A thread over at the Nintendo of America forums has highlighted a potential problem with the Nintendo Wii's output of 480p signals using component cables. Over a dozen members have reported blank and flickering screens on a range of televisions from 30" Toshiba CRTs right up to 65" Sony XBR LCD TVs. The type of cable isn't limited to third party solutions from the likes of Mad Catz, Psyclone, and Joytech either: several reports indicate that the standard Nintendo component cable also exhibits the problem (no word on whether DIY will save you). Strangely, the problem -- which Tharealfofo states is "like nothing is connected" -- occurs in similar sections of certain games and applications: several forum members have mentioned that the screen goes blank during specific sections of Zelda, the Wii Channel, and in the Opera browser. Switching to 480i output in nearly all cases fixes the problem. The broad mix of configurations that are affected suggests that the problem is the Wii itself, so hopefully Nintendo will issue some form of update in the not too distant future. In the meantime, feel free to sound off in the comments about how being forced to view your games with interlacing is a breach of your fundamental human rights.
Source Article
Showing posts with label Rumors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rumors. Show all posts
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Wii: Guitar Hero Coming...
That’s right, during Activision’s conference call on Wednesday, CEO Mike Griffith stated that Guitar Hero will be making it’s way to the Wii:
No other details were given during the 60+ minute conference call. Since the announcement was given by the President of Activision, I think the chances are high for an official press release in the future. If you wish to hear the announcement for yourself, check out the conference call below and skip ahead to around the 28-minute mark.
Retrieved from:
The key difference in our strategy versus the prior cycle, is that in addition to full support on Sony and Microsoft platforms, we will aggressively target the Nintendo platforms consistent with our multi-platform strategy and Nintendo’s expected growth. In fiscal 2008, we will double our offerings on the DS and the Wii, including Spider-Man, Shrek, Transformers, and Guitar Hero.
No other details were given during the 60+ minute conference call. Since the announcement was given by the President of Activision, I think the chances are high for an official press release in the future. If you wish to hear the announcement for yourself, check out the conference call below and skip ahead to around the 28-minute mark.
Retrieved from:
Thetanooki.com
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Confirmed: Nintendo Announces New Wii Colors
In a rather shocking revelation this weekend, an anonymous Nintendo rep revealed to GameDrift that a plan is running through the pipeline to colorize the, as of now, rather bland coloration of its hit console, Wii. The rep did not reveal detailed specifics, however did remark that a red and black console have been confirmed.
This should come to no surprise to long time Nintendo fans, since Nintendo has come out with many color variants of their systems in the past. We at Gamedrift would be thrilled to see a transparent Wii (much like the see through N64 they once sold). Not just because it would look amazing, but we would finally be able to figure out how that crazy slot fed drive works.
No exact date or pricing information has yet been revealed. But, these rainbow Wiis are expected by the end of the year.
Retrieved from: Gamedrift.com
Confirmed: Nintendo Announces New Wii Colors
In a rather shocking revelation this weekend, an anonymous Nintendo rep revealed to GameDrift that a plan is running through the pipeline to colorize the, as of now, rather bland coloration of its hit console, Wii. The rep did not reveal detailed specifics, however did remark that a red and black console have been confirmed.
This should come to no surprise to long time Nintendo fans, since Nintendo has come out with many color variants of their systems in the past. We at Gamedrift would be thrilled to see a transparent Wii (much like the see through N64 they once sold). Not just because it would look amazing, but we would finally be able to figure out how that crazy slot fed drive works.
No exact date or pricing information has yet been revealed. But, these rainbow Wiis are expected by the end of the year.
Retrieved from: Gamedrift.com
This should come to no surprise to long time Nintendo fans, since Nintendo has come out with many color variants of their systems in the past. We at Gamedrift would be thrilled to see a transparent Wii (much like the see through N64 they once sold). Not just because it would look amazing, but we would finally be able to figure out how that crazy slot fed drive works.
No exact date or pricing information has yet been revealed. But, these rainbow Wiis are expected by the end of the year.
