May 24th 2006 5:00PM
That guy has nice polygons.
Unappreciated @ May 24th 2006 5:02PM
You guys are pricks, Joystiq. I sent this in yesterday morning and you're just now publishing it? With no thanks to the contributor? I practically did the write-up for you!
Thanks for nothing.
jabbertrack @ May 24th 2006 5:06PM
not bloody likely is what I would call this one
chapu @ May 24th 2006 5:07PM
haha! Pricks
Vik @ May 24th 2006 5:07PM
Sorry, that attached image just made my day - seriously.
epobirs @ May 24th 2006 5:08PM
Sounds a bit awkward if the intent is to offer voice chat within games. A combination between a bad speakerphone and trying to make what someone is saying while they have their hand partially obscuring the mic.
It could be OK for pure VOIP use but that is something PC users already have ready access to and not very meaningful if it doesn't factor into the games. So I think we'll be seeing a Wii headset that plugs into the Wii-mote accessory slot with a passthrough for other accessories. A wireless headset would involve less cable management but would also be much costlier since it would need its own transceiver and power supply instead of using the one in the Wii-mote.
James @ May 24th 2006 5:08PM
That would be immense. The Wii is already said to stay connected to the internet whilst in standby, and this could be the next step. The Wii turns on to accept calls.
The Wii with built in Wifi is sounding better and better
Andy J @ May 24th 2006 5:08PM
A speaker is a microphone. If you plugin your headphones into a Mic Line In, you can speak into the speaker to record your voice. It sounds crazy but true. Granted, its not going to be the best quality. Depending on the quality of the speaker inside the Wii remote, it might actually be possible.
jon @ May 24th 2006 5:09PM
Um that's rediculous. Nintendo is catering to the non hardcore...yet it would include a phone??? Um...no. They aren't going to complicate their product by throwing in telecommunications in.
Just not going to happen.
Jay @ May 24th 2006 5:10PM
Frankly you'd be stupid not to believe this. Nintendo is after the non-gamer. It will have this, internet browser and all them other nice stuff.
dredub @ May 24th 2006 5:12PM
Now, to be fair, shouldn't this thread get takenover by a bunch of "OMG,I just want to play games!!!" posts like the PS3 gets everytime something other than its video game functionality is brought up? or is it cool because nintendo might do it?
nintendo fan @ May 24th 2006 5:14PM
It will be crazy awesome if this is true.
Justin @ May 24th 2006 5:14PM
OMG THIS IS AWESOME. People are going to be talking to their Wii's. Think about having phone sex w/one of the girls on one of those 1-800/900 numbers while she is playing w/the wii-mote like a vibrator! You could hear it all!
!!M @ May 24th 2006 5:14PM
just think of a nintendo phone network. DS's already have mics and speakers. they could be the cell phone to the wii's landline.
not extremely likely, but cool thought.
jV @ May 24th 2006 5:15PM
Todd Bridges is using his Wiimote to call his parole officer. Hot.
Erzengel360 @ May 24th 2006 5:17PM
I that is true, i am the first who will pick one from the shelves, i swear. Maybe a hint cause they said it will be always online? Thats a must for VOIP! I think this could be true! I'm a future WiiXbox user!
Colin @ May 24th 2006 5:21PM
God these Wii rumor articles are boring. At least we aren't having anymore of those Wii interface rumor articles.
But still, whatsup joystiq? Tired of running 'The P$3 are t00 expensive!!!!! articles? I'm not sure if I've seen your mandatory 8 articles about it today.
-Colin
DocEvil @ May 24th 2006 5:22PM
Hope you like the squeal of feedback cause that's all you would hear in such a set-up. There is cancellation technology available for such set-ups but now we are straying a little far away from Nintendo's low cost mantra.
Now, it's more likely that the mic wouldn't be used in a two-way communication set-up at all, instead you use it to issue voice commands in-game which would further enhance the breadth and variation of usage for the controller... to be honest though, I would prefer a bluetooth headset that could be used for either VoIP or voice command but that would also be more expensive than I think Nintendo wants to go 'out of the box'.
Jon @ May 24th 2006 5:26PM
"You guys are pricks, Joystiq. I sent this in yesterday morning and you're just now publishing it? With no thanks to the contributor? I practically did the write-up for you!
Thanks for nothing."
Check the Read link under the article- they got this from somewhere else.
