Nintendo details Wii multimedia functionality

Relaunched Wii Web site demonstrates next-gen console's "Wii Channels": photo editing, news update, Web surfing, and "Mii" custom-avatar-creation features.

Thousands of people watched--or attended--Nintendo's pre-Electronic Entertainment Expo conference in May, where the company revealed the fully functional Wii console. As part of the demonstration, Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto played a tennis match from the Wii Sports collection with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime, and a lucky member of the audience.

When the match began, the audience erupted in laughter when it saw that the game featured cartoonish avatars of Fils-Aime, Iwata, and Miyamoto. Most assumed that the re-creations had been made specifically for the event as a humorous gesture to the Nintendo faithful.

However, today, it was revealed that the forthcoming Wii console will offer avatar customization to every user, although not in every game. As Nintendo concluded its Japanese press conference--which confirmed many new details about the console--it launched the official Japanese Wii Web site, which demonstrates several of the Wii's heretofore unknown multimedia features and will be known in the US as "Wii Channels."

One feature is the "Mii Channel," which will let players make simplified, cartoonlike avatars like those displayed at E3. Once an avatar is created using face-sculpting tools, it will appear in any game that supports Mii Channel characters. The avatar will also be stored on the so-called "Wii-mote" controller, which can be taken to a friend's house and be reproduced in a game on their console, according to Nintendo.

Wii.com also showed off the Wii's menu system via another clip, which showed a user moving a cursor over several selections, including a GameCube disc and photo gallery. Other video demonstrations show users selecting several Wii Virtual Console games, including Mario Bros. (NES), Super Mario World (SNES), and Super Mario 64 (N64).

The Wii Web site also outlined how the console's just-revealed photo-editing software will work. Wii owners can insert an SD card from their camera or mobile phone into a slot in the front of the Wii. As shown in yet another video demonstration, photos can be edited in a variety of ways, including cropping and pixilation. The Wii will also organize hundreds of photos via a vortexlike menu and let users send them to friends and family over the Web.

The site also displays a clip of the Wii's weather service, called the Forecast Channel, which will sport data supplied by Weather News Incorporated. Manipulating a cursor onscreen, a user checks out the forecast for Tokyo before zooming out to see what's going on weather-wise in the rest of Japan. Later, the user literally spins a virtual Earth to peruse conditions on various continents. Nintendo says the information will be constantly updated via the WiiConnect24 service and also will be free of charge.

Another part of the Wii site shows a user navigating the Wii's news service via WiiConnect24. No news provider was named for the service, which appeared to consist of a news feed of headlines and photos but no video content.

Nintendo also confirmed WiiConnect24 will let users surf the Web using Opera Browser, which is also the basis for the Nintendo DS's browser. The company showed a still of the browser accessing the popular search engine Google and promised it will support Adobe Flash animation. Animations on the same page show the Wii browser checking out a cooking site and finding the Makuhari Convention Center using Google Maps.

[UPDATE] Unfortunately, the Wii browser will not be free. Thursday morning, Nintendo confirmed at its New York Wii press conference that the Opera browsers would have to be purchased via the prepaid Wii points system.

Besides allowing Web surfing, WiiConnect24 will also sport a message board, as shown in two press conference video clips (at bottom of page). Details about the service were scarce, but the video clearly shows it having some sort of calendar function. Also, each message sports a Mii Channel avatar in the upper right-hand corner.

237 Comments

  • dazzzilla

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 6:23 am PT

    PS3=ripoff what now

  • DonnieDarko

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 5:33 am PT

    No HD = dumb.

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 4:24 am PT

    WHAT A GREAT SUBSTITUTE FOR HD!!! LMAO

  • Romuska86

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 2:15 am PT

    MajicManj, don't forget. The Wii has usb ports. You can easily just plug in a normal keyboard.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 2:09 am PT

    Sweet

  • jattpunjabdaa

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 11:32 pm PT

    im gonna catch em all.... the consoles of course. What did u think??