Retrieved from: Gamedrift.com
Saturday, January 27, 2007
IGN's Wii Predictions: 2007 Edition
US, January 26, 2007 - In just about two months, Nintendo has sold through almost four million Wii units, a few million games, and 1.5 million Virtual Console titles. Not a bad start for a little white console that many initially argued lacked the horsepower to compete with the big boys. With an original lineup of software married to an innovative new controller, Wii has already become a worldwide success story, not to mention both the hottest holiday must-buy and the most sought-after gadget in the new year. Indeed, even as some shipments of PlayStation 3s sit untouched on retail shelves today, Wii systems sell out the moment they come in. And the momentum hasn't slowed yet.
Clearly, Wii's launch couldn't have gone smoother, but what about 2007? What can gamers look forward to from Nintendo and third parties through the remainder of the year? There are some obvious answers, including the arrival of the first Wii online games around the globe, new Wii Channels, more third party support than a Nintendo home console has seen in years and big hits from established and new franchises. You don't need us to predict all of that.
We do, however, have some predictions for Wii this year. Some of these are straight up guesses - call them educated wishful thinking, if you want - and others are based on details we already know. Of course, even with that being the case, something that is true today may prove false tomorrow and hence we ask that readers refrain from taking any of our predictions as a form of fact.
New Wii System Colors Launch
When IGN.com polled more than 30,000 readers last year, they were split right down the middle on the subject of their favorite Wii colors: white and black. As we all know, Nintendo ultimately chose to go with white, paying homage to the clean, simple style that helped earn Apple Inc. $1 billion of pure profit last quarter alone. That said, a multi-color plan has always been in the pipeline for Nintendo's new console and we think 2007 will house the arrival of the first non-white Wii. And can you guess what new color might hit store shelves first? Yeah - it's black. Nintendo did the same thing with DS, rolling out white first and black later. If all goes as planned, you'll be able to pick up your shiny midnight Wii systems as a sleek, beautiful complementary piece to the holiday season - and maybe they'll even ship with a game that isn't Wii Sports.
Metroid Prime 3's Late Arrival
Retro Studios' third installment in the Metroid Prime franchise was all set to arrive for Wii in time for the system's launch, but then it got quietly delayed beyond the holiday season. It's not coming in the first quarter of 2007 and we've been told not to expect it through June. So why does a game that's originally scheduled to debut with Wii get delayed by more than eight months and when, exactly, will it finally release to the masses? Depending on who you talk to, the delay is 1) to add an online mode (which we hope is not true) or 2) for purely marketing reasons. Regardless, we wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo held it well into the third quarter. Oh, Samus, how we'll miss you.
Wireless Attachments
Not just any wireless attachments, either. How would you like to eliminate the pesky wire dangling from the bottom of your Wii remote all the way to your nunchuck peripheral? Uh-huh. We believe by the end of the year Nintendo - not third party manufacturers -- will have a wireless solution for you. If the publisher decides to keep the controls for titles like DK Bongo Blast in tact, you're also very likely to see wireless Wii bongos, in addition to other attachments like the classic controller. Finally, third parties have made mention of wireless base stations that simultaneously power two Wii remotes and enable gamers to use attachments from the comfort of their couch. Look, ma - no cords!
Lots of Exercising
Nintendo DS has your brain covered, but what about your body? Strap on your Wii remote and get ready to shed some unwanted calories (and eventually, pounds). The Wii Sports collection was just the beginning. In 2007, we think that Wii owners can look forward to a series of games that revolve around the process of making exercise entertaining. Not just from the Big N, which undoubtedly already has games in development, from a variety of third parties, too. Some of these titles may be the first two use dual-Wii remotes, representing both the left and right hands during "intense" workouts. Who needs a stamina bar when you've got the real thing? And as an added bonus, these offerings are sure to make Wii the videogame darling of the mainstream world, which is sure to embrace anything that keeps kids off the couch for a few minutes longer.
Back From the Dead Franchises
You thought it was dead. You can, in fact, barely remember it by name. But after a long hiatus from the videogame world, the franchise has returned from the great beyond. And damn it, doesn't it look good on Wii? We're not going to name names, but there are a number of videogame franchises that are ripe to be reborn on Nintendo's new console with brand new controls and enhanced graphics. Check some first- and third-party back catalogues of licenses sometime - it'll give you something to do this weekend. You might just stumble upon the next big Wii game.
