Nintendo announces Wii Speak Channel

by Ross Miller { Oct 2nd 2008 at 1:25PM }

As one of the last two announcements for their fall media summit, Nintendo has announced the Wii Speak Channel for use with the Wii microphone (pictured, from E3 2008). According to Cammy Dunaway, up to four people can chat together, and the microphones will come with a coupon to download the channel.

Of course, this leads to a plethora of other questions, such as: release date, price (if not buying with the microphone), can a USB mic be substituted, what else can we do with the channel besides speak? We're not holding our breath waiting for answers anytime soon.

Tags: breakingnews, microphone, nintendo, wii-speak, wii-speak-channel, wiispeak, wiispeak-channel

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:34PM

I hope this mic is somehow able filter noise generated by the TV

Jamie @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:38PM

There needs to be a Mii deathmatch game, called the "Everybody Dies Channel".

syrik zero @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:40PM

Looks like Donkey Kong font and colors in the background. That makes me want it more...

BigD145 @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:46PM

USB headset support > this

Jon A. @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:53PM

I think it depends on the application. I think in software like the "Wii Speak Channel" and games like "Animal Crossing Wii," a community speakerphone is fine (and even preferable). When you're talking about third-person shooters or just about any other way a 3rd party developer would use something like this (other than in party/board games), I think the headset would be a much better idea.

But since the Wii is about community involvement, playing together, and all of that hoopla, this is what we got. I'm just suprised there's not a webcam attached to it.

Dirty @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:54PM

Yup

ZaxCG2 @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:56PM

Nintendo ≠ Sony

ZaxCG2 @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:57PM

I'm sure someone will rip it apart to make it a personal mic when it comes out, anyways.

Tiptup300 @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:34PM

Come on, if you had a headset you don't get to shout at your tv!

Duke @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:57PM

Anyone know what the box in the cable line is for?

MowDownJoe @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:19PM

Voice modulation?

Well Fed Troll @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:19PM

Oh the box?? heehee thats simple...

When you enter into chat with 4 of your friends it stores a little bit of your soul as you speak. It is then transferred into your Mii. When Nintendo does come out with the true HOME, every Mii will have a little of us in it. The A.I. be amaazing.

Dirty @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:57PM

@Well Fed Troll

WTF!

WiNG [Life in a Game] @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:09PM

I could see this is better in some ways. After all, I don't really like putting a headset on, and having people scream directly into my inner ear.

That said, the whole Wii online philosophy pretty much kills practical applications for this.

Tango Charlie @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:19PM

That is one *tiny* TV.

kiwi @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:44PM

Or one HUGE Wii.

Tango Charlie @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:47PM

WII HARDWARE REFRESH CONFIRMED

BigD145 @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:06PM

It's there to show the portability of the Wii.

ill trooper @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:41PM

It looks like it's hooked up to an iMac!

Anyway, they need to get some online chatting in-game going. It's nearly 2009!

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:45PM

His Wii is bigger than mine?

=Curve= @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:02PM

Why does it seem like they are trying reinvent the wheel and sell it to us?

Mr Khan @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:06PM

If it's tied to your Console Friends list, and doesn't have its own set of Friend Codes, then it could be a workable substitute for a lobby. I mean, you would still (probably) have to contact your friends ahead of time to get them together on that channel, but then you could discuss what games you wanted to play and easily swap the Game-based friend codes

It'll really be a boon for Wii fanboy game night, at least.

Dirty @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:48PM

yea that just seems kind of ridiculous, I have to call my friends on the phone and tell them to get on the wii chat channel... and that's after I emailed them my friend code.

This is seriously backward. Good luck with all that, Ill be video chating on either of my other consoles.. or you know... playing games online (with voice chat).

Dirty @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:50PM

Sorry, Im a bit cranky from all this Nintendo news. Can a brother get some gears screen shots... or a dumb little big planet level.... something!!?

Mr Khan @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:33PM

I didn't claim it was perfect: Far from it. But for a situation like, say, WiiFanboy Game Night, where you meet each other on a regular basis, you could at least hit up the friends you already have, then maybe make some more

Its better than what they had before, which was all of nothing.

FSK405K @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:18PM

Can I be in the Wii Speak channel and play a game at the same time?

zero2dash @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:27PM

What is this trash? More peripherals? More gimmicks?

"We haven't given up on the core gamer."

-Nintendo

If I click my heels 3 times, maybe things will be ok. Most likely not though.

This company has absolutely 0 idea of what longtime gamers care about. It was in the process of "denial" stage with the Gamecube's few shortcomings. They've skipped right along to "full on dementia" with the Wii, I'm afraid.

Well, looks like it's time to put mine up on eBay around Christmas, finally.