Wii's final secret? Reggie opens mystery flap

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jun 26th 2006 at 12:25PM }

Speaking with Game Informer, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime has reconfirmed that Wii will use SD cards to store data and indirectly denounced rumors that the mysterious flap conceals Wii's 'last big secret.'

When questioned about the flap, Reggie responded, "That is where an SD card goes ... And on top are the attachments for the GameCube controllers." However, Reggie did hint that SD cards wouldn't be the only compatible memory option. "It will be one of the memory mediums, and it's the only one that we've announced," he cryptically told GI. Does Nintendo stil have an ace up its sleeve?

Tags: Game Informer, GameInformer, SD card, SdCard

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

x876543 @ Jun 26th 2006 12:28PM

Not really a secret, they will support GameCube games so I'm guessing you can use GameCube Memory cards on it too.

Ethan @ Jun 26th 2006 12:30PM

That would be funny if they had a slot for sony mem stick pro duos. HA sony rules. no seriously PS3 does rule.

Slash @ Jun 26th 2006 12:30PM

It seems, with Nintendo, the more we find out about the Wii.
we find even more we dont know!

jc @ Jun 26th 2006 12:30PM

"Does Nintendo stil have an ace up its sleeve?"

yes, price...

Kendrick @ Jun 26th 2006 12:31PM

No way. I don't want to contribute any money to the use of DRM technologies that I disagree with. This includes the unimplemented data header information that goes on every Secure Digital card. I really hope that there's a version of the Wii that doesn't feature the SD slot, or that the slot is backward-compatible with MMC cards.

Felix Andrews @ Jun 26th 2006 12:34PM

Didn't Iwata state that Wii would be able to utilise external hard-drives via its two USB ports at the rear? I'm sure I saw something along those lines...

mnugghuhx @ Jun 26th 2006 12:39PM

Will the Wii have an SD size limit. For example, my 4GB SD card is only compatible with some devices, yet my 1GB SD card is compatible with everything. Will my 4GB work w/ the Wii?

TheMayor87 @ Jun 26th 2006 12:41PM

@#5
hello fellow DRM fearing person. don't fret, as you'll be able to save to your USB flashdrives/external hard drives as well. if you really wanted to, you could probably even hook in a usb MMC adapter. either way, you're covered.

Ethan @ Jun 26th 2006 12:45PM

Do you nintendo fanboys realise that all thins is saying is "you will not get any memory included in the purchase of your console, in order to save any of the ancient, graphically inferior $5 games on your virtual console, that we didn't have to remake or do anything to, or put any extra work into, you will have to buy multiple $100.00 memory chips."

Probot @ Jun 26th 2006 12:51PM

#9,

Except for the 512MB that's included. The other bullshit you spewed doesn't deserve comment. Well, except that it does cost them time, money, and effort to get the VC games working and downloadable.

#5

Why wouldn't you want a company to protect their own rights? I can understand not liking Sony's rookit because that potentially effects your entire computer, but any DRM would just be to limit pirating. Nothing wrong with that.

Pheonix Gamma @ Jun 26th 2006 12:52PM

Ethan, you're that PS3 fanboy tipster, huh? :P

vidGuy @ Jun 26th 2006 12:52PM

The Wii will have 512MB flash ram built in. This will be enough for game saves and many Virtual Console games, as most older games run much less than 10 MB.

It will allow expansion via SD cards under the front flap or external HDD via USB in the back. At least SD is confirmed, HDD is a plausible rumor (to be confirmed at Space World?).

The SD card has been confirmed for a while and is not the final secret. After all, the flap is a heck of a lot bigger than the SD card needs.

Personally, I already have a 40GB external HDD ready for the Wii. And my money for the final secret is either a built-in camera or more memory formats. It won't be anything revolutionary, but it'll be nice.

