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_____ _____
\ \ / /
\ \ __ / / O O
\ \ / \ / / ___ ___
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Console FAQ
This document is (c) 2006-2010 James Sander-Cederlof aka cripster1971
CONTENTS
========
[Intro] Intro
[WiiConDiag] Wii Console diagram
[Control] Controller
[Control01] Wii Remote
[Control02] Nunchuk attachment
[Control03] Classic Controller attachment
[Control04] Steering Wheel attachment
[Control05] GameCube Controller
[Control06] Wii Sports shell attachments
[Control07] Wii Balance Board
[Games] Playing games
[Games01] Wii games
[Games02] GameCube games
[Games03] Virtual Console games
[Channel] Using Wii Channels and other parts of the Wii Menu
[Channel01] Mii Channel
[Channel02] Photo Channel
[Channel03] Wii Shop Channel
[Channel04] News Channel
[Channel05] Forecast Channel
[Channel06] Internet Channel
[Channel07] Everybody Votes Channel
[Channel08] Check Mii Out Channel
[Channel09] Nintendo Channel
[Channel10] Wii Speak Channel
[ChannelSD] SD Card Menu
[ChannelOptions] Wii Options
[ChannelMessage] Wii Message Board
[ChannelCal] Calendar
[ChannelWiiWare]
[Connect] Wireless Connectivity
[Connect01] To your network
[Connect02] To the DS / DS Lite / DSi
[Memory] Memory
[Memory01] Internal Memory / System Memory
[Memory02] SD Cards
[Memory03] GameCube Memory Cards
[Launch] Launch Titles (North American)
[VCGames] Virtual Console games (North American)
[Included] What is included in the package
[FAQs] FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
[Specs] Known Wii Technical Specs
[Legal] Legal Stuff
[Sites] Sites permitted to post this FAQ
[Contact] Contact Info
[Hist] Revision History
[Credits] Credits
[Intro] Intro
Welcome to my FAQ (my first FAQ to date)for the Nintendo Wii. You may
navigate through this FAQ by using ctrl+F then using the section title
enclosed in the square brackets. As time passes and more information is
released by Nintendo, this FAQ will reflect those things.
I have had the Wii console since November 19, 2006 and I do not regret the
purchase of the console. I have not had any problems with it up through this
time. Set-up was quick and easy. I was using it within minutes of taking it
out of the box. My Wii software at launch time consisted of:
Wii Sports
Excite Truck
Rampage: Total Destruction
Madden 07
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Wii Play
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Bust-a-Move Bash!
Spider-Man 3
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Elebits
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
While Zelda may be the best looking game out of those I have listed, I don't
believe any of them to look "bad." Sure, you may not see every drop of sweat
or every pimple on a face, but the games I have played are fun. I am not a
huge Zelda fan, but the game looked fun, so I rented it then bought it
because it was fun. In all of the games I have tested or own / rented, I have
not noticed any slowdown. All of the games aside from Zelda (since I don't
tend to play the Zelda series a lot) were easy for me to pick up and play.
I believe Nintendo has truly made a console where anyone can pick up a game
and start to play it. As evidenced by the sales and my experience, I can
see Nintendo succeeding in the goal they set out to accomplish. I don't
have full use of both arms, and I have been able to play all of those games
I have listed above, plus others that I have tried in in my local game store.
While some games may be more fun by doing exaggerated movements, most games
that get input from different gestures only require a small movement to
register. I have also downloaded around ten separate Virtual Console games,
all with no problem. I expect to download more as the service continues.
[WiiConDiag] Wii Console diagram
The top of the Wii Console has flaps that can be opened or closed. If the
console is placed vertically the flaps can be left on, either opened or
closed, but if the console is placed horizontally, these flaps must be removed
if GameCube controllers are to be used.
Front view:
__________
| _ |
| PP [ ] | Power button
| [ ] |
| RR [ ] | Reset button
| _ [ ] |
| [o] [ ] | Sync button
| [ ] [ ] |
| [ ] [ ] | SD card compartment, Disc slot
| [ ] [ ] |
| [_] [ ] |
| [ ] |
| [ ] |
| [ ] |
| EE [_] | Eject button
|__________|
Back view:
__________
| |
| |
| [][] | USB port, USB port
| |
| ________ |
|[ ]|
|[ ]|
|[ ]| Air Vent
|[________]|
| |
| S T | Sensor Bar port, A/V port
| T |
| P | AC Power port
|__________|
Top view(vertical position) / Side view(horizontal position):
_______________
| |
| O O O O M2 | Con. 1, Con. 2, Con. 3, Con. 4, GC Memory Card 2 slot
| M1 | GC Memory Card 1 slot
|_______________|
[Control] Controller
[Control01] Wii Remote
Top view:
_________
| o | Power button
| |
| I |
| - - | D-Pad
| I |
| |
| A | A button
| |
| |
| - H + | - button, Home button, + button
| |
| . . . |
| . . . | Wii Remote speaker
| . . . |
| |
| 1 | 1 button
| 2 | 2 button
| |
| # # # # | LED player indicators
|_________|
Underside view:
_________
| |
| |
| ___ |
| [ ] |
| [ ] |
| [ B ] | B button
| [ ] |
| [___] |
| |
| |
| _____ |
| [ ___ ] |
| [| | |] |
| [| | |] |
| [| | |] |
| [|_|_|] | Battery compartment for 2 AA batteries
| [ ] |
| [ o] | Sync button
| [ ] |
|_[_____]_|
Front view:
_________
| [ ] |
| [ ] | IR area
|_[_____]_|
Back view:
_________
| |
| = | Attachment port
|_________|
The Power button powers the console on or off, not the remote. The Home button
will bring up a menu where you can:
Return to the Wii Menu (unsaved data will be lost)
Reset the software (unsaved data will be lost)
See the Operations Guide (for downloaded software)
Change remote settings (Speaker volume, Rumble ability, add (temporarily)
remotes or change order of remotes). Rumble and Speaker settings affect all
remotes that are active.
