We've known for a few months now that the Wii would be able to play MP3 music from inserted SD cards, but we weren't sure of the exact form this feature would take until we actually got our hands on the system. Now that we've had a chance to try it out, we're quite underwhelmed by this undersold "feature" of Nintendo's latest system.While the Wii easily facilitates viewing of digital photos with the intuitively named "Photo Channel" on the main system menu, there is no similar Music Channel to play your MP3s. Instead, users that want to hear some tunes have to go into the Photo Channel, select some pictures, view a slideshow, go into the options, and only then will they be able to choose from their selection of songs.
Calling this photo slideshow soundtrack an "MP3 player" is too generous -- basic features like fast forward and rewind are not even available, and the selected song will simply loop unless another one is actively selected. It's hard to believe that Nintendo equipped the system with the ability to play music without also including some rudimentary music player software, but that is exactly what has happened.
The only other way to play MP3s on the Wii is with custom soundtracks, a feature supported on a game-by-game basis. While setting up and using the feature on Excite Truck was relatively easy, we're a bit miffed that Nintendo didn't decide to build this feature into the system software, so a custom soundtrack could be added over any game at the player's choosing. Making MP3 soundtracks an optional feature that has to be actively added by developers practically ensures that the feature will be underutilized.
Nintendo could theoretically upgrade the MP3 playback function with a future software update, but as it stands now this Wii "feature" pales in comparison to similar music playback offered by Sony and Microsoft.
Wii annoyances
PS3 annoyances
Xbox 360 annoyances
(Page 1) Reader Comments
I'm sure some will be disappointed, but outside of "Custom Soundtrack" capability in games. I doubt I'd ever have used it.
Reply
Reply
Reply
The fact that it allows games to incorporate custom soundtracks is great though, and i understand not every game because what does that say to composers who put their life into making an amazing soundtrack like LOZ scores.
Reply
Mp3s as background music to games, I understand. But...
1: Why would you want to play mp3s through your TV speakers?
2: If you're using a receiver for your audio, it's much easier to just plug a mp3 player into the receiver anyway. And who doesn't have a mp3 player nowadays?
The Wii is a gaming machine, with a few other "extras" (online stuff) thrown in. I don't think anyone ever claimed it would be a "media center"
Reply
Reply
Heh.
My consoles are hooked up to the best sound system in my house, as they are to the largest television in my house. If you play on the folddown TV in your kitchen, maybe that works for you, but for the rest of us, that's the center of our audio visual system, right there.
Which is why I stream audio from my PC to my 360, even if I'm just lounging around reading a book.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
1) The inability to customize the controller for virtual console games.
2) The use of digital shoulder buttons on the virtual console controller instead of analog buttons like on the GCN.
3) Inability to use the analog stick as the D-pad on NES and SNES games.
4) Inability to use the remote with laser-pointer accuracy even though the technology exists. I guess Nintendo felt it would be too difficult for casual users to input the necessary info to specify these settings.
5) No rumble support in virtual console games
6) Difficulty in acquiring component video cables. First they could only be ordered online, then Nintendo said they'd be offered in certain stores for launch, and now an article on IGN implies that the only way to get cables for launch is to order over the phone now.
7) The extremely weak virtual console launch library
Fortunately it seems that most of these issues can be resolved in the future with OS updates.
Reply
Nor is it for shopping, news, looking at photos, checking the weather or browsing the web, you guys! The Wii is purely for games!
Oh, wait...
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
IGN mentioned that over the phone is the only way to secure one before launch. Once the system does launch, then you can go online or in normal stores and pick it up. I agree with your other complaints though.
Reply
I would give it 3 months at the most before we find better mp3 support.
Reply
Reply
Joystiq! Run this story!
Reply
So you expected the Wii, which has no hard drive and only 512MB of internal memory, to become your main mode of playing mp3s on this "best sound system"?
You can only fit so many mp3s on a SD card. Nowhere near what most people have on their hard drive. Anyone who claims they expected the Wii to act as a music player is crazy.
I don't really see why so many people are so surprised.
Reply
And in all honesty, I'm almost positive that a Music Channel will be added to the Wii later. Personally I'm rather glad Nintendo is spending all their time on gimmicks, but instead getting the main machine ready for launch.
Unlike some other consoles I could mention. How many older games aren't backwards compatible with the PS3/360?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Why don't I just burn a disc of MP3s and playing it on my DVD player that is connected to my home theatre system. I really don't need to play it on my Wii.
Talk about nitpicking. You guys are kind of blatent Wii haters...
Reply
I'm actually not all that excited about the photo channel either as it seems thrown together from what I've read. I just want to play games on the damn thing leave all that other stuff to my PC or maybe include it as optional channel downloads.
