Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BBC iPlayer relaunching as a dedicated Wii Channel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/bbc-iplayer-relaunching-as-a-dedicated-wii-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/bbc-iplayer-relaunching-as-a-dedicated-wii-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/bbc-iplayer-relaunching-as-a-dedicated-wii-channel/#commentsThe BBC iPlayer, only available in the UK, is proof that streaming video can work on the Wii -- like the Wii no Ma service, Minna no Theater Wii, and the Nintendo Channel. Well, maybe not that last one, given the stuttery playback of Nintendo Week whenever we attempt to watch it.

As rumored, the Wii's iPlayer is moving up from a nice browser-based app to its very own Wii Channel. BBC dated the launch of the new iPlayer download for November 18. It'll be a free download, and, once again, only available in the UK. We'd pay the licence fee if you'd let us, BBC!

[Thanks, Bobulous!]

JoystiqBBC iPlayer relaunching as a dedicated Wii Channel originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcbbc-iplayerchannelsstreaming-videoukvideoFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[We predict that Europe will receive a new Wii channel tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/we-predict-that-europe-will-receive-a-new-wii-channel-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/we-predict-that-europe-will-receive-a-new-wii-channel-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/we-predict-that-europe-will-receive-a-new-wii-channel-tomorrow/#commentsYes, we can accurately predict that a new Wii Channel will be available in Europe tomorrow, but only because Nintendo announced it. Nintendo has dug into its archive of Japanese Channels and dusted off the Today & Tomorrow Channel, which offers daily horoscopes for every Mii on your console, as well as astrologically-determined compatibility tests and lifestyle tips.

You know who else didn't predict this? Nintendo of Europe. A spokesperson said last year that there were no plans to localize this channel. Maybe there were plans, but the Nintendo rep didn't know how to correctly interpret the signs.

[Thanks, Kevin!]

JoystiqWe predict that Europe will receive a new Wii channel tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelseuropefortune-telling-channelhoroscopetoday-and-tomorrow-channelTue, 08 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Food Delivery Channel open for business in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/wii-food-delivery-channel-open-for-business-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/wii-food-delivery-channel-open-for-business-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/wii-food-delivery-channel-open-for-business-in-japan/#commentsToday, Nintendo of Japan finally made it possible to invoke the proverbial "/pizza" through the Wii. The Demae Channel ("Food Delivery Channel"), a Wii channel that allows users to place delivery orders on the Wii, launched today.

If you're in Japan and you like to eat food, you can now order pizza, curry, and other varieties of food using the Wii. Rather than paying through the system, you just pay the delivery guy as normal. Check out the video for a demo of the Demae Channel in action -- and a look at how expensive pizza is in Japan. 3,600 yen ($38) for a large Pizza Hut pizza?

[Via Siliconera]

JoystiqWii Food Delivery Channel open for business in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdelivery-channeldemae-channeljapanTue, 26 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Smile! Wii photo printing channel may leave Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/smile-wii-photo-printing-channel-may-leave-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/smile-wii-photo-printing-channel-may-leave-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/smile-wii-photo-printing-channel-may-leave-japan/#commentsFiled under:

Excellent news, fans of ... various ... services ... being made available through Wii Channels! There's one more item of Channel-related news out today. A trademark found on the European trademark database suggests that Nintendo is looking to take its Digicam Print Channel to Europe (and potentially elsewhere) as the "Photo Print Service Channel".

The Digicam Print Channel, a service offered through a deal with Fujifilm, allows Wii owners to order prints of photos saved to an SD card, create customizable Nintendo-themed photo albums, and even order business cards featuring Nintendo backgrounds and Mii pictures. The business cards are available in Japan as Club Nintendo rewards.

We've been coveting those Mii business cards for a while, though not enough to make our own imitation and just go to Kinko's. Being able to get the genuine article through the Wii would be lovely.

JoystiqSmile! Wii photo printing channel may leave Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdigicam-print-channeleuropefujifilmNintendophoto-print-service-channeltrademarkWiiTue, 27 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Food Delivery Channel arriving hot and fresh in Japan in 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/26/food-delivery-channel-arriving-hot-and-fresh-in-japan-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/26/food-delivery-channel-arriving-hot-and-fresh-in-japan-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/26/food-delivery-channel-arriving-hot-and-fresh-in-japan-in-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wii owners in Japan who don't feel like cooking a recipe from their DS will no longer be doomed to a meal free of Nintendo's influence. A company called Yume no Machi will release a new channel next year that will allow people to order delivery directly from the Wii. IGN predicted just such a thing back in 2007!

The Demae (Food Delivery) Channel will feature a list of 8,500 different restaurants, organized and browsable by genre, from which food can be ordered. Genres include pizza, bento, Chinese, sushi, curry, and more. Each restaurant's listing offers an estimate of delivery time. After placing the order on the Wii, it is faxed to the restaurant, who then sends it on to the customer. The Channel keeps a history of your orders, so users can remember where they've eaten lately and what they had.

