Nintendo Wii Virtual Console gift giving service

by Alexander Sliwinski on Oct 26th 2007 11:58AM

In another portion of the 'absolutely no Wii price cut' story we covered earlier this morning, Nintendo's prez unveiled a feature that allows people to "send each other games over the internet using the Wii's shopping channel." The explanation by AP is a little too quick and dirty for our taste, so we've contacted Nintendo's PR for a cleaner explanation. The piece says that users will be able to select a game to send as a gift to another user and when the recipient accepts, "the Wii automatically launches the shopping channel and begins the download."

Like we said, we're looking to get more details on this potentially great service. We just need to know things like: Does this mean grandma needs to comprehend the multi-digit friend codes? Does the person need to be a friend first? Isn't it easier just to give a Wii Points gift card? We hope to update you soon with the answers.

Source

Tags: gift, vc, virtualconsole, wii

Reader Comments (54)

This would work well on Live.

It will be better if Nintendo gave us like 500 or 1000 Wii Points as a Christmas gift.

I was kinda hoping that last year for the "lucky" millions that happened to fight the masses and cold weather to get the console. Even a 100 Wii Point($1) gift would've been nice.

But I can't complain. They did give out replacement wrist straps and the "Wii condom" plastic(?) sheath. Good for us, 'cause it's free shiznit... better for Nintendo since they avoid lawsuits.

Linebeck is one of my favorite characters in any game ever.

I just finished Phantom Hourglass. It was excellent.

Oh yes... the final was excellent. First Bellum in third flor building, then the stop timer Phantom Hourglass, then the epic battle in Linebeck's ship, then the heroic act of Linebeck, then the final fight against dark Linebeck.

Excellent game. Best handheld game of the year. Definitely.

I think Jeanne D'Arc is handheld game of the year...

of course by the time we do awards it will probably go to God of War.

Shaggi

God of War will be the same as the PS2 games. Zelda game is an innovative game. You only use the stylus to do everything.

As much as it pains me, I have to agree with Fernando. Phantom Hourglass has a lot going for it, but the one thing that makes it better than anything else I've played on a handheld is the stylus-exclusive control.

I didn't think much of it before I played the game, but now that I have, it will be hard for me to go back. It's so much fun (and while simpler, actually more advanced than button based 2D topdown controls), and oddly relaxing (maybe because of the fact I've got one hand free to rest my chin on, or something). I'm already looking forward to the sequel.

Obviously old shaggi is not going to agree and name a PSP game instead, what did you expect? Duh. ;)

Thanks for semi-spoiling it, Fernando.

I hope they put Superman 64 on there so I can send it to Fernando:D

JK, I'd send you something like...errr... Gunstar Heroes... awesome game

Time to start sending people wonder boy in monsterland.

Wonder boy in monsterland was the best game I ever played in my youth. oh and ghostbusters.

HAHA! that is exactly what I was thinking.

"Why to I have Galaga '90? Who dowloaded Pinball?!?! Altered Beast?!?!!? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHH!!!"

no sarcasm intended. I really do love Wonderboy in Monsterland. A lot.

Oh, I haven't played it actually. I thought that was what you were getting at.

This sounds like a great practical joke. Fill up your friend's channels with crappy video games.

"Why do I have Ordyne? Pinball, WTF! Who downloaded GALAGA '90?!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGG

Whoops. Looks like I posted the same thing twice. I thought Joystiq ate my post.

This might be the wrong forum from this type of thing but the Wii point system is stupid.

That aside, I think Nintendo would make a killing if they sold other non-game items on their shop channel as well and made those items available as gifts. I mean who wouldn’t want to get a virtual green&red Christmas sweater for their Mii? Or a Wii channel that was just a roaring fire with classic Christmas music playing softly in the background. Or concept art of Nintendo characters dressed up for the seasons…I would pay 100 Wii points for a picture of Kirby wearing a skullcap.

I'd pay 100 to see Kirby wearing a tuque.

They can sell whatever hell they want to sell. Even babies of PS3/Xbox developers/gamers.

They can do with Wii firmware pretty much whatever they want to do with.

As long as to start playing a games takes two clicks - I do not care.

Ihar,

I'm pretty sure everyone can do whatever they want to do...

