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Nintendo Wii players can race online, but no talking allowed!

Wii owners with net-connections may have noticed that their consoles have been blinking, signaling a system update.

The new Wii firmware version 3.2 adds a new feature where users will be able to see information from their Disc Channel from the main menu. The new functionality operates in a similar way to the Wii Shop Channel’s display of new releases for download.

In other Wii news, Nintendo revealed at the Game Developer Conference its plans for an original downloadable games infrastructure, not unlike Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade. Dubbed WiiWare, Nintendo hopes to offer developers low development barriers to try new ideas with lower risk in a quicker, more creative and affordable way.

While WiiWare is aimed at smaller game developers, even large game companies appear to be embracing the system – Square Enix announced that it is creating Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King with WiiWare. The first U.S. WiiWare games will be available on May 12.

In addition to being able to buy more than just Virtual Console games from the Wii Shop, Nintendo leader Takashi Aoyama said at GDC that the Wii will soon be able to support downloadable game content. Currently, Wii gamers with Guitar Hero III have been missing out on the new songs that are available to PS3 and Xbox 360 owners.

Aoyama also mentioned a “Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay And Play” service, which allow gamers to subscribe to certain, but unannounced online games. Both the Nintendo Wii and DS feature the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

It may seem that Nintendo is embracing the wonders of online gaming, but Wii gamers still won’t be able to speak to one another online. According to comments made by Nintendo of Europe, gamers racing online with Mario Kart Wii will only be able to communicate via text chat.

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Pic
By mendocinosummit on 2/27/2008 8:02:44 PM , Rating: 2
Whoa! Weird, but I like it.




RE: Pic
By phatboye on 2/27/2008 8:07:27 PM , Rating: 5
I just popped a bone


RE: Pic
By BruceLeet on 2/27/08, Rating: 0
RE: Pic
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 2/27/2008 8:28:29 PM , Rating: 2
She looks a little like Mandy Moore.


RE: Pic
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 2/27/2008 10:21:32 PM , Rating: 3
Her name is Jessica Chobot. She's pretty much famous for licking various game console controllers

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Jessica+Chobo...

And now you spoiled it for everyone Brandon!


RE: Pic
By AstroCreep on 2/27/2008 10:37:01 PM , Rating: 2
She's not Asian; that's Jessica Chobot.
http://blogs.ign.com/Jess-IGN/


RE: Pic
By eye smite on 2/27/2008 8:45:58 PM , Rating: 5
I second that motion.


RE: Pic
By BruceLeet on 2/29/2008 9:28:09 PM , Rating: 2
LMAO!!! Popped a bone over a fat dude licking a wii remote

Are you by any chance, asian?


RE: Pic
By Kefner on 2/27/2008 9:48:28 PM , Rating: 2
She sure likes her Wii Big! :)


RE: Pic
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 2/27/2008 10:24:53 PM , Rating: 3
Gotcha :)

OK, in all fairness I changed the picture at 10:24 PM.


RE: Pic
By Omega215D on 2/27/2008 11:48:42 PM , Rating: 3
You could've at least changed it to show Olivia Munn (G4 TV) licking something...


RE: Pic
By tmouse on 2/28/2008 9:22:31 AM , Rating: 5
Wow that sure put a different spin on the first two posters in this sub-topic


Like Arcade
By themadmilkman on 2/27/2008 7:47:21 PM , Rating: 3
XBox Live's original games are my favorite thing about my XBox. Getting the same sort of things from small developers who may better understand how to handle Wiimote* usage can be nothing but a good thing.

*as in not overuse it, or make it incredibly unresponsive, etc.




RE: Like Arcade
By eye smite on 2/27/2008 7:55:03 PM , Rating: 4
Yeah, this should help the Wii maintain it's customer base very well.


RE: Like Arcade
By mmntech on 2/27/2008 8:29:23 PM , Rating: 2
It's definitely something good to see. In my opinion, the best games come from the small developers. Now that Microsoft and Nintendo have opened up their consoles to indie developers, what about Sony? I really hope they'll allow legitimate home brew now that the others have done it, especially for the PSP.


RE: Like Arcade
By Chris Peredun on 2/28/2008 9:01:18 AM , Rating: 2
My question is, will Nintendo be providing an inexpensive development kit similar to Microsoft's XNA framework?

I'd love to see a port of the Penumbra games to Wii.


Simple question
By AlphaVirus on 2/27/2008 9:28:17 PM , Rating: 2
Ok I may not be fully understanding this but where will you be downloading all of these games? I know thw Wii does not display in hidef and does not have any specialsauce in it but...where will all these games be downloaded too?

The PS3 and 360 have a large hard drive to download everything and fit multiple downloaded games, but how much space does the Wii have to download things?

And how many games can a person expect to download with such limited space?




RE: Simple question
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 2/28/2008 12:29:43 AM , Rating: 2
The majority of the titles seem to be beer and pretzel sort of games that can fit on the flash cards used to save games.


RE: Simple question
By bunnyfubbles on 2/28/2008 5:29:52 AM , Rating: 2
yeah, but it would still be great if they opened up the SD card slot so that it could be a true expansion rather than just a port for transferring/backing up data


RE: Simple question
By Hiawa23 on 2/28/2008 11:13:14 AM , Rating: 2
I don't know who many of you play with, but I have over 80 gamers on my friendslist on the PS3 & 360, & none of them kids, or are mature, so I don't have kids cursing in my ear. The point is, the Wii should atleast give those who want voice chat voice chat, but many will make excuses to play it down. It's important to me, not so much on the Wii, cause it really has nothing I would want to play online, but it should be in there. Xbox Live has saved me alot on my phone bill, as I chat with my brother who lives in chicago all I want & no phone chrge, & I am in Florida.