Paul Severus @ May 24th 2006 5:27PM
Eternal Gaming has had this up for a few days now and they point
directly to the source where this all began. You can view the source
at n-dimension.blogspot.com (spanish so might want to translate it) You can
also view Eternal Gaming's post on it Here http://www.eternalgaming.com/news/2598
digitalFrequency @ May 24th 2006 5:28PM
It'd be an interesting addition. If they want to go gung-ho with a good online service, they gotta have voice communication. They have that for the Nintendo DS (Metroid Prime Hunters) I think. It would be much less of a hassle than having a wireless headset or a wired one at that. The mic could be sensitive enough it'll reach the Wii-mote while you're owning some lad across the nation in I dunno Smash Brothers Brawl? Hoepfully the speaker on the Wii-mote is loud enough to hear others too.
How pimp would it be though? Receive a VoIP call and yer Wii-mote starts ringin' that good ol' Mario Brothers tune. Pick it up, press the trigger to accept and bam. Expand your VoIP base by having other Wii-motes. I'd get myself the Mario Brothers Castle ring tone just for telemarketers.
I don't know as far as having the Wii being a VoIP phone, but for gaming online, I wouldn't be surprised if the mic was implemented in the Wii-mote.
MC Hampster @ May 24th 2006 5:32PM
Nintendo has already stated emphatically that they are a gaming company. Yes, there will probably be some sort of VOIP for gaming, like with Xbox Live and Metroid Prime: Hunters on the DS, but a seperate, dedicated VOIP solution? Possibly, but not likely.
Where is our PDA functionality in the DS? Seems like a perfect, natural fit? Sure, but Nintendo hasn't done it yet. Yes, they're offering Opera on the DS, but that's a few years after the DS had been out. And yes, it will hopefully come with the Wii, but I have a feeling the real reason the Wii is going to have Opera is that it will be the main interface for the virtual console.
Fact is: Nintendo is a gaming company, and for the most part, that's what they stick to. While this sounds completely awesome (think Skype Wii), I just don't see it happening. At least, not at launch. It just doesn't seem Nintendo style.
Paul P. @ May 24th 2006 5:47PM
I doubt a dedicated VoIP, but I would quite frankly be surprised if the Wii did not have a microphone in it, considering how many of their own games lately are using microphone functionality.
Also, karaoke without need for a peripheral!
I could see Nintendo leaving you voice notes however, and you registering your information in the Wii remote. "Hello Paul, we here at Nintendo want to thank you for buying Super Mario Galaxy. As a gift to you we have given you 300 star points for the virtual console!"
"Hi Paul, we noticed you own Metroid Prime 3. We thought you might be interested to know that Super Metroid is now on sale on the virtual console for a discounted 50 star points. Have a nice day!"
"Hi Paul, this is Tom Nook. I noticed you haven't been to town recently. You haven't been paying me on your house, either. I need that money, Paul!"
Gabriel Asseily @ May 24th 2006 5:48PM
Ah yes this just begs for it!
-"Hi Honey, I am calling you using my wii!"
-"Oh grow up darling!"
-"No! Seriously I am using my wii to call you!"
-"Ok well go play with your wii then."
Oh endless nights of fun before even owning one! I love you Nintendo. You were right, hours of fun for less money! :-)
Seriously though, that would be super cool to have VOIP as well as the other rumour of a possible web cam. Now if they get a game that involves Karaoke, Guitar Hero, Bongos and the Cha Cha controllers (Dreamcast Samba de Amigo) you can get CLASH OF THE BANDS :-)
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
I highly doubt that VOIP will be an option. Probably a multiplayer experience form of communication. It would be too difficult to set up the VOIP a la skype. Think about the software logistics as well as network logistics. It is a whole new world of admin that Nintendo do not need.
exo @ May 24th 2006 5:53PM
@ #11
why would anyone be saying that, this is a function that can be used for gameing.
its not hd movie support, or useing your ds for a rear view mirror. those are useless things the playstation 3 has
Marc @ May 24th 2006 6:13PM
If a microphone is in the controller, i'm not thinking about voice chating. Although a good idea for the microphone would be a Nintendogs game for the Wii.
Oh and Justin,
don't say that, children read this site. Show some decency.
32_Footsteps @ May 24th 2006 6:35PM
Is it wrong that my first thought upon seeing this post was someone sidetalking on a Wiimote?