JoystiqFood Delivery Channel arriving hot and fresh in Japan in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdelivery-channeljapanrestaurantsyume-no-machiFri, 26 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview Wii Speak Channel and a puppy with these screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/preview-wii-speak-channel-and-a-puppy-with-these-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/preview-wii-speak-channel-and-a-puppy-with-these-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/preview-wii-speak-channel-and-a-puppy-with-these-screens/#commentsFiled under: ,


Thanks to the Japanese launch of the Wii Speak Channel, we can now see a bit of a preview of what's coming up for the rest of us (tomorrow in Europe, ??? in North America) in the world of talking at our TVs. Nintendo has opened their Wii Speak Channel page, featuring screenshots of the Channel's features, like the "puppy" feature in the screen above!

Well, actually, it's the photo sharing feature, which allows photos loaded from an SD card to be shown during chat. Also pictured: the Channel's voice message function, which allows players to record voice messages for Wii Friends and send them to the Message Board. This results in a text message on special a Wii Speak Channel background with the note "This message was recorded by your friend using the Wii Speak Channel." We always get an Animal Crossing vibe from special "stationery." If you'd like to see more of this Channel, a video is also available at the Japanese site.

[Via Famitsu]

Ever since it was revealed back at E3, WiiSpeak has been the talk (both good and bad) of the town. Check out our hands-on time with the device, as well as the details you may have missed on the WiiSpeak Channel. Plan on picking one up? Then you might want to check out Game Night, where you'll surely be able to chat with your fellow Wii lovers in the future.

JoystiqPreview Wii Speak Channel and a puppy with these screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsmicrophonewiispeakwiispeak-channelThu, 04 Dec 2008 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo doesn't see Fortune Telling Channel in Europe's future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/nintendo-doesnt-see-fortune-telling-channel-in-europes-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/nintendo-doesnt-see-fortune-telling-channel-in-europes-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/nintendo-doesnt-see-fortune-telling-channel-in-europes-future/#commentsFiled under: ,


Edge Online has received some unfortunate tidings for people desperate to learn about their Miis' future: as of right now, it appears that the Today and Tomorrow's Lucky Fortune Telling Channel is destined to remain in Japan.

Or, at least, remain in not-Europe: "There are no current plans to bring this to Europe," a Nintendo spokesperson told Edge. No word about North America, but we're not going to get our hopes up about it. Not that we're hoping that hard! Of course, there's also the possibility that Nintendo just doesn't feel like announcing the Channel previous to its arrival, which is fairly consistent with their standard operations.

JoystiqNintendo doesn't see Fortune Telling Channel in Europe's future originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelseuropefortune-tellingfortune-telling-channelWed, 03 Dec 2008 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Menu hack now available to adventurous homebrewers [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/wii-menu-hack-now-available-to-adventurous-homebrewers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/wii-menu-hack-now-available-to-adventurous-homebrewers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/wii-menu-hack-now-available-to-adventurous-homebrewers/#commentsFiled under:


Yesterday's jaw-droppingly comprehensive Wii Menu hack, which enables cross-region Wii, Gamecube, and downloadable games, as well as various display and UI tweaks, was unavailable to the public when the video (encore presentation above!) was released. But today creator Crediar has released the files for use on your own Wii.

We're very interested in opening up our Wii systems, but at the same time, we're ... going to hold off until we hear some feedback about this. Something as drastic as this HackInstaller seems like it could carry a high risk of Wii brickage. If it ends up being a Wii killer, we're sure we'll hear about it in the next week or so.

[Update: Oh noes! PAL only! Thanks, Asok!]

JoystiqWii Menu hack now available to adventurous homebrewers [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelshackinstallerregion-freewii-menuWed, 06 Aug 2008 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Menu hacked to pieces]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/wii-menu-hacked-to-pieces/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/wii-menu-hacked-to-pieces/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/wii-menu-hacked-to-pieces/#commentsFiled under: ,


Homebrewer Crediar has recorded a video of a truly epic series of Wii Menu hacks that pretty much bust the system open. All kinds of hacks are on display, both cosmetic and substantial.

Most notably, Crediar has opened up the system not just to discs from every region, but channels (which suggests Virtual Console games), and, according to the text included with the video at DCEmu, GameCube games as well. The Wii's "rescue menu" (used to boot diagnostic discs, apparently) can now be used to boot all discs. And then, for fun, the health warning and the background music were disabled. Now that's just showing off.

JoystiqWii Menu hacked to pieces originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsgamecubehomebrew-channelwii-menuTue, 05 Aug 2008 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Channel surfing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/wii-warm-up-channel-surfing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/wii-warm-up-channel-surfing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/wii-warm-up-channel-surfing/#commentsFiled under:

Depending on what you download, you might have quite a few channels on your Wii. Aside from the Disc, Mii, Wii Shop, Photo, Weather, and News channels (which can't be deleted), you might also have the Nintendo, Check Mii Out, and Everybody Votes channels hanging around on your menus.

Then, there's the Internet Channel, not to mention whatever VC or WiiWare titles you've downloaded. Some games even have their own channels, like Mario Kart and Wii Fit. Then, it's possible you have some unofficial ones lying around, too.

