Report: Wii Speak Channel limited to new purchases

Nintendo will reportedly not allow secondhand purchasers of upcoming communication peripheral to download program.

The dearth of online voice chat is often cited as one of the shortcomings of Nintendo's massively popular Wii. A recognized problem, Nintendo moved to address this issue during its E3 2008 presence in July, revealing to the world the Wii Speak peripheral. The device is essentially a microphone that can be mounted to a TV set and will let rooms full of gamers communicate with one another online in-game.

Wii Speak.

Along with being integrated into games such as Animal Crossing: City Folk, the peripheral will also be used as part of the new Wii Speak Channel. The channel will let up to four people join a chatroom online, communicating by way of their Miis. As noted during Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime during a press event last month, the device will come packed with a code that allows users to download the channel.

Unfortunately, that may present a problem for those who purchase the $29.99 peripheral secondhand. MTV reports today that the only way to get ahold of the unique Wii Speak Channel download code is to buy a new copy of the device. Citing a Nintendo representative, the news outlet reports that Wii owners will not be able to obtain a new code for a used microphone, and that the Wii Speak Channel will not be available for purchase through the Wii Shop Channel.

Nintendo had not responded to GameSpot's own requests for comment as to whether the publisher will be offering a solution for those who purchase a used Wii Speak peripheral.

131 Comments

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    Even though Nintendo gains no profit from secondhand sales it isn't very charitable of them to deny us the choice. Nintendo really wanted to make changes in the games industry and really seemed like the good guys in the beginning, but it looks like they are falling back into their arrogant ways again. I am basing this on several things not just this report.

  • jamesh-42

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 8:49 pm PT

    Given that Nintendo sees no profit from the sale of a second hand accessory, their decision makes some amount of sense.

    That said, it is the kind of action I wish governments would crack down on, as it has clear negatives for consumers. It is going to take a while for consumer protection law to catch up with DRM and tricks like this.

  • rarson

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 6:53 pm PT

    This is a pretty dumb move. Nintendo is bricking all its second-hand accessories. I think the idea is to get people to actually USE the damn things, not stop them from doing so.

  • TongLong

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    Garbage. Between this and how spotty online connectivity is with both the Wii and the DS, Nintendo needs to totally rethink their online strategy (or lack thereof).

  • XanderZane

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    Boooooo!!! They want to force people to buy more of these microphones and not sell them on EBay. That sucks. Anyone should be able to download the software and use it, without a stupid code. That is so lame. Nintendo is trying to milk their fanbase for more money. Why? They've already sold almost 40 million Wii's. How much richer does Nintendo need to get? None of their competitors is doing this crap. This makes Nintendo look really BAD.

  • tudyniuz

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 12:44 pm PT

    Nintendo isn't thinking straight...

  • DataDream

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 6:35 am PT

    Wow - I thought M$ and SONY were making some poor marketing decisions as of late, but...

    This has to be one of the worst ideas EVER! Forcing users to only buy new devices and not be able to buy used is horrible marketing considering half the gaming market today is based on the sales of used games and equipment.

    I guess if you want to trade your Wii in and you have one of these - you might as well throw it in the garbage as it will be useless after the initial purchaser has it.

    Also this microphone pics up the entire room? That doesn't sound like it will integrate well into games at all!!! If this is the case there will be no way for the mic to determine which speaker is which and that means that within games it won't be able to attach your voice to your specific in game character.

    I think Nintendo is an amazing company and it fills a market need that the other two game console manufacturers don't very well (namely younger gamers, families and lovers of platformer games). However I think this was a poor response to users requests for voice chat/communications - all this does is allow Nintendo to say "We have that" while providing a device that is FAR inferior to their competitors voice chat services.

    I am not dogging Nintendo as I said - I think they are great - I just don't think this is going to be a successful product for them is all.