  • Kbs64

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 9:09 pm PT

    This is so sweet. Nintendo is really aiming for a wider audience. But ya I wish it came in more colors.

  • plaidlover

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:49 pm PT

    I saw these videos and I am very excited about the wii! now more then ever! it is going to be worth the wait the only thing I am sad about is the one color (white) wii system launch

  • enanos

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:45 pm PT

    yeaaaaaaaaaaaa

  • MajicManj

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:37 pm PT

    I have not seen any more detail on the way the internet will work with the Wii.
    Is the Wii version of Opera a specific configuration for the Wii?
    With no keyboard it will be interesting to interact and move to websites.
    If this version is not Wii specific, does it have parental control?
    I am sure a good deal of people do not want children browsing certain sites on the the Wii. With a 24/7 connect and internet access does the Wii offer any protection from the numerous problems the internet has to plague and ruin a system?
    I can just see Wii's dying all over the place because the web browser let people into the machine and destroy it with a nasty virus.
    Has anybody heard if any of these issues have been addressed?

  • kakashi_00x000

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 7:40 pm PT

    awsome!

  • dell900

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 7:30 pm PT

    go wii! dont fight the ps3 fight for the wii!!!!!!!!!!

  • awia

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:20 pm PT

    No, not the death of the ps3. Ps3 seems to be moving more towards the hardcore gamer, while Wii is sticking with a gamer / non-gamer friendly system. The 360 is kinda in the middle

    I think the Wii seems like everyones second choice console, (unless you only planned on getting a Wii), therefore making it a strong leader for the "next-gen consoles"

  • nintendorocks

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:16 pm PT

    So, much for "a video game console is for games." But on the other hands, these features are truly innovative. I can't wait.

  • gigidey

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:16 pm PT

    And I had fun goofing off on the 360s menus...

  • ryokinshin6x3

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:08 pm PT

    the risk of gimmicks is also very high and very likely since its cheaper to make games expect to see a lot of crap come out

  • xX_WEASEL_Xx

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:41 pm PT

    awsome. i still havnt decided if im gonna get the wii because im more of a 360 guy but with the 360 it was just good graphics. no really new ground breaking stuff but the wii offers a whole new variety of gameplay. whether u like the 360 or the wii better i think we can all agree that this is the death of the playstation

  • degrassirulez

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:39 pm PT

    Awesomeness

  • master_shan99

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 5:31 pm PT

    Cool.

  • agustin2489

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:34 pm PT

    Wickedness. I love the Wii all over again.

  • Sandman987

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:56 pm PT

    All I can say is WOW

  • Shingo

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:50 pm PT

    Dude........................ I forgot how much I love nintendo

  • LsTr_Of_SmG

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    'Generic_Dude: How am I going to browse with a remote control? Maybe they should have a keyboard (Wiiboard?) add-on, because I don't really see it working out.'

    I can't see using the remote being any different to using a mouse... They are both pointer based (though admittedly in slightly different senses of the word). So in that sense browsing is not that bad.

    If, however, you were ONLY referring to a lack of keyboard, then yes slightly awkward but not as awkward as using a conventional controller.

  • wikkedclown17

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:42 pm PT

    this makes my nipples hard....very hard

  • EMAN2g

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    >_>

  • kells77

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:06 pm PT

    cool

  • chad9

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    WOW. Even better reason to get a Wii.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    Hmmm... as much as the question has been asked a dozen times, I wonder if I'm paying for the internet browser only or if I'd have to subscribe to surf? Not only that, but how am I going to browse with a remote control? Maybe they should have a keyboard (Wiiboard?) add-on, because I don't really see it working out.

  • Master_Blast

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:39 pm PT

    I wonder if by pay for the internet browser, they mean pay to like download firmware to go on the internet, or if they mean monthly fees?

