Wiki wiki wild wild Wii

Squall7 · 08-25-2006, 11:52 PM

Ain't wikipedia great?, it has very up to date info on here, and is generally fairly good about it's features.

I'll pick out some not very talked about bits for you to discuss...

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Originally Posted by wiki

Virtual Console

The temporary Virtual Console GUI shown at E3 2006Main article: Virtual Console (Wii)
The Virtual Console is an online service, similar to Xbox Live Arcade, that allows users to download games not only for the NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64, but also Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive and NEC's TurboGrafx-16 systems. It will not include every released title. Nintendo has also stated that this service "...will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets."[1]

While no pricing info has been announced for the Virtual Console feature, at the June 2006 Nintendo briefing, Satoru Iwata suggested that new, original, low-scale games could be sold via the Virtual Console at a price of between JP¥500 and JP¥1000(~US$4–9 or ≈€3.5–€7).[38][39] In a presentation in Spain, it was mentioned that Nintendo of Spain was considering a pre-paid card option for its Virtual Console purchases.[40]

- I wondered how we will have to pay for the virtual console games. Pre-paid cards seem a good idea.

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Originally Posted by wiki

Wii Browser
Main article: Wii Browser
Similar to its use as the Nintendo DS Browser, the Opera web browser will be included with the Wii to serve as the Wii Browser.[42][43] The web browser will be saved in Wii's Flash ROM (allowing access within seconds), and will support JavaScript. In addition to functioning as a web browser, Opera on Wii will serve as a layout engine to be used for web-based applications.

- So the web-browser will support javascript, and be able to launch in seconds... ...impressive.

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Originally Posted by wiki

Backward compatibility
Nintendo has stated that the Wii will be backward compatible with all GameCube software and most peripherals. This backwards compatibility is achieved with the help of the slot-loading drive being able to accept GameCube discs, and a set of GameCube controller ports on top of the console concealed by a panel. There are four GCN controller ports and two GCN memory card slots as there were on the GameCube itself, so the GameCube microphone should be compatible, as well as the DK Bongos and the GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable.[1] There is no indication that the Wii has the high-speed and serial ports present on the original GameCube, which means that unless otherwise indicated, the Game Boy Player and the Nintendo Gamecube broadband and modem adapters (which required those ports) will not be compatible with the Wii.

- So you'll be able to hook up Game Boy Advance to the Wii in effect?! Nice!

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Originally Posted by wiki

Parental controls
Wii will feature parental controls, prohibiting younger users from playing games with content unsuitable for their age level. When a disc is inserted, it will read the content rating encoded on the game discs; if this rating is greater than the system's set age level the game will not load without a correct override password.

It is confirmed that the European units will use the PEGI rating system,[47] and North American units will use the ESRB rating system.[48] While Nintendo has stated that parental control will be included in all Wii consoles worldwide, it has not yet clarified whether that means Wii will support the native rating systems of other territories, such as that of CERO in Japan, the USK in Germany, the BBFC in the United Kingdom (although most video games in the United Kingdom do carry a PEGI rating), or the OFLC in Australia.

- Sounds pretty good. Hopefully this will encourage Nintendo to do more mature titles, without the fear of them getting sued, as youngsters theoretically won't be able to play the more violent and explicit games.

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Originally Posted by wiki

Developer support
Ubisoft has upped their number of titles in development for Wii to 8 (7 of which are to be launch games and only 2 of which were previously known about),[49] while Midway have announced they have 6 titles in development,[50] and EA has recently increased their development efforts for the Wii.[51]
The development kits for Wii are available to approved developers at a cost of little more than JP¥200,000,[6] or about $1,700. (price in US$). By comparison, the PlayStation 2 development kits cost US$20,000 at the console's launch, while those for the first PlayStation cost US$4,000–US$5,000 at launch.[52]
In an interview published in the September 2006 issue of Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Shigeru Miyamoto expressed an interest in releasing re-makes of existing GameCube titles, stating that some titles would benefit from the functionality of the Wii Remote.[53]

- Development kits for the Wii cost $1,700 compared to PSX ($4000-$5000) and PS2 ($20,000). Nintendo certainly are trying to attract smaller software developers who are just starting out. Hopefully, their successes may mean that the industry is growing, rather than slowly getting eaten up by bigger developers (like EA, Ubisoft etc...).

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Originally Posted by wiki

Nintendo has shown the Wii and Wii Remote in various colors including silver, lime green, white, black, blue and red.[22][23] IGN sources have suggested that Wii will be available in both black and white colors.[9] The final colors of the console are still to be announced.

- I think I'll go for a blue one if I get the chance...

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Originally Posted by wiki

A Nintendo spokesman said that the price in the UK "will be in line with Japanese and U.S. prices announced" (Japanese and US prices in GB£), implying a retail price of no more than ~GB£160 after UK VAT has been applied.[12]

- That sounds excellent.

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Originally Posted by wiki

At a June 7, 2006 policy briefing, Nintendo revealed that it intends to release 6 million console units and 17 million software units during the fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2007; and 4 million or more console units by the end of the 2006 calendar year.[6] IGN reports that Nintendo has bumped production to more than 5 million units by the end of 2006.[9] Despite the price point of US$60 quoted for many next-generation games,[15] Satoru Iwata said that it is unlikely that first-party games would cost more than US$50.[16]

- That sounds like a lot of Wiis (or Wii, whatever the plural is).

Ok, that's it. Talk amongst yourselves, whilst I go to bed and dream of the Wii. Night!