How many channels do you have on your Wii? Which ones do you utilize the most, and which do you utilize the least? Are there any channels you wish to see from Nintendo in the future?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Channel surfing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsSat, 14 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Brawl, WiiWare and Nintendo Channel dated in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/brawl-wiiware-and-nintendo-channel-dated-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/brawl-wiiware-and-nintendo-channel-dated-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/brawl-wiiware-and-nintendo-channel-dated-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The latest Nintendo of Europe release schedule contains fairly awesome news for the neglected continent, as there's finally a concrete release date for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Nintendo's wildly popular fighter is hitting stores in the region on June 27th, and there's more happy tidings, with WiiWare and Nintendo Channel set to launch on May 20th and May 30th respectively.

There's little else in the list that both interests us and has a specific date (de Blob and Blast Works have both had a vague "Q2 2008" slapped next to them, though it appears that Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors will be out on May 9th), but heck, why are we yammering to you about this? Check out the latest European dates for yourself past the break!

[Update -- Corrected date for Nintendo Channel]

Continue reading Brawl, WiiWare and Nintendo Channel dated in Europe

JoystiqBrawl, WiiWare and Nintendo Channel dated in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blast-workschannelsde-blobdragon-quest-swordseuropefightingpalsmash-bros-brawlssbbukThu, 24 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo Channel launching simultaneously with WiiWare]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/nintendo-channel-launching-simultaneously-with-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/nintendo-channel-launching-simultaneously-with-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/nintendo-channel-launching-simultaneously-with-wiiware/#commentsFiled under:

We've been waiting pretty much forever (since November, but we're mental goldfish) for the Everybody's Nintendo Channel to launch over here after seeing how cool the Japanese version is. Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo Channel, which offers DS demo downloads, user-submitted game reviews, and exclusive video content, will be released in the U.S. on May 12th, the same day WiiWare launches.

Users will be able to submit reviews of their WiiWare games after playing for the industry standard time (joking) of one hour. We really hope that the same kind of cool DS downloads and video material is available for us as there is in Japan.

JoystiqNintendo Channel launching simultaneously with WiiWare originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdemosdseverybodys-nintendoWed, 23 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More online details for Mario Kart Wii and its Channel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/more-online-details-for-mario-kart-wii-and-its-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/more-online-details-for-mario-kart-wii-and-its-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/more-online-details-for-mario-kart-wii-and-its-channel/#commentsFiled under:


We didn't really expect Mario Kart Wii to have much in common with Wii Fit other than sales, but that's the approach Nintendo is taking with the kart racer's online features. Nintendo previously announced that Mario Kart Wii will use a "Mario Kart Channel" that, like the Wii Fit Channel, stays accessible from the Wii Menu even when the disc is not in the drive. You can use this Channel to view and download ghost data of other players and race against them (presumably you'll need the disc for the racing parts). Nintendo has released additional information about this Channel which reveals just how useful and smart their detached Channels can be.

The Channel lets you register friends and check their online status (awesome), look at rankings, and view the current Competition. What's a Competition? "Nintendo will on a regular basis invite players to speedy challenges similar to the Missions of Mario Kart DS." It kind of sounds like Nintendo is actually encouraging online play for once.

JoystiqMore online details for Mario Kart Wii and its Channel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelskartmario-kartmario-kart-wiiracingWed, 05 Mar 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Everybody's Nintendo Channel available in Japan to sate hungry DS systems]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/everybodys-nintendo-channel-available-in-japan-to-sate-hungry-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/everybodys-nintendo-channel-available-in-japan-to-sate-hungry-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/everybodys-nintendo-channel-available-in-japan-to-sate-hungry-d/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The latest Wii channel popped up in Japan tonight without warning, ready to serve videos and demos. The Minna no Nintendo Channel (Everybody's Nintendo Channel) is the DS demo channel we've heard about, but also includes Wii videos, releases lists (uh-oh!) and the capability to recommend games you own to Wii friends. These recommendations are also collected en masse to be tabulated in December.

The channel currently offers just a few DS downloads, including demos of some training games and a patch for the Japanese version of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. The demos stream from Nintendo rather than being saved, and are accessed on the DS via Download Play. The video section offers trailers and commercials for new and recent games, including Wii Fit. According to NeoGAF's john tv, the videos keep playing in a corner if you exit the video menu. Check NeoGAF for frequently-updated impressions from the international gadflies who post there. Really, it sounds like the current content is less enthralling than the promise of future content.

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqEverybody's Nintendo Channel available in Japan to sate hungry DS systems originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdemoEverybody's-Nintendoeverybodys-nintendominna-no-nintendo-channelTue, 27 Nov 2007 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anniversary aftermath: What are we looking forward to?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/anniversary-aftermath-what-are-we-looking-forward-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/anniversary-aftermath-what-are-we-looking-forward-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/anniversary-aftermath-what-are-we-looking-forward-to/#commentsFiled under:

As anniversary week winds down, we can't help but wonder: what's next? One good year for a video game console means nothing if it's followed by some not-so-great years. Fortunately, there are many fun things in store for the Wii, so we've decided to create this little guide to show you what exactly there is to look forward to.

Continue reading Anniversary aftermath: What are we looking forward to?

