Wii should connect, shouldn’t we? - April 7th, 2007
I’ve finally joined the Wii revolution. I’ve been very interested in the console, the new tech, the virtual console and just the utter nintendo-ness of the whole thing. A few mates had picked them up and were raving about them, a couple of these mate’s had kids, and so i kind of thought that maybe it was just a bit of a toy, but console party games are really the new board games of our era, so it did sound pretty fun in that regard. Being a big fan of the Sing Star phenomenon, especially given some booze and mates, i’m pretty pumped for Guitar Hero 2′s release on the 360 after hearing nothing but good things about it, but this Wii thing had sort of slipped me by. I hadn’t tried one yet but read and heard a lot about it.
Saving money for a trip to Spain hasn’t really allowed me an excuse to pick up a 2nd next/new-gen console, but a quick credit card points check provided the solution. There was enough for over $500 of David Jones vouchers, and so my Wii experience began. There were none available in the city store, but David Jones in Chadstone had stock.
After a little big of set up time getting onto the wireless network, then downloading a software update (that seemed AGES), downloading the internet channel and the everybody votes channel, i finally got some game time in on the new Wii. It was pretty fun and the cow racing game on the Wii play disc was just unreal. I’m yet to delve into Sports or Excite Truck yet, but they’re not far away.
I do have a bit of a gripe in that my tv sits about 2.5 metres away from the couch in the lounge, and the Wii complains a bit that i’m too far away from the sensor bar. Now i wouldn’t think that 2.5m was an unusual distance from a decent sized TV these days, but it certainly makes a noticeable difference if i move 1/2 a meter or so close to the screen. So that shits me a bit, but maybe there’s a solution out there. I haven’t really looked yet.
I can’t believe how crap the friend code system is. Maybe they have a strategic position on this sort of thing and maybe it’s to wean out child predators or something, but it’s utterly ridiculous and archaic. Actually it’s not even archaic, because there isn’t even any precedent for being this un-user-friendly on a games network. It’s just crap. But i suppose it’s all we’ve got on this platform. So hook me up, my *stupid* friend code is 4715 3659 5631 6773.
April 8th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Try changing your router’s channel to Channel 1 or 11 (lord knows why). Nintendo recommends this for faster downloads.
I used to get PAINFULLY slow downloads too, until I changed this setting… now all is fine.
PS maybe run a test on your router to check your neighbours etc aren’t broadcasting on the same wireless channel with their routers?
April 9th, 2007 at 12:26 am
My Wii is telling me that’s not a valid friend code?? You didn’t make a typo, did you? I’m emailing you mine.
Yes, it’s a completely stupid system – and yes, I’m sure it’s intentional. The system used on the Nintendo DS is very similar, and it seems to be their way of making sure that you intentionally add friends and never communicate with anyone accidentally. I’ll probably have more respect for their approach when my kids are a couple of years older, but right now it shits me. As much as a Nintendo fanboy as I am, I’m not too far gone to admit that it’s total bollocks.
The TV distance thing is a killer, although I just checked with a tape measure and I sit almost exactly 2.5m from the screen. Zelda is easily playable at that distance, although the 9-ball game in Wii Play works much better if you’re closer. Check for ambient light, reflections, etc. Anything that is or reflects an IR source (such as incandescent bulbs).
I spend heaps more time on Wii sports than I do with Wii Play. Tennis and Ten Pin Bowling are awesome.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
i had to switch to channel 11 before it even recognised my network at all. Once i did, it connected fine.
It’s a bit hard to know how long to *expect* a download to take as they never tell you how much data you are actually downloading let alone what biRate you are getting. I think i’dd feel much better about waiting if i knew i wasn’t waiting for nothing.
I downloaded Super Mario yesterday, i think i’m going to love the Virtual Console.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
iu stuffed up the ccode the first time i typed it in, it’s amended now, 4715 3659 5631 6773.
Bloody freind codes.
April 9th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Here’s my friend code: 0455 0939 7648 5630
Hook me up.
Looking forward to Mario Strikers Charged. Think it may be one of the first games with online play.