  • dennis_phong

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:35 pm PT

    the avatar think looks kinda cool

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:33 pm PT

    MULTIPLAYER FOR FREE PLEASE! Oh, make a fps with multiplayer like Halo and I'll love Nintendo forever, still got to give love to microsoft for halo though, yeah and sony for katamari darmacy....hmmm...guess I am a slut for games.

  • papapavvv

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:28 pm PT

    are we gonna be able to play multiplayer 4 free? unlike xbox live...

  • CalvinCoolage

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    championken, you need to go spam somewhere else. This is for the people who want the wii, not despise it.

  • AlphonseElric23

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:17 pm PT

    bonganuon't complain! At least it'll have internet! OMG!The Wii is even better than I thought!!!!!

  • mrgokugf

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:11 pm PT

    well it IS software and opera DO have to make money

  • bonganu

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:08 pm PT

    what the heck!!!!! the internet costs wut is that thats like putting a price on .... .....
    .... .... something that shouldnt have a price.... well all im saying is thats terrible

  • paranoiasurviva

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    I don't see why I would want to surf the web on my TV. It is all better done on a PC.

  • gamer_10001

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:03 pm PT

    Cool

  • djsaskdja

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:50 pm PT

    Hey with all this cool Wii functionality maybe I'll sell my computer and get a Wii since I basically just use it for Internet and games anyway

  • bobreturns

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    what the hell your angry because of something they've but on for free...right...and why not trun it on to check news you'd turn on your TV ot your PC and the internet is great because it allows you to acces the internet in another place you wouldnt get angry if you bought another PC and said "damn this is aload of crap i can go on the internet on my PC"

  • championken

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    This internet crap is useless. Nobody cares about weather and doing basic photo editing on their console. And who the hell is going to put on their wii to check news. I agree this is king of silly direction their taking wii in. The only thing that was intresting was the opera browser but that itsn't free. Well as long as playing multiplayer games are free..which is the most important thing.

  • V-Nine

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:08 pm PT

    (About flaming) I think its was rather well put in RedvsBlue episode Real life vs the internet. Funny as heck too. IMHO I just go where the games are. I got 2 X360's and will get a NWii next(cant pass up that price!). I will get a PS3(eventually, I need alil more persuasion)when the FF13 games arrive but even thats iffy because Sony has been acting just plain weird this go round. All this fancy-smanz online crud is not as good as it could be(Dreamcast was a nice try) c'mon let me surf the net fully (lets just see how far the Wii goes) I always will have a Nintendo as long as they give me one(worth buying that is ,hey I have everything but a VirtualBoy no offense I want one...ebay...) and I hope they dont give up like somebody *cough* SEGA*cough* did. [I still dont feel right playing Sega stuff on another system, come back Sega..please! ;p]

  • yawannataco

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:00 pm PT

    they got their **** together... MS and Sony could learn a little about launches from them

  • Johann_Lieberg

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:00 pm PT

    2. Break it down,
    wii-250
    extra controller 40 (this system is all about party games so this is a must)
    Nunchuck 20 (required for most games
    a real game 50 (wii sports don't count)
    an sd memory card 20

    250+40+20+50+20=380*1.05(tax)=400 for me wii

    .. and u know what else.. the wee wee has less than a gig of disk space... good luck ....

  • blazio

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    Not a deal killer, but i read that there will NOT be DVD playback capability on the Wii.

    Not a biggie, but their thought is that everyone already has a dvd player so why include it. Me personally i have a 400 dvd changer so this doesn't stop me from wanting to get a Wii.

    no dvd player? whooppiiiiii!

  • jj4

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    360 interface still OWNS!

  • LoWpS

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:55 pm PT

    ... weather service? dag, yo. theyre exaggerating... but I do like the Mii avatars.

  • blacktwister

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:55 pm PT

    Wow nintenpowns

  • WinterSlodier

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:42 pm PT

    sweet like honey on hersey bar........

  • NFunspoiler

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:35 pm PT

    I'm actually kinda dissapointed in this 'announce everything' conferece they are holding.

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!