JoystiqAnniversary aftermath: What are we looking forward to? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008anniversary-weekchannelsjoystiqfeaturesNintendovirtual-consoleWiiwii-wareSat, 24 Nov 2007 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Photo Channel gets better, worse in December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/wii-photo-channel-gets-better-worse-in-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/wii-photo-channel-gets-better-worse-in-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/wii-photo-channel-gets-better-worse-in-december/#commentsFiled under:



While most Wii owners are too busy playing Super Mario Galaxy or checking out Miis to care, Nintendo has announced through their web site some pending updates to the Wii's Photo Channel. Call it a bad news sandwich on good news bread. The good news: After the update you'll be able to choose a favorite picture as the channel's Wii menu icon. The bad news: MP3 music playback will be replaced with support for the higher-quality but much less-accessible AAC format. The good news: The AAC files can be played back in a random order. Mmm... sandwich.

While the added features are nice, we're pretty amazed that Nintendo has managed to make the potentially-useful-but-in-practice-pretty-annoying music playback feature even worse by changing up the formats. As Wii Fanboy points out, even those with copious, iTunes libraries in the proprietary AAC format are unlikely to be able to play them on the non-Apple-endorsed Wii (and don't go restarting those pesky merger rumors -- no one is getting bought out) due to the DRM issues. But, again, unless you're one of the three people who uses the channel regularly, you're probably too busy to care. Go back to your business ... nothing to see here.

JoystiqWii Photo Channel gets better, worse in December originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AACchannelsMP3photophoto-channelwiiTue, 13 Nov 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Financial Briefing: TV guide videos, gift channel, and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/financial-briefing-tv-guide-videos-gift-channel-and-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/financial-briefing-tv-guide-videos-gift-channel-and-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/financial-briefing-tv-guide-videos-gift-channel-and-more/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nintendo has transcribed a Financial Results briefing given by president Satoru Iwata. Being a Financial Results briefing, it of course focuses on sales history, but it is also loaded with information that may be of interest to you beyond the charts and graphs detailing how awesome Nintendo is.*

This includes Iwata's new philosophy of the roles of Nintendo's gaming systems. The DS is now being seen as a "machine to enrich its owners' lives," in ways beyond gaming. Nintendo's plan for new DS-based utilities is an instantiation of this idea, allowing users to carry their DS systems around for many purposes, improving the quality of their lives. The Wii, on the other hand, is seen as the "Machine to put smiles on people surrounding it," meaning that entire households should be encouraged to interact with the Wii, even when not playing games. You are free, of course, to moan about this being the death of gaming or whatever.

Spreading happiness is the goal of the two new updates headed to the Wii. Check pages 6 and 7 for video of the gift-giving function of the Wii Shop Channel, which will work for both VC and Wii Ware games, and a demonstration of an early version of the TV Program Schedule Channel. It allows users to search by genre or keyword, and to mark their favorite programs with a color code.

*For an analysis of the charts and graphs detailing how awesome Nintendo is, check out this Gamasutra feature from our own Eric Caoili!

JoystiqFinancial Briefing: TV guide videos, gift channel, and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>briefingchannelsgiftiwatatv-scheduleThu, 01 Nov 2007 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolutionary: Changing Channels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/revolutionary-changing-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/revolutionary-changing-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/revolutionary-changing-channels/#commentsFiled under:

Every Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities.

With the release of the 3.0 system update and the Metroid Prime 3 preview, it became evident that there are plenty more possibilities to be explored in the ongoing development of the Wii's channel interface. Based on what we've seen so far, I'd like to postulate on what more they could potentially deliver.

Continue reading Revolutionary: Changing Channels

JoystiqRevolutionary: Changing Channels originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsjoystiqfeaturespreviewRevolutionaryWiiShopTue, 21 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Equip your Video Watching Visor for more Metroid clips]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/17/equip-your-video-watching-visor-for-more-metroid-clips/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/17/equip-your-video-watching-visor-for-more-metroid-clips/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/17/equip-your-video-watching-visor-for-more-metroid-clips/#commentsFiled under:



Two more Metroid Prime 3: Corruption videos are now available for download. We just went to check them out and the first video got stuck buffering for an inordinately long amount of time. Luckily, for emergency non-Wii-loading video situations, there's good old YouTube.

The first video describes the Phazon Enhancement Device, which GF Marines use to boost their abilities temporarily. Basically, it's like Bane's Venom tube thing, or some kind of spinach delivery device. The other video, Air Assault, contains gameplay footage of what looks like a boss battle. The antagonist is airborne, and shoots stuff at Samus! It's really quite an invigorating way to start your morning.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqEquip your Video Watching Visor for more Metroid clips originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airassaultchannelsmetroidprime3pedsuitFri, 17 Aug 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Wii Where?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/05/wii-warm-up-wii-where/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/05/wii-warm-up-wii-where/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/05/wii-warm-up-wii-where/#commentsFiled under:

We were sitting in our sound-proof Concentration Room, just pondering stuff, when we had a thought: why did we have this room built? Immediately following that, we had another thought: where was Wii Ware at E3? There was this huge trade show for video game companies to show off their video games, which Nintendo totally did, and they didn't mention Wii Ware at all.

In fact, other than a single game announcement immediately before E3, we've heard shockingly little about what should be a very big deal. What's your take on Nintendo's silence? Why didn't they show any Wii Ware stuff at E3? Maybe there wasn't enough to show. Or maybe what there is will completely upstage boring, everyday stuff like Super Mario Galaxy.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Wii Where? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdownloadwiiwareSun, 05 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolutionary: Web Wii Wares]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/17/revolutionary-web-wii-wares/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/17/revolutionary-web-wii-wares/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/17/revolutionary-web-wii-wares/#commentsFiled under:

Every Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities.