In some ways, this doesn't surprise me, actually. Don't forget that the original Famicom first controller could accept sound input, although not very well. Maybe Nintendo thinks technology has advanced enough that they could make it work this time.
Though it would have to have a speaker in the Wiimote to work like a phone. But actually, I'd get a kick out of a controller with a built-in speaker, especially if they incorporated game functions into it. Face it, rumble is either annoying or pointless. But if your controller made sounds to add to the game's music? I could see alot of uses for that.
Stu L Tissimus @ May 24th 2006 6:53PM
Good god, Joystiq. I'm fine with rumors, but not completely stupid ones.
Want proof? For some ungodly reason, Nintendo is staying with the current implementation of WFC for Wii. That means that we'll have different, clunky Friend Codes for each different game. If we had VoIP, that would mean that all Wii consoles would have a certain address, yes? If that were the case, then it would completely defeat the purpose of the Friend Codes (which are pretty dumb anyway).
Brad @ May 24th 2006 7:18PM
Hey 32 foots, the Wii actually does have speakers built into the remotes, they were revealed at E3. See the rows of dots on the remote in the pic? Thar they be.
Andir @ May 24th 2006 7:59PM
"...those Wii interface rumor articles"
So no Wii-dildo?
the_game_master @ May 24th 2006 9:04PM
I think the VOIP sort of over does it, especially since we seen companies tank over this service in the past (PhoneFree.com, DialPad, etc.) Nintendo is not going to offer that to the Wii, but as I wrote in the last Wii post about a possible built in microphone alone with the speaker in the remote. I can see that possible for voice-command internet access. Imagine being able to speak into the controller and say "w..w..w...dot...joystiq...dot...com" and the Wii voice-command software will be able to interpret your words and type it into the Opera browser. Ah pretty neat feature dont you think?
Big Ed @ May 24th 2006 9:36PM
Joystiq, Nintendo wouldn't really think of putting such a thing in online multiplayer. The Wii was made for everyone to get into. I don't think little tommy's parents would like it if he was cussed out while playing SSB Brawl. Think of the children! Dear God, think of the children!!!
epobirs @ May 24th 2006 10:18PM
I believe that was a headphone jack on the Famicom controller. The functionality was in the NES and a few third party controllers had it. The 3DO also had it. It was a good way to keep the peace for gamers living in small apartments.
This Wiki article ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Famicom_accessories ) says there was a mic on the 2nd player controller but doesn't offer much detail. I've only seen the later Twin Famicom (we had an Australian one for testing NES PAL material coming from an Aussie contractor) and it's controller for that far back, and that may have been different. It's certainly easier to see use for headphones than a mic in common game playing.
Tom Bennett @ May 25th 2006 12:05AM
Now the "quick release" button on the retro controller really makes sense. While I was at E3, I noted the top of the controller has a button, which, when pushed, moved three prongs on the backside up. I originally thought it could be a headset attachment, and this only strengthens that idea. Free wifi for Wii and DS-users, sounds pretty awesome, eh?
idioteraser @ May 25th 2006 12:32AM
The second controller mic was used in Dragon Quest. You would chant and it would do certain in game things.
It wasn't in the US version obviously but it was how you defeated certain enemies.
As for VOIP companies failing well that was pretty much a giving since the only way to make use of it was to have the other people you wanted to talk to have a computer and that software. But if you had it you could make long distance international calls for free. The other person had to be on the computer and have the software running though.
Quite a number of games have a VOIP deal under certain ingame conditions. Convoy chat in Auto Assault for example. You press and hold the . on the numpad and then release to have it transmit.
Since Nintendo has said they are still using friends codes for certain functions they are avoiding the nastiness of xbox live in which certain people do highly illicit things.
Friends codes reduce the chance of that drastically and well if someone does do something they could be tracked down fairly easily due to their friends code.
Random matchmaking well you don't really need voice chat.
VOIP came late to the DS because they needed to work on the tech same with the webbrowser.
They admit why those things came late.
neale @ May 25th 2006 1:18AM
i said this in some topic before e3. and no one even acknoledged it
neale @ May 25th 2006 1:20AM
infact, i realised when it was. it was about the wii never switching off, and constantly being on. i said this was why
wichenroder @ May 25th 2006 6:36AM
A speaker is a microphone.
duerra @ May 25th 2006 7:55AM
A microphone? Possibly, maybe even likely.