The Return of Pikmin
Battalion Wars, we love you, but you'll never replace Pikmin, a series that is perfectly suited for Nintendo's new controller. In 2007, we expect Nintendo to announce Pikmin for Wii, a title that boasts not only predictably overhauled visuals, but fully re-worked controls mapped to the Wii remote and a robust cooperative online mode. Commanding armies of different colored Pikmin will be both more intuitive and quicker than ever before with the newfound accuracy and speed of the Wii remote. Nintendo, make this one a priority - your fans want it.
Massive Developer Outreach; Launch of Original VC Games
March 2007 is home to the Game Developers Conference and, we believe, one of the most important third party outreach programs in Nintendo history. The event will kick off with a monumental keynote from Shigeru Miyamoto himself and from there we expect Nintendo to pull back the curtain on a brand new Wii Channel in promotion of completely original Virtual Console games. These will, of course, exist in addition to the classic already available for download on the Wii Shopping Channel. Post GDC, we think Nintendo will aggressively encourage and work with third parties to secure original VC content for Wii.
Third Parties Reinvent Mii Faces
We love the Mii concept and have absolutely adored playing as virtual versions of ourselves in games like Wii Sports. That said, Miis are at best inappropriate for certain game types. A cute, simplified Wii face would, for example, be entirely out of place in the upcoming Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. However, we think third parties will develop a custom Mii transformer tool that looks at and identifies the basic attributes of created faces and then translates them into something more befitting of a realistic setting. It's only a matter of time and the first studio to do it will undoubtedly be copied by others within months, if not weeks.
Wii Takes Japan
Wii is a hit around the world, but it's a smash in Japan. The console flew off store shelves in the Land of the Rising Sun when it debuted last year and it has continued to sell out on a weekly basis. Although Xbox 360 enjoys a strong sales lead in America and Europe, Microsoft's console has hardly made a dent in Japan. Wii has already obliterated it in sheer popularity and amazingly, Nintendo's system has for the last two months outsold PlayStation 3 in the homeland at a rate of almost three to one. With few major PS3 releases in the near future, we don't see how Sony can easily catch up, especially when Nintendo has everything from Cooking Mama to Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl looming.
Nintendo Holds Strong at Number Two Globally
Two years ago, we probably would have told you that nothing short of divine interference could stop PlayStation 3 from becoming market leader. Nowadays, we don't think anybody is going to squash Microsoft's Xbox 360 this year. (Next year, well, that could be another story.) That noted, if any console comes close, it'll be Wii and not PS3. The Big N has already sold almost four million systems and is expected to increase supply to retailers up to as much as one million units per month. If all goes well, Wii could topple 10 or 12 million units worldwide by the end of the year. Some analysts have pegged the console to sell even better than that. Regardless of how many people ultimately jump on the Wii bandwagon this year, one thing will remain a certainty: third party developers and publishers can no longer afford to ignore or dismiss Nintendo's hardware as niche or gimmicky. It's clearly here to stay.
Retrieved from: Wii.ign.com
Clearly, Wii's launch couldn't have gone smoother, but what about 2007? What can gamers look forward to from Nintendo and third parties through the remainder of the year? There are some obvious answers, including the arrival of the first Wii online games around the globe, new Wii Channels, more third party support than a Nintendo home console has seen in years and big hits from established and new franchises. You don't need us to predict all of that.
We do, however, have some predictions for Wii this year. Some of these are straight up guesses - call them educated wishful thinking, if you want - and others are based on details we already know. Of course, even with that being the case, something that is true today may prove false tomorrow and hence we ask that readers refrain from taking any of our predictions as a form of fact.
New Wii System Colors Launch
When IGN.com polled more than 30,000 readers last year, they were split right down the middle on the subject of their favorite Wii colors: white and black. As we all know, Nintendo ultimately chose to go with white, paying homage to the clean, simple style that helped earn Apple Inc. $1 billion of pure profit last quarter alone. That said, a multi-color plan has always been in the pipeline for Nintendo's new console and we think 2007 will house the arrival of the first non-white Wii. And can you guess what new color might hit store shelves first? Yeah - it's black. Nintendo did the same thing with DS, rolling out white first and black later. If all goes as planned, you'll be able to pick up your shiny midnight Wii systems as a sleek, beautiful complementary piece to the holiday season - and maybe they'll even ship with a game that isn't Wii Sports.
