Is the storage solution really a solution?

For the longest time Nintendo's reply to storage issues was to delete your stuff and redownload it later; which implied that Nintendo was really really out of touch with gamers and their problems with the wii.

Today, Nintendo announced their storage solution, "downloading directly to your SD card." That's what they have said verbatim over and over. People have been going around saying that you can LOAD from your SD card, but Nintendo hasn't said that. It sounds like people are making assumptions.

Nintendo is out of touch, out of touch enough to think having to move games from SD to internal memory is still acceptable. But hey, at least you don't have to delete them from the wii channels first! :roll:

9:23] "Iwata is addressing the problem of Wii storage," he says. "Soon you will be able to download and store virtual console and WiiWare titles directly on your SD card, and play them off your SD card. This will make the Wii download experience much easier."

/thread

9:23] "Iwata is addressing the problem of Wii storage," he says. "Soon you will be able to download and store virtual console and WiiWare titles directly on your SD card, and play them off your SD card. This will make the Wii download experience much easier."

/thread

alexh_99

Ok, cool. Makes me feel better. Thanks.

What I'm wondering is if each game will still appear on the channels menu? If so, I hope they at least expand the number of pages.

Also, does this mean they'll relax restrictions on to the size of Wiiware and VC titles?

While that's like adding 400% more memory...Skie7

Actually it's probably more like 600-800%, since it would appear that a sizable chunk of the internal memory is already in use out of the box. Though you're right... I can easily imagine some people filling that up surprisingly fast. (especially if they do raise the limit)

Problem 2, the channel limit: Most people don't know this, but the Wii was only programmed to accept 48 channels to display on the start screen. Create any more and the first non-essential channel gets automatically deleted. This means the only safe channels are the Wii disc, shop, news, Mii, and photo channels. Bummer I know.

Back in Nintendo's foresightedness, they did have individual channels for each system's emulator. This was likely ditched after discovering that their own draconian methods of protection required different emulator settings to correctly run the varied cartridge types seen throughout their gaming history. Not only did this severely explode the system save requirement (because you really do DL an emulator with every game), it also created a channel problem. Hit it and say goodbye to playing the first game you downloaded.

So far, the task is nigh impossible (Europe has it easier with the C64 games), but add 2 gigs and the problem explodes. Unless Nintendo has a solution to attribute to the solution, then this fix will last for mere minutes before a saavy consumer hits channel 49 and stares at his screen in disbelief that Nintendo failed again.

Nintendo can't be upset that we downloaded too many games. If they did we would lose trust in their pure-profit machine. With NOA admitting that another "family-friendly" helper guide into how the Wii functions will be added to every new console, the 48 limit moves ever-closer to the forefront of oversights Nintendo can, but won't, fix.

SirSpudly, wouldn't a system update be able to fix the channel limit as easily as allowing games to be downloaded to the SD cards? Secondly, I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo starts selling its own brand of SD cards, because eventually the really hardcore are going to have to start buying multiple SD cards when they run out of space... And I was hoping that I was done with buying memory cards when I was done with PS2 and GC, ah well there's always next gen Wii...

SirSpudly, wouldn't a system update be able to fix the channel limit as easily as allowing games to be downloaded to the SD cards? Secondly, I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo starts selling its own brand of SD cards, because eventually the really hardcore are going to have to start buying multiple SD cards when they run out of space... And I was hoping that I was done with buying memory cards when I was done with PS2 and GC, ah well there's always next gen Wii...

freebie2k8

Probably even easier. And Nintendo already has a deal with SanDisk to produce officially licensed cards. And as competing systems prove, hard drives don't exactly solve the problem (the space demands just grow).

Seriously why did it take them so long to develop a plain simple softwareupdate, which by the way is a very lame solution to the storage problem. They could have done that 1 year ago! Instead Miyamoto and Iwata create a huge hype about their solution and then they come out with something like that... :(Username_Exists

They were probably reluctant because it could open another door for hackers.

Problem 2, the channel limit: Most people don't know this, but the Wii was only programmed to accept 48 channels to display on the start screen. Create any more and the first non-essential channel gets automatically deleted. This means the only safe channels are the Wii disc, shop, news, Mii, and photo channels. Bummer I know.

