Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Wii Fanboy walks you through the Nintendo Channel

David Hinkle — 2008-05-07T10:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Walkthroughs, Video, Channels

After the surprise release of the Nintendo Channel today, we decided a video walkthrough was in order. So we've gone ahead and hooked up our fancy schmancy video equipment to get you this direct-feed footage of the Channel at work. Hopefully it'll help some of you determine whether or not this Channel is worth your download. Personally, we think it is.

Watch as we check out the many informative videos available, as well as the plethora of DS demos on tap.

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First Mario Kart competition opens, disappoints

Chris Greenhough — 2008-05-01T10:30:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi, Channels

Those of you who booted up the Wii this morning and checked out the Mario Kart Channel may have noticed that the first competition has finally been opened for entry! The process is simple: complete three laps of Mario Circuit as quickly as possible, upload your time to Nintendo's big list 'o times, wait until the deadline (May 9th or May 10th, depending on your timezone), and get ready to bask in internet glory. Hurray, right?

Wrong.

When we think of Mario Kart time trials, we think of gradually shaving milliseconds off of our best times, of taking every corner as finely as possible, of finding the best way to utilize our three mushrooms, of locating the perfect racing line, and of keeping our noses just ahead of the time trial ghosts. Yet this first Mario Kart Wii competition totally misses the point.

For instance, it's not a time trial at all, but a fully fledged race, complete with eleven opponents and all the usual items. In other words, you can take every corner as flawlessly as possible, only to get blue-shelled on the final straight. Which doesn't strike us as a terribly fair contest. We guess this is meant to level the playing field for newer players, but shouldn't more skillful players be justly rewarded?

Anyway, if you do want to try your hand at being robbed of a deserved victory, this blogger's best time so far is a quite appalling 2:03.325.

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Brawl, WiiWare and Nintendo Channel dated in Europe

Chris Greenhough — 2008-04-24T11:15:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels, WiiWare

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]

Gallery: SSBB gallery four

Alone In The Dark -- Q1 2008
Godzilla: Unleashed -- Q1 2008
Worms: A Space Oddity -- Q1 2008
Yamaha Supercross -- Q1 2008
Wii Fit (with Wii Balance Board accessory) -- 25th April
Radio Helicopter -- 25th April
Legend of Sayuki -- 9th May
WiiWare -- 20th May
Nintendo Channel -- 30th May
Top Spin 3 -- May 2008
Monster Truck Jam -- May 2008
Boom Blox -- May 2008
Speed Racer -- May 2008
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors -- End May 2008
Hannah Montana - Music Jam -- Spring 2008
Iron Man -- Spring 2008
Ford Off Road Racing -- 6th June
Family Ski -- 13th June
Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- 27th June
Lego: Indiana Jones the Original Adventures -- June 2008
Monster Lab -- June 2008
Wacky Races -- June 2008
Mummy Tomb of the Emperor -- July 2008
Blast Works - Build, Trade, Destroy -- Q2 2008
de Blob -- Q2 2008
Sports Island -- Q2 2008
Chess Crusade -- Q2 2008
Garfield Gets Real -- Q2 2008
Garfield's Fun Fest -- Q2 2008
Jeep Let's Off Road -- Q2 2008
Margots Word Brain -- Q2 2008
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed -- Summer 2008
We Love Golf -- Summer 2008
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian -- Summer 2008
Pipemania -- 14th September
Brave: A Warrior's Tale -- Q3 2008
Crash (tentative title) -- October 2008
Spyro (tentative title) -- October 2008
Bratz Kids -- Q4 2008
Build-A-Bear Workshop -- Q4 2008
RUBIKS -- Q4 2008

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Wii Shop Channel down for maintenance [update]

David Hinkle — 2008-04-21T18:04:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

Update: Looks like the Wii Shop Channel is back up and running fine.