  • Pablo620

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 1:26 am PT

    My goodness the Wii is an abomination to gaming. Its so sad that so many of these things have sold and continue to sell. So sad...poor consumers... oh wait in my house there are TWO wiis crap. But right now there are THREE PS3s...theres a reason I promise

  • -CheeseEater-

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    Oh my. Retailers will loose money.

    Nintendo will gain money.

    The consumers will loose.

  • Jaeme

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 7:14 am PT

    Ultimately the issue is something quite different than many people think. We are basically collateral damage in a brewing war between publishers/hardware makers and used game hawkers like EB games/Gamestop. Everyone of us has traded in a relatively new release for only a couple of bucks then seen it on the shelves at $50 or so a day later. The publishers(etc) have too and they want a cut of that gravy. While games are getting more expensive to make (a cry heard every hardware generation. I`m sure Mr Baer was required to say that when he invented the Odysee) they are looking for new sorces of revenue. Ads have a limited use and upping the costs only goes so far before you`re shooting yourself in the foot. Meanwhile the largest game retailer on earth makes more than half of its cash from used sales. There is no reason why Gamestop can`t get a little less and give a little to the people who make the games (and thus the very industry) they make their living off of. Even a royalty type structure similar to radio royalties for music might be enough. If things like this were in place we wouldn`t have things like this or Epic musing about "no ending for you, cheap used game buying SOB". You will not that I have intentionally sidestepped the whole issue of the Wii and the fact that it is the first game console to have earned a place in my closet while still "current". "Look! Over by the Flo Bee and the Thigh Master! It`s a Wii!"

  • CryoZero

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 7:10 am PT

    I wonder if I can use my Rock Band mic, cause I am not paying 30$ just for some channel if every other mic or headset works.

  • amber_jade

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 2:41 am PT

    As much as I like Nintendo (but don't like the direction they are going in with the Wii), this shows how unethical they are in terms of caring about the environment. So when you no longer have a use for your headset you have no choice but to put it in landfill because you can't sell it on - that's disgusting business practice. I hope that people find a way to get around this... Also, with the vast amount of money Nintendo are making from the Wii you wouldn't think it was worth doing this to their customers.

  • 0B3L15k_o_Li9hT

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 2:11 am PT

    As a unfaultering Nintendo fan-boy for decades now, I have to say that they're doing a remarkable job of alienating their real market demographic (or perhaps real gamers aren't anymore, I suppose). But first we've been shafted royally with a *very* poor selection of games, and now N's robbing us of our Right of First Sale! Of course the really clever thing about it is that undoubtedly you'll be able to add something similar using the Homebrew Channel anyway, and then it's only a short download to WiiGator, and, well, I guess I'd be contraviening Gamespot's T&Cs if I continue.

    Eye for an eye; Theft for a theft; Right of First Sale for an R4. And a big up-yours to Nintendo.

  • Shadowflame291

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 4:55 pm PT

    racerx719- Agreed, and if you do trade in games to Gamestop, make sure they're current-gen games only.

  • internationaal

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 2:22 pm PT

    @berlindex:
    It isn't uncommon that some 3rd party products are better than originals. So by including a code with the mic the FORCE you to use their product.

    We are in a world where people have 5 remotes lying around and buy a universal remote to be able to handle everything with a single remote. Now, I've got a bluetooth headset for my mobile which I can use for my PS3. But if Sony had a code... I would be forced to buy new hardware while I have something that works and may even be better in terms of quality!

    So I think it's a bad idea! (but the same as Microsoft does with all it's peripherials). Also, I think something like a chat channel is a way to improve the usage of your equipment and should therefore be offered free (or a VERY low price). So it shouldn't cost $30 to use that functionality.....

    (and to go off-topic: even though I don't own a Wii I think it has a lot of potential that just doesn't come out...)