When WiiWare was announced, it seemed like a godsend for the garage developer wishing to make Wii games for mass appreciation. But details on how to get your hands on a WiiWare development kit and the costs involved are not public knowledge, and the official launch of the distribution channel (on the Wii Shop Channel) isn't going to be happening until some time next year. So what's a Wii-loving, budget-restricted developer to do in the meanwhile? Making games for Wii's Opera Browser is one option.

Continue reading Revolutionary: Web Wii Wares

JoystiqRevolutionary: Web Wii Wares originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchannelsFlashhomebrewinternetJavascriptjoystiqfeaturesOperaRevolutionarywiiwareTue, 17 Jul 2007 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Mii Popularity Channel announced for North America: Check Mii Out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/mii-popularity-channel-announced-for-north-america-check-mii-ou/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/mii-popularity-channel-announced-for-north-america-check-mii-ou/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/mii-popularity-channel-announced-for-north-america-check-mii-ou/#commentsFiled under:

First mentioned by Takeshi Shimada back in March, Nintendo today announced the Mii Popularity Channel will be making its way to North America sometime soon. Dubbed "Check Mii Out", gamers can submit Miis to be voted on and engage in contests and promotions. Kind of like Hot or Not, but, you know, with cartoon characters. Polish up your Mii likenesses of Stalin and Buddha, it's time for them to take a walk down the runway.

JoystiqMii Popularity Channel announced for North America: Check Mii Out originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelse3e307miinintendowiiWed, 11 Jul 2007 12:49:00 EST<![CDATA[A problem we will soon share]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/12/a-problem-we-will-soon-share/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/12/a-problem-we-will-soon-share/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/12/a-problem-we-will-soon-share/#commentsFiled under: , ,


8Bit Joystick has a very real problem on their hands, one we suspect will be affecting us in a week or two. See, their Wii is full from all the VIrtual Console games they purchased. Since we like to cover Virtual Console games as well, we can understand where they're coming from. The solution, as you may already know, involves a lot of copying to the SD card slot and deleting the games from the Wii's included 512mb of space, freeing up those Channel slots.

Have any of you filled up, or come close to filling up, your Wii with Virtual Console games?

JoystiqA problem we will soon share originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsnintendonintendowiivirtualconsolewiiTue, 12 Jun 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Harrison: Wii lifecycle may exceed five years]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/harrison-wii-lifecycle-may-exceed-five-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/harrison-wii-lifecycle-may-exceed-five-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/harrison-wii-lifecycle-may-exceed-five-years/#commentsFiled under:

Chris Kohler of Game|Life interviewed Nintendo of America VP George Harrison about the future of the Wii system, and his responses were, well, generally unsurprising. We wouldn't expect Nintendo to suddenly change their strategy in the midst of such success.

Harrison said that because of the high prices of the Wii's competitors, he expected the Wii to have a lifecycle longer than the traditional five years. (Would that mean more than 35 million installed units in the US?) And it'll continue to have a pack-in for some of that lifecycle, since Wii Sports is a "cultural phenomenon" that is helping to draw people in to the system.

Harrison also mentioned that more Wii software targeted at Nintendo's new "expanded" audience would be revealed at E3, and that a game download channel is in development.

There's more, including some weird comments about localizing Virtual Console games and a response to the continuing shortages. Go read the whole thing, if you are so inclined.

JoystiqHarrison: Wii lifecycle may exceed five years originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsdlcdownloadharrisonlifecyclenintendonintendo of americanintendo wiiNintendoOfAmericaNintendoWiinoawiiwii sportsWiiSportsTue, 29 May 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Everybody Does Free Market Research for Nintendo Channel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/everybody-does-free-market-research-for-nintendo-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/everybody-does-free-market-research-for-nintendo-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/everybody-does-free-market-research-for-nintendo-channel/#commentsFiled under: ,

Aeropause's Stephen Munn, reacting to a recent Everybody Votes Channel question about how people preferred to buy music, suspects that the Everybody Votes Channel may not be just about harmless fun.

He believes that this question is aimed at gauging interest in a future music download channel, implying that the Everybody Votes Channel has always been an attempt to get marketing data from Wii users and pretend it's a game. We're going to have to add this plausible theory to our our own list of Everybody Votes conspiracy theories.

What do you think? If this is true, are you outraged? Or does the intent of the service not matter as long as you're having a good time?

JoystiqEverybody Does Free Market Research for Nintendo Channel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2007 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdchannelchannelsdownloadeverybodyeverybody votesEverybodyVotesmarketingmusicnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiipollpollsresearchvotevotesvotingwiiMon, 07 May 2007 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Music (Remix) ft. ROBOTOBOTS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/wii-music-remix-ft-robotobots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/wii-music-remix-ft-robotobots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/wii-music-remix-ft-robotobots/#commentsFiled under: ,

We wander the Fanboy office's halls humming the catchy melodies we've picked up from the Wii's different channels, unintentionally mimicking the lives of our own Mii caricatures. There's something delightful about these minute-long loops that stay stuck in our heads like an attractive girl we saw in passing.

