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Wii Speak

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Wii Speak
ManufacturerNintendo
TypeMicrophone
Lifespan

Wii Speak is a microphone accessory for Nintendo's Wii home video game console. Connected to the console via USB, the device can be placed near the video display, allowing voice chat to be conducted with an entire room.[2] The device features an LED to indicate when the microphone is active.

Wii Speak was announced at Nintendo's 2008 E3 media briefing. It was released on its own, as well as in a bundle alongside Animal Crossing: City Folk, on November 16, 2008 in North America, and on December 5, 2008 in Europe.

The Wii Speak accessory was succeeded by the embedded microphone on the Wii U's GamePad controller. Nevertheless, the Wii Speak hardware is still compatible with the Wii U.

Wii Speak packaging with Animal Crossing: City Folk
An example of Wii Speak packaging, here featuring embedded advertising for the compatible Wii game Animal Crossing: City Folk, as well as the then-forthcoming Wii Speak Channel.

Design

The Wii Speak shown with its USB cord

According to Shigeru Miyamoto, the microphone was designed to "clearly capture many different voices being spoken in a room at the same time and convey that over the Internet."[3] Addressing concerns over background noise due to the placement of the microphone near a television set, Animal Crossing: City Folk producer Katsuya Eguchi stated that the device was designed to filter out video game sound from the audio speakers.[2] Miyamoto noted at the time that the quality of the noise filtering functionality in the Wii Speak is "very good", which may have contributed to the cost of the device.[3] An on/off switch was originally planned, but the microphone was ultimately designed to only turn on when a compatible game wants access to it.

Software

At E3, when asked why the device would not be bundled with City Folk, Nintendo senior managing director Shigeru Miyamoto replied that cost was the factor behind the decision, adding that some users may prefer playing the game without a microphone, and that others may want to use Wii Speak who are not interested in buying City Folk.[3] In contrast with previous statements, Nintendo later revealed that a bundle of Wii Speak and City Folk would also be released.[4] The bundle was a limited edition, released the same day as the standalone products.[5]

Wii Speak Channel

Wii Speak Channel
DeveloperNintendo
TypeOnline voice-only chat
Launch dateDecember 5, 2008
Last updatedMarch 27, 2009
Platform(s)Wii
Wii Speak Channel

On October 2, 2008, Nintendo announced that Wii Speak would have its own Wii Channel. The Wii Speak Channel could be unlocked for download with a 16-digit "Wii Download Ticket" included with the Wii Speak package upon purchase. Only those who entered the 16-digit code on the Wii Shop Channel (prior to its closure) were allowed to download the Wii Speak Channel, which officially launched on December 5, 2008.[6] If for any reason the download ticket was lost, or used on another Wii, users could at that time obtain a new download ticket by emailing Nintendo. Prior to the launch, customers could download the "Wii Speak Channel Download Assistant", a channel which gave information about the release of the Wii Speak Channel. After the release, the Download Assistant updated and converted itself into the actual channel.

The Wii Speak Channel allowed one to chat with Wii Friends (who also had the Wii Speak and the Wii Speak Channel) within one of four "rooms".[5] There was no limit to the number of people that could be in each "room".[5] Each user was represented by their Mii avatar, whose mouths were lip synced to the user's spoken words. In addition, users were also able to leave audio messages on the Wii message board for other users, as well as make audio captions for their stored photos. Users could also share photo slideshows and comment on them.[5]

The Wii Speak channel was available on the Wii U's "Wii Mode", though it had no functional use, as the Wii U's Wii Mode has no friend codes. However, the Wii Speak peripheral itself does function on the Wii U with games that support it. The Wii Speak channel is no longer available for download due to being discontinued, and any download codes that are used result in an error message stating that the channel is no longer available.

The Wii Speak Channel ceased functionality after May 20, 2014 when the free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service was discontinued. The Wii Speak Channel was succeeded by the Wii U Chat videochat app for the Wii U.

Compatible games

Title Developer Publisher Release date N. America Release date Japan Release date Europe Release date Australia
Animal Crossing: City Folk[7] Nintendo EAD Nintendo November 16, 2008 November 20, 2008 December 5, 2008 December 4, 2008
Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep[8] Arika Nintendo February 22, 2010 September 17, 2009 February 5, 2010 February 25, 2010
NHL 2K10[9] Visual Concepts 2K Sports September 15, 2009 October 23, 2009
NHL 2K11 Visual Concepts 2K Sports August 24, 2010 October 8, 2010
The Conduit[10] High Voltage Software Sega June 23, 2009
Uno [Note 1] Gameloft Gameloft January 25, 2010 October 20, 2009 November 6, 2009
NBA 2K10 Visual Concepts 2K Sports November 9, 2009 November 27, 2009
NBA 2K11 Visual Concepts 2K Sports October 5, 2010 October 14, 2010 October 8, 2010 October 8, 2010
Monster Hunter Tri[11] Capcom Capcom (NA)

Nintendo (EU)

April 20, 2010 August 1, 2009

(No Wii Speak support)

April 23, 2010 April 29, 2010
Tetris Party Deluxe[12] Hudson Soft Majesco Entertainment June 1, 2010 September 3, 2010 October 14, 2010
Jeopardy![13] THQ THQ November 2, 2010
Wheel of Fortune[13] THQ THQ November 2, 2010 November 19, 2010
Mix Superstar[14] [Note 1] Digital Leisure Digital Leisure November 8, 2010
  1. ^ a b Game was only available on the WiiWare download service.

References

  1. ^ a b "Nintendo reveals UK dates for Wii Speak, Animal Crossing". GameSpot UK. 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  2. ^ a b Kohler, Chris (2008-07-24). "How Nintendo's WiiSpeak Mic Works". Game|Life. Wired. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  3. ^ a b c Casamassina, Matt (2008-07-15). "E3 2008: Miyamoto Talks WiiSpeak". IGN Wii. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  4. ^ "Nintendo to offer Animal Crossing City Folk/Wii Speak bundle". GoNintendo. 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
  5. ^ a b c d Casamassina, Matt (2008-10-02). "Interview: Cammie Dunaway". IGN Wii. IGN Entertainment. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2008-10-19. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  6. ^ DeVries, Jack (2008-10-02). "WiiSpeak Gets a Dedicated Channel". IGN. Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  7. ^ DeVries, Jack (2008-07-15). "E3 2008: Animal Crossing Coming to Wii". IGN. Archived from the original on 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  8. ^ "Nintendo.com description page". Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  9. ^ "NHL 2K10 Feature Blowout". Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  10. ^ Klepek, Patrick (2008-10-03). "'The Conduit' Already Has 'MotionPlus' Support, WiiSpeak Too". MTV Multiplayer. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  11. ^ MacDonald, Keza (2009-10-28). "Monster Hunter 3 Tri Hands On". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  12. ^ Fishman, Brian (2010-07-06). "Tetris Party Deluxe Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  13. ^ a b "Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune to use Wii Speak". WiiNintendo. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  14. ^ "Digital Leisure's Mix Superstar". NintendoLife. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
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