Metroid Prime 3's Late Arrival
Retro Studios' third installment in the Metroid Prime franchise was all set to arrive for Wii in time for the system's launch, but then it got quietly delayed beyond the holiday season. It's not coming in the first quarter of 2007 and we've been told not to expect it through June. So why does a game that's originally scheduled to debut with Wii get delayed by more than eight months and when, exactly, will it finally release to the masses? Depending on who you talk to, the delay is 1) to add an online mode (which we hope is not true) or 2) for purely marketing reasons. Regardless, we wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo held it well into the third quarter. Oh, Samus, how we'll miss you.
Wireless Attachments
Not just any wireless attachments, either. How would you like to eliminate the pesky wire dangling from the bottom of your Wii remote all the way to your nunchuck peripheral? Uh-huh. We believe by the end of the year Nintendo - not third party manufacturers -- will have a wireless solution for you. If the publisher decides to keep the controls for titles like DK Bongo Blast in tact, you're also very likely to see wireless Wii bongos, in addition to other attachments like the classic controller. Finally, third parties have made mention of wireless base stations that simultaneously power two Wii remotes and enable gamers to use attachments from the comfort of their couch. Look, ma - no cords!
Lots of Exercising
Nintendo DS has your brain covered, but what about your body? Strap on your Wii remote and get ready to shed some unwanted calories (and eventually, pounds). The Wii Sports collection was just the beginning. In 2007, we think that Wii owners can look forward to a series of games that revolve around the process of making exercise entertaining. Not just from the Big N, which undoubtedly already has games in development, from a variety of third parties, too. Some of these titles may be the first two use dual-Wii remotes, representing both the left and right hands during "intense" workouts. Who needs a stamina bar when you've got the real thing? And as an added bonus, these offerings are sure to make Wii the videogame darling of the mainstream world, which is sure to embrace anything that keeps kids off the couch for a few minutes longer.
Back From the Dead Franchises
You thought it was dead. You can, in fact, barely remember it by name. But after a long hiatus from the videogame world, the franchise has returned from the great beyond. And damn it, doesn't it look good on Wii? We're not going to name names, but there are a number of videogame franchises that are ripe to be reborn on Nintendo's new console with brand new controls and enhanced graphics. Check some first- and third-party back catalogues of licenses sometime - it'll give you something to do this weekend. You might just stumble upon the next big Wii game.
The Return of Pikmin
Battalion Wars, we love you, but you'll never replace Pikmin, a series that is perfectly suited for Nintendo's new controller. In 2007, we expect Nintendo to announce Pikmin for Wii, a title that boasts not only predictably overhauled visuals, but fully re-worked controls mapped to the Wii remote and a robust cooperative online mode. Commanding armies of different colored Pikmin will be both more intuitive and quicker than ever before with the newfound accuracy and speed of the Wii remote. Nintendo, make this one a priority - your fans want it.
Massive Developer Outreach; Launch of Original VC Games
March 2007 is home to the Game Developers Conference and, we believe, one of the most important third party outreach programs in Nintendo history. The event will kick off with a monumental keynote from Shigeru Miyamoto himself and from there we expect Nintendo to pull back the curtain on a brand new Wii Channel in promotion of completely original Virtual Console games. These will, of course, exist in addition to the classic already available for download on the Wii Shopping Channel. Post GDC, we think Nintendo will aggressively encourage and work with third parties to secure original VC content for Wii.
Third Parties Reinvent Mii Faces
We love the Mii concept and have absolutely adored playing as virtual versions of ourselves in games like Wii Sports. That said, Miis are at best inappropriate for certain game types. A cute, simplified Wii face would, for example, be entirely out of place in the upcoming Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. However, we think third parties will develop a custom Mii transformer tool that looks at and identifies the basic attributes of created faces and then translates them into something more befitting of a realistic setting. It's only a matter of time and the first studio to do it will undoubtedly be copied by others within months, if not weeks.
Wii Takes Japan
Wii is a hit around the world, but it's a smash in Japan. The console flew off store shelves in the Land of the Rising Sun when it debuted last year and it has continued to sell out on a weekly basis. Although Xbox 360 enjoys a strong sales lead in America and Europe, Microsoft's console has hardly made a dent in Japan. Wii has already obliterated it in sheer popularity and amazingly, Nintendo's system has for the last two months outsold PlayStation 3 in the homeland at a rate of almost three to one. With few major PS3 releases in the near future, we don't see how Sony can easily catch up, especially when Nintendo has everything from Cooking Mama to Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl looming.