VOIP support? Notta chance, unless it is developed by a 3rd party. But it won't come as a standard feature.
Dave C @ May 25th 2006 7:56AM
With the always-on internet access that Nintendo is touting for the Wii and also their 'It's about gaming, stupid' philosphy for games consoles I wouldn't be suprised if they implement an exclusively inter-Wii voip service with the main point of it being so you can ring your mate from your Wii to his and say 'Dude, you up for some SSB: Brawl action?' to which he'll reply 'Shizzle'.
That would be brilliant and prevent the need to phone/text my mate before a wifi game (a la Mario Kart DS) to set it up. This becomes part of the process of playing a multiplayer game and it a little annoying. This way nintendo can give us voip (which people would obviously use for more than the use I stated above) but still not deviate from their core gaming-centric policy as its purpose is to keep the gaming experience from start to finish all inside the pretty white box next to your TV.
Merus @ May 25th 2006 8:52AM
If there isn't a microphone, one will have to be added at some point. Developers are probably going to get the idea of natural interfaces eventually, and it's then that they're going to want player sound as part of it.
thrillho @ May 25th 2006 9:06AM
24. I doubt a dedicated VoIP, but I would quite frankly be surprised if the Wii did not have a microphone in it, considering how many of their own games lately are using microphone functionality.
Also, karaoke without need for a peripheral!
I could see Nintendo leaving you voice notes however, and you registering your information in the Wii remote. "Hello Paul, we here at Nintendo want to thank you for buying Super Mario Galaxy. As a gift to you we have given you 300 star points for the virtual console!"
"Hi Paul, we noticed you own Metroid Prime 3. We thought you might be interested to know that Super Metroid is now on sale on the virtual console for a discounted 50 star points. Have a nice day!"
Maybe its the geek in me, but i hope they refer to the price of games in stars or coins. ex. super mario brothers will be 2 coins (dollars).
Cloud @ May 25th 2006 10:40AM
I swear if George Forman gets his hands on the Wiimote.... Something delicious might happen :3
anders @ May 25th 2006 11:24AM
So, nobady played singstar? What about a singstar-ish minigame inside another game? To me, this all shounds great! and since there are loudspeaker-phones, and even loudspeaker-mobile-phones, the technology exists and is cheep and used every day!
Microphone is a speaker is true, but why not have two? Also, a cheep mp3 converter chip also exists, so the sound could be compressed inside the controller, now 10kbit per sec is no problem...
Ryan @ May 25th 2006 11:30AM
The existance of the friend code system and it's use on the Wii could really work well with VOIP.
Additionally, each person in the family having their own remote would further help.
Here's a possible scenerio..
Bob and Sally met each other at work, and Sally found out that Bob likes to play with his Wii. Bob finds out that Sally has a Wii too. (ok.. more seriously now..)
They exchange friend codes for Animal Crossing.
At Bob's house he has a roommate. Bob and the roommate each have remotes. When Sally calls Bob via VOIP on the Wii, his remote rings with a Animal Crossing ring. He then knows it's one of his Animal Crossing friends, and he's in the mood to play so he answers.
His roommate on the other hand likes to play Metroid Prime, so likewise when a person on his Metroid Prime friend list calls the remote rings with a Metroid Prime sound.
paully @ May 25th 2006 12:55PM
The remote is Bluetooth just like many headsets for cell phones so this is possible. If true, it would probably only allow you to "call" other Wii's, which makes sense as the Wii will be on 24/7. I guess the Wii name makes more sense now, as Nintendo seems to be pushing more community-driven interactivity.
Barly @ May 25th 2006 1:43PM
I'm pretty sure Scott Davey over at elitebastards.com predicted this two months ago...
http://www.elitebastards.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=29&limit=1&limitstart=2
Pedro @ May 25th 2006 3:12PM
It also has a vibrating dildo in the shape of mario.
Dave @ May 25th 2006 3:56PM
I don't think it will happen, consider Nintendo's track record. They are always strongly against multifuncional peripheral heavy consoles, and adding VoiP would bring on a lot of baggage. The microphone might be nice, and so would an eyetoy type accesory. Even better yet would be for Konami to announce a padless DDR which utilized two wii-motes strapped to your ankles...