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The Wiire's Ultimate Wii FAQ |
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Q: What is the Nintendo Wii? A: "Wii", pronounced we, is the name for Nintendo's next-generation console. Nintendo followed the name with a mission statement, explaining how the name reflects the company's desire to bring about change in the video gaming industry. With Wii, Nintendo is looking to put forth an emphasis on gameplay and innovation, rather than focusing on expensive technology. Nintendo representatives have said the company's goal is to expand the market by reaching out to hardcore gamers, casual gamers, and even those whom do not consider themselves gamers.
Q: What does the console look like? A: The Wii is "the smallest console Nintendo has ever produced," according to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. The glossy white system measures about 8.5 inches long, 6 inches wide and less than 2 inches thick (roughly the size of 3 DVD cases stacked on top of each other).
Q: How much does Wii hardware and software cost? A: Wii costs $249.99 in North America; 25,000 Yen (including tax) in Japan; 179 pounds (or approximately 249 euros) in Europe; and 399 in Australia. No price drops for any territory have been announced since launch.
New Wii software titles generally retail for 49.99 in North America, although prices can range from 19.99 to 59.99 depending on what the game publisher finds appropriate. Q: What do the boxes for Wii software and hardware look like? A: The following examples for North America, Japan and Europe respectively showcase the look of Wii game boxes:
  
 Q: What are Wii's technical specifications? A: The following is a run-down of Wii's components, technologies and functionalities.
Q: Can Wii play DVD movies? A: Although the ability was originally planned, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication Perrin Kaplan confirmed in September 2006 that Wii will not allow for DVD playback. Supposedly, the reason for the functionality's removal was to lower costs. Some following reports indicated that Japan would recieve a version of the Wii sometime in 2007 capable of playing DVD movies, but Nintendo has not announced any plans for this new version of the console.
Q: How does Wii's controller work? A: The Wii controller - called the Wii Remote by Nintendo and dubbed the 'Wiimote' by fans - has the ability to sense its position in three-dimensional space in relation to the television set. Players will generally hold the controller either vertically (the Wii Remote pointed at the screen like a standard television remote) or horizontally. The sensor bar - which is placed above or below one's television - is only needed when the Wii Remote's pointer ability is employed. The sensor bar is required for the first menu appearing when the console is turned on.
Q: What other peripherals connect to the Wii Remote? A: Publisher Ubisoft introduced the first retail Wii peripheral in the form of a steering wheel bundled with GT Pro Series and Monster 4x4 World Circuit, as well as sold separately for an MRSP of .99. Since such time, numerous peripherals have been produced that turn the Wii Remote into everything from a frying pan to a golf club. Quality and practicality tend to vary extensively. Official Nintendo accessories available since the launch of the console are the Nunchuk and Classic Controller.
The Nunchuk is a small, curved controller that, when properly held, has a joystick for the thumb, and two buttons for the first and second fingers, labeled "C" and "Z," respectively. Additionally, the Nunchuk has an accelerometer in it like the Wii Remote, allowing for games that use two-handed motion control. This accessory plugs into the bottom of the Wii Remote and is connected by a moderately-sized cord.
The Classic Controller plugs into the Wii Remote in the same manner, but it does not have any motion control aspects. Rather, the Classic Controller is a mesh of the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Gamecube controller devices, intended to provide a classic feel to virtual console games in particular (although it can be used in many games). It has the general shape of a Super Nintendo controller, being more oval, with a directional pad set for the left thumb, a dual-joystick set for the thumbs, an "A," "B," "X," and "Y" button set for the right thumb like the super Nintendo Controller, Minus, Plus, and Home buttons in the middle of the controller, and four shoulder buttons on the top in a line with one another, labeled "L," "ZL," "ZR," and "R" from left to right. The cord that connects this controller to the Wii Remote is located on the bottom of the controller.
At E3 2008, Nintendo announced two more peripherals: the Wii MotionPlus, and Wii Speak. The Wii MotionPlus is a small device that plugs into the bottom of the Wii Remote, "extending" it, and has a plug on the bottom that works as a pass-through for Nunchuk and other peripheral use. The MotionPlus accessory contains a gyroscope that accurately measures the Wii Remote's position in 3D space, and will provide virtual 1:1 motion matching between the Wii Remote and the onscreen actions. This device will not be available until Spring 2009, and no price has been determined for it at this point. However, it will be available as a pack-in with Wii Sports Resort, a new game in the Wii Sports series.
