Wii Speak Channel not so limited; 'replacement' downloads possible
by Christopher Grant 
{ Nov 26th 2008 at 3:43PM }
"Any consumer who may have misplaced their Wii Download Ticket number for the Wii Speak Channel or require a new number following a Wii exchange may contact their local Nintendo Customer Services department, where they can request a replacement Wii Download Ticket number."We're sympathetic with the industry's desire to use things like one-off downloadable content to encourage new game sales, but applying that logic to a hardware peripheral always struck us as particularly short-sighted.
But now, with that concern out of the way, we're writing directly to you future thrift store shoppers: Put down that ironic t-shirt and those theme-park shot glasses and reconsider the old Wii Speak in the corner. Just remember to holophone the Customer Service department and ask them to telepathically beam you a new code and you'll be speakerphoning in no time.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Vidikron @ Nov 26th 2008 3:50PM
That's better, but still stupid. Just give channel away for free in the Wii Shop Channel or sell it for a small fee to anyone that wants it. I don't get the point of limiting it at all.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 26th 2008 3:58PM
Maybe its because you can attach any USB mic and use it like the Wii Speak peripheral?
Thats the only reason I see for not allowing a channel download.
Al2x @ Nov 26th 2008 4:53PM
So then what stops the original buyer giving out his friends/forum cohorts the WiiSpeak's serial code so that they can all get it for free?
WiiFTW @ Nov 26th 2008 4:58PM
My guess is that they find a way to disable/invalidate the original, but I have no idea how it works.
I only wish there were better games to use this with...
Moptimus Slime @ Nov 26th 2008 5:13PM
actually, from what I've heard, random USB mics dont work. You actually have to have this or your stuck with Skype
Shagittarius @ Nov 26th 2008 3:54PM
"Any consumer who may have misplaced their Wii Download Ticket number for the Wii Speak Channel or require a new number following a Wii exchange may contact their local Nintendo Customer Services department, where they can request a replacement Wii Download Ticket number."
None of that says you can get a new code if you buy a used one.
Christopher Grant @ Nov 26th 2008 4:14PM
Sure – you just found it in a closet 50 years later but you've "misplaced" your download ticket.
Of course, I wasn't completely serious – the futuristic scenario is pointing out why worrying about used sales of a hardware peripheral is silly.
Curtis @ Nov 26th 2008 3:59PM
I can understand both sides of this argument. The industry doesn't want you to buy used anything. Period. But there still needs to be a reasonable amount of customer loyalty here. I think this is probably the only way Nintendo can go about doing anything to make sure everyone is relatively happy.
paralipsis @ Nov 27th 2008 12:20AM
I don't think there are two sides to this argument. Nintendo's position is untenable. Making a physically manufactured object unusable beyond a certain point, solely to generate more sales is utterly wasteful. A case can be made for software, especially downloaded software, but this situation is absurd.
I had thought Greenpeace were just a bunch of whiners when they accused Nintendo of being so environmentally irresponsible, but I see a situation like this and I begin to get very suspicious of Nintendo's wider business practices.
EMaster @ Nov 26th 2008 4:40PM
Screw Nintendo...
deaftly @ Nov 26th 2008 4:40PM
THIS IS ME TALKING INTO WII SPEAK!!!!!!
ANTCEP @ Nov 26th 2008 4:45PM
this is me not giving a damn about wii speak
Markez @ Nov 27th 2008 12:38AM
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMIN' OUT OF MY MOUTH!?!?
Mr Khan @ Nov 26th 2008 5:37PM
Nintendo customer service has always been top-notch about this sort of thing, i would have expected nothing less
Dragod @ Nov 26th 2008 6:04PM
I don't think the reason for the download tickets is to encourage game/peripheral sales... It's to ensure that Nintendo is the only company that can sell microphones compatible with their games...
Companies can manufacture controllers, and Wii racing wheel rip-offs, but if the only way to get the service is by buying a Nintendo microphone, you pretty much have to buy it if you want to use it.
People are wondering why Nintendo is the only company making money off of the Wii?
PeterF @ Nov 26th 2008 6:54PM
Why not do something like the 360? Include a security chip in there that the system has to verify. No one can make 360 accessories without Microsoft's permission because they just won't work. A few things don't have a chip though, such as the headsets and batteries.
Pedobear @ Nov 26th 2008 7:41PM
Once I actually have a reason to want to use Wii speak then I will probably get one.
drsnacks @ Nov 27th 2008 9:53AM
Pedobear can't figure that one out (hint - it's an Animal Crossing pack-in)?
Eric @ Nov 27th 2008 4:01AM
This isn't about security, this isn't about preventing people from using their own hardware. The actual hardware will work perfectly fine in every game that supports it, right now its only Animal Crossing. You do not NEED the Wii Speak channel to use audio features in games.
I would imagine that Nintendo has licensed whatever codecs they use to transmit, and receive audio data in the Wii Speak channel, from a third party, and that is precisely why they cannot allow absolutely everyone to download a channel that only a few of them would have the hardware to actually use.
It would cost them insane amounts of cash. Does anyone actually have the Wii Speak channel and can check the credits, if there is one, to see what type of system Nintendo has setup for the audio data?
Gabi @ Nov 29th 2008 1:03AM
where do you get the wii download ticket?
jarhead906 @ Nov 30th 2008 1:57AM
Nintendo, next time just keep hitting this spectacular niche of consumers you found but keep in mind the thousands of hardcore gamers that have stuck with you and don't want your 'casual gaming' experience.
Super Smash Brothers Brawl can't be beat, Metroid Prime 3 was great, but we need more. Maybe this next Zelda will do the trick?
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/zelda-director-wont-quit-until-he-surpasses-ocarina-of-time/