GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

E3 2008: Nintendo talks up Wii Speak

New Wii microphone peripheral to ship with Animal Crossing: City Folk by end of '08.

66 Comments

Animal Crossing for the Wii was one of the most eagerly anticipated games expected to be confirmed at this morning's Nintendo E3 press conference, and the Japanese giant didn't disappoint with news that Animal Crossing: City Folk would indeed be released by the end of 2008. But there was one surprise that came along with that announcement, and that was news of a new microphone peripheral that would ship with the game and allow players to chat with others from around the world.

Dubbed Wii Speak, the new peripheral is a small semicircle-shaped add-on which was shown sitting on top of the Wii's sensor bar. Wii Speak will allow players to chat online and undertake activities in the Animal Crossing: City Folk world. One example shown at the conference included a four-player fishing game in Animal Crossing, with players happily chatting to each other as well as engaging in some trash talk along the way. Another quick example shown was four players going into an in-game restaurant and talking to one another over a meal.

Wii Speak is expected to ship as an optional accessory with the release of Animal Crossing: City Folk by the end of 2008. Check back with GameSpot soon for information about the Wii Speak attachment.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 66 comments about this story
66 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
  • 66 results
  • 1
  • 2
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for rakelhj
rakelhj

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

ehhh, I was kind of excited when I first heard about this... but dropping $70 for the game and the wii speak when I don't really have anyone but my sister to play this with, who is very busy with a little boy... we might as well just use the speaker on on phones for free (yay for sprint to sprint free calls). plus, you can't use this with older online games like mario kart.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Treifla
Treifla

137

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

i would LOVE a Wiimote made out of rainbows and smiles!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for elozl
elozl

633

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

i like it!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Ganon4Prez
Ganon4Prez

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I don't know what you all are complaining about. The Wiispeak is obiviously filtering the stereos sound. And all of you people who say that with the wiispeak it will be hard to hear eachother.... if people on Xbox live headsets talk at the same time, will anyone understand. No. this will also be cheaper for gamers who have REAL friends that like to come to your house and play games. Won't have to spend $200 worth of d@amn headsets to talk on live with my friends.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hime93
hime93

31

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

When it comes out, Nintendo should release an update or something so it could work for brawl. If not all is well =D.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Wallstormer
Wallstormer

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This is me waiting for a headset...must we kiddify (definition: to make "kiddy") even the headset? Really? Let's make the Wiimote out of rainbows and smiles next.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Quinn144
Quinn144

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

awesome :)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Redshark691
Redshark691

81

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

So The Wii is gonna be like x box live sweet!!!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kilo1235
kilo1235

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

If Nintendo is competent at all they will make a head set later on probably in 2009 but this is something

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jatly0
jatly0

222

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Well... it's a start... I hope a headset option comes out at the same time...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Macgyver40
Macgyver40

13159

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

i'm not sure that this will be a good thing

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TehFuneral
TehFuneral

8237

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Yay, more wires for the wii....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lettuceman44
lettuceman44

7971

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 0

Interesting, but they need to come out with a headset too.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for grambyte
grambyte

3677

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Voice chat for ALL those people in the room playing.... right.... necessary?!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hyuzen
Hyuzen

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Finally the friend codes come in handy. I wouldn't want to hear some 6 year old kid trying to trash talk while his mother yells from the other room at him. at least we'll only be able to talk with our friend code friends. yay?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for LdyMienna
LdyMienna

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'm really excited about AC and I can't wait to see how well the microphone works, hopefully it will work well but it's not going to break my heart if it's not perfect. Hopefully they will support headsets once games like Call Of Duty gets going.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Wiitendo64
Wiitendo64

2553

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Will this thing work with Brawl and MK? If not then are we gonna have to wait for more developers to embrace this? God Im tired of waiting for stuff that XBX and PS gamers had for years now!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for grambyte
grambyte

3677

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Euhm... nonsense... Nintendo lost the war, that's obvious when they start to come with these peripherals. Shame Nintendo...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kevin091
kevin091

55

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 74

User Lists: 0

Yay. I guess.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for XXXRaiderXXX
XXXRaiderXXX

31

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Well, I will assume it comes with the game. Nintendo usually packs new add-on devices with the first game to use them. (Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen + wireless transfer, Mario Kart Wii + WiiWheel, WiiSports 2 + MotionPlus) If it doesn't come with the game, expect many tutorials on how to hack up your own USB microphone for $5 as soon as the game is released, or sooner.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SonicTheMonkey
SonicTheMonkey

2709

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Wait I'm confused, so is this coming with the game or not? Other previews seem to contradict this...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mikemetroid5565
mikemetroid5565

346

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 24

User Lists: 0

Like hell im putting that near the sensor.. IM going to put it close to me and put the sensitivity down.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for prankinyou
prankinyou

270

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 18

User Lists: 0

Took them long enough!!!! Finally voice chat!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jakeboudville
jakeboudville

90576

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'll pass this microphone aside. I don't need it

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Pumpkin-Head
Pumpkin-Head

361

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

Voice Chat Finally! :D But..Why the PowerBrick? USE THE USB PORT FOR GOD SAKES NINTENDO! BLUETOOTH ANYTHING! at least some communication, oh well : O

Upvote • 
Avatar image for psychojosh
psychojosh

58

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

OH!!! Voice chat in online games, what a REVOLUTIONARY IDEA!!! Go f*** yourself Nintendo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jlee14
jlee14

40

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Finally Nintendo is doing something about there communication problem. I cant wait

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Chris_555_TK
Chris_555_TK

1799

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Hey cool. Room noise. No noise cancelation. People talking in the background while you play your game and the person on the other end saying "What!? Huh?" Good job Nintendo

Upvote • 
Avatar image for playstation_wii
playstation_wii

5271

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Why not just a webcam?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for darth-sithious
darth-sithious

52

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

it sounds interesting and who knows maybe it will work really well , wait and see .