Nintendo Holds Strong at Number Two Globally
Two years ago, we probably would have told you that nothing short of divine interference could stop PlayStation 3 from becoming market leader. Nowadays, we don't think anybody is going to squash Microsoft's Xbox 360 this year. (Next year, well, that could be another story.) That noted, if any console comes close, it'll be Wii and not PS3. The Big N has already sold almost four million systems and is expected to increase supply to retailers up to as much as one million units per month. If all goes well, Wii could topple 10 or 12 million units worldwide by the end of the year. Some analysts have pegged the console to sell even better than that. Regardless of how many people ultimately jump on the Wii bandwagon this year, one thing will remain a certainty: third party developers and publishers can no longer afford to ignore or dismiss Nintendo's hardware as niche or gimmicky. It's clearly here to stay.
Retrieved from: Wii.ign.com
WiiFox News Starfox on the Wii
Since Star Fox Command was released on the DS last August (check out our review here), Star Fox fans have bee salivating for some Wii love. The game's producer, Takaya Imamura, has hinted that Wii might be the next destination for the popular series.
In an exclusive VIP interview with Nintendo of Europe (registration required to view), when asked if a Wii version of Star Fox was likely, Imamura replies: "I wonder how the adventure of Fox and friends is going to go next time?! I have come up with some idea in my mind but it is still just a small one. I will try my best so that I can deliver it to you some time!"
Of course, Fox McCloud setting a course for Wii wouldn't be surprising in the slightest - it is a long-running Nintendo fan favorite, after all - but that doesn't detract from the fact that battling to save the Lylat System using Wii's wii-mote would be something to look forward to with starry-eyed optimism.
Those who want to see Fox in his natural environment should check out WarioWare: Smooth Moves. One of the 200-plus minigames happens to be the SNES Star Fox, controlled with the Remote and everything.
January 25, 2007
Retrieved from: Gamesradar.com
In an exclusive VIP interview with Nintendo of Europe (registration required to view), when asked if a Wii version of Star Fox was likely, Imamura replies: "I wonder how the adventure of Fox and friends is going to go next time?! I have come up with some idea in my mind but it is still just a small one. I will try my best so that I can deliver it to you some time!"
Of course, Fox McCloud setting a course for Wii wouldn't be surprising in the slightest - it is a long-running Nintendo fan favorite, after all - but that doesn't detract from the fact that battling to save the Lylat System using Wii's wii-mote would be something to look forward to with starry-eyed optimism.
Those who want to see Fox in his natural environment should check out WarioWare: Smooth Moves. One of the 200-plus minigames happens to be the SNES Star Fox, controlled with the Remote and everything.
January 25, 2007
Retrieved from: Gamesradar.com
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Nintendo Retracts 1M Wiis in U.S. Statement
Yesterday Nintendo of America issued a release trumpeting the success of their portables, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, which sold 641K and 918K units respectively according to the latest NPD figures. All told, when combining Wii sales, DS sales, GBA sales and GameCube sales, Nintendo sold 2.1 million of the 3.9 million video game systems sold in the U.S. during November, capturing 55 percent of the market.
Interestingly, if a recent press release correction is any indication, Nintendo may not be as sure that they will sell one million Wiis in the U.S. in 2006 as previously thought. The Wii sold at a rate of more than 70,000 a day for the seven days represented in NPD's November data, and Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has said that Nintendo would have one million Wiis in the U.S. in early December, with two million shipped by mid-January.
Today, however, Nintendo of America alerted the media that its statement from yesterday which read, "Despite spot shortages in some locations, well more than a million Wii systems will be available in the United States by the end of the year," has been retracted and should be ignored.
So what does this mean? Nintendo did not say why that statement should be disregarded, but one can only assume that either they are having more difficulty with manufacturing than they let on, or perhaps more likely, they are sufficiently satisfied with the U.S. launch numbers and want to divert some of the shipments to Japan and Europe, which haven't been allocated quite as many systems (especially Europe).
