Report: Wii Speak Channel limited to new purchases

EnigManic > I believe that the n64 and GCN were sucesses in there own way. They didn't lose money on either end, but they did not gain huge profits. If they didn't succeed, we'd probably not have seen a Wii due to the losses.

Most likely they will sell channel for a price like they did with the browser. At least that way, they can still make money on it even though it is used.

.... 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.

I'm not intentionally insulting anyone out there, but I have an opinionated suggestion. If you wonder why Nintendo seems so hard up for profit, then just remember how much money they lost on the N64 and the Gamecube. And you guys are making it worse or at least contributing to the problem by constantly complaining that Nintendo "needs to make better games". The game problem is the same as it was the last two console generations, not enough third-party support. So instead of complaining about Nintendo, why don't you all send your complaints to the 3rd-party devs and tell them to stop making shovelware and start spending the time, money and effort to make better games! Thank you for reading.

to all the poeple trying to defend nintendo for making people pay for stuff or lose access to services that they shouldn't, answer this question. how many other consoles, or handhelds for that matter, are the same price now as they were at launch? i can only think of one. furthermore, how many consoles require you to buy two seperate pieces to have a complete control scheme, with a third peripheral on the way? last generation, nintendo was the loser. this generation, they're on top. so why are we as consumers being "rewarded' with fees on top of fees? i've always been an xbox fan and i actually have grown to love the ps3 and psp. i was raised on nintendo, but they're really becoming big headed for no good reason, and i'm not plannning on giving them any more money than i have already handed out.

Oh this is BS! Nintendo is starting down Sony's path now. Make your product as painful and difficult to put money into as possible and insure that by the next generation, you've given plenty of reason to go elsewhere. I'm not a big fan of MS, but really, the other game companies just keep pushing me back to them.

Thanks Gamestop!

? why the complaining?..Nintendo is a company, needs to make profit..so of course they're gonna make ppl buy, BUT that doesn't mean you HAVE to buy it. ..Oh NOes Nintendo is trying to make money of me the greedy *****..errr so is every other company out there. It only mention the Wii Speak channel ...not games...so its not really a big deal. Like most ppl aren't already chatting on their pc? catsimboy, mostlikely to prevent ppl downloading then wonder why it can't be used because they hav bought a 2nd hand mic, which cuts out the hassle of ppl ringing up Nintendo ..& asking why their mic won't work with Wii Speak..

Nintendo has attained superfail. Why even block people from downloading it? If they don't have the peripheral then it's of no use to them. Are they really that worried about people sapping their bandwith just to mess with them?

LoL. You need a Wii speak channel code to use this thing. Are they for real?

I'm amazed at the number of people whining, "Whaa! Nintendo wants to make money!!!"

In related news... another Nintendo peripheral with one game worth of support before it's slide into the abyss... I'm amazed people still buy nintendo peripherals thinking someone else is actually going to use them for their games too.

sounds alright i guess....if i were nintendo...i would be focusing on actually making GOOD games...

good job nintendo, making a mic peripheral that lets the entire family listen to the racism, swearing, and general stupidity of the online community.

Seems like they are starting to crackdown on the huge 2nd hand market, but we all know Nintendo cares more about saving money than gamers.

Really? Why shouldn't it just be one of the free channels like Nintendo Channel? God, the Wii can do much more than what Nintendo people are doing with it. Back in the early NES times, according to Nintendo's history, programmers would sometimes work for free! But then again, that's Japan. US is a different story. Always has.

Stop with the peripherals! Where are the games? What good it is a console without software? It's being more than 2 years and there's no more than 10 really good games. Most of them are just 'good'.

I have to say I'm getting increasingly sick of Nintendo's greedy, money-grubbing bs.

Everyone keeps yelling corporate greed and how can they do this to us in this recession, and so on. People seem to think that some how businesses are recession-proof, but they feel the effects to. They don't make a dime off resold items so of course they are going to do whatever it takes to get you to buy from them. That is the way our economy works. And if anyone bothers to actually read the article and not just start bashing a company as soon as they do something that you dont like, it doesn't say anything about games not working with a used accessory, it just says you cant download the Wii Speak Channel, it says nothing about the games like animal crossing not working with it.

Who cares??? Honestly?? WHO CARES??? If the software had been packaged with the microphone it wouldn't be any different.