Imagine our surprise when going online to check out this week's Virtual Console releases, anxious to try the game you all are undoubtedly looking forward to, when we see this screen. For shame, Nintendo, to play with our emotions and expectations. We need this game, so let us have it already!

No word on when the maintenance will be over, but we'll keep checking it. If you notice before us, be sure to toss us a tip.

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Student-developed DS games appear on Everybody's Nintendo Channel

Eric Caoili — 2008-04-16T11:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Imports, Channels

Proof that Japan gets everything awesome -- including first dibs on new releases, Super Famicom Classic Controllers, and giant mechas piloted by bratty kids -- the island country's Minna no Nintendo Channel (Everybody's Nintendo Channel) has started to post student-developed games in its DS downloads section.

For those of you unfamiliar with these titles, Nintendo hosts a 10-month seminar every year in which 40 students take courses on programming and game design, eventually working in teams to develop small DS games to be featured through download stations in Japan. This year's batch consisted of four different titles, including Wakerai no Heya Tsuzuki, a Hotel Dusk-styled horror adventure, and Nan de Momo Koko Yasan, a touchscreen coloring game.

Wakerai no Heya Tsuzuki has already been posted on the Japan-only (for now) Minna no Nintendo Channel, available for free until April 22nd. Presumably, the other three student-developed titles will be set up with a similar arrangement in the coming weeks. Though we doubt Nintendo of America will bring these Japanese releases over when it finally releases Everybody's Nintendo Channel in the states, at this point, we would be happy just to have the dang channel! It has been almost five months since the channel debuted in Japan!

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Must See TV: Homebrew Channel

Eric Caoili — 2008-03-17T12:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Video, Homebrew, Channels

It takes almost two minutes to get to the "good stuff" in this video, so, while you wait for that to play, here's a quick summary of what you're watching -- Team Twiizers, the group behind the Twilight Hack that allows users to run their own code on an unmodded Wii, have developed a way to expand on that exploit and install a "Homebrew Channel" onto the Wii Menu.

The channel doesn't do much yet, but just seeing that it's possible has us excited about other possible applications in our near future! Of course, that's assuming Nintendo doesn't put out some sort of firmware update that blocks the exploit, killing homebrew progress before anyone has a chance to release a "Pirated Games Channel."

[Thanks, Craig!]

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Video demo of Wiimote and TV playing nice

David Hinkle — 2008-03-04T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Video, Channels

With the TV Guide Channel releasing in Japan today, many wondered exactly how the Wiimote would be used as a remote for the television, as well. Thanks to the video above, this important new features needs not reside only in the darkest corners of your imagination. And ... uh, it works just like you would expect. It changes channels and works the volume. It even looks really fun.

Gallery: Wii TV Guide Channel

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Wii TV Guide Channel debuts! ... in Japan

Eric Caoili — 2008-03-04T09:45:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

We were skeptical about the usefulness of Nintendo's Television no Tomo Channel G Guide when the application was first announced -- we assumed it would be a simple listing of future and currently-playing shows. According to initial impressions of the recently launched (in Japan) channel, however, there's a lot more to it!

Users can rate shows, share their favorite shows with friends, and mark their favorite programs to receive email/text alerts a half hour before they begin ... in Japan.

The coolest feature we've heard about, though, is the ability to use the Wii remote as a universal remote control. Wii owners can use the controller to change channels, adjust the volume, and switch back and forth between their shows and the TV Guide Channel. Apparently, the sensor bar transmits your commands to your TV, making this all possible ... in Japan.

Gallery: Wii TV Guide Channel

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Check out your channel updates

Alisha Karabinus — 2008-01-31T11:15:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

If your Wii was -- or still is -- all aglow with the soft blue light of hope, it's probably because the Check Mii Out channel has been spifferized and updates are available for download. It's nothing huge, alas; this update is designed to streamline the channel for a better user experience (and a safer one for parents), but if you're a fan of the Mii contests, it's like a little ray of sunshine just for you.

So what's changed?