Retrieved from: Gamedaily.com
Interestingly, if a recent press release correction is any indication, Nintendo may not be as sure that they will sell one million Wiis in the U.S. in 2006 as previously thought. The Wii sold at a rate of more than 70,000 a day for the seven days represented in NPD's November data, and Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has said that Nintendo would have one million Wiis in the U.S. in early December, with two million shipped by mid-January.
Today, however, Nintendo of America alerted the media that its statement from yesterday which read, "Despite spot shortages in some locations, well more than a million Wii systems will be available in the United States by the end of the year," has been retracted and should be ignored.
So what does this mean? Nintendo did not say why that statement should be disregarded, but one can only assume that either they are having more difficulty with manufacturing than they let on, or perhaps more likely, they are sufficiently satisfied with the U.S. launch numbers and want to divert some of the shipments to Japan and Europe, which haven't been allocated quite as many systems (especially Europe).
Retrieved from: Gamedaily.com
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Rumor: More Wiis and PS3s Hitting Retail Sunday?
We got two separate tips today from our retail chain connection, both with info on forthcoming Wii and PlayStation 3 shipments. First, let's check in with our Circuit City pals:
Also, every Circuit will be getting 5-40 PS3's across this week (before 12/1) and next week (between 12/1 and 12/6). My store is getting 26 across both weeks, which is once again above the average. The PS3's will be both 20 and 60 GB models. Mostly 60 GB's at roughly a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. The PS3's are supposed to be sold upon receipt, so people might want to check their local store's truck schedule.
Sounds dangerously promising! But what about elsewhere?
Our Target retail spy had this to say:
Since we can't verify this with 100% accuracy (or the blog standard 89% accuracy), we'll call this info "rumor" for now.
Now I'm giving you this information out of the kindness of my heart, dear reader. But if I show up at the Sunset Boulevard Circuit City on Sunday and come out sans Wii or PS3, I'm going to tear every one of you a new one. I'm not sure yet what fresh orifice it is I'll be tearing, but you probably won't like it.
Retrieved from: Kotaku.com
I work at Circuit City and we're supposed to be doing a company wide re-launch of the Wii on Sunday, December 3rd. My store is getting 54 units, which is slightly above the average of 40 or so, and every Circuit is getting between 15 and 132 consoles.
Also, every Circuit will be getting 5-40 PS3's across this week (before 12/1) and next week (between 12/1 and 12/6). My store is getting 26 across both weeks, which is once again above the average. The PS3's will be both 20 and 60 GB models. Mostly 60 GB's at roughly a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. The PS3's are supposed to be sold upon receipt, so people might want to check their local store's truck schedule.
Sounds dangerously promising! But what about elsewhere?
Our Target retail spy had this to say:
You guys shouldn't have a problem getting a Wii on sunday. Target has gotten about 50 each for Sunday. Most stores have sold them early, but if the stores where you guys are haven't you should be fine.
Since we can't verify this with 100% accuracy (or the blog standard 89% accuracy), we'll call this info "rumor" for now.
Now I'm giving you this information out of the kindness of my heart, dear reader. But if I show up at the Sunset Boulevard Circuit City on Sunday and come out sans Wii or PS3, I'm going to tear every one of you a new one. I'm not sure yet what fresh orifice it is I'll be tearing, but you probably won't like it.
Retrieved from: Kotaku.com
Friday, November 10, 2006
Wii's Online Future: Miispace
Game Crush has decided to begin a new mini-column dedicated to the Nintendo Wii and its adventure into the online realm. It is called "Wii's Online Future," and without further ado, here is the first article in the series. Miispace.
Nintendo is a company that has always attemped to bring creative new ideas to the table in the video game world. The upcoming Wii continues this trend of innovation, most notably with its novel input system. Aside from the controller, however, Nintendo is introducing a unique online component, as well as their "channel" system, which in conjunction have the potential to usher in a fusion of social networking and gaming.
Wii Connect 24 is a new concept that will be an integral part of Nintendo's first foray into online gaming territory. Made possible by hardware specs that don't require a nuclear reactor in order to run, it is designed to create an always-on, always connected gaming community.
The Mii Channel is a part of the Wii OS in which a players create a custom avatar, as well as define some brief profile information. These digital counterparts can then be inserted into Mii-compatible games, or interact with other Miis on other Wii Systems via Connect 24.