Oh, and I agree that the real final ace is the price... (my guess:)
$199 = Console, 2 remote+nunchucks, Wii Sports
$249 = Console, 2 remote+nunchucks, Wii Sports, 512MB SD card, VC controller

I really hope those package deals work out.

Catalyst @ Jun 26th 2006 12:55PM

Actually, what they are telling me is that through the simple use of USB cables, I can buy a cheap as hell hard drive myself, and store everything on there, rather than be forced to buy $30.00 memory cards or pay a huge markup on a console hard drive. So, do you Sony/360 fanboi realize that the hard drive that "drives up the price" of your PS3 costs about $20.00? Learn2troll. Thanks.

Case @ Jun 26th 2006 12:55PM

Wii has USB ports, so hopefully they represent another memory option. Sorry if that's been confirmed already.

Woody @ Jun 26th 2006 12:56PM

The DS uses SD cards, I wonder if you can plug in your DS games?

Woody @ Jun 26th 2006 12:57PM

On another thought, what about transfer/burn DS games.

Cabbage @ Jun 26th 2006 12:59PM

Ethan- If you had been paying attention you would know that Wii has 512MB of built-in flash memory which can be used to store games or updates. While this may not be enough to store the entire Nintendo back catalog it is certainly enough to start out.

Also worth noting is that SD cards can be purchased for around $20 per gigabyte, as seen on pricegrabber.com. A 1GB card is only $22.50, 2GB = $42.00, 4GB = $85.85 and a 512MB card can be found for as cheap as $7.00. By November the prices will be down even further. By the end of next year SD cards could be more economical than Microsoft's $100 "20GB" HDD.

Kendrick @ Jun 26th 2006 1:01PM

I object to the SD format because its capabilities aren't fully disclosed. I'm not asking the Secure Digital consortium to publish all its code through GPL, but I would like to know what functions I'm agreeing to when I purchase and use an SD card. As it stands right now, it feels like manufacturers are trying to get an SD slot into every electronic device so that they can have a defacto monopoly that will lead to implementation of DRM where people may not expect it or want it.

I don't object to DRM per se, but I want it out in the open and I want to consent to it. I object strongly to the notion that Secure Digital is being implemented everywhere, even in places where DRM is not or cannot be used. I don't mind that companies want to protect their code and their data, but I mind when those protections are present where I'm storing my own. You know the remote control locks on certain high-priced vehicles that can keep a thief trapped in a car even if he has the key? Imagine if those locks were installed in every car and all that was protecting the legitimate car owners was a paper agreement, and that's about where I feel like SD is right now.

Relevant to the news post? This seriously impacts my desire to buy a Wii. It's gonna have to do dishes and launch missiles now for me to respond to the marketing without thinking about the SD slot there that I don't want.

Chris Remo @ Jun 26th 2006 1:02PM

DS cards are proprietary, they won't fit in an SD card slot.

This also isn't news at all. SD card support has been on the machine's public feature list for months and months, possibly since last year's E3.

Neko Tsukimi @ Jun 26th 2006 1:05PM

Well, if we're saving on console price by not having a 30GB HD AND they're giving us the option to use SD cards and thumbdrives that aren't manufactured by Nintendo (I hope it goes that way) that we can get at competitive prices, I say it's a deal that can't be beat. Sounds like with Wii, there's a small initial investment so when you need a little more you buy what you need at a good price. Unlike with the PS3 and 360, you buy everything or most of what you could possibly need and then if you wanna upgrade, you're going to have to buy Sony or Microsoft's upgrades. It's a very attractive package for those who just wanna game without having to blow a lot at one time.

Derbeste @ Jun 26th 2006 1:09PM

Chris chris chris.....

Did you ever do those excercises in elementery school where you'd read a passage and the teacher would ask you the MAIN idea of the paragraph?

If not....I shouldn't be surprised. Welcome to our public school system. :(

The NEWS is that the mystery flap is where the SD slots are. Many thought it was Nintendo's final surprise. So ironically, the news is.....it's not.