Where have all the Wii's gone?
By napalmjack on 2/28/2008 8:37:40 AM , Rating: 2
This is all nice, but it's hard to use these exciting features when you can't find a Wii in stores!!

I'm not bitter...just unlucky.




By SlipDizzy on 2/28/2008 9:49:36 AM , Rating: 2
I'm in the same boat as you. I need a Wii for Smash Bros and I'm starting to think I won't see one till Christmas.

Back on topic...

I think it would have been nice to include voice chat or at least the option to create private channels for chat purposes. I, like most people, mute a ton of players on XBL due to racism and rude remarks. But again, like a lot of people, I play with friends all the time and it would be easier if we could talk to each other.


Saving?
By Aikouka on 2/28/2008 1:32:51 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure if I just need to RTFA or if it wasn't mentioned, but how does Nintendo plan to save a lot of this data? Will they allow SD card use (I assume) or possibly something else? The internal memory can hold some, but it will run out in no time depending on the size of the games/DLC.




Error!!
By DeepBlue1975 on 2/27/08, Rating: -1
RE: Error!!
By LatinMessiah on 2/28/2008 1:38:40 PM , Rating: 1
LoL! That's a good one!


RE: Error!!
By DeepBlue1975 on 2/29/2008 2:29:44 PM , Rating: 2
But seems not many more other than you liked the joke :D

Wii, the ones to make really bad jokes, are alone.
But Wii don't care. Wii use our freedom and great power to move things in a screen by just making gestures with our hands.


No voice chat?
By LatinMessiah on 2/27/08, Rating: -1
RE: No voice chat?
By roostitup on 2/27/2008 8:15:05 PM , Rating: 2
Since when does voice chat sell a game? Comon' buddy, it's gameplay that makes them great, not voice chat :\


RE: No voice chat?
By jadeskye on 2/27/2008 8:23:35 PM , Rating: 2
i agree entirely. but on so many PC games and on the xbox 360. voice chat is so important. and i'm sure theres people out there with their Wiis who would like the same thing.

but then Nintendo is evolving at ever increasing pace. i wouldn't be too supprised if it did happen sooner rather then later.


RE: No voice chat?
By therealnickdanger on 2/27/2008 8:47:40 PM , Rating: 3
I never talk to anyone on Xbox Live and I mute everyone else - unless it's an extremely rare situation when I'm playing with close friends. I just want to play.


RE: No voice chat?
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 2/27/2008 10:23:29 PM , Rating: 2
Xbox Live is pretty much worthless for game chat. Unless I'm playing some team tactical battles with people I know, I don't even turn it on


RE: No voice chat?
By AlphaVirus on 2/27/2008 9:33:00 PM , Rating: 3
Sometimes I think voice chat helps a games excitment. Halo had voice chat and look how big that game was for 360. Warhawk has voice and look how big it is for PS3.

Either people are cussing and being rude or they are be stealthy with each other, but no matter what you know you are playing with other humans lol. Just that fact keeps me interested knowing I am not playing with a bunch of AI.

I think multiplayer games with voice chat are useful, I always use the chat feature, sometimes small-talk to say "Whats up" and sometimes to ask "Whats your position".


RE: No voice chat?
By LatinMessiah on 2/28/2008 1:37:40 PM , Rating: 2
Well said, AlphaVirus.


RE: No voice chat?
By Hiawa23 on 2/28/2008 8:32:25 AM , Rating: 2
Call me spoiled by Sony & MS, but I can't see wanting to get online with no mic. Voice chat may not sell a game, but if it's online & on a console, voice chat is a must for me. I bought the Wii for daughter, & I also have a PS3 & 360, & honestly, other than the virtual console which has allowed me to get some Neo Geo TB Graf 16 games I missed out on, the Wii offers nothign to me. No HD, 5.1, enhanced gamecube visuals just don't cut it for me, but my daughter loves it so that's all that matters. I am a traditional gamer & really donot like the Wii control scheme at all, just not for me. The PS3 & 360 is all I need but these are some good features that the Wii should have had from jump.


RE: No voice chat?
By Flunk on 2/27/2008 9:04:09 PM , Rating: 5
Most of the people using voice chat in any game I chat about non-related stuff or insult each other. I think not including voice chat is a great idea.


RE: No voice chat?
By Spivonious on 2/27/2008 9:25:48 PM , Rating: 5
Yeah I'm realy missing out on the foul-mouthed 12 year-olds yelling at me.


RE: No voice chat?
By GoodBytes on 2/28/2008 1:25:54 AM , Rating: 2
That is why voice chat should only be allowed when playing with friends... now I'll have to set up a computer on the TV JUST for Skype. Lame!


RE: No voice chat?
By VashHT on 2/28/2008 10:29:37 AM , Rating: 2
Just because something has voice chat doesn't mean you have to use it. I hate using voice chat on my 360 or PC but the option is there and the event I am playing with my friend or brother or something I will turn it on. so I don't use it 95% of the time I'm on there, but the option is whats important.

I don't have to put up with 12 year olds but don't have to miss out talking to my friends because a now common feature was left out.


"I f***ing cannot play Halo 2 multiplayer. I cannot do it." -- Bungie Technical Lead Chris Butcher









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