It is this notion of person-to-person online interaction that is the foundation for more advanced social networking opportunities. Social networks such as Myspace and Facebook have quickly become mega-hits, penetrating a considerable number of people's lives. So why shouldn't the craze spill over into the home console arena?
Miispace - Obviously and conveniently a play off of the name Myspace, Miispace is my idea for a new social networking Wii Channel. Here, the gamer would theoretically be able to take any previously saved Mii and place it in a sort of home area. This area would be analogous to the likes of a Sims or Animal Crossing house. Basically, the Miispace would be a 3D virtual residence for the selected Mii character, and using the online service, other gamers' Miis would be able to come visit and explore.
A site such as Myspace provides a written profile, images, and audio for each user, in order to convey a picture of that person's personality and individuality. Miispace could take the premise a step further. By involving a representation of a house in 3D physical space, Miispace would serve as a rudimentary emulation of a gamer's real-world lifestyle. It would be populated, along with a Mii, by game furniture and items, as well as a variety of user-introduced content. Jpeg images might show up as paintings within the Miispace, and mp3s could provide background music inside the gamer's Mii's houses.
Finally, items within each Miispace could be used to inject additional features into the channel. For example, one particular house might include a diary lying on a hallway table. When a visitor interacts with the book, it expands into a standard weblog like Blogger or LiveJournal. Other examples might be a little black book, providing a 'friends list' or a computer to act as a written message center. Clearly, the options are numerous.
There you have it. Social networking on the Wii is a distinct possibility, especially considering the Wii is capable of remaining on at all times. Miispace could exist either as a new channel available after a firmware update, or if necessary, a piece of separate software, and would be appealing to gamer and non-gamer alike. Nintendo's goal with the Wii is to convert non-gamers, so why not do it with Miispace - A Place For Mii...
Retrieved from:
Nintendo is a company that has always attemped to bring creative new ideas to the table in the video game world. The upcoming Wii continues this trend of innovation, most notably with its novel input system. Aside from the controller, however, Nintendo is introducing a unique online component, as well as their "channel" system, which in conjunction have the potential to usher in a fusion of social networking and gaming.
Wii Connect 24 is a new concept that will be an integral part of Nintendo's first foray into online gaming territory. Made possible by hardware specs that don't require a nuclear reactor in order to run, it is designed to create an always-on, always connected gaming community.
The Mii Channel is a part of the Wii OS in which a players create a custom avatar, as well as define some brief profile information. These digital counterparts can then be inserted into Mii-compatible games, or interact with other Miis on other Wii Systems via Connect 24.
It is this notion of person-to-person online interaction that is the foundation for more advanced social networking opportunities. Social networks such as Myspace and Facebook have quickly become mega-hits, penetrating a considerable number of people's lives. So why shouldn't the craze spill over into the home console arena?
Miispace - Obviously and conveniently a play off of the name Myspace, Miispace is my idea for a new social networking Wii Channel. Here, the gamer would theoretically be able to take any previously saved Mii and place it in a sort of home area. This area would be analogous to the likes of a Sims or Animal Crossing house. Basically, the Miispace would be a 3D virtual residence for the selected Mii character, and using the online service, other gamers' Miis would be able to come visit and explore.
A site such as Myspace provides a written profile, images, and audio for each user, in order to convey a picture of that person's personality and individuality. Miispace could take the premise a step further. By involving a representation of a house in 3D physical space, Miispace would serve as a rudimentary emulation of a gamer's real-world lifestyle. It would be populated, along with a Mii, by game furniture and items, as well as a variety of user-introduced content. Jpeg images might show up as paintings within the Miispace, and mp3s could provide background music inside the gamer's Mii's houses.
Finally, items within each Miispace could be used to inject additional features into the channel. For example, one particular house might include a diary lying on a hallway table. When a visitor interacts with the book, it expands into a standard weblog like Blogger or LiveJournal. Other examples might be a little black book, providing a 'friends list' or a computer to act as a written message center. Clearly, the options are numerous.
There you have it. Social networking on the Wii is a distinct possibility, especially considering the Wii is capable of remaining on at all times. Miispace could exist either as a new channel available after a firmware update, or if necessary, a piece of separate software, and would be appealing to gamer and non-gamer alike. Nintendo's goal with the Wii is to convert non-gamers, so why not do it with Miispace - A Place For Mii...
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