It's now easier to find Miis you've put up in the Posting Plaza.
When viewing a particular Mii Artisan's profile, there is now an option to show all Miis posted by that Artisan.
If you leave in the middle of judging a contest, upon your return, the Miis you selected previously will be retained.
Parental Controls are now fully supported in the channel. Users may choose to block the exchange of "user-generated content" from t he main system settings, and when this function is engaged, the Parental Controls PIN will be required to access the channel.
You can now view 500 popular Miis at a time in the Posting Plaza instead of only 50.
When searching for a particular Mii, the number entered is not lost if no results are returned, which makes it easier to re-enter or correct mistakes prior to a second search.

If this all sounds great, go forth and get your download from the Wii Ware section of the shop channel!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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Get ready to gift: Wii Shop Channel down for maintenance

David Hinkle — 2007-12-10T19:59:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Virtual Console, Channels

Sure enough, we got online to do our usual video wrap-up post when we discovered that the Shop was down. We tried our best to beat the buzzer, but sure enough, our luck is lacking. So, we're going to keep an eye on the store and when it goes back up, we'll do the feature, so be sure to keep an eye out tonight. If you aren't able to hang about late, then be sure to check in the morning.

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Everybody's Nintendo Channel videos

Eric Caoili — 2007-11-27T09:45:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi, Imports, Channels

We might not be able to try out Everybody's Nintendo Channel just yet -- not while it's only available to Japanese Wiis -- but we can live vicariously through Chris Kohler's video walkthrough with his Japanese console. The Wired blogger takes us through the streaming movies, showing off the picture-in-picture feature with which you can keep a video playing while browsing through other trailers and commercials.

Chris then goes on to detail the several different ways you can look up information and suggestions on "every game coming out for any Nintendo system in Japan." Of course, there's also a demonstration on the new channel's most anticipated feature -- downloading game demos to your Nintendo DS. The clip cuts off abruptly just after the Tamagotchi code makes it to his handheld, but are you really that anxious to see how Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3 plays?

WiiFolder also has some direct-screen footage if you're interested in seeing the channel downloaded and hearing its music. Check it out past the break!

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Everybody's Nintendo Channel available in Japan to sate hungry DS systems

JC Fletcher — 2007-11-27T01:00:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Imports, Channels

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]

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Wii Warm Up: The other stuff

Alisha Karabinus — 2007-11-16T09:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Channels, Wii Warm Up

We talk much more often about things like the Everybody Votes and Check Mii Out Channels, but rarely get back around to all that other stuff. Do you ever use it? We know some of you browse the vast space of the internet from the comfort of your couch, but what about the photo channel or other freebie extras? Now that you've (probably) had your Wii for a while, do you ever mess around with those?

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Photo Channel to become less useful in December

JC Fletcher — 2007-11-13T10:30:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

Nintendo will be making some changes to the Photo Channel next month, including two neat features and one annoying feature. First, the neat feature: you'll be able to create your own Photo Channel icon for the Wii Menu from one of your pictures. Also, random song selection will be enabled for music files.

But about those music files. The other feature seems to have been added with the best of intentions, but is a misstep as far as we're concerned: the MP3 support is being removed in favor of AAC format support. Nintendo cites the improved sound quality of AAC files versus MP3's, but the files won't sound very good at all if you can't play them. Unless the file is 4'33", which may sound even better.

The problem is that most of the AAC files on anyone's computer are songs downloaded from the iTunes Music Store. These songs are protected by DRM and, thus, won't work if they are moved to a system that is not authorized by iTunes. Since there's no iTunes client for the Wii (only programs that let you stream iTunes-controlled music), the files just won't do a thing.

Only if you have ripped your CDs to AAC, or if you've paid ~~out the extra~~ the same amount for "iTunes Plus" versions of your music will you be able to play AAC's. Unless Nintendo works some kind of DRM-breaking magic, which won't happen. Of course, if you're like us, this update probably won't impact you in any real way. We personally have never used the Photo Channel for anything.