  • berlindex

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 1:05 pm PT

    I see so much potential in the Wii. Heck that's why I bought one on day one! It makes me sad that Nintendo and all other 3rd party developers aren't using it to make good games. I still idealize a realistic, well built FPS. Not just a lower caliber port of what I get on my 360. The potencial is almost limitless! Sorry about going off topic. I think Nintendo has the right to do this. I mean they are giving it to you at a somewhat reasonable price (a wireless headset costs 55€ for the 360) and most of you probably wouldn't even use the channel they're offering you (offering: It's free!). They are rewarding us for buying their product. Would you be happier to buy the mic new/used or even a third party one and have to shell out, let's say, 10 bucks extra for that channel? Damn I know i wouldn't!

  • GANGSTASAN

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 12:26 pm PT

    Nintendo greedy ****

  • necronaux

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 11:42 am PT

    The mic is mounted to the TV? Won't the sound from the tv's speakers interfear with the use of the mike?

  • Laserwulf

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 11:42 am PT

    It strikes me as funny how people complain about Gamestop's trade-in pricing so much; if you don't like it, then don't trade in your games there. Problem solved. If their profits dip low enough (since used games is where most of it comes from), the corporate office may rethink their strategies.

    With that said, Nintendo (and others like Epic) are within their legal rights to inhibit the resale market, but it's certainly unethical. Used book stores are about as old as books, but you don't see publishers requiring you to mail in a page to get the final chapter. If you don't like the practice, (again) vote with your wallet.

    Finally, to all the hardcore gamers who bought Wiis and complain afterwards: do some research before you buy. The Wii is being marketed more towards casual and non-gamers, and as long as it's profitable, Nintendo won't change the horse mid-stream. I haven't bought a PS3, because there aren't enough PS3 game I want to warrant the purchase.

  • necronaux

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 11:39 am PT

    I'm surprised more companies aren't doing this. It insures new sales only, they receive all the profit. It virtually kills any 2nd hand / used sales. But, where the resale market is so huge, I'm sure it's only a matter of time and they'll realize that there is a need for (to sell of course) additional (2nd hand) codes.

  • decima1870

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 10:57 am PT

    This just another example of Nintendo's infinite greed. First by shipping a ridiculously underpowered piece of garbage like the Wii and making money off it right away unlike Microsoft and Sony. Way to further alienate the hardcore Nintendo.

  • AzureWind213

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 9:28 am PT

    Many posters have commented that buying used games at Gamestop is a ripoff. They are only half-right... it's a COLOSSAL, SMACK you in the face CRIME. They are preying on your laziness! Ebay will make you at least 60-70% of your games NEW MSRP. Even if you are the lazy type, you can set up an account and use a stock pic, name your price and send it at your local post office. I was apprehensive at first but trust me, it's way easier than you think. Do yourselves a favor and STOP BUYING their used games. Everyone will be happy except Gamestop, which is just what we need to stop the ripoffs.

  • omari5

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 9:08 am PT

    I'm still amazed how Nintendo is still leading in sales. There are NO good games on the Wii. I have had my Wii for almost two years and i've played it a total of probably 10 hours. Luckily my kids like playing Mario Kart 64 or i wouldn't be getting my money worth. With that said. It is a slick idea to make people buy it new if they want the channel. But you don't have to have the channel to use it so if you buy it used you can just chat in game. How many people chat outside of a game? i would like to know.

  • sakanakami

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:53 am PT

    A lot of developers are starting to do this to deter people from buying second hand merchandise. It makes a lot of sense for them to do this, that way they actually see money from the sales of the product. A good example is Gears of War 2, if you purchase the game new you get a code to download 5 multiplayer maps, but if you purchased it used, you do not get the maps and the maps will not be sold on the XBLM. I worked at Gamestop for almost 3 years, the trade in value of games is terrible and the price difference between new and used is usually about a 10% difference. If you purchase a used item from Gamestop they make a 100% profit on the sale. Gamestop pushes used sales over new sales. The game developers and publishers do not like this so they are trying to remedy this buy giving incentives for purchasing new. I agree with what they are doing to try to push the new sales over used sales.

  • BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:47 am PT

    I see the point! They've done this SO THAT YOU WON'T SELL THE Wii!!! Pretty good idea.

  • abduzi

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:38 am PT

    @FNKYMNK Nintendo forced me to buy a ps3 last year, glad i did too .
    Bought a wii (nov 19 2006), played about 5-10 times, wiimote broke-stopped connecting (during christmas holidays) got it back in january, played like 30 hrs of gh3+mario. bought ssmb played 10 hours. BOUGHT A PS3 (april 200 played like 50 hours in 2 weeks. with only cod4 and gta4 ive already surapssed my hours in wii playing time. and ive got around 10 wii games. its been unplugged for the past like 9 months i believe.

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:08 am PT

    @ Peach79...

    That is your first mistake Peach, NEVER sell your games to Gamestop or buy used games from Gamestop! The wil give you $3 for a game and then turn around and try to sell it for $40!!!! They rip you off bad! A good example is this: I just took 5 games to GS (4 wii games and 1 360 game) and they were all 2-3 years old. GS was going to give me $9.50 for all 5 games! I was so ticked off and insulted that I left the store and went on ebay and posted them all on there.... 24 hours later I had 5 payments for 5 games in a total of $101.50! 10x better than what GS was going to rip me off for!!!! Never buy a used game from them! Ebay is the place to go!

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:05 am PT

    Seems like something Sony would do... But not Nintendo....

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:57 am PT

    whatever

  • peach79

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:51 am PT

    Big deal. Whats the problem with buying it new? Used products are usually only a couple of dollars less than actual retail price. Walking through Gamestop and checking used/new game prices I'm always surprised why someone would want something used instead of new since the prices are so close.

  • tidyspidey

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:42 am PT

    pretty stupid if you ask me.

    I've no interest in the item, and even though I'm sure the legalities of it mean that Nintendo can indeed do what they want, they'll be leaving a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. Silly move by them if you ask me, they're already making a LOT of money at the moment... greedy

  • FNKYMNK

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:34 am PT

    Nintendo forced me to buy an XBOX360 about 3 months ago.

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:21 am PT

    Thanks for soaking more money out of us Nintendo. That's one of the many reasons you're company has been on my s**t list since the Wii came out. Maybe they should've thought about that before in their new "online stratagy" before releaseing the Wii. D****bags...

  • rockstar_88

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:13 am PT

    And this is another reason why me and my friends would rather play online Wii Games over XBOX Live headsets. We did it with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we'll do it again with future Wii relases.

  • phase4illini

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 6:58 am PT

    bbeastieboy...

    It really is kind of nonsensical, considering you can find a cheap new/used bluetooth headset online for about $10 that works with the PS3 and allows you to talk to far more than 3 individuals. Really, this shows a rather greedy business model and an online component that still hasn't delivered on a lot of previous promises.

  • phase4illini

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 6:42 am PT

    EnigManic, clearly you are trying to look at the past with rose colored glasses. Nintendo shares (and probably owns most of) the blame for the lack of 3rd party support throughout their history, with poor development kits, sometimes excessive licensing fees, etc. Case in point, when Nintendo released info about their motion sensing upgrade technology at E3 this year, it was also made quite clear that they had not shared info (or any development tools) for this highly useful add-on component with any 3rd party developers. Which is a crying shame because the applications for accurate motion control in games is rather large.

  • loamcloa

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 5:39 am PT

    meh its not so bad.. I'll only use voice chat in games so

  • gooflee

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 5:08 am PT

    @ADPJFC

    You are mistaken it is legal. Nintendo has the legal right to control things that may be used on their platform because it is a closed system. If your thoughts were true, it would be illegal for Microsoft to prevent a competitive "X-Box live" service from being available on the XBox 360.