See the battery life remaining
The + button is commonly used as the Start/Pause button on the GameCube
controller. The Sync button will let you assign the remote to the Wii console
permanently, until you sync it with another Wii console. The remote will turn
off after a set period of inactivity (a few minutes) or when the console is
shut off. The Wii Remote can store up to ten Miis. To sync the Remote with
the console, press the Sync button on the console, then press the Sync button
on the Remote. Battery life is expected to be 30 - 60 hours, depending on the
features used. Currently there is no official recharging device for the Remote
although third party devices can be found easily. The Wii Remote uses
Bluetooth technology to connect with the Wii console, while it uses
accelerometers and infrared detection to determine its position in space. Up
to four Wii Remotes can be connected to the Wii console. Multi player support
for more than four players is possible with a combination of Wii Remotes and
GameCube controllers. This is evidenced by the Bomberman '93 game on the
Virtual Console, which allows up to five players.
The Wii Remote has a wrist strap to help secure the device from flying out of
your hand and hitting other items. The initial shipment of Wii consoles and
Wii Remotes used a wrist strap that has been shown to break off of the Wii
Remote. Nintendo started using a more heavy duty wrist strap in the first
week of December 2006. Nintendo is offering to send free wrist straps to users
who purchased the console prior to the date they began shipping the units with
the new style wrist strap. A form on the Nintendo website with the user
information can be filled out for the free replacement. Nintendo does not
require any wrist strap to be sent back to them to receive the new style wrist
strap. Up to four wrist straps can be requested on the form.
When powering on the Wii console from the Wii Remote, battery life will be
displayed on the controller number LEDs. The number of LEDs that light up
correspond to the display in the battery when the Home button is pushed to get
access to the features listed above for that button.
Wii Motion+ was released as an attachment for the Wii Remote, which allows for
more precise motion detecton of the Wii Remote. Newer Wii Remotes can be
purchased with the Motion+, or the Motion+ can be purchased alone.
Nyko released the Wii Wand which is functionally the same as the Wii Remote
aside from some cosmetic changes. These changes include square buttons, a
relocating of the power button to the right side of the unit, and a different
arrangement of the LED player indicators, which are red instead of blue.
[Control02] Nunchuk attachment:
Top view:
nnnnnnnnnnn
( )
( )
( )
( O ) Analog control stick
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
u Cord to connect to Wii Remote
Front view:
nnnnn
( )
( C ) C button
( Z ) Z button
( )
uuuuu
The Nunchuk is motion sensitive but does not have rumble support. Nyko released
a Nunchuk that if attached to the Wii Wand does support rumble.
[Control03] Classic Controller attachment
_L__z_____Z__R_ Left shoulder, Z left, Z right, Right shoulder buttons
/ \
( I x ) x button
( - - s H S y a ) D pad, Select, Home, Start, y, a buttons
( I b ) b button
( O O ) Left analog stick, right analog stick
\_______________/
u cord to Wii Remote
The classic controller attachment resembles a Super Nintendo controller with
two analog control sticks along the bottom. The cord is on bottom like the
Nunchuk attachment instead of on top like the GameCube controller. If attached
to the Remote, it can be used to move the pointer around the screen to select
the different Channels with the left analog stick. The 'a' button will then
confirm what the pointer is selecting. It can be used for the Virtual Console
games and also any game the developer wishes to program support for. The
Select button behaves like the - button and the Start button behaves as the +
button on the Wii Remote, and both are labeled as such also.
In 2010 Nintendo released the Classic Controller Pro, with both white and black
colors available. It resembles a PS2 controller.
Top view:
_l_____n_____r_ Left buttons, cord, Right buttons
/ \
( I x ) x button
( - - s H S y a ) D pad, Select, Home, Start, y, a buttons
( I b ) b button
( O O ) Left analog stick, right analog stick
\_______________/
/ \ / \
( ) ( ) Hand holds
( ) ( )
\_/ \_/
Front view:
_____________
/ \
( L R ) Left shoulder button, Right shoulder button
( o ) Cord leading to Wii Remote
( zL zR ) Z left button, Z right button
\_____________/
[Control04] Steering Wheel attachment
The Steering Wheel attachment is a shell that the Wii Remote fits in. The
Wii Remote is placed into the Steering Wheel without ary cords going to the
attachment. The attachment is currently included free in the GT Pro and
Monster 4X4 games, or the attachment can be bought separately. Mario Kart Wii
comes packaged with the Wii Wheel, the official steering wheel attachment from
Nintendo.
[Control05] GameCube Controller
The Wii can accept four GameCube Controllers. This includes wired or
wireless, and controllers such as the DK Bongos. There is a flap on top of
the Wii that opens up to reveal the four controller ports.
[Control06] Wii Sports shell attachments
Shell attachments for Wii Sports Tennis, Wii Sports Golf, and Wii Sports
Baseball are available. The Wii Remote simply fits into each shell with no
cords going to the attachment, like the Steering Wheel attachment.
[Control07] Wii Balance Board
The Wii Balance Board takes the place of Wii Remote 4 when beinng used.
The board may be used in a variety of ways, depending on the game that is being
used. In Wii Fit there are balancing games and other exercises that utilize
the board, along with the ability to calculate your BMI. Skiing games use it
to imitate skiis, while Wii Music can use it to imitate parts of the drum.
