Nintendo Channel has gone live!

RidleySaria

That's right, the new Nintendo Channel on Wii has just become available for download. Happy downloading, folks!

Ok ok, I'm editing for those of you who don't know what the Nintendo Channel is. It's a service that has already been available in Japan for a few months now. In a nutshell, this channel allows you to download DS demos and stream promo videos to your Wii. Ninja Gaiden DS and Cooking Mama 2 are a few of the playable demos already available. It only took about thirty seconds to download the Ninja Gaiden to my DS and start playing! I haven't watched many of the videos yet, but the Miyamoto interview might be interesting. The videos don't run full screen but look fairly decent for what they are.

mntorankusu

Oh, what the hell? I thought this was coming next week!

Raslin

and what exactly is the new nintendo channel?

RidleySaria

Raslin wrote: »

and what exactly is the new nintendo channel?

It's for downloading DS demos and various Nintendo promo videos. I'm trying out Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword right now!

Rotam

Just checking if this is Europe as well.

Edit - I didn't see anything on the shop channel, unless you have to install an update first.

Actually, its probably more likely we didn't get it.

TheSonicRetard

the name nintendo channel makes me think of sega channel, which is not good, since I know there is absolutely no way it can live up to sega channel.

JAEF

Raslin wrote: »

and what exactly is the new nintendo channel?

Guek

whoo! i too thought this came out a couple weeks from now :P cool beans

BTP

Just tried it out. Very cool. A must download, especially if you own a DS to use the downloadable demos.

Channel size = 122 blocks. Save file = 126 blocks. Have fun clearing some space.

ThatOneYoYoGuy

Actually, if you click the screen, you can actually enlarge the video while it's playing.

RidleySaria

BTP wrote: »

Just tried it out. Very cool. A must download, especially if you own a DS to use the downloadable demos.

Channel size = 122 blocks. Save file = 126 blocks. Have fun clearing some space.

Yeah, the space requirement is pretty steep. I still have room.....but I'm not so sure once Wii Ware comes out.

delphinus

BTP wrote: »

Just tried it out. Very cool. A must download, especially if you own a DS to use the downloadable demos.

Channel size = 122 blocks. Save file = 126 blocks. Have fun clearing some space.

fucking ridiculous. (not the channel; its awesome. the drive space and the decision to keep it small and not release a portable HDD)

Rehab

The glowing blue light came on for me while I was playing Super Mario Galaxy.

Quite a nice surprise. Downloading this and Ninja Gaiden at some point after I wake up.

PhoneBone

I'm getting quite sick of the limited amount of space on my Wii.

I haven't installed either the Mario Kart or Wii Fit channel, because I lack space.
I've already been forced to delete several VC games due to space restrictions.

Nintendo needs to fix this soon. The SD card solution doesn't offer much help since it's impossible to play games directly from it.

le sigh. I guess there'll be no Nintendo channel for me anytime soon.

BTP

One thing I did notice if you check out the Wii Ware video, the main menu for the Virtual Console is different. It shows Virtual Console, Wii Ware, and Channels.

What is the "Channels" thing about, I wonder? Perhaps where Internet, Everybody Votes, Check Mii Out, will go after the upcoming Wii Ware becomes available?

Rehab

"Channels" would probably be for things like the Everybody Votes Channel and Check Mii Out.

Peewi

North America only? Has there ever been said anything about when/if this is coming to Europe?

Steev

Fucking hell. I tried to download it when I woke up, but I only have 50-something blocks left. I have no idea what to delete anymore. Hard choices.

Rotam

I hope we get this on Friday.

Xenogears of Bore

Anyone else notice Factor 5 in the list of publishers?

Xenogears of Bore

Euroland gets this on the 30th.

SirUltimos

I'm downloading the channel now. Thank god I still had 909 blocks left. How did the rest of you use up so much space, lots of VC games?

ArcSyn

Awesome! I have no DS, but my friend does and he will be happy to download some demos from it.

MJ

Good news, although I'll be moving a bunch of VC games to my sd card or deleting. The DS demo download is going to get some major use, since my DS has been reduced to only courtroom dramas and block dropping.
Edit: Sir Ultimos, VC games are the culprit for my lack of space. I have 17 of them according to my database.

Arikado

Hmm, so according to the video at nintendo.com, you need to have a Wii to download and play demos on the DS and then once you get them there, they disappear once you turn the DS off.

Willeth

Arikado wrote: »

Hmm, so according to the video at nintendo.com, you need to have a Wii to download and play demos on the DS and then once you get them there, they disappear once you turn the DS off.

Yes.

You didn't know this? That's how it's always worked and has always been proposed to work. You want to keep the demo, close the DS.