Probot @ Jun 26th 2006 1:10PM

#18

... huh?

I don't know anything about this, but according to Wikipedia, the DRM scheme is available only to licencees, the same way it's handeled with DVD. So... I don't see a problem at all.

The car analogy is a little too out there for me. First, I'm not gonna be on the SD card. Some data will. Second, I don't see how they'd hold my data hostage. Even if it isn't public, there are people that know specification for reading data, so they will always be a way to get it. Am I missing something?

vidGuy @ Jun 26th 2006 1:13PM

Yes, the SD card goes in a slot behind the front flap. SD cards have been confirmed for a while now, but we haven't seen the slot anywhere else on the console, so by process of elimination everyone should have been able to figure this "news" out.

But saying that the SD slot is under the front flap, and that the SD slot is ALL that's under the front flap, are two way different things. That flap is three to four times wider and three times taller than and SD card slot would be. There's got to be somthing else behind the flap.

Nintendo's King @ Jun 26th 2006 1:19PM

will the nunchuk come in the box of the Wii or do we have to pay 4 it.

SuicideNinja @ Jun 26th 2006 1:19PM

Nintendo using a standard flash memory card format = good. I was flabbergasted when the PS3 supported non-Sony formats in their "real PS3". Die, Memory Stick, die a horrible horrible death.

Nintendo's King @ Jun 26th 2006 1:21PM

#24 is right there's got to be somthing else behind the flap.

WedgeTalon @ Jun 26th 2006 1:22PM

Probot: DRM is bad because it ISN'T about stopping pirates; it's about restricting what we should fairly be able to do with our own stuff.

If you take a look at all of the pirated software, movies, music, and games out there (most of which is released within a week of of its debut, some even on (or BEFORE!) it's release date!), you can plainly see that no matter what companies do, pirates can and WILL pirate their stuff. If a company doesn't (at least secretively) know this, then they are ignoring what's happening. So the only ones left now who are hurt by DRM and anti-piracy efforts are honest customers.

THAT'S why I hate DRM.

You can read more here: http://www.defectivebydesign.org/about

Kendrick @ Jun 26th 2006 1:25PM

Look at it this way... All other things being equal, you're going to buy portable storage for the devices you own. Little Billy, when he gets a Wii, may be inclined to buy some SD cards. Later on, if he has a choice between equivalent digital cameras, he may choose one with an SD slot over a Compact Flash slot because he already owns some of the media. The thing that I object to is the wide dissemination of SD as a default storage format, and among people who don't know or don't care about the difference.

As with all consumer decisions, you vote with your wallet. I try very hard not to buy devices with SD slots on the off chance that hardware manufacturers might get the message that I don't want DRM capability where it isn't being used or implemented. I'm not worried about my data suddenly becoming unavailable, I'm worried about Secure Digital functions suddenly become a requirement instead of an option, just because everybody happens to be using them. I don't even want that be potentially possible, and if there's some small way I can prevent it then I will.

Being realistic? I don't think my occasional, casual purchasing decisions really shape the market. But you're still not going to get me to buy anything with an SD slot, or get me to use SD cards. I'm entitled to that, at very least.

Bryan W @ Jun 26th 2006 1:28PM

Mayhaps there's a network drive in store? If you pay for Nintendo's premium version of their connect24 service, maybe you can save your games and downloads to a network device. Look at me, I can talk out of my butt..

Jake @ Jun 26th 2006 1:31PM

By the way, to people that responded to Ethan #9...

Ethan is performing a technique known as trolling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

It is best to disregard opinions such as his. It is not so much that he was making a mindless offensive rant, but more that he was making a 90% ignorant comment while insulting Nintendo fans interested in this article. His purpose was to piss people off and get them to respond. He is a true fanboy and takes his own time to "attack the opponenet" of his platform of choice.

The only way to stop an internet troll is to ignore them completely.