[Games] Playing games
[Games01] Wii games
Wii games are inserted into the self loading disc tray. Once loaded, the
game will appear in the Disc Channel and can be started by selecting the
Disc Channel. As with the GameCube games, Wii games are region coded.
[Games02] GameCube games
GameCube games are inserted into the self loading disc tray. Once
loaded, the game will appear in the Disc Channel and can be started by
selecting the Disc Channel. There are no known games which have a
problem playing at this point. GameCube controllers must be used to play
GameCube games.
[Games03] Virtual Console games
Virtual Console games get their own Channel assigned to them. Each
different game will have its' own Channel, and can be started by selecting
the appropriate Channel.
Controllers that can be used for Virtual Console games:
Platform Wii Remote Classic Controller GCN Controller
NES Yes Yes Yes
SNES No Yes Yes
N64 No Yes Yes
Genesis Some Yes Some
TurboGrafx-16 Yes Yes Some
Sega Master S. Most Yes Yes
Neo Geo Most Yes Yes
Comm. 64 Yes Yes Yes
VC Arcade Yes Yes Yes
Every game will list which controllers can be used.
Starting costs for the games in North America are as follows:
Platform Wii Points
NES 500
SNES 800
N64 1000
Genesis 800
TurboGrafx-16 600
TurboGrafx-16 CD 800
Sega Master S. 500
Neo Geo 900
Comm. 64 500
VC Arcade 500
Costs are the same for downloading to your own Wii or using the Gift option to
buy the game for someone on your Friend list.
[Channel] Using Wii Channels and other parts of the Wii Menu
The Wii Channels can be organized by grabbing the Channel with the A
and B buttons and then placing it where you like. The Disc Channel
cannot be moved, but the Virtual Console Channels or other Wii
Channels can be organized to suit your desires. All Channels, including the
Disc Channel, are collectively known as the Wii Menu. The Wii Menu has space
to hold 48 separate Channels.
[Channel01] Mii Channel
This Channel is used to create or edit Miis. Miis from other consoles may
mingle on your console in this channel, if you have exchanged Wii ID
numbers with someone else. Facial features, height, and weight can be set,
along with the color for the shirt.
[Channel02] Photo Channel
This Channel is used to view or edit pictures from SD cards or the Wii
Message Board. Photos that are stored are not altered directly, instead
a copy with the changes must be saved if desired. You may take the
photos and do a jigsaw puzzle with them, and the fastest times for
completing the puzzle are stored.
The Photo Channel offers a simple set of tools to edit the pictures, and only
pictures stored in jpeg format are able to be viewed or editted. It can also
view .MOV files (QuickTime / Motion JPEG).
There has been an update to the Photo Channel, which can be downloaded at no
charge.
[Channel03] Wii Shop Channel
This Channel is used to download or Gift Virtual Console games and WiiWare
(e.g. the Opera browser). Each download requires a certain number of
Wii Points, depending on region. Virtual Console games are region
coded. Currently, NES games are the cheapest(500 Wii Points), and N64 games
are the most expensive(1000 Wii Points). You may check the list in the
Virtual Console games section for the complete list of starting prices for the
different platforms available in North America. Prices for the WiiWare
products vary.
The Virtual Console games that are downloaded are emulated without upgrades
to the software. There are no enhancements such as on-line play, multi
player support, or use of the Wii Remote as a pointing device if the game did
not support such things to begin with. While graphics may seem improved in
some games, it is not a result of programming it this way in the emulated
software; it is a result of the Wii hardware itself. Also, if you have
Widescreen support turned on for your TV in the Wii Options, some games may
appear distorted and you may need to turn Widescreen off to display the proper
screen ratio for the game.
Wii Points can be purchased in stores as a 2000 Point card, or they can be
purchased on-line through the Wii Shop Channel. On-line requires use of a
credit card and Points can be purchased in the following amounts: 1000, 2000,
3000, and 5000. Any Points bought, redeemed, or used to purchase items are
recorded are can be reviewed through the Account Activity section of the Wii
Shop Channel. Once the Wii Points are used to purchase an item, the Points
are deducted from the account and cannot be refunded. When I purchased a Wii
Point card from a store tax was added to my purchase, but when I purchased the
Wii Points through the Wii Shop Channel there was no tax on my purchase. Tax
may be charged for on-line purchase, depending on your area / region.
With the introduction of the DSi, Wii Points cards may be redeemed for either
use on the Wii Shop Channel or the DSi Shop Channel. Once redeemed, the points
cannot be used for the other Shop Channel. The Wii Points were also relabeled
as Nintendo Points once the DSi was introduced, although cards labeled Wii
Points can still be found.
[Channel04] News Channel
This Channel is used to view news from the Associated Press. It came active on
January 19, 2007. The News Channel also incorporates the Globe from the
Forecast Channel. National news, International news, Sports news,
Health/Science news, Business, Arts/Entertainment, and Technology news can be
selected to view. Text size can be adjusted to make the articles easier to
read. Headlines will scroll when hovered over if needed. There is no set
number of articles per News section.
Scrolling through the text of the article can be done with the B button on the
Wii Remote, or with the up and down on the d-pad. Highlighting text is
possible with the 1 button. The - button and the + button are used to adjust
the text size. Using the A button will enter the article or exit out of the
article.
A slideshow of the articles headlines in a category can be done, and when you
want to view the article, the A button can be used to view the article. Left
and right on the d-pad will scroll through the list of articles
The Globe will show how many articles are available for a particular location
and will show the location of the currently selected article. The Globe can be
used to select an article from a given location. The Globe can be viewed just
as when using the Forecast Channel, except news article information is
displayed instead of the weather information.