Yeah, just thumb me down because you're all brain controlled by Nintendo. I've been a Nintendo fanboy since the glory days of the SNES, so I know what I'm talking about. I've been alienated by the modern game industry and you people, like the sheltered sheep you are, following Nintendo on their every move. Well I'm tired of being double-crossed. "NINTENDO BEATS ME BECAUSE HE LOVES ME!!!". If any of you still cared about gaming, you'd play on a console that doesn't suck, like the NES and Genesis like I'm doing.

Nintendo is not saying you cant use this item if you buy it used...they are saying if you buy it new you get a certain piece of software...this is no different then buying the wii zapper and it being packaged with links crossbow training...if i walk into gamestop and they have a used wii balance board it probably wouldnt come with the wii fit software...no different then all those guitars gamestop sells most of those i bet came with sofware and now they are sold without it...just like any software bundle

Not getting AC anyway, so no biggie.

So why don't people buy used controllers? Because they tend to suck. Do you really want a microphone that very well might not work, or that someone else could have screamed into, or in other ways damaged in a way you don't know? It doesn't really make much sense to not allow people to download another copy of the software...but on the other hand, would you buy an xbox live headset used? I'm thinking that saliva and sweat make me want to pay a little extra for the new one. I'd say don't worry about it...

MrWhaaaat, you really don't know what Animal Crossing is?

what the hell is a animal crossing ??????

Meh. First Wii Music, then announcing Punch-Out Wii will have motion controls, then announcing two new WarioWare games, and now this. Screw Nintendo, screw Microsoft, screw Sony. If any of you need me, I'll be playing on my Genesis, a reliable console, until one of the big three makes a console with good games, a non-existent failure rate, and cares about their customers. This generation of gaming sucks. I don't need any boring "cinematic" FPSes, or Guitar Hero rehash after rehash, I'll be playing on my Genesis, where I know I have a quality console with a quality library. Next-gen? Bah. Nintendo can bite me if this is their idea of next-gen. Sony and Microsoft too.

The Wii is overrated. Plain and simple.

hatieshorrer......NO!

Meh. This is old news.

bigbudd0045 you're amazed? well im amazed, amazed you even get it. why would they pack in a microphone with a game thats not required to play it and doesn't enhance the actual gameplay? a lot of people are going to want this game and not want to pay extra because the microphone has to come with it. this is the type of peripheral that should not be packed in, nintendo did the right thing by making it a separate option that you can buy if you want to.

that's a shame.

hatieshorrer I am 99% sure it won't work for those games. The Wii doesn't update it's games like the 360 and ps3, so the head set won't work in them.

I just want to know if it will be usable for Smash and, Mariokart.

I really think nintendo wants me to hate them....im amazed they didnt pack this in with Animal Crossing and make it a $70 game.

This is stupid. Plain stupid.

lol. Dick move Nintendo.

I don't see what the problem with this is.It's 30 bucks new and odds are you wouldn't be able to get it much cheaper then that used for awhile.

Wow. That's a horrible move. Nintendo is a douche bag.

that's just plan dumb i would like hear nintendo say there reasoning behind this.

Man oh man. Not only are they about 7 years late on online console voice communication, but they have a ridiculous setup method to boot. It seems like Nintendo can't do any kind of progression without stumbling all over themselves.

although its sucks you have only one code for the channel but cant wait for the news reports on cnn of kid's parents offended about the language online from other people using the microphone peripheral

so can we talk **** playing mario kart???

Awesome Put these resellers out of business!

I gotta say, Nintendo is proving hard and fast that it is the new M$. Mandating that a piece of hardware is bought new or else it cannot be used is absolutely out of control. So only the wealthier gamers can "play along" (especially considering the entire Global economic recession)? Can any one of you imagine buying a used NES light gun only to find out that you can't play Duck Hunt with it because you didn't buy it new? Good job Nintendo, you are reaffirming the simple fact that you love alienating just about everyone in some way or another.

I imagine they'll make it available for cheap purchase on the Shop Channel. Well, they SHOULD, at least...

cool

Wouldn't want used. Few games I actually buy used, msotly those I had a slight interest in but wouldn't pay full price for. And after that 'mod' for the Wii-mote...I don't want to know how they could use the Wii Speak. I'm sure 'they' could think of something...

Damn it seems like Nintendo doesn't care about the customers one but these days, they're just getting cocky because the Wii is selling well.