  • skingus

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 4:07 am PT

    Nintendo has a right to make money how they choose with their own products. It would be different if the thing was more than $30.00... i'm dure there'll be a solution to this anyways.

  • racerx719

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 4:05 am PT

    I agree with ya EnigManic To be quite honest I dont plan on purchasing this crap in the first place though. Im a hardcore Nintendo supporter and have been since the NES days but this holiday season I feel very disappointed. But anyhow back to the topic at hand, I do agree and say screw'em Kudos for Nintendo for giving them the cold shoulder.. Esp due to the crap games that have been released lately... Maybe the dev teams will work a little harder and more creative.

  • EnigManic

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 2:44 am PT

    I think it's perfectly reasonable. None of those 3rd-party developers wanted to support Nintendo with decent games for the N64 or Gamecube, and even now they don't make decent games for the Wii, but they want to make money making alternative versions of peripheral devices that Nintendo made?

    I say screw them. Everyone laughed at Nintendo when the Wii debuted but now that they see what a cash cow it is, now they want to get in on the action? And that especially includes Sony and Microsoft with their motion controllers.

  • Raid3r

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 2:34 am PT

    Plainly absurd and juvenile practice....I vote with my wallet and this will not see the light of day under my watch.

  • bbeastieboy

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 1:00 am PT

    "togo2828

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:23 pm PT

    .... Maybe i'm naive but what's the problem, You have to buy the speak for your Wii... okay, get over it. People have to understand that this crap takes money, and also unlike Microsoft Nintendo doesn't charge you once a month for there services, and since there Wii speak is only 29.99 that places actually below the Xbox head set which if i'm not mistaken is 39.99. So really people just buck up, buy your crap for your own system. Nintendo wants to make there money to. So everyone buck up, it's not that big of a deal."

    EXACTLY what I wanted to say

  • EnigManic

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 12:47 am PT

    -Desalbert- I say again, stop complaining about the Wii. Nintendo isn't responsible for making those multi-platform games or the shovelware. If you have a complaint, address it to the third-party devs who choose to make a fast buck cashing in on the casual market instead of spending the time, money and effort to make decent-quality games.

  • sunnystarz

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 11:46 pm PT

    isn't this how mmorpg game operated?....

  • ADPJFC

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 11:42 pm PT

    Right... i.e. they're not selling you the hardware... they're licensing it to you. That's just total BS. It's also unfair business practice and attempts at controlling the market, which if I'm not mistaken is illegal. (I'm refering to the concept of not allowing 3rd parties in on it by keeping the code from them).

  • mattdv

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 11:05 pm PT

    I guess this also helps keep out competition from third parties with reasonably priced microphones...

  • -Desalbert-

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:55 pm PT

    "Won't allow this" "Didn't come with that" "Wii won't be getting this...but we thought we'd throw in that"

    I apologize, but over and over again with the Nintendo Wii I find that we users are always stunted. Whether it's a new program limitation like this, or the fact that we don't get even the same game modes as the other platforms (READ: Call of duty World at War for Wii: No cap flag, no co-op, no Nazi zombies, but oh, you DO get deathmatch!), the truth is that Wii owners have been made to expect *less* out of their products.

    I mean, why on earth is it okay not to get the same game-modes? Graphics are understandable, and a lower sound quality is sadly acceptable, but not even getting the same game modes as the same product on other consoles is inexcusable, and for me, it's killed the system.

    I didn't mean to get off topic, but when I saw another article with the title words "Wii (Nintendo)" and "Limited" I shuddered, and then thought about why my Wii collects dust, and shuddered even more.

    Ugh, give us good quality-- no, equal quality products, in every respect possible! (Yes, that means gamemodes) and I know I won't have paid for a motion-control gimmick; but as of right now, it makes me want to puke knowing that I payed 300 some dollars for a system that's giving me a hacked-down version of what the other platforms are getting.

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:52 pm PT

    don buy used , problem solved lol

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