Jake @ Jun 26th 2006 1:33PM

#27

If it is any constellation, you will not have to use SD card for this device. You can use USB flash and/or external hard drive, even a computer, which you most likely own already. And that is if and only if you get into virtual downloads. You won't need them for games, as the flash will handle saves and whatnots.

Probot @ Jun 26th 2006 1:34PM

I absolutely believe you are entitled to choose what you buy. I was just curious as to why you feel so strongly about it.

Personally, I'd much prefer a single dominant format, like we have with CDs for music. It's just easier to know that I only have to buy one format and it'll work with any device I have. Honestly though, I don't care which format it is. I don't know enough about them to see any difference.

Like I said, you're certainly entitled to choose what you want, but realistically, I doubt anything we have today is gonna ever be required, in the way you describe it. SD cards weren't around 10 years ago, and I'm sure other, similarly functioning formats will come along in a few years. Technological standards seem to change too often to be really worried about anything too serious.

yubastard @ Jun 26th 2006 1:39PM

I truly believe, and mark my words, that the Wii will acept, in the same slot the SD card goes, DS games.

Have you noticed how similar both are? SD cards and DS games? DS games are a wii bit larger, that's all...

vidGuy @ Jun 26th 2006 1:44PM

Kendrick, you express your concern that SD will become a memory standard? And? Standards are good for business. And as far as DRM, you aren't going to be getting anywhere in business within the next five years without running into various DRM schemes. It's going to be wide spread. Whether or not it is right is a discussion for another time.

Standards help consumers. Look at all the hubbub about Bluray vs HDDVD, "which will be the next standard?". MP3 is pretty much the standard audio format now-a-days; you can't make it one day in an office without opening a PDF file. More formats that achieve the same thing just confuse and muddy the situation... how many people know, or care, about the differences between DVD-R and DVD+R? Yet I have to constantly answer the question of which to use because people are confused by the formats sitting side by side on a store shelf.

The other great thing about standards is cost. When a format becomes a standard, it drops drastically in price. As several posters have shown, the SD expansion will be a much more cost effective solution to storage because of the relativly cheap prices of SD cards.

People don't know or care about the difference between formats, I agree. But to make them know about a format to use it would be a sure fired recipe for failure. People should be able to take the same format to their many devices without worries. Who cares what specific features they offer or who makes it?

Ilive @ Jun 26th 2006 1:55PM

The more information that is released about the Wii the less excited I get. I realize that it is just a Gamecube with a unique controller. Nothing that goes wow. It is a shame.

You can talk about price all you want however that would only matter to me if I wasnt a gamer. I am a gamer and would be willing to spend 300-350 for an extremely powerful system with state of the art features.

The system is a gimmick. Before you flame realize this. I use to be a big Nintendo Fan. I have bought every Nintendo Console and the Nintendo Wii I will not buy. I already have an Xbox 360 and am very pleased with it.

MegaMatt @ Jun 26th 2006 1:57PM

So people do you think this is the Wii's final secret?

Probot @ Jun 26th 2006 2:02PM

#27

"...it's about restricting what we should fairly be able to do with our own stuff."

That's the argument I hear a lot, but in reality, it isn't your "own stuff," because someone else holds the copyright. You only own a copy of it. When you buy a copy of something, you agree to certain rules. If you don't want to agree to those rules, you don't have to buy the product. It's that simple.

"So the only ones left now who are hurt by DRM and anti-piracy efforts are honest customers."

First of all, no one is "hurt" by any DRM. A individual or company has every right in the world to protect their copyrighted material. I don't see any problem with that at all.

The fact that people always manage to break any copy protection (and I agree, they always do) is irrelevant. Just because people still commit murder doesn't mean you make it legal.

Rootbeer @ Jun 26th 2006 2:06PM

Standards are good for business.

Not when there's so many standards to choose from that none of them are really a standard, though. That's already the case in the flash memory card market. I mean, isn't it ridiculous that there are "8-in-1" card readers for sale when the main difference between card packages is the physical shape of the card?