Back in Nintendo's foresightedness, they did have individual channels for each system's emulator. This was likely ditched after discovering that their own draconian methods of protection required different emulator settings to correctly run the varied cartridge types seen throughout their gaming history. Not only did this severely explode the system save requirement (because you really do DL an emulator with every game), it also created a channel problem. Hit it and say goodbye to playing the first game you downloaded.

So far, the task is nigh impossible (Europe has it easier with the C64 games), but add 2 gigs and the problem explodes. Unless Nintendo has a solution to attribute to the solution, then this fix will last for mere minutes before a saavy consumer hits channel 49 and stares at his screen in disbelief that Nintendo failed again.

Nintendo can't be upset that we downloaded too many games. If they did we would lose trust in their pure-profit machine. With NOA admitting that another "family-friendly" helper guide into how the Wii functions will be added to every new console, the 48 limit moves ever-closer to the forefront of oversights Nintendo can, but won't, fix.

SirSpudly

It may be programmed for 48 channels, but there is this little thing called updates that can expand that number.

sometimes things can be lost in translation.

if its just a case of being able to download to the SD card but still needing it in wiis memory for it to work then its a pointless update that doesent solve the problem.

if its a case of being able to download games to the SD card and running from the SD card then the problem is solved and is almost the ideal solution (the perfectly ideal being that u can also play from external USB devices as well as SD cards). SD cards are pretty cheap. a 2GB card is 8 euro at kmoplett for example. 2GB will go a long long way with the wii.

hopefully ninty will clear this up if they havent already.

sometimes things can be lost in translation.

if its just a case of being able to download to the SD card but still needing it in wiis memory for it to work then its a pointless update that doesent solve the problem.

if its a case of being able to download games to the SD card and running from the SD card then the problem is solved and is almost the ideal solution (the perfectly ideal being that u can also play from external USB devices as well as SD cards). SD cards are pretty cheap. a 2GB card is 8 euro at kmoplett for example. 2GB will go a long long way with the wii.

hopefully ninty will clear this up if they havent already.

osan0

If they're going to open up the USB slots for additional memory, why not allow an external HDD? Which would also mean it'd be possible to have larger WiiWare games and there'd be more than enough room for DLC from games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

This is the one and only storage solution I've been waiting for. Having over 2 GB of storage is all I need. I have about 25 VC games, with no intentions on owning much more than that. That's more than enough storage for me.

I don't see any problems with DLC with that either. How many songs do you think they'll be releasing on games like Guitar Hero? Not nearly enough to fill up the whole card. You could probably idealy fit at least 400 songs on one SD. It won't be a problem. Honestly, that's the only DLC I care about.... Unless they decide to add stuff to SSBB. :) I can dream.

I think Nintendo basically got caught with their pants down, I dont think that they thought the vc would be such a big deal or such a hit. I think they greatly under estimated the success that it would have, when adding the channel limit and memory limits they probably were only thinking about Wii Ware, which they assumed people would buy less titles for simply because there would be far less of a quantity. The solution they have come up with is not a full solution its like having a mini harddrive, but its not a cure all problem solver.Sepewrath

Assuming people would be less sounds like bad business. Honestly I think they just overestimated people's patience with having to micro-manage their storage.

[QUOTE="osan0"]

sometimes things can be lost in translation.

if its just a case of being able to download to the SD card but still needing it in wiis memory for it to work then its a pointless update that doesent solve the problem.

if its a case of being able to download games to the SD card and running from the SD card then the problem is solved and is almost the ideal solution (the perfectly ideal being that u can also play from external USB devices as well as SD cards). SD cards are pretty cheap. a 2GB card is 8 euro at kmoplett for example. 2GB will go a long long way with the wii.

hopefully ninty will clear this up if they havent already.

Skie7

If they're going to open up the USB slots for additional memory, why not allow an external HDD? Which would also mean it'd be possible to have larger WiiWare games and there'd be more than enough room for DLC from games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

opening up the USB ports would mean any external storage source, from flash drives to external HDDs. it would mean that pppl could use alot of storage options out there to add to the wiis memory.