Nintendo Channel for Wii now available in North America

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Posted Wed, 07 May 2008 - By Darren Calvert

Now you can see information about Wii and DS stuff all the time!

Now you can see information about Wii and DS stuff all the time!

The Nintendo Channel, the interactive guide to Nintendo and Wii, has gone live in North America.

The channel is built to host a collection of promotional material and information for recent releases and upcoming games.

This will include trailers, documentaries, demo videos and future downloads.

American Wii gamers were sent the following message to let them know they could now get onto the channel:

Nintendo Channel is an interactive guide to what's new in the world of Nintendo - now available for easy download from the Wii Shop Channel. Watch trailers, mini-documentaries, product demonstrations, and gameplay videos.

Browse the game guide pages to get information about your favorite games on Wii and Nintendo DS. You can even click to order games straight from your Wii, if you have the Internet Channel installed. Make sure your Wii is connected to the internet, and get started!

The Nintendo Channel is due to be available in Europe on May 30th.

Posted in Wii channels.

Have your say about this story

1. Dave82481 United States 07 May 2008, 17:30 GMT

this was a nice suprise

2. Rapadash6 United States 07 May 2008, 17:39 GMT

Sweet. This is almost like having Nintendo Power built right into my system. DS demos are a very cool addition as well.

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3. Bensei Austria 07 May 2008, 18:23 GMT

How can you order games? I mean, from which page? Amazon?

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4. ReZon United States 07 May 2008, 19:13 GMT

Awesome channel. Love the DS downloads.

Hope they add more DS demos often.

5. Starwolf_UK United Kingdom 07 May 2008, 19:26 GMT

You might like to check this out:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/channelsNintendoInfo.jsp
If you want to make a stance about the memory issue. Fill your Wiis up...but not too much else the channel won't run...don't know if it still sends the stats, if it doesn't its a bit of a self fufiling propechy.

Also:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11072925&postcount=102
I always wondered what would happen if you tried to buy the Wii shop channel...from the Wii Shop channel :(

Hope it gets updated regularly (its useless if it doesn't). I have a feeling NOE will neglect this before long :(

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6. Thomas United States 07 May 2008, 20:25 GMT

The interviews and the DS Demos were pretty cool. Being able to get recommendations for games from your peers is a plus. But everything else so far is a little blah. At times, I feel like I've downloaded a commercial (wait...trailers?).

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7. rbtransformed United States 07 May 2008, 20:33 GMT

This is pretty cool. Now I have to go delete some games before I try it out. It requires 123 blocks in case anyone is wondering.

8. Jupiter Adept Canada 07 May 2008, 21:13 GMT

Yeah, it's sweet. I haven't played any DS demos since the DS is charging. :_

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9. Objection_Blaster United States 07 May 2008, 21:54 GMT

I played the same demo of Ninja Gaiden:DS thats been at download stations for 6 months. The DS demos are okay at launch of the channel and 9 pages of (45ish) videos to start off is impressive. I hope we get wiiare/wii demos in the future as well. BENSEI You get a link on game's info page to a site on the internet channel where you can buy the game you are looking at. Wiiware titles link to the Wii Shop Channel. I'm just glad we got a new channel. Havent had one since summer/fall.

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10. Tides of Chaos United States 07 May 2008, 22:01 GMT

It's a pretty cool channel that I've been waiting for ever since Japan got it, but I was hoping it would have more DS demos than that. Where are some of the earlier games like Mario Kart DS and Brain Age 1? (although I already have those so it doesn't REALLY matter)

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11. WarioFan63 United States 07 May 2008, 22:09 GMT

Well I believe it goes by the current DS Download Station Pack which has been changing constantly since its been invented and put in stores, so thats why it doesnt have some of the older DS games and why those games will probably be replaced in the future.

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12. Tim Canada 07 May 2008, 22:37 GMT

I would try it out but my wii is in the box until a wii game comes out that I feel like playing, after I'm done with GTAIV.

I would have been hyped about this feature back in December 07 or January 08 but once again NOA is behind and I have moved on.

The ability to rate wii games will be one of the best features. It would be even better if we could rate wiiware vc titles to show Nintendo just how many of them suck.

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13. SP49833 United States 07 May 2008, 23:10 GMT

I had to delete even MORE games after the fiasco I went through trying to fit Pokemon Puzzle League yesterday...
Ugh, Nintendo. Ugh.
Still, good channel.

14. poggydude United States 07 May 2008, 23:39 GMT

SWEET this is so cool and DS games to boot oh yeah

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15. Atlantis1982 United States 07 May 2008, 23:46 GMT

Still have room, guess I manage my memory much more better than the rest of you. >:D

16. poggydude United States 08 May 2008, 00:07 GMT

No your just not a nerd who needs every game

Actually I just get my fix from my DS most of the time so I'm still nerd just not a wiinerd

BTW download lineup looks lame but hey still its free DS games

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17. Kawaiipikachu Australia 08 May 2008, 00:33 GMT

I just want to know when it's released here in Australia .