CompactFlash was one of the first standard flash memory packages, it's by far the most popular one in the professional equipment market, and even today it's still a generation ahead of the others in technology, and is often faster and cheaper too. The only reasons any of the others exists are 1) attempts to control the market with brand lock-in (Memory Stick), and 2) attempts to control the consumer (DRM on Secure Digital).

Plus, CF is the perfect size and shape IMO: small enough to be easily portable but large enough that it's difficult to lose track of.

Marc @ Jun 26th 2006 2:18PM

vidGuy
"Oh, and I agree that the real final ace is the price... (my guess:)
$199 = Console, 2 remote+nunchucks, Wii Sports
$249 = Console, 2 remote+nunchucks, Wii Sports, 512MB SD card, VC controller
I really hope those package deals work out."

That has to be the best thought out plan for packing the Wii ever. I'm thinking that the last Wii secret will be the Wiimote "shell" that Nintendo spoke of. You know. The "normal-looking" controller that you plug the Wiimote into for normal gaming.

I think that's the last Wii secret.

saboola @ Jun 26th 2006 2:18PM

@#34 : Did you seriously compare murder to basically what boils down to being able to copy an episode of "Friends" to an ipod? Get real.

vidGuy @ Jun 26th 2006 2:24PM

MegaMatt:

No, this is not the Wii's final secret, as it hasn't been a secret for quite some time. Read my posts #12 and #24.

Probot @ Jun 26th 2006 2:27PM

#36,

Appearantly, you missed the point of the analogy. Sorry, I forget this is the internet sometimes, where no one understands anything unless it's explicitly spelled out for them.

In the analogy, the crime is irrelevant. For example, I could have written, "Just because people still rob banks, doesn't mean it should be legal." The basic pattern is :"Just because people (insert crime) doesn't mean it should be legal."

My point being that, even if the laws don't stop people from doing something, that doesn't mean you get rid of the laws. That approach doesn't make any sense logically. This goes for piracy, or anything really.

MegaMatt @ Jun 26th 2006 2:35PM

I knew it had been confirmed but it hadn't been revealed what was under the front, even though like you said it was safe to assume what was. Anyway vidGuy any ideas as what the final secret might be?

Lou D @ Jun 26th 2006 2:38PM

#7,
4GB SD cards are formatted with FAT32 filesystem, 256MB to 2GB are formatted with FAT16 and 128 and below are formatted with FAT12. If your device doesn't support FAT32 formats, then your 4GB card won't work. FAT16 is limited to 2GB of access to data.
FAT32 can go to atleast 120GB iirc.

Michael @ Jun 26th 2006 2:38PM

Wonder if you'll be able to use the same SD card for PS3 and Wii. Glad they're moving away from proprietary memory.

saboola @ Jun 26th 2006 2:39PM

DRM is invasive. Ask anyone that bought a 10,000 dollar HDTV that does not have HDCP/HDMI connection. Ask them if they are hurt or not by DRM. Companies do indeed have the right to protect their properties, but consumers too should have certains rights to the content they buy. As for the anology of the crime, it certainly IS relevant. does not quite cut it due to the varying severity of individual crimes.

vidGuy @ Jun 26th 2006 2:43PM

Marc: I've been suggesting those package deals for a while now (glad someone else likes 'em)... the $199 could be listed as the "Sports/Action Pack!" and the $249 as the "Action + Retro Pack!". I would buy the $249 box in a heartbeat. Read over on nintendowiifanboy for a post on why Wii Sports should be packaged with the system (and at least two remotes).

MegaMatt: I could see Nintendo using a built-in camera... or maybe a mic built into the console so that several people could say commands = multiplayer! Though I don't know how the sensitivity of the mic would handle something like that.

Either way, I doubt the "final secret" will be anything huge, though it may tip those last fence-sitters over to Nintendo's side. I'm just waiting for confirmation about external USB harddrives and price/release date.