[Via GoNintendo]

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Cold chillin to 'Check Mii Out' music

Eric Caoili — 2007-11-12T19:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Fan stuff, Channels

While many disregard the Check Mii Out Channel for providing little more than a few minutes of entertainment, the promise of new channel tunes kept us excited about its release. We watched anxiously last ngiht as the software downloaded and Mario ran to collect our coins, babbling to ourselves, "Oh boy oh boy oh boy."

We've been fans of the Wii's different system music for some time now, so we were pleased to see that someone has already ripped the new channel's tracks and posted them as downloadable MP3s. You can grab them yourself by clicking the "Read" link below. We're quite fond of the new "Mii Parade" song; it's just so .... funky.

See also: Wii Music (Remix) ft. ROBOTOBOTS

[Via Galbadia Hotel]

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Check Mii Out (sorta) borks Mii sharing

Eric Caoili — 2007-11-12T12:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Video, Channels

Users who've downloaded Miis from the Check Mii Out Channel will likely run into the same bug detailed in the video embedded above -- any attempts to send a Mii out to one of your friends will be stymied by the system's insistence in listing Nintendo as the receiver. We're pretty sure that Nintendo doesn't want all those Star Wars-themed Miis you've accumulated!

We tried this out ourselves, and we found that while Nintendo is listed as the recipient, your friend should still receive your Mii package. Also, exiting and reentering the Mii Channel fixes the glitch, blocking Nintendo out of the transfer. Looks like there's no need to draft any angry letters or petitions about how Nintendo is taking away your God-given right to harass your friends with Greedo Miis! Expect Nintendo to fix this minor bug up with a future firmware update.

[Via Go Nintendo]

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Check Mii Out now lighting up Wiis

Alisha Karabinus — 2007-11-11T20:27:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

It's Sunday, and as promised, the Check Mii Out Channel is now available for download on Wiis everywhere. It's pretty straightforward from first glance: you choose a Mii to represent your Wii, and it will be labeled your "Mii Artisan." It looks like you can only choose one Mii Artisan per console, so families who do a lot of Mii creation might have to fight it out (may we recommend a steel cage match?). Once you've designated the Mii who is in charge, you can get rolling with the real meat of the channel.

There's the regular submission process, in which you can select any of your Miis for upload and critique. You assign them initials, as well as a "specialty," which can include anything from cooking to comedy, or our personal favorite, writing. They join a parade (viewing options include regional and worldwide) of other Miis. When viewing Miis already submitted, you can choose to see them in motion, with a variety of silly poses (some of which we've captured for you after the break), or you can scroll through columns of static Miis.

Also in full effect is the contest feature. Currently, there's only one contest listed, and judging was not yet available. It's unknown as yet if that means no one's entered, or if it just means each contest has to be open for a certain period before you can view the competition. Right now, the listed challenge is for a capless Mario. We know a lot of you have Mario Miis hanging around, so if they're chillin' without hats, you might want to submit them. If not, get to work!

As of this time, there weren't a lot of Miis up, and just the one contest, but it seems likely that the popularity feature will soon fill up with a variety of Miis from around the world. Even now, there's a good selection, and we have to admit, it's pretty cute to get an idea (in cartoon form) of who else is using the channel already. Overall, there just doesn't seem like a lot to the Check Mii Out Channel beyond a few occasional moments of diversion, but the contests might offer a nice challenge for those who have run out of ideas for new Miis. We also know a lot of people who just love Miis, so surely, this new feature will have more than a few fans.

Miis on parade

I am so bee-yoo-ti-ful!

Hmmm, so many to choose from!

J.R. looks pretty nice!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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Check Mii Out Channel drops November 11th

Eric Caoili — 2007-11-08T09:45:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Fan stuff, Nintendo Wi-Fi, Channels

Finally, I'll be able to share my menagerie of rapper Miis with the entire world! Nintendo announced today that it will launch its Check ~~Tupac~~ Mii Out Channel this Sunday, November 11th, rewarding your "creative spirit" by making the new feature available for free in the Wii Shop Channel's WiiWare category.