Upvote • 
Avatar image for MrSoda
MrSoda

84

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

At least they have some form of a way to speak to our Wii friends other than using a Cell phone.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintoushiko
nintoushiko

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

It's going to be embarrassing talking across the room. D:

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TwiztedMetal
TwiztedMetal

866

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

this is a great addition for the system

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dr_Corndog
Dr_Corndog

3245

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Well, that's good. But why couldn't we have gotten this before Smash Bros?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ctg867
ctg867

1427

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'm glad they announced Animal Crossing, and it looks promising, but I'm very disappointed how they're going the route of a pack in for voice chat, and not saying "we're going to support USB and Blutooth headsets", both of which the Wii could potentially be compatible with. This thing is great and all for the casual audience, but the hardcore and semi-hardcore will just want some actual mic support. Hopefully that will be revealed as a feature sometime soon. Anyway, like I'm said I'm glad that it's been announced, and I'm looking forward to seeing if the game is any good. It's been a while since I've said that about a Wii game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rc_lars__nor
rc_lars__nor

43

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Agreeing with Mr_Tweedy; What were you thinking Nintendo!? Seriously, every background noise, in addition to the TV itself will ruin its function, and, whats the point? With FCs ruining online hard, who am I to talk to? The 1-2 people I have on my friendslist who is never online?? First of all, give the FCs the boot...THEN we can speak about voicechat! Nintendo, I LoL at YOU!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintendoboy16
nintendoboy16

42287

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 44

User Lists: 14

@Hungry_Bunny Same here.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for KingSigy
KingSigy

634

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

The speak thing is just stupid, but hooray for Animal Crossing!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Mr_Tweedy
Mr_Tweedy

564

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Worst idea ever. Online audio is already sketchy with a headset. It's compressed. It drops out. It gets garbled. Audio over X Box live is functional, but not pretty to listen to. Now imagine the compression and drop-out made even worse because of Nintendo's sketchy online support. Now image this mic picking up all the ambient noise in the room. Imagine this mic getting feedback from the speakers. Imagine it picking up the whine from your CTR TV. Now imagine 4 people at once trying to talk on it. A mic on top of the TV is quite possibly the worst conceived peripheral ever. The only market for this is (maybe) old people who live by themselves in an empty house where there is no noise and no other voices to compete with... And possibly very small children who think shouting over each other is fun, much to the annoyance of anyone in the house over 7 years old. Poor show, Nintendo. Poor show indeed.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JackfnBurton
JackfnBurton

222

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

You know, I still kind of wish they'd called it the 'Revolution' instead of the 'Wii'. But that's just me. LOL

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hungry_bunny
Hungry_bunny

14293

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I will wait and see how well this works before I comment on it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Anonjv07
Anonjv07

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@JiminycricketX i think the wii motion plus is a good idea. but it should've been something that was with the wii in the first place.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for carstairs
carstairs

6631

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'm concerned about sensitivity. If it's across the room, will I have to speak up?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JiminycricketX
JiminycricketX

88

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This is pretty cool, but I'm more excited about the precision attachment. I was less than blown away by the wiimote swordplay in games like Twilight Princess and Red Steel, and it's nice to see that they've finally made an attachment that could improve upon that in future games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Chico_Azteca
Chico_Azteca

2386

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

well i at least hope some king of update to use it in Mario Kart at least because seriosuly what game is going to use it? Animal Ccrossing and what?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for 1005
1005

3738

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Took awhile buts its coming now i guess.....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Stealthgunn
Stealthgunn

544

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

fkbwii, its just a typo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for xblane
xblane

338

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

I agree with westsiderz28...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for fkbwii
fkbwii

2392

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

"Wii Speak is expected to ship as an optional accessory with the release of Animal Crossing: City Folk by the end of 2009." 2009? I thought the press conference said that it'll come at the end if this year. "Animal Crossing for the Wii was one of the most eagerly anticipated games expected to be confirmed at this morning's Nintendo E3 press conference, and the Japanese giant didn't disappoint with news that Animal Crossing: City Folk would indeed be released by the end of 2008."

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Generic_Dude
Generic_Dude

11707

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Eh, I liked Animal Crossing a LOT, but it demands too much from the player... I'd go on vacation and all my animals would have moved and my village would be covered in weeds and debris. I'll stick with Harvest Moon instead, thanks.

Upvote • 
  • 66 results
  • 1
  • 2