Electro-experimental group ROBOTOBOTS chopped up the music tracks and added its own flavor to the interface themes. The resulting three songs -- Breaking Points, Revolve Around Planets, and Built to Diistroy -- are just as fetching as the original tunes, albeit more complex and not as light-hearted. We wouldn't mind listening to these reinterpreted tracks in place of Nintendo's pieces, were it possible.

[Via Nintendogal]

JoystiqWii Music (Remix) ft. ROBOTOBOTS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catchychannelchannelsmusicnintendonintendowiiremixrobotobotssongssoundtrackwiiwiimixWed, 02 May 2007 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Fat lady sings: Opera free longer, but final version delayed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/fat-lady-sings-opera-free-longer-but-wii-internet-channel-dela/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/fat-lady-sings-opera-free-longer-but-wii-internet-channel-dela/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/fat-lady-sings-opera-free-longer-but-wii-internet-channel-dela/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So, there's good news, and bad news in the Wii camp. Which do you want first? Okay, the bad news it is: the final version of the Wii Internet Channel is delayed. Although delayed in the nick of time, as it were. It was supposed to be available in late March ... and here we are in late March. No final Internet Channel sighting over here, up in the crow's nest? Negative sir, only the beta. Opera tells us that it will now be available some time in April ... although no actual date has been announced yet. Our money is on late April, it's possibly too much to hope for an Easter surprise.

Onto the good news, then: the Wii Opera browser will be available longer for everyone's favorite price ... FREE! That's right folks, don't order yet because er, you don't need to. You can just go ahead and download the free beta, and then grab the real goods when they're offered up in April. The Opera browser will cost 500 Wii points ($5 for Americans) after the free period, which was set to end in June, but will now be sliding to July. The only great unknown is the current beta browser, which was good until the end of March -- will they be extending that until the real one comes out?

[Thanks, tqt]

JoystiqFat lady sings: Opera free longer, but final version delayed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AprilBrowserchannelsEasterFreeInternet ChannelNintendoNintendo WiiNOAonlineOperaWiiThu, 22 Mar 2007 13:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Wii hard drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/rumor-wii-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/rumor-wii-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/rumor-wii-hard-drive/#commentsFiled under:

Another day, another completely speculative rumor. This time, the word is that there's an external hard drive in the works for the Wii,. This rumor is brought to us by a Japanese magazine called Gamelabo, which, according to the media watchdogs at NeoGAF, is not necessarily a trustworthy source.

Our take: those USB ports have to be used for something sooner or later. Also, if this rumor turned out to be true, it would lend a lot of credence to those other rumors about Saturn games and demo downloads-- but using one rumor to support other rumors does not receive the Wii Fanboy Seal of Approval. We want it to be true, though! That trumps logic, right?


JoystiqRumor: Wii hard drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsdemodemochannelhard driveharddrivehddnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiirumorrumorswiiMon, 19 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The downloadable demo rumors: still rumors]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/the-downloadable-demo-rumors-still-rumors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/the-downloadable-demo-rumors-still-rumors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/the-downloadable-demo-rumors-still-rumors/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Internet has been slightly a splode lately with rumors about a new Wii channel for game demos. Game blogs everywhere have been picking up the story, which originally came from German magazine Games Aktuell via their website, Cynamite. Unfortunately for those of us waiting for an announcement of a demo channel, this ain't it. Most of the sudden interest seems to come from a popular Digging of the article-- and both the Cynamite article and the Digg posting are, in Internet terms, prehistoric.

The Cynamite article uses (the German equivalents of) words like "official" and "confirmed", but we have our doubts-- stemming mainly from the fact that it was posted on December 1st of last year and nobody else has said anything about it since. We find it odd that Nintendo would reveal a new feature to only one magazine, over four months (or however long it may be before such an announcement occurs) before its official announcement in any region.

We also find it odd that this news would be delivered in Europe and nowhere else; Europe isn't exactly the first priority for video game companies, as any gamer living there has discovered. It seems more likely that this news would eventually come out of multiple Nintendo representatives in communication with multiple sources-- at least one per region. And we'd really expect this kind of big exclusive to come to a Japanese magazine like Famitsu.

Don't despair yet, small-free-game-segment fans. Just because this particular posting probably isn't an official announcement doesn't mean Nintendo won't eventually start offering demo downloads. They've got a nice Internet-capable console now, and they're delivering actual games over the Internet for the first time. Why wouldn't they throw some demos up on one of the Wii channels?

JoystiqThe downloadable demo rumors: still rumors originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsdemodemosdiggdownloadseuropenintendonintendo wiinintendowiirumorrumorswiiSun, 18 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Possible Wii upgrades and a new Wii channel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/possible-wii-upgrades-and-a-new-wii-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/possible-wii-upgrades-and-a-new-wii-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/possible-wii-upgrades-and-a-new-wii-channel/#commentsFiled under:

Your Wii may soon get a voice of its own. According to Nintendo's Takeshi Shimada, the company is working on a text-to-speech tool that can read news and weather headlines out loud. The feature can also be used to read e-mail and system messages while you kick back and enjoy your (momentary) superiority over machines. Let's hope Nintendo includes a game where you can argue with your Wii via the microphone.