Upon starting the News Channel, the system will connect to the WiiConnect24
service and obtain the most recent headlines available, and will inform you how
long ago it was updated. The headline categories are then presented and you
may make a choice from those categories. While the Channel is obtaining the
current data, the cat from the Photo Channel makes a visit and can be selected
with the A button; if selected the cat will provide hints on usage for the News
Channel. An Operation Guide is available for the News Channel similar to the
Operation Guide for a Virtual Console game and is navigated through the same
way; once the Home button is pushed the Operation Guide will be available to
view.
Some articles contain images and also some may be accompanied by the globe, but
not articles do. The icon before the headline indicates if the globe is
present with the article. A circle icon indicates the globe is present while a
paper article indicates just text. If the icon is gray, it indicates the
article has been selected for viewing already. A blinking icon represents
recently added articles.
[Channel05] Forecast Channel
This Channel is used to view weather from around the world. It is now
available(as of December 19, 2006). Weather data is provided by weathernews.
The user is allowed to pick the closest location to him from a list of
locations. This is the location that the Forecast Channel will display by
default when it is started. To see other locations, the Globe can be selected
and can be spun like a real globe to see and select different parts of the
world.
Once a location is selected, the following items may be seen(dependent on
location selected):
Current (condition and temperature)
Today (condition and temperature)
Tomorrow (condition and temperature)
5-Day Forecast (condition and temperature)
UV Index
Weather conditions(without the temperature) can be seen for six hour intervals
for Today or Tomorrow by clicking on the Condition image. The 5-Day Forecast
will display High and Low temperatures, while the other displays do not list
the low.
On the Globe, locations can be set to view the temperature or the conditions.
Zoom levels can be selected for the Globe and also viewing angle of the globe.
While viewing the globe the user can cycle between the following displays:
Current Weather
Current Temperature
Today's Weather
Today's High
Tomorrow's Weather
Tomorrow's High
The user can change temperature to be listed in Celsius or Fahrenheit, the Wind
Display to mph or km/h, and the Closest Location.
[Channel06] Internet Channel
This Channel is used to browse the internet with the Opera browser. The beta
version of Opera is available for download as of December 22, 2006, according
to the Nintendo web site. The Opera browser is expected to be a free download
until June 2007, at which point it will cost 500 Wii Points to download(as of
this date). The non-beta version became available in mid April 2007. Once
downloaded there will be no additional charge to use the Internet Channel.
If the browser is downloaded for free, there will not be an additional charge
to use it after the free download period has ended. The download can be found
in the Wii Ware section of the Wii Shop Channel.
Internet Channel (Trial Version)
The browser is based off of the Opera 9 browser for the PC, but uses simplied
controls. All control and navigation is done with the Wii Remote.
Upon starting this Channel, the Start Page will load. This Start Page does not
appear to able to be changed by the user. A main area appears on the bottom of
each screen which contains:
Back button
Forward button
Stop Loading / Reload Page button
Favorites button
Start Page button
The Back and Forward buttons only let you cycle one page at a time. To go back
two pages, you would need to press the Back button twice, for example.
The Start Page consists of the following items:
Favorites
Enter a Web Address
Help
Zoom Link
Scroll Link
Legal info
The Zoom Link and Scroll Link gives the user explanations on how to use those
features within the browser. Legal info is just the text of the necessary
legal information pertaining to the things used in the browser.
The Help page consists of a diagram of the Wii Remote and an explanation of the
actions taken for the different buttons on the Remote:
B button: Pointer Scrolling
With the B held, the user is free to scroll in any direction permitted on
the page. Arrows appear on screen for the possible scroll directions, if
the pointer is on the screen.
A button: Select
This will select the item under the pointer. If data entry is required,
the Virtual Keyboard will appear
1 button: Favorites
Will bring up the Favorites Page
2 button: Switch Display Mode
Single column mode. Makes certain pages easier to view. A larger font
size will be used for this mode.
- button: Zoom Out
Takes the view to the original viewing size when the page loaded.
+ button: Zoom In
Takes the view to an enlarged viewing size to make things easier to see.
Home button: HOME Menu
Brings up the typical Menu to go back to the Wii Menu, Rest the software,
and change Remote settings.
The D-pad serves no use in this version.
The Favorites page consists of the following:
Add Favorite
Add the current page to your list of favorites. This cannot be selected
without a page already loaded.
Edit Favorites
This will bring up the current list of favorites the user has stored. When
a favorite is selected, the following actions can be performed:
Delete
Deletes the selected favorite from the list.
Rename
Changes the display name of the page in the list, not the URL of the
page.
Move
Change the position of the favorite in the list of favorites.
Cancel
Exit out of the sub-menu with no action performed.
As there is no address bar in the browser, to type in an address, use the
"Enter a Web Address" from the Start Page. There are no tabs in the browser.
Cookies can be used and are stored.
Items I've found that are not supported:
- Keyboard support (Currently have to use the Virtual Keyboard for typing)
- PDF files
- Downloading files
- Uploading files
- Using Mailto: links to email someone
- Large Flash files may cause the browser to exceed the memory, and therefore
will not load
Internet Channel (Full version)
Changes from the Trial version include:
- A new Toolbar layout is presented, which includes a button to press to gain
access to type an address in, without having to go back to the Start page.
The Toolbar can now be hidden from view, either auto-hide, or manual hide.
- D-pad can now be used to scroll the page, in addition to the B button.
- Faster launching time when starting the channel.