The Posting Plaza section of the Check Mii Out channel enables you to post, trade, or browse through different Miis. You can tag your favorites or kidnap them and raise the Miis as your own. In addition to listings for current/all-time favorites and a searchable database, a random selection of 1,000 Miis will be available for you to look through.

The channel will also offer a contest section in which you can try to match your Mii to a specific character or theme (e.g. rappers, dead rappers, rappers with "Young" or "Lil" in their stages names, etc.). You'll have a week to create and enter your Mii, and users will spend the week after voting on the best submissions.

Which of your prized Miis are you going to upload first?

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Hullbreach manages to snag a few users

David Hinkle — 2007-11-07T12:45:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

A fresh press release from Hullbreach Online, that Wii Internet Channel MMO we reported on a few weeks back, states that some people have decided to give it a try. With 1,175 members, the game has grown a bit. There are now 576 different sectors that players can hyperjump to, as well as numerous quests and combat scenarios to complete. From the press release, it sounds like this thing is growing pretty fast.

While we haven't played it ourselves (darn this blogging), we love to hear about this kind of stuff. Ambition projects are few and far between, it seems, so we look forward to December. Why? Well, that's when the final release hits, which will have NPC interaction, asteroid mining and player-to-player bartering.

Has anyone given this a try? Are you finding it to your liking? Or, is it a waste of time?

[Via press release]

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Buy NiGHTS, play online, make a garden

Chris Greenhough — 2007-11-05T18:00:00 00:00

Filed under: News, Channels

1UP recently had a chance to delve a little deeper into NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, in particular the game's multiplayer and "My Dream" modes.

Reportedly, the former is to consist of two gametypes, one of which -- imaginatively titled "Race Mode" -- will be fully playable online. This will see two players competing in an out-and-out race to the finish line, one as the eponymous NiGHTS, and the other as ~~his~~ ~~her~~ its arch-enemy, Reala.

Passing through yellow or green rings contributes to a meter that can in turn be used for "dash boosts," while spike rings have the opposite effect. Encouragingly, it sounds like a fairly "pure" interpretation of the original Saturn game, if our withered, dried-up memories serve correctly.

"Battle Mode" is the second multiplayer variant, an offline game for two players. Here, each player has to avoid the "Mareballoon," essentially a large orange time bomb that NiGHTS and Reala can chuck between one another. If you're the one holding the Mareballoon by the time its clock has ticked down to zero, then your opponent clinches a point, with the first to three winning.

Swoop effortlessly past the break for more.

Gallery: NiGHTS

Meanwhile, the site also poked around in the "My Dream" section of the game, which gives the player a chance to breed A-LIFE, cuddly little fellows who can be collected from levels in the single-player mode. Once caught in the game, A-LIFE move into your garden, modifying it according to their individual statistics; apparently, each A-LIFE is rated in terms of Strength, Intelligence, Flight Ability, Sensory Perception, Sociability, Curiosity, Quickness, and Dexterity.

Further complicating matters, there are different types of A-LIFE (still with us?), Nightmarens and Nightopians, and if things get a little intimate between the two, they can create a kind of A-LIFE mongrel, known as a Mepian. These Mepians will then grow up and perhaps get jiggy with other Mepians, expanding the number of potential ways in which your garden can evolve into one big, sloppy genetic mess.

There's a bunch of other neat things you can do in this mode, such as visit the gardens of other users who are online with their Wii (there's an "Icon Chat" function to make chatting with other international users a breeze), and as we've previously reported, the game uses the Forecast Channel so that the weather in your little virtual garden matches what's happening outside your own house. Which means yours truly will be getting in-game grey skies until August 2008. Reason #3,919 to love the UK.

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