Also from Shimada, Wii motion sensing could get an upgrade that learns from your movements and predicts your next action. It won't play Twilight Princess for you, but a few shortcuts in the menu interface could be helpful.

Finally, a new Wii channel was revealed that lets users vote for their favorite Miis. Pairs of Mii characters strut into the spotlight and you choose which one you like best. The Mii Popularity Channel will launch in late April, though it's unclear if this is worldwide or Japan-only.

Soon the Wii could be talking to you, listening to you, predicting your movements and humiliating you with high school popularity contests. Is this the precursor to the Man vs. Machine war we've been warned about?

[Via NintendoWiiFanboy, WiiNintendo]

JoystiqPossible Wii upgrades and a new Wii channel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsmiinintendoupgradeswiiMon, 12 Mar 2007 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Popularity Channel? A Wii Fanboy staff reaction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/popularity-channel-a-wii-fanboy-staff-reaction/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/popularity-channel-a-wii-fanboy-staff-reaction/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/popularity-channel-a-wii-fanboy-staff-reaction/#commentsFiled under: ,


Miyamoto's keynote revealed that he is making a new Channel. This new Channel will allow people to compete in popularity contests with their Miis. Now, we don't have any concrete information other than that, nor do we have images of the new Channel, but isn't this enough for us to form an opinion on the concept? You bet it does!

Join us past the post break where we each discuss what we think about the new proposed channel.

Continue reading Popularity Channel? A Wii Fanboy staff reaction

JoystiqPopularity Channel? A Wii Fanboy staff reaction originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsfeaturemiinintendonintendowiipopularitywiiThu, 08 Mar 2007 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Europe: WELCOME TO WARP ZONE!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/24/europe-welcome-to-warp-zone/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/24/europe-welcome-to-warp-zone/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/24/europe-welcome-to-warp-zone/#commentsFiled under: ,

European Wii Shop users got a pleasant surprise: a secret area inside the Virtual Console section! To access it, follow these simple steps:
  1. Be European (depending on your circumstances, this is either the easiest or hardest step).
  2. Download the latest update.
  3. Click on the little smiley emoticon.
So far, there's not much other than a blurb about Kirby (a "blurby"), but it's going to be a trivia channel about Nintendo characters! An encyclopedia of gaming! Between this and the Virtual Console, the Wii is on the way to becoming the premiere console for librarians.

Jump over the post break to enter GERMAN YOUTUBE DEMONSTRATION ZONE!

[Via GayGamer]

Continue reading Europe: WELCOME TO WARP ZONE!

JoystiqEurope: WELCOME TO WARP ZONE! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsconsoleeuropekirbynintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiishoptriviavirtualvirtual consolevirtualconsolewarpwiizoneSat, 24 Feb 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Perrin Kaplan mentions Nintendo Wii 2.0 ... already?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/perrin-kaplan-mentions-nintendo-wii-2-0-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/perrin-kaplan-mentions-nintendo-wii-2-0-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/perrin-kaplan-mentions-nintendo-wii-2-0-already/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strain, ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. When asked if the Wii will have a hardware revision in an interview with GameDaily, Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan, vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, said, "Sure, absolutely. You'll see the ways in which we do that."

Although Nintendo has consistently updated their portable units with revisions, console hardware revisions, like those in the NES and SNES, were held off until the end of the console's life cycle. This Wii revision, apparently in the cards for as early as this year in Japan, is probably not welcome news to those who just purchased the $250 console at launch. Hopefully the DVD upgrade, and whatever other goodies Nintendo has in store (other than new Wii colors), will be a simple software upgrade and not make early adopters feel like they've been gypped.

JoystiqPerrin Kaplan mentions Nintendo Wii 2.0 ... already? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0changeschannelsdvdperrin kaplanPerrinKaplanversion 2wiiWed, 21 Feb 2007 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Everybody Votes followup: another theory]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/everybody-votes-followup-another-theory/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/everybody-votes-followup-another-theory/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/everybody-votes-followup-another-theory/#commentsFiled under: ,


Yesterday, we discussed the significance of the Everybody Votes Channel, and made some conjecture about how it relates to the future of the Wii online. We've discovered another theory we think is worth sharing, from a post made in one of our own comments threads last week! Our readers are so smart; we, of course, take full credit.

Reader Cole thinks that the Everybody Votes Channel is a sneaky way to test netcode for online play, getting players to interact with the system in a simple manner. It sounds plausible to us, and certainly goes a long way in explaining why a poll channel appeared out of nowhere.

JoystiqEverybody Votes followup: another theory originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelseverybodyeverybody voteseverybody votes channelEverybodyVotesEverybodyVotesCnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiivotevoteswiiWed, 21 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of Wii channels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/01/the-future-of-wii-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/01/the-future-of-wii-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/01/the-future-of-wii-channels/#commentsFiled under:

Deliicious.IGN has used their precognitive abilities to figure out a few of the new Wii channels we'll be entitled to over the next several years. Detailed descriptions and pretty Photoshop jobs litter the page, but the true genius of this article lies at the very bottom, almost hidden away from the public: a zip-code based online pizza delivery channel. Oh my God. We now hail IGN as Nostradamus, and prepare for the true wave of next-gen pizza delivery.