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18. Big=Sexy United States 08 May 2008, 00:55 GMT

On the surface, this channel has a lot of potential. DS demos, trailers for games, recommendations - it even launched with an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto regarding Wii Fit.

But there's one thing that really irks me about this service. Something I was initially glad it does that Nintendo's official site is incapable of doing.

What I'm talking about is the preview videos for Virtual Console games. These videos had a lot of issues running properly on Nintendo's site, constantly being unavailable and in some instances, simply disappearing of the face of the earth. Checking out a gameplay vid can give you a good idea of what the game is like, and now that the Nintendo Channel is launched, all the vids that were up before but couldn't be seen are there for our viewing pleasure.

Or dismay.

Anybody actually watch some of these videos yet? Basic games like Super Mario Bros., Wonder Boy in Monster World and most shmups display the game being played, and does its job showing viewers what they'll be doing for most of the game. But games that are even slightly more complex show next to nothing. Want an example? Take a look at Nintendo's video for Sin & Punishment. It's a perfect example of a game NOT BEING PLAYED. Honestly, I'm glad I took a chance on this game when it came out and didn't watch this video. Because this video just makes me want to stay away from it.

I can't say that it doesn't have its bright spots. At the very least, this is what prompted me to find non-official sites like this one.

19. Sirix Canada 08 May 2008, 01:59 GMT

ds download station in home!

so awesome.
They already sold me Ninja Gaiden with the Ninja Gaiden demo.
2 unlockable difficulties and super fun!

20. hamispink United States 08 May 2008, 02:26 GMT

darn, this had to come 1 week after my wifi router died : (

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21. Master K United States 08 May 2008, 02:35 GMT

@Big=Sexy: Actual Virtual Console DEMOS would be even better, wouldn't they? :)

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22. agent_lime 08 May 2008, 03:09 GMT

I just played the crosswords DS demo for an hour. I really need that game.

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23. The shoemaker Canada 08 May 2008, 03:16 GMT

I like this channel a lot. There's a lot more videos than i thought, it makes me happy. Not like how the check mii out channel only had one contest avalible when it was released. But you can download or buy games right from the channel. To download, it takes you straight to the wii shop channel, to buy wii games, it takes you to a online buying site.'

So far you can only recommend titles, not write reviews for them. Like you can only say who you think best suites this game and what score you would give it, you can't actually write a review.

And the videos are nice quality, and take maybe 15 seconds tops to load a video. Usually it only takes 3 seconds. Also there's tons of videos, a few interviews a few comericals, and a lot of reviews. And you can chose to watch it in full or half screen.

And you can look up every single wii, VC, and DS game, and watch a video of them. So it's quite the worthy channel.

24. poggydude United States 08 May 2008, 03:39 GMT

maybe they'll anounce phoenix wright as a wiiware

I'd pay a ridiculous amount even for one case

I'll keep my eyes peeled on the WW lineup here

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25. Clayfrd United States 08 May 2008, 03:41 GMT

@Atlantis1982- I'd just like to mention that I have 34 VC games, 4 of which are N64, and I also have every Nintendo channel released except for THE Nintendo Channel. At that rate, it is VERY difficult to manage my memory well, especially since most of the games I'm currently playing are N64 games (most of the rest are SNES, but I'm also playing Kid Icarus and SMB3). Also consider Brawl's whopping 120+ blocks of memory. It is hard for me to handle my memory "more better" than everyone else. Fortunately, I got a ten dollar SD card that can hold all of my VC games and then some, so I can shop freely.

26. Cigawoot United States 08 May 2008, 06:03 GMT

I noticed that not every single Wii game is displayed in this channel. Specifically Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, and Manhunt 2 are missing... I wonder why? lol

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27. Atlantis1982 United States 08 May 2008, 07:57 GMT

I also happen to have around 20+ VC games, all the channels excluding Mario Kart, and the big 'ol Brawl save file. Here is the thing that I do; I keep a certain amount of games on the memory. Problem solve. :D

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28. Tony United States 08 May 2008, 13:30 GMT

@ Cigawoot
I played Umbrella Chronicles for over an hour, but it won't let me do the rating feature either.

I really like this channel, but I am really running out of memory after downloading it. I have 250 blocks left.

29. Starwolf_UK United Kingdom 08 May 2008, 14:35 GMT

I noticed that not every single Wii game is displayed in this channel. Specifically Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, and Manhunt 2 are missing... I wonder why? lol
Some companies entire catalogues seem to be unratable. Capcom for instance insert conspiracy asbout bionic comando etc...