- More Favorites can be stored, and access to those Favorites is quicker.
- Zoom function is now either auto, like the Trial version, or zoom levels
can be manually set by the user.
- Search button added for easy access to Yahoo! Search or Goggle Search search
engines.
- Multiple Remotes may be used for pointing on screen, although Remote 1 must
be used to make selections and enter text.
- Options menu is active. Search engine, Zoom Settings, Toolbar hiding, and
Proxy Settings are among those things included.
- The Start page has been redesigned to account for the new changes. It also
contains a button to press to get back to the Wii Menu.
- USB Keyboards are supported with the proper update to the Wii System
New button assignments have been added, while some have changed:
* B Button + Left Arrow = Search
* B Button + Right Arrow = Enter web address
* B Button + Up Arrow = Reload
* B Button + Down Arrow = Favorites
* B Button + (+) key = Page forward
* B Button + (-) key = Page backward
* 1 button = toggle Toolbar (if manual hide option selected)
* + key, - key = multiple zoom levels while in manual zoom mode
You may send me any quirks or oddities that you come across while using this
browser.
[Channel07] Everybody Votes Channel
This Channel can be downloaded free from the Wii Ware section of the Wii Shop
Channel. It allows users to cast a binary vote (e.g. Yes/No, True/False).
New questions are added weekly plus a worldwide question is added monthly.
After the question deadline, results are tabulated and then announced.
Up to six users can be registered to vote on the console, and each voter uses
a Mii to represent him/her. After voting, Predictions can be cast for the more
popular choice. Once the user has cast a vote or prediction those choices
cannot be changed. The user must place the Mii on his/her choice to submit the
choice. One question can be submitted per day to Nintendo for consideration
for future use by them. User stats are stored for accuracy, and how the user
matches up with others in the polls. Recent poll results are also stored, and
the channel provides access for up to sixteen of the most recent poll results.
[Channel08] Check Mii Out Channel
This Channel lets users participate in contests and lets people view Miis from
some of the other users who have participated in the contests.
[Channel09] Nintendo Channel
This Channel will let you view interviews, game trailers, and other videos that
Nintendo puts up on their server for this channel. You may also view new
releases for either the Wii or DS. Within the "Find Games For Me" section is
the DS Download Station, which lets you download demos and other things
(possibly) to your DS. Titles available for download rotate in and out, and
dates are given when the downloads are good through.
While viewing a video on the Nintendo Channel, the A button may be used to
alter the size of the video window to / from full screen. The B button may
also be used to bring up a progress slider for the video, allowing you to
change the position within the video that you are watching.
With an update, video quality may be selected. This allows for bettter
quality if you have a fast internet connection.
[Channel10] Wii Speak Channel
Upon purchase of the Wii Speak microphone, a code can be redeemed to download
this channel. This Channel will allow you to connect to other people on your
friend list and talk with them over the microphone.
[ChannelSD] SD Card Menu
With the Wii System Update in March 2009 the Wii can use SDHC cards up to 32 GB
in size. Along with this change, the SD Card Menu was introduced. There are
20 pages in this menu to place WiiWare and Virtual Console titles. Items from
the Wii Shop Channel can be saved directly to the SD Card. This menu button
is located next to the Wii Options button and cannot be moved to another
location on the Wii Menu as the WiiWare and Virtual Console titles can be.
WiiWare, Virtual Console titles, and Wii Channels can be selected and launched
from the SD Card Menu. Once selected and launched, the title is automatically
copied to the Wii System Memory, and then started. If there is not enough free
space in the Wii System Memory, the title will not be lauched and you will be
given the choice to free space within the Wii System Memory. If the copy was
successful, the title will stay on the Wii System Memory until another choice
is selected from the SD Card Menu.
Save data for games and other programs still need to be on the Wii System
Memory unless the game / program allows for data to be read off the SD Card.
[ChannelOptions] Wii Options
There are two main options available under Wii Options. These include Data
Management and Wii Settings.
Data Management will let you manage your Save Data and Wii Channels. Wii save
information includes the 512 MB Internal Memory and SD cards, while
GameCube save information is from the two slots for the GameCube Memory Cards.
You can Copy Data or Erase Data for either the Wii save information or GameCube
information, but you cannot copy between the GameCube Memory Cards and the Wii
Memory or SD cards. Wii Channels contain the items you have downloaded from
the Wii Shop Channel, and you can Copy or Erase those as well. Nintendo will
keep a record of the items you have downloaded, so you can later download them
at no charge if you have erased them for any reason.
Wii Settings have three pages of settings which include:
Console Nickname
This sets the name for your Wii. This is separate from the email address
that is assigned to your Console
Calendar
You can set the date and time here. Time is formatted in 24 hour time.
Screen
You can set TV related information here.
Screen Position
The horizontal and vertical positioning of the image on your TV screen
can be adjusted from here.
Widescreen Settings
You can choose between Widescreen (16:9) and Standard (4:3) from here.
TV Resolution
You can choose between Standard (480i) and EDTV/HDTV (480p) from here.
Screen Burn-in Reduction
You can choose to have the screen fade after about five minutes when Wii
software is paused. This will also cause the Remotes to enter Sleep Mode
to conserve battery power of the Remotes. This features will act
independently of any setting on your TV. Only Wii software is affected
by this settings; GameCube games that are paused will not initiate this
setting.
Sound
You can choose between Mono, Stereo, or Surround sound here.
Parental Controls
You can set restrictions on games here for the content rating. The game
ratings are used for Wii games only; GameCube games are not affected by
these controls. A four digit PIN will be required to access any features
that have been restricted. Be aware, the PIN will be displayed while
entering the numbers, so others can see the data during this time. The
numbers will be masked after entering them. If your Wii console is also
connected to the internet, you have the ability to place limits on the
following online features:
Internet Channel
Once the Opera browser has been downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel,
the browser use can be restricted.