MJ

Arikado wrote: »

Hmm, so according to the video at nintendo.com, you need to have a Wii to download and play demos on the DS and then once you get them there, they disappear once you turn the DS off.

You could just close the DS. Sleep mode will last for a few days and you don't lose the downloaded game, unless it is powered all the way off.
Edit: beat

MagicPrime

I know I'm probably going to get yelled at for asking this. But.

Can a DS use a Wii with an internet connection for an internet access point?

Idx86

So I have my Wii connected to our wireless network. It sounds like the Nintendo Channel act as sort of a go-between for the download service and the DS - correct? Does the DS need to be wirelessly configured to receive information from the Wii or is there some sort of infrared communication?

Htown

It works, supposedly, exactly the same as a DS Demo Station in a store. Meaning you set your Wii to broadcast (like Demo Stations always are), turn on your DS (without any games in it, I think) and press DS download play.

Xenogears of Bore

SirUltimos wrote: »

I'm downloading the channel now. Thank god I still had 909 blocks left. How did the rest of you use up so much space, lots of VC games?

Each N64 size game is about 260 blocks, so it doesn't take much.

This channel, its save, PPL, and MKW Channel is like what 600 something blocks? That's just in the last two weeks!

Fandango

Well this is going to end up costing me so much money. I woke up this morning and saw the blue light. Downloaded the channel and played the Ninja Gaiden DS demo ... I then procceded to buy the game from amazon ... because it is AMAZING!

I ... I ... I have no will power.

Htown

You did the right thing. Ninja Gaiden DS is fantastic.

BTP

Xenogears of Bore wrote: »

SirUltimos wrote: »

I'm downloading the channel now. Thank god I still had 909 blocks left. How did the rest of you use up so much space, lots of VC games?

Each N64 size game is about 260 blocks, so it doesn't take much.

This channel, its save, PPL, and MKW Channel is like what 600 something blocks? That's just in the last two weeks!

Bingo. Between all of that, plus the channel included for Wii Fit, there is no way Nintendo can be THIS naive about memory space now.

But if they are, we'll just have to go on an Earthbound-like rampage and make our voices heard until they cave. Up to 20 million users going "I need more space" would be hard to ignore.

But there is hope! You know that data you allowed to be collected about your Wii at the beginning of using the channel? Among the things they check is the number of available blocks in your Wii's memory!
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/channelsNintendoInfo.jsp

Maybe I should've kept the Metroid 3 Preview channel. :P

agoaj

Arikado wrote: »

Hmm, so according to the video at nintendo.com, you need to have a Wii to download and play demos on the DS and then once you get them there, they disappear once you turn the DS off.

Or you can go to any demo station at game stores and walmart.

Xenogears of Bore

This is nice though, hopefully they'll keep it pretty damn updated with demos.

Ruins

Guys, I'm having trouble connecting to the internet on my Wii and the support site says to change the channel to 1 or 11, but I have no idea how to get there to do that. Can someone help?

Steev

SirUltimos wrote: »

I'm downloading the channel now. Thank god I still had 909 blocks left. How did the rest of you use up so much space, lots of VC games?

Yeah, I buy them way too often.

Super Mario 64
Gunstar Heroes
Toe Jam & Earl
Bomberman '93
Dungeon Explorer
Super Star Soldier
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Super Castlevania IV
Internet Browser
Soldier Blade
Super Mario World
Kid Icarus
Streets of Rage
Beyond Oasis
Star Fox 64
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
Wonder Boy in Monster World
Battle Lode Runner
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Streets of Rage 2
Blazing Lazers
ActRaiser
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
Air "Zonk"
Paper Mario
Kirby's Dream Course
Shining Force
Devil's Crush
Super Metroid
Neutopia
Metroid Prime 3 Preview
Sin & Punishment
Fatal Fury
Super Mario Bros. 3
Alien Soldier
The Dynastic Hero
StarTropics
River City Ransom

Ruins wrote: »

Guys, I'm having trouble connecting to the internet on my Wii and the support site says to change the channel to 1 or 11, but I have no idea how to get there to do that. Can someone help?

You'll need to edit the settings of your router. We'll need to know what kind of router you're using.

The Wolfman

I am currently playing the most awesome crossword game ever that I otherwise might never have even heard about.

What a great present to wake up to. Way to go Nintendo.

Big Dookie

So, Ninja Gaiden DS is pretty fun. Much more so than I thought it would be. This channel is going to destroy any willpower I had before to resist games like this. Now I have no reason NOT to buy it.

I wonder if they will post older games at some point. There are some DS games I missed out on that I'd like to try out before I decide whether or not to get them.

Snare

So how do the DS demos work? Sent through the air?

EDIT: Oops sorry didn't see the post above