There are also some weird ones like Rayman Ravid Rabbids 2 being up for rating but nots its prequel :(

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30. TheWiiMan Puerto Rico 08 May 2008, 15:46 GMT

Best channel ever!! Nintendo channel FTW!

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31. Viral United Kingdom 08 May 2008, 16:33 GMT

Still waiting for this thing to show up in Europe...I'm not in a big hurry since Wii Fit is keeping me entertained.

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32. MrPoo6321 United States 08 May 2008, 17:15 GMT

i really wanna download this channel, but that means i have to delete some games........... shit.

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33. Objection_Blaster United States 08 May 2008, 20:31 GMT

Yes it takes 123 blocks as said PLUS ANOTHER 122 blocks FOR SAVE DATA! And you can only rate Nintendo made games/channels. (At least for me, I cant rate Rayman, red Steel or Trauma Center)

34. DaVeMaN99 Canada 08 May 2008, 23:49 GMT

I reviewed a game, but i don't know how i can see other peoples reviews or rating for a game.

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35. Big=Sexy United States 09 May 2008, 14:00 GMT

I, too, have noticed games missing. Like Metal Slug Anthology, Bust-A-Move, and Elebits, to name a few. This memory issue is getting rather irritating. I've deleted about 10 VC games now because of Brawl, Mario Kart Wii and now this. I have an SD card, but I like to have a plethora of games available to me and since I have to copy them back and forth, I have a few games that haven't been getting the love they deserve.

@Master K :
That would be absolutely amazing. If it had that - even a crappy timed one like Brawl - it can potentially save people points. I know if I had a chance to play it beforehand, I wouldn't have bought The Dynastic Hero as it's an inferior clone of the great Wonder Boy in Monster World - ironically worth the same amount.
Although 30 seconds of play time might not suffice. XP I think simple games could go for about a minute, more complex ones 3 or 5. I'm sure it'd be easy enough to do, but considering the back catalog they'd have, I don't know how many resources would have to be pooled for that.

@Objection Blaster:
I was allowed to rate Carnival Games, Boogie and MySims, all not made by Nintendo. Granted, only one of those is decent, but that's not important. Also, I can't rate Pokemon Puzzle League, despite having played it for about 8 hours already. It seems to be the only VC game missing (from the ones I have) but I'm not sure if that's true as I have quite a bit now.

@DaVeMaN99:

Me neither. Maybe they're waiting till they've got enough data for display?

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36. Tony United States 09 May 2008, 23:16 GMT

I hope they allow the reccomendation feature for all games. So far all the Nintendo games can be rated. Carnival game could as well and its not from Nintendo. I have played Resident Evil UC and Metal slug for over an hour but it still does not let me make reccomendation. Hope that changes in the future

Also add VC demos

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37. StarDust United States 10 May 2008, 04:44 GMT

That's just what everybody needs on their Wii consoles: ADWARE!!! I get most of my unbiased opinions from the Internet.

It's whopping bloated - 122 blocks of Wii data, plus 126 blocks for the save file, WTF? I had 402 blocks before, now reduced to 150-something. That, and also they spy on your gaming history (your daily play history is saved to the message board). Uhhg! This channel is going into the trash for me. It's bad enough that the Super Smash Brothers save file was 128 blocks (over 100 of which is useless wasted space if you opt to save all data to the SD card). I will most likely also have to dump "Sin & Punishment" once Wiiware is released on Monday...

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38. HOT-ROD United States 10 May 2008, 04:48 GMT

I, for the first time in my life, deleted some games due to no MEMORY!!! Metroid Prime 3 channel (useless) is now gone, and so is Kid Icarus. Not great games, but just the fact that I had to delete them just sucks. I WANT A SOLUTION TO THIS!!!!!

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39. Rossi United Kingdom 11 May 2008, 12:37 GMT

I wont this just to add a new channel to my wii!

40. Versus22 Canada 11 May 2008, 20:03 GMT

I love the Nintendo Channel, its the best channel on the Wii yet! :)

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41. morphballer United States 13 May 2008, 20:27 GMT

I'm confused. The Nintendo Channel was updated this week but I didn't get any messages about it. How am I supposed to know when the channel gets new updates? :confused:

42. ouenben United Kingdom 19 May 2008, 22:32 GMT

"Atlantis1982 United States 08 May 2008, 07:57 GMT

I also happen to have around 20+ VC games, all the channels excluding Mario Kart, and the big 'ol Brawl save file. Here is the thing that I do; I keep a certain amount of games on the memory. Problem solve. :D"

No not really, you're taking the solution that many of us want to avoid donig, deleting games to make space for others, it's a pain in the ass, I'd like all my games available at once, without having to move them around on a SD card or re-downloading them! Hence why we want a HDD or something.

Nintendo channel takes a hefty 200-300 blocks so I deleted it, as I dont have a DS anymore and the videos are useless as I can see them on my PC quicker and easier.

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