Actually that leads me to a good question for those that have a Wii... Can you hide channels or remove them completely?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Super Nintendo:
* Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
* Kirby's Super Star
* Super Metroid
* Kirby's Dream Land 3
Nintendo 64:
* Mario Kart 64
* Starfox 64
* Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Weak isn't what comes to mind when I see those games. Awesomeness is what I see.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
It's like Nintendo spent all their time on the controller and just threw everything else together (and even the controller is showing minor issues). It's just one half-assed feature after another, and it's starting to annoy all but the most dedicated Nintendo fanboy.
Reply
Reply
Reply
And, technology moves on, you can get a $20 SD mp3 player and Nintendo cant give you an easy way to play mps3?
Reply
Reply
Please stop pretending that there isn't a use for DVD playback or decent MP3 playback or streaming HD video. Please don't pretend that leaving music playback to the devs wont result in a feature that rarely is available and must to be set up again and again in every time you play. Yes, if all you play is epic RPG's then maybe that crappy soundtrack really helps you get in the mood, but for most of us, game music gets repetitive pretty quick. You may not 'get it', but everyone I've met with a 360 does. I'll admit that you guys got a good system for legit classic gaming, now please quit pretending to be Luddites for the sake of all mighty Nintendo.
Thanks
Reply
Not being able to fast-forward or rewind? No playlists for slideshows and having to actively select each song? Oh yeah, Nintendo didn't half-ass ANYTHING.
Reply
But being able to put a custom soundtrack in any game would be a stupid feature from a developer's standpoint. Music is important in a lot of games. I'm sure Aonuma doesn't want somebody playing Zelda with "Cut my life into pieces" in the back, when Koji Kondo has made music specifically for that game that is important to the mood and feel.
I do hope more games include custom soundtracks, but being able to put custom soundtracks in any game would be pretty lame.
Hopefully, though, Nintendo will add a music channel in the future using firmware.
Reply
Reply
The problem with that is that it only works for games that have bad or unimportant soundtracks. I'm sure you remember that in games like HALO or HALO 2 the original game soundtrack is incredibly crucial for setting the mood and tempo of the game.
Game designers who create games that have interchangeable soundtracks will be able to benefit from allowing users to listen to their own songs as they play, while designers who see the music they choose as a crucial part of the gameplay won't be stuck putting their product on a system that allows users to easily override a key element of the game.
While an MP3/CD channel (with visualizer) would have been nice, I think Nintendo did the right thing in allowing the game designers to decide if players can listen to their own soundtracks, and not giving that control to the gamers themselves.
Reply
>>Extremely weak VC library? Did you not see Super
>>Mario All Stars?
Where have you seen that information? Super Mario All -Stars is my top must-have virtual console game, but I haven't seen it appear on any list! All those great titles with improved graphics, no annoying GBA vocal work, and a price that should be cheaper than buying the NES versions individually.
>> Super Nintendo:
>> * Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
>> * Kirby's Super Star
>> * Super Metroid
>> * Kirby's Dream Land 3
Nice entries, but they were not on the launch list. From what I read they are supposed to be released in 2007.
>> Nintendo 64:
>> * Mario Kart 64
>> * Starfox 64
>> * Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Again, these aren't launch titles are they? And it's a pretty tiny list of titles. Zelda is not an attraction for me because I already own the GCN version.
>> Weak isn't what comes to mind when I see those
>> games. Awesomeness is what I see.
If the virtual console library contains those games on launch day I'll be very happy. It's still small, but certainly large enough to keep me happy. The last time I saw Nintendo's launch list it was filled with early 1986-type NES games, a couple early SNES titles, and 1 N64 title: Super Mario 64 (a game quite frankly I believe was a poor 2D to 3D transition). It seemed that Sega and Hudson are taking the virtual console more seriously than Nintendo!
Reply
Reply
Reply
I can only hope that firmware updates are the salvation of the industry, and fix these glaring oversights (because that's what this looks like to me).
Reply
-If I want to view photos I use my PC,
-Web browsing? PC again,
-Stream HD? My 360 works great,
-Watch a DVD in upscaled 1080p? My HDMI equiped DVD player beats out everyhing,
For me, all those suggar coated extras are useless. You guys can play your DVDs on your PS3 or 360 till you go blue in the face, I will be playing too much LOZ on Sunday morning to care.
Reply
"Mp3s as background music to games, I understand. But...
1: Why would you want to play mp3s through your TV speakers?"
Even the wimpy speakers on my bigscreen do a good job.
"2: If you're using a receiver for your audio, it's much easier to just plug a mp3 player into the receiver anyway. And who doesn't have a mp3 player nowadays?"
No actually. You must not own a 360; changing songs from the controller is SOOOO much better. Not to mention, you still get the game's sound effects through the same speakers. Essentially, you are replacing the probably-crappy game's sound track. It's nice! It was nice on the original Xbox as well. With racing and XBLA games...I HAVE to have the feature now.
I'm disappointed. There's bound to be annoying music is some really fun game that will have to be "rigged" to cover up. Not that Metroid and Mario will have that issue, but there will be others. *jigs to the Mario 2 title screen theme*
Reply