Nintendo shutting down some Wii services

[Bikeage]

The Nintendo Channel had a nice little feature that let you keep track of time and times of games played in a custom list format, unlike the Wii Calendar daily updates.

For such a simple app that could easily be rolled into an update or accessed from the Shop Channel, hate to see that go, because the info is already saved.

[Ziggy]

So I went on the Everybody Votes Channel and noticed there are no new questions, so I guess I just got the last results.

Does any one know if there will be an Everybody Votes Channel on the U? I really hate to see this channel go. I remember when we first got this channel, I was amazed. How awesome is Nintendo to give us a service like that for free? It's pointless, no one needs it, it doesn't advertise anything, it's just fun. Being that this is turning into the year of petitions, we should tell Nintendo we want a Wii U version, if it isn't in the works already. Unless the numbers just weren't there, but it seemed like they were.

[Ziggy]

So the services are shutting down on the 28th. IDK if that means tonight at midnight or some time tomorrow. Bump to remind any one that this is the last chance to check out this stuff before it's gone.

[Duane Dibbley]

They're gone. My Wii's home menu looks more sad now. Most of the affected channels just give the message that the service has been shut down, but the Everybody Votes Channel still lets you view the most recent results and your voting profiles. I think I'll miss the globe from the News Channel the most.

[Godot102]

The everybody votes channel was actually really fun! I remember messing with that quite a bit. Also they better not touch the VC yet, there are still some games I want to pick up like Sengoku 3.

[alienjesus]

Has anyone confirmed if you can still gift VC games? You used to a get a message sent to the Wii message board.

[CRTGAMER]

They're gone. My Wii's home menu looks more sad now. Most of the affected channels just give the message that the service has been shut down, but the Everybody Votes Channel still lets you view the most recent results and your voting profiles. I think I'll miss the globe from the News Channel the most.

I miss that News Globe too. Strange that the Nintendo Channel went away, it was a great preview of games and also smart marketing to entice purchases. Even if no new Wii games, there are teases of 3DS and WiiU titles that might encourage a Wii owner to upgrade.

The Wii Shop Channel still works though. Anyone who needs any games including free demos, updates or some of the utilities such as Opera and NetFlix should get them installed before the rest of Wii support goes away.

I think one "update" that really needs to be installed right away is the WiiSpeak "authentication" software; required when the microphone is purchased. The WiiSpeak microphone is compatible with the WiiU, but Wii support will eventually be dropped. Even though the online sharing is gone, are there any Wii games in offline mode that can use the WiiSpeak? I'm thinking along the lines of Mario Party or Odama on the Gamecube, any Wii games that need the voice?

Has anyone confirmed if you can still gift VC games? You used to a get a message sent to the Wii message board.

Its gone. Messages no longer work thru the Wii, but you could just sent a code off a purchased card via regular EMail.

Due to the importance, I am maintaining a CHANNEL STATUS LIST here:
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 99#p771199

[fastbilly1]

I think one "update" that really needs to be installed right away is the WiiSpeak "authentication" software; required when the microphone is purchased. The WiiSpeak microphone is compatible with the WiiU, but Wii support will eventually be dropped. Even though the online sharing is gone, are there any Wii games in offline mode that can use the WiiSpeak? I'm thinking along the lines of Mario Party or Odama on the Gamecube, any Wii games that need the voice?

WiiSpeak is only used for VOIP during gaming online. Very few games support it, and the mic has not been hacked for PC use.

[CRTGAMER]

I think one "update" that really needs to be installed right away is the WiiSpeak "authentication" software; required when the microphone is purchased. The WiiSpeak microphone is compatible with the WiiU, but Wii support will eventually be dropped. Even though the online sharing is gone, are there any Wii games in offline mode that can use the WiiSpeak? I'm thinking along the lines of Mario Party or Odama on the Gamecube, any Wii games that need the voice?

WiiSpeak is only used for VOIP during gaming online. Very few games support it, and the mic has not been hacked for PC use.

Thanks, good to know. A very good point about the PC possibility, voice communicating between the Wii and PC. Might be good to get the Wii download just in case if a hack proved worthwhile later on?

[fastbilly1]

I think one "update" that really needs to be installed right away is the WiiSpeak "authentication" software; required when the microphone is purchased. The WiiSpeak microphone is compatible with the WiiU, but Wii support will eventually be dropped. Even though the online sharing is gone, are there any Wii games in offline mode that can use the WiiSpeak? I'm thinking along the lines of Mario Party or Odama on the Gamecube, any Wii games that need the voice?

WiiSpeak is only used for VOIP during gaming online. Very few games support it, and the mic has not been hacked for PC use.

Thanks, good to know. A very good point about the PC possibility, voice communicating between the Wii and PC. Might be good to get the Wii download just in case if a hack proved worthwhile later on?

Doubtful. There is no active hacking attempt at the Wii Speak.

It was only used in twelve (12) games, and of those the two most popular were Animal Crossing and Monster Hunter, and the hardcore Monster Hunter players moved onto Skype/Vent/etc. It is not a standard mic, it would record the sound from the tv and take out most of the noise based on what the system was doing. It was bloody brilliant, but never caught on. Sadly there is not a PC mic that does the same thing for under a couple hundred.