News Channel
Once it is available, the News Channel can be restricted.
Wii Messages
You can disable the Wii console's ability to send and receive messages
from other Wii consoles. Your system will still receive system
updates and related business messages from Nintendo regardless of this
Parental Controls setting.
Use of Points
If this setting is on, users will be required to enter the 4-digit PIN in
order to use Wii Points to download items from the Wii Shop Channel.
Sensor Bar
If you find the Pointer is not responding as well as you think it should, you
can adjust some settings from here.
Sensor Bar Position
You can choose whether the Sensor Bar is placed above or below your TV from
here.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity of the Pointer functionality of the Wii Remote can be adjusted
from here.
Internet
You can enter three separate connections here and choose which one should
used to connect to the internet. You can also view the MAC address and
view the User Agreements from here. If the Wii does not find an Access
Point automatically, you can adjust the settings manually.
Connection Settings
Three separate connections can be entered here. Wireless connections, the
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connector, and Wired are supported. Wireless security is
supported through WPA, WPA2, WEP.
Console Information
The MAC address can be found here.
User Agreements
The legal information for using the WiiConnect24 service can be found here.
WiiConnect24
You can choose the behavior of WiiConnect24 from here. It can be On or
Off and the Standby Mode and Slot Illumination can be changed if WiiConnect24
is turned on. If Standby is enabled, the WiiConnect24 operate when the Wii
is not on. The Slot Illumination can be set to Bright, Dim, or it can be
turned off. This affects the blue ring around the disc tray and how bright
that light will blink when new data is received.
Language
You can choose between English, French or Spanish from here.
Country
You can set your country of residence from here.
Wii System Update
You can check for system updates manually from here. Some actions taken in
other parts of the Wii Menu will trigger an update automatically, while at
times it must be done from here.
Format Wii System Memory
This will erase all system memory, and it cannot be restored, even from an
SD card. Completing the format will place the Wii console in the state it
was when it shipped from the factory. Any system updates for the Wii console
since the manufacture date will need to be installed again. Wii Shop Channel
information can be removed by selecting Remove Wii Shop Channel Account in
the Wii Shop Channel Settings section and Nintendo recommends doing this
before doing the Format Wii System Memory.
[ChannelMessage] Wii Message Board
This is where messages relating to games or email can be found. Memos can be
created and posted on the Message Board. It will also let you write messages to
people in your address book. Wii activity for the day is also found here. To
send or receive messages, both parties must have allowed permission to do so.
Messages can be deleted from the Wii Message Board. Play History cannot be
deleted. The Message Board is tied to the Calendar although is can be selected
without having to select the Calendar. PC users and cell phone users can be
added to the Address Book. Those users will receive a message that they have
to reply to before two way communication is possible.
[ChannelCal] Calendar
The Calendar is located next to the Create Message button within the Wii
Message Board, and received messages and Wii activity messages for a given day
can be brought up and viewed. The Calendar first displays as a monthly
overview. The user can then click on an individual day to see the messages
associated with that day. The Calendar button appears after selecting the
Wii Message Board.
[ChannelWiiWare]
WiiWare titles are purchased through the Wii Shop Channel. Once downloaded,
the WiiWare titles will take one of the channel slots in the Wii Menu. The
prices for the Wiiware titles vary, with some costing 500 Wii Points, and
some costing 1500 Wii Points. Extra content for games that can be
purchased with Wii Points may be included in some games. File size varies by
title. After purchase, the titles may be downloaded again for free. As there
currently is no hard drive for the wii, titles may have to be erased off the
Wii Menu before other titles may be downloaded. Many titles that do not make
use of on-line interaction may be copied to the SD Card.
[Connect] Wireless Connectivity
The Wii has Wireless support built into the console. With a wireless router,
or a USB adapter, the Wii can use WiiConnect24, can play games on-line,
use the Wii Shop Channel, use the News Channel, use the Forecast Channel, and
can send/receive email messages through the Wii Message Board. Each Wii
console has a unique ID number assigned to it, unlike the DS games, which have
the ID assigned to them. Games will have other Friend Codes that must be used
when using the on-line capabilities of the game.
[Connect01] To your network
The Wii can connect to the network and has support for WPA, WPA2 and WEP
security. You can store three separate Internet connections on the console
and switch between them. WiiConnect24 will remain on if your router or
USB connector remains on, even if you power off the Wii, if you have it
set up that way. If you are using multiple connections, it will reset to using
Connection 1 after Wii System Updates. You must change the connection used
after doing the Updates if you were using another connection (Connection 2 or
Connection 3). I have verified this issue with Nintendo phone support. Newer
updates have resolved this issue.
[Connect02] To the DS / DS Lite / DSi
The Wii can connect to the DS with specific games. It can act as a Download
Station for the DS, if the Nintendo Channel is on the Wii. Connection between
the Wii and DS should work similarly to the way the GBA and GameCube do. It is
up to the game developer with the features they wish to include in the game.
[Memory] Memory
Wii storage and GameCube storage are separated. Wii information cannot
be stored on GameCube Memory Cards, and GameCube information cannot be stored
on the Wii Internal Memory or SD cards. To manage the memory, you must select
the Wii Options button, below the Wii Channels. Before SD cards can be used
to for Copy or Erase operations, the Wii must do a System Update. This
Update is typically done during the first use, if an internet connection is
set-up and configured properly. Until this Update is done however, only the
internal flash memory can be used to store Wii data.