The Wii Speak accessory is a microphone that sits on top of the wireless sensor bar, and plugs into the Wii system via one of the available USB ports. As a solution for voice chat, Nintendo introduced the device as a means for full rooms of people to be able to communicate with one another. The Wii Speak accessory can only be used in games and channels that have been developed with the device in mind. When the device is purchased (for $29.99 separately or $69.99 when purchased with Animal Crossing: City Folk) it comes with a 16-digit download ticket that allows users to download the Wii Speak Channel, a channel devoted to chatting with others using the Wii Speak device. Wii Speak will available for purchase as of mid-November, but the Wii Speak Channel will not be available for download until December 2008.
The Wii Wheel is a plastic sheel that houses the Wii Remote for use in racing games. It can be purchased separately for $9.99 in the U.S. in most stores, or with Mario Kart Wii for $49.99.
Q: Does the Nintendo DS connect to the Wii in any way? A: Yes. Pokemon Battle Revolution is the first game to allow connectivity between the Nintendo Wii and DS for gameplay purposes. Other titles use this feature loosely, such as My Pokemon Ranch will allow for Pokemon to be uploaded to the Wii for display. Geometry Wars: Galaxies allows users to connect the Wii and DS systems to unlock content on both versions of the game. Future titles will allow for unlockable content as well, such as Castlevania: Judgement for Wii and Castlevania: Order of Eccelsia for DS, and the anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
Q: Can I play GameCube games on Wii with the Classic Controller? A: No. Although the GameCube and Classic Controller work for many Virtual Console titles, and even some Wii games, GameCube software must be played with its native controller. Both wired and wireless GameCube pads will fit in Wii's GameCube controller ports.
Q: What is WiiConnect24? A: WiiConnect24 is a service that allows Nintendo and other game publishers to provide downloads to players via the Internet 24/7. Downloadable items could include new levels, costumes, weapons, etc. The News and Weather Channels also use the service to provide their respective updates. Although WiiConnect24 keeps Wii on all day long and designed to use a minimal amount of energy, equivalent to that of a three-watt lightbulb. Players can deactivate WiiConnect24 at any time through Wii's option menu, and should do so if their console seems to be overheating.
Q: What are all the Wii channels? A: Wii's interface is divided into a number of separate channels, designed to be similar to television channels. A description of all currently available channels can be found below.
Wii owners also use the Wii Shop channel to download channels and their updates to their systems, most of them at no cost.
Nintendo Channel: This channel will allow users to get exclusive information on newly released and upcoming games. Armed with streaming video content that has gameplay videos, trailers, and interviews, this channel aims to help Wii and DS owners in their purchasing decisions for games. This channel will also give suggestions on games that users may enjoy playing. The channel also allows users to directly download demos for DS games straight to the Nintendo DS handheld through this channel. No announcements have been made for Wii demo downloads, however. Check Mii Out Channel: The Check Mii Out Channel is a companion to the Mii Channel. Miis created in the Mii Channel can be given two initials and can be uploaded and shared with the rest of the world through this channel, and channel users can in turn download Miis they like to their Wii. Miis can be rated by viewers, and can be sorted by using simple search functions and filters that show the top Miis in a user's region and in the world. Contests are also held in this channel that challenge users to be creative in making a Mii that best fits the criteria assigned (such as Mario without his hat on). Users also pick three of the submitted Miis in the contest that they find fits the criteria the best as well. After the contest ends, each user is given a score in their "eye for Miis" and find out how well their selections did in the contest, ending in viewing the top 50 Miis of the contest.
Wii Speak Channel: This channel is only downloadable by using a 16-digit voucher insert included with the Wii Speak accessory. Though the Wii Speak is available as of mid-November, the channel will not be released in North America until December 2008. The channel will allow users to chat with other Wii owners that not only have the channel installed themselves, but have traded and regestered one another's friend codes. Additionally, each user will be able to view the Miis of others within the channel, but the functionality of Miis within the channel has not yet been fully revealed.
Game-Specific Channels: Some retail games allow players to download channels to their system menus to organize different information for that game. One of the first games to do this was Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, which became available in the Wii Shop Channel prior to the game's release. The channel was based around building hype for the game, letting its users view exclusive trailers and content from the game. Due to the development of the Nintendo Channel, however, channels like these will likely never be developed again.