What if you tell your friends that you want Super Metroid on VC for Christmas, then you get like 10 downloads sent to you for Super Metroid. Did 9 of those people just waste their money?

Perhaps Nintendo will make your Mii wait in a long virtual line to exchange the extra games...

Ehm... I'm pretty sure they'll account for that and tell you if the one receiving the game has already got it. Seems pretty damn obvious to me that they would not overlook something as simple as that. Don't know why you think they would.

Chances are, like any online purchasing service, you pay upon shipping of the goods. So, the person who bought the gift card will either get notified "the recipient already has (x game)" or their points balance will only get deducted when the recipient downloads the game.

Perhaps Nintendo will make your Mii wait in a long virtual line to exchange the extra games...

Bad reply system!

YAY! I can finally give my local church group a copy of Sin & Punishment for Christmas!

This is pretty awesome. Xbox should do the same. No more spending time finding Christmas and birthday presents for some people.

I wish you could give games you already bought away.

For instance, I will never really play Super Mario Brothers. I know it's a classic but it was an impulse buy and I've played it maybe 5 times in the last 8 months. I know people who would love to have it, so can I plzzzz give this away?

I would buy a lot more VC games if I knew I could give them to friends if I didn't like them.

You know, or if there were timed Demos.

Wow, that means that you played SMB 4 more times than I did so, in comparison, you really did get your money's worth!

I'd seriously consider re-gifting Ecco and Kid Icarus while I was at it...

You know what this means: copies of EarthBound for everybody! We'll force the big N to put Mother 3 on the boat to America one way or another.

I like the way you think, sir.

TO THE SHOP!

And to think I would have to give everyone 2000WP cards and just tell them to download Earthbound. Now I can give all my friends copies of Earthbound.... this will make a great EB Siege tactic.

Also I'm assuming you're SimonBob from Starmen.NET.

If this works without having someone as a friend first, then companies could give away free games and demos to anyone who registers. Nintendo would still reap profits by allowing other companies to purchase Wii points in bulk and then pre-pay for their customers.

But, if you have to have someone as a friend first, this idea just won't work.

Why not. Just direct your Wii opera browser to the MFG site, enter the code for you game you bought, enter your wii's number, and then they can send you the game.

And you'd need someone's wii number to send them a game anyway, so why would having them be on your friend list be an issue?

What if we don't have any Wii-friends? :(

Then there'd be no point in sending them a wii vc title, would there.

This idea is teh Phail, Wii gamers don't have friends.

No shaggi, YOU don't have friends.

Also can USA VC users send games to UK users and vice versa. I'm still waiting for MegaMan, which they have in UK!!

I will be your Wii friend, baby sea tuna.

Damn you, bunk reply system!

I wish there was a PM system on these sites so that people could actually exchange friend codes and LIVE tags. (Hint, hint Joystiq)

My Live tag is Crono141

Thanks! Added!

So wait, is this like a trade? Or do you buy a VC game and the receiver just downloads the game free of charge.

Because maybe I just want a game trade feature oh-so much.

This system would be a great way to get around having "extra" money in the Wii store. If you know someone who buys tons of VC games, just pay that person the exact amount and have him/her send it to you. No 400 leftover points!

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 221 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 162 comments
Blizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark 117 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments

Nintendo Wii Virtual Console gift giving service

Reader Comments (54)

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:06PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:06PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:07PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:13PM foxhound said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:43PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:20PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 4:06PM bm111 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 7:33PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 8:32PM D3m0sthenes said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:14PM teamsammalone said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:23PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:23PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:28PM teamsammalone said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:24PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:22PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:10PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 2:04PM Dummy00001 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:22PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:23PM The Last Metroid said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:25PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 4:10PM bm111 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 5:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:25PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:26PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:30PM samfish said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:36PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:49PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:16PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 12:57PM SimonBob said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 2:22PM DonaldMick said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 4:02PM kmeisthax said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:00PM CozmoKhan said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:06PM Crono141 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:18PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:41PM Crono141 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:26PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:40PM Crono141 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:56PM benmully said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:45PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 1:45PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 2:00PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 2:33PM Crono141 said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 3:23PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 2:03PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 26th 2007 2:20PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

Barricading 'Dead Souls' within Yakuza's red-light district

WRUP: All the Reckoning

Xbox Live Indie Gems: Nyan Cat Adventure

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days