Pizza.

Awesome.

JoystiqThe future of Wii channels originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChannelsFutureIGNPizzaThu, 01 Feb 2007 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Seriously, news and weather?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/30/wii-warm-up-seriously-news-and-weather/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/30/wii-warm-up-seriously-news-and-weather/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/30/wii-warm-up-seriously-news-and-weather/#commentsFiled under:

I stole this picture from YOU.
Here at the Fanboy, we're not quite sure what to think about these silly new channels. Both the news and the forecast channels perform admirably, giving an easily accessible wealth of happenstance and Celsius. Still, how often will they really be used, especially by the standard gaming crowd? All the news you really need can actually be found on one website, and no matter how convenient Nintendo's weather service is, it's tough to beat Firefox plug-ins or, you know, just walking outside.

What do you think: can you see yourselves using these that's-kinda-neat features over extended amounts of time, or would you rather just stick to that glorious land of freedom that is yon internet? Do old people really care about these things? Do squirrels really eat pizza? Hmmm.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Seriously, news and weather? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChannelswwuTue, 30 Jan 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Channels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/22/wii-warm-up-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/22/wii-warm-up-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/22/wii-warm-up-channels/#commentsFiled under: ,



There was some recent ruckus over the (lack of) functionality of the Weather Channel, but we haven't spent a great deal of time discussing the rest of the Wii channels. Does the browser get much play on your Wii? How about the photo channel? While it doesn't have too many features, a little living room photo manipulation can be fun in a group. How about your Mii Plaza? Is it packed to the max, or somewhat sparse?

So today's question is: have you just dipped a toe, or have you gone all out, gathering on the sofa for YouTube videos and checking the weather in the morning? Can you think of any other channels you'd like to see added?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Channels originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsinternetMiiNintendophotoweatherWiiwwuMon, 22 Jan 2007 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Share your Miis with the world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/share-your-miis-with-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/share-your-miis-with-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/share-your-miis-with-the-world/#commentsFiled under:



Making random Miis has turned out to be one of the most fun -- and most infectiously popular -- aspects of wasting time with our Wiis, so it was only a matter of time before someone dedicated web space to Mii creations great and small. Some of the Miis we've seen lately would fit right in at MiiPlaza.net, a new site that is slowly beginning to expand its Mii population. They're still working out the kinks, but the site has some interesting Miis and a lot of big plans, so check it out.

Made any celebrity Miis yet? We're still working on perfecting Miis of friends and family, but we love to hear about your adventures in the Mii Channel.

[Thanks, Jeff!]

JoystiqShare your Miis with the world originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsMiiMii PlazaMiiPlazaNintendoWiiFri, 01 Dec 2006 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Many Wii online functions not ready for launch [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/16/many-wii-online-functions-not-ready-for-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/16/many-wii-online-functions-not-ready-for-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/16/many-wii-online-functions-not-ready-for-launch/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nintendo announced today in a press release that many of the Wii's online functions would not be available when the system launches in North America on Sunday. The release reveals the forecast channel will debut on Dec. 20, while the news channel (with content from the Associated Press) will debut Jan. 27 of next year. The release also suggested that the Wii's Opera browser would not be available for download immediately, saying "more information about the availability of the browser will be released in the coming weeks."

Nintendo did confirm that 12 Virtual Console games would be available on launch day, including Donkey Kong, SimCity, Super Mario 64, Sonic the Hedgehog and Bomberman '93. The release also confirmed that new VC content would be released every Monday and established pricing for Genesis and Turbo-Grafx games at 800 points ($8) and 600 points ($6) respectively.

Of course what is perhaps the key online feature for a game console -- actual online game play -- still won't be available until next year, making a lot of this moot from a certain perspective. Still, this delay in more basic online functionality makes us wonder how well Nintendo's online strategy will be able to go from a practical standing start to keeping up with the big boys.

[Thanks Stephen]

[update: Original article said Jan. 17 for the News Channel launch. This has been fixed above.]

JoystiqMany Wii online functions not ready for launch [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelsforecastnewsonlinevirtual consoleVirtualConsolewiiThu, 16 Nov 2006 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten minute run-through with the Wii interface]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/28/ten-minute-run-through-with-the-wii-interface/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/28/ten-minute-run-through-with-the-wii-interface/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/28/ten-minute-run-through-with-the-wii-interface/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SensitivityMatt must have slept with Perrin or something, because IGN got their grubby mitts on a Wii debugging unit and a few games, to boot. On the latest IGN Weekly, Matt spends around ten minutes going through the Wii interface (mainly, the options menu) in detail. The menu seems to confirm the existence of one Wii code per system, as opposed to per game, which should make matchmaking at least slightly more convenient. He goes through Sound, Screen, Parental Controls, Sensitivity Options, and pretty much everything you'll see come November 19th. It's worth a watch, so check it out.

JoystiqTen minute run-through with the Wii interface originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Oct 2006 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CassamassinaChannelsDebugInterfaceMattMenuPerrinScreenSensitivitySoundUnitSat, 28 Oct 2006 15:59:00 EST