[Memory01] Internal Memory / System Memory
The Wii comes with 512 MB of internal flash memory to store game saves and
Virtual Console games. The GameCube has a maximum of 16 MB per card currently,
so this internal memory is equal to 32 of those (1019 block) memory cards, or
256 of the 2 MB (251 block) memory card.
[Memory02] SD Cards
SD cards may be used to store more game saves and itemspurchased through the
Wii Shop Channel if needed. Photos can also be read from the SD cards for use
in the Photo Channel. Up to 2 GB SD cards are supported. Standard SD cards,
micro SD cards, and mini SD cards are supported. Correct adapters are needed
for the micro SD cards and mini SD cards to fit the standard SD card slot on
the Wii.
With the March 25, 2009 Wii System Update SDHC cards up to 32 GB are supported.
[Memory03] GameCube Memory Cards
The Wii accepts two Memory cards for the GameCube. The slots are on top
of the system, under a flap next to the controller ports.
[Launch] Launch Titles (North American)
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Call of Duty 3
Cars
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Excite Truck
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
GT Pro Series
Happy Feet
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Madden NFL 07
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Monster 4x4 World Circuit
Need for Speed: Carbon
Rampage: Total Destruction
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Wii Sports
There were about 13 more titles by the end of 2006, and currently there are
over 100 titles either currently released or planned to be released by the end
of 2007.
[VCGames] Virtual Console games (North American)
Currently only NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Neo Geo, Sega Master System and Turbo
Grafx 16 games are supported. There may be other consoles or handhelds
supported in the future, but there are no confirmed announcements mentioned at
this time for North America. The following list of 30 games is the current
list of the games that are planned to be released by the end of 2006 for North
America. Games may differ between regions, as the Virtual Console games are
region coded. Nintendo maintains a current list of the games offered on the
Virtual Console on their website.
NES
Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Pinball
Soccer
Urban Champion
Wario's Woods
Baseball
Solomon's Key
Tennis
Ice Hockey
SNES
F-Zero
Sim City
N64
Super Mario 64
Genesis
Sonic the Hedgehog
Altered Beast
Golden Axe
Columns
Ecco the Dolphin
Ristar
Dr. Robotnik?s Mean Bean Machine
Gunstar Heroes
Toe Jam & Earl
Space Harrier II
TurboGrafx 16
Bonk's Adventure
Super Star Soldier
Bomberman '93
Victory Run
Dungeon Explorer
[Included] What is included in the package
a) Wii system (currently available in black or white)
b) Wii Remote and Wii Jacket
c) Nunchuk attachment
d) System stand
e) Stabilizer disk for stand
f) Sensor Bar
g) A/V Cable
h) AC Adapter
i) Wii Sports (except in Japan)
j) Instruction Manuals
k) Two batteries for the Remote
m) Wii Sports Resort (Newer models released after the game was released)
n) Wii Motion+ attachment
[FAQs] FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Can _______ game use a particular Controller or attachment?
A: It depends on the game. All developers are free to use any controller or
attachment they chose to implement. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
supports Wii Remote/Nunchuk, Classic Controller, and the GCN controller, for
example, while Rampage: Total Destruction supports using Wii Remote and Wii
Remote/Nunchuk.
Q: What about the Virtual Console game controls?
A: You may view which controllers or attachments may be use with the game
before downloading it. All downloads state which controller or attachment
can be used. I have listed the known control schemes, based upon currently
supported platforms in the Virtual Console games section.
Q: Will the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connector for the DS work with the Wii?
A: Yes. Nintendo has repackaged the Wi-Fi Connector and it now lists the Wii
and DS on the package.
Q: Why can I not find extra Nunchuk attachments?
A: They have sold out quickly. It seems Nintendo did not necessarily make
one attachment per Wii Remote, as Wii Remotes can still be found. Not every
game requires the Nunchuk attachment for operation, so multi player may
still be possible if you have more Wii Remotes than the Nunchuk attachments.
Q: What are the best games out currently?
A: While that is a matter of opinion, it seems LoZ: TP and Excite Truck to be
the best selling and talked about. Wii Sports also generates a lot of
excitement about it. Red Steel, Rayman, and Super Monkey Ball: BB all seem to
be ranked high also. So, depending on the genre you enjoy, is what I would
say to check out. Also, if you like the games from the older consoles, it is
worth checking out the Virtual Console section of the Wii Shop. The list of
titles should be updated every week, if it goes as planned.
Q: Can I connect through a wired internet connection?
A: Nintendo released an Ethernet adapter to make this possible. Another
solution is to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connector for the Nintendo DS / Wii.
The Ethernet adapter will plug into the Wii in one of the two USB ports while
the Wi-Fi connector plugs into the computer that has the internet connection
on it.
Q: Can I use a USB keyboard to enter text in place of the on screen keyboard?
A: Yes, if your Wii has the proper update.
Q: Can I play Game Boy games on the Wii?
A: The Game Boy Player for the GameCube does not work with the Wii, as there is
no place to connect the device. The device that Datel released which connected
to the GameCube memory slot to play GBA games might work, but I never owned
that device, so I do not know with certainty.
Q: Will the GameCube Action Replay work with the Wii?
A: According to the CodeJunkies.com site, it will. After a certain update to
the Wii System, this device was disabled for use on the Wii.
Q: Can I use rechargeable batteries in the Wii Remote?
A: Nintendo recommends using only Nickel Metal Hydride for rechareable
batteries. Rechargeable battery packs are also available. Once the battery
packs are installed in the Wii Remote, they are recharged through the
charging docks provided with the units. Charging takes between two and five
hours to charge an empty pack, depending on how many Wii Remotes are being
charged at once. The battery packs can be charged after each use instead of
having to deplete the battery.