Mario Kart Wii allowed users to download the Mario Kart Channel off the game's disc to the main menu, allowing users to view and compete in tournament updates and view the best times in their region, worldwide, and amongst friends for each course. Additionally, the channel allows players to send and receive ghosts of a player's best time on a given course, allowing players to race each other's ghost in an offline environment. This feature utilizes WiiConnect24.
Wii Fit also allowed players to download the Wii Fit channel to their main menu. This channel allowed users to have easy access to their profiles in order to view progress charts, perform body tests, and and adjust setting without the need of the Wii Fit game disc.
Q: What is the Wii's "Virtual Console" feature? A: The term "Virtual Console" first surfaced during E3 2005 and was used as a buzzword by Nintendo representatives to describe the backwards compatibility of their console. Since then, the term "Virtual Console" has become the term for Nintendo's classic gaming download service. Users can download titles from the NES, SNES, N64, SEGA Genesis, TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine, and eventually, MSX and NEO GEO systems. Both first- and third-party games from each retro system appear on Virtual Console. Each title costs a certain number of Wii Points, which are generally standardized across each system (500 Wii Points for NES games, 800 for SNES, 1000 for N64, etc.)
Q: Is the Wii backwards compatible? A: Yes. The Wii is able to play all titles from the Nintendo GameCube library. On the left side of the Wii console are ports for GameCube controllers and memory cards. In addition, all GameCube peripherals, such as the drums used in Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, will maintain their functionality when played on Wii, with the exception of the GameBoy Player. In tandem with the Virtual Console service, the potential exists for every console game made by Nintendo to be played on the Wii.
Q: Will I be able to play other gamers online through Wii? A: Yes. Software titles such as Pokemon Battle Revolution and Mario Strikers Charged offer competitive online play, with more Wii games expected to incorporate online gameplay as time goes on.
   Q: Does Wii feature a hard drive or other on-board storage? A: The Nintendo Wii uses 512 MB of on-board flash memory. Players can increase the amount of usable storage space by employing non-proprietary SD cards. Currently, usage of these cards are limited, enabling Wii owners to use them as a backup devices by switching channels and some save game data to the SD card in the Data Management menu. At this moment, any channels existing on the SD card cannot be directly read off the card by the Wii; they must be copied back over to the internal memory. In Spring 2009, Nintendo will implement a firmware update that allows users to download WiiWare and Virtual Console games directly to the SD card, likely allowing Wiis to read directly off them as well.
Users cannot connect a personal harddrive to their console for storage purposes. As for why the company opted to not use a hard drive for Wii, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata stated back in June 2005 that he believes kids as young as five years old will use the the console and could damage a built-in hard disk. Additionally, Iwata pointed out that longevity, reliability and cost were factors in Nintendo's decision to utilize flash for Wii.
Q: I'm an indie developer and want to engage in Wii development. How much do development kits cost and how can I get one? A: Nintendo Wii developments kits are said to cost around $2,000 USD - hundreds, if not thousands of dollars cheaper than any other console SDK presently in use. Finalized development kits were made widely available in June 2006 to interested parties. For more information about licensing and development on a Wii SDK, please visit www.warioworld.com.
Q: How many people can play with at once offline? A: It varies by game, but up to four controllers can be used at one time when playing offline.
Q: What is WiiWare? A: WiiWare is a download service, separate from Virtual Console, on which large and small developers can sell new and original content. WiiWare titles are smaller and cheaper than retail projects. Users will purchase these games through the Wii Shop Channel using Wii Points, with prices generally ranging from 500 points to 1500 points. As of Spring 2009, these games will be able to be downloaded directly to a user's SD card in the Wii console.
Q: I own a North American version of the Wii. Can I play games from other parts of the world? A: No. Each Wii console has region-locked security components that prevent players from importing games. Region-locked coding was once a standard, but has since been removed with other next-generation consoles. Nintendo's portable console released prior to the Wii, known as the Nintendo DS and DS Lite, is not region locked.Advocates of region-locked consoles attest to a better surveying of regional interests and global decisions.
The Wiire will periodically update this FAQ as more information becomes available, so keep an eye on these pages as well as our news updates. |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 14 November 2008 03:59 ) |
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