[Specs] Known Wii Technical Specs
Technical specifications
Nintendo itself has released few technical specifics regarding the Wii
console, but some key facts have leaked to the press. Known details include:
Processors:
* CPU: PowerPC based "Broadway" processor, made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS
process, reportedly clocked at 729 MHz
* GPU: ATI "Hollywood" GPU made with a 90 nm CMOS process, reportedly
clocked at 243 MHz
Memory:
* 88 MB main memory (24 MB "internal" 1T-SRAM, 64 MB
"external" GDDR3 RAM)
* 3 MB GPU texture memory
Processors and Memory have yet to totally confirmed at this point.
Ports and peripheral capabilities:
* Up to four Wii Remote controllers (connected wirelessly via Bluetooth).
* One SD memory card slot.
* Two USB 2.0 ports.
* One Sensor Bar port.
* Four Nintendo GameCube controller ports.
* Two Nintendo GameCube memory card ports.
* Mitsumi DMW-W004 WiFi 802.11b/g wireless module
* Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor.
Built-in content ratings systems:
* CERO, PEGI, ESRB
Storage:
* 512 MB built-in flash memory.
* Expansion available via SD card memory, 2 GB maximum supported capacity.
* SDHC card support, up to 32 GB with Wii System Update
* GameCube Memory Cards (for saving GCN games only).
* Slot-loading disc drive compatible with:
o 8 cm GameCube optical disc.
o 12 cm Wii optical disc.
* Mask ROM by Macronix.
Video:
* Up to 480p(NTSC) or 576p (PAL/SECAM),
will work with any TV or projector.
* Component (including Progressive scan), RGB SCART, S-Video, or
composite output.
* 16:9 anamorphic widescreen.
Audio:
* Main: Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable.
* Controller: Built-in speaker.
[Legal] Legal Stuff
This document is created by James Sander-Cederlof and is copyrighted. You are
entitled to print it out for your own private use, but are not allowed to
reproduce it for any money or profit. Contact the author for permission to use
the document, in whole or in part, elsewhere. Failure to get prior written
permission for posting this FAQ shall be a violation of this copyright. The
author is not associated with Nintendo or any of the parts or accessories</pre><pre id="faqspan-2">
contained within or used with the Nintendo Wii console. The author is also not
associated with any of the game developers or game publishers mentioned in this
FAQ. All companies hold their respective trademarks and copyrights.
[Sites] Sites permitted to post this FAQ
The author retains the right to post on his personal web site. In addition,
these sites may post this FAQ:
GameFAQs.com
neoseeker.com
[Contact] Contact Info
You may contact the author at jamessc"at"q.com for
questions, corrections or concerns about this document (Replace "at" with the
@ character). If you supply addition information for this document, you shall
be given credit. If you desire a specific name to be used in the Credits
section, let me know, otherwise email address shall be used.
[Hist] Revision History
11/27/06 First revision
Creation of document
11/29/06 Second revision
Added Technical Specs, Launch Titles, and Wii Options
11/30/06 Third revision
Added more controller and Channel info, fixed some spelling errors
12/2/06 Fourth revision
Added minor information dealing with memory and controllers
Added more Intro information
12/3/06 Fifth revision
Fixed some spelling and format errors
12/5/06 Sixth revision
Added some controller information
Added list of Virtual Console games and some Wii Shop Channel information
12/7/06 Seventh revision
Wii Memory and GameCube memory corrections and additions
Added more Internet Connections details
Added Wii Console diagram section
12/10/06 Eigth revision
Updated Legal Stuff section
Added Calendar section
Separated allowed sites to the new "Sites permitted to use this FAQ" section
12/15/06 Ninth revision
Updated Parental Controls in Wii Options
Updated Virtual Console games list
Added Controller list in Virtual Console section
Added Wii Sports attachments
Updated Steering Wheel attachment
Updated Wii Message Board and Calendar sections
Added wrist strap information
Updated Internet Channel
Fixed some spelling errors
Updated FAQs section
Changed title of "Other Channels" to reflect the broad use of the Wii Menu
to "Using Wii Channels and other parts of the Wii Menu"
12/18/06 Tenth revision
Updated Wii Options and Wii Remote Home button Menu
Updated FAQs section
12/19/06 Revision 11
Updated various Wii Channels reflecting current known info
12/22/06 Revision 12
Updated Forecast Channel
Updated Internet Channel
2/4/07 Revision 13
Updated News Channel
Updated Wii Remote section
Updated FAQs section
2/17/07 Revision 14
Updated News Channel
5/6/07 Revision 15
Modified Content layout structure
Added Everybody Votes Channel
Updated Internet Channel
Updated FAQs
6/28/08 Revision 16
Added new Channels
Check Mii Out, Nintendo Channel, WiiWare
Updated FAQs
Updated Internet Channel
Updated Connection section
Updated Contact Info
Updated Virtual Console info
Updated controller section
4/21/09 Revision 17
Updated Channels section
Updated Virtual Console section
Updated Controls section
Fixed some spelling errors
7/20/10 Revision 18
Updated Controller sections
Updated internet and wireless connection info
Updated Included section
[Credits] Credits
Me - for writing this FAQ
You - for taking the time to read this FAQ
Nintendo - For making this great console
- Verified(through phone support) Internet Connections reset
issue
- Virtual Console game list and Virtual Console controller list
- Parental Controls for the on-line features
- Confirmation of Internet Channel availability and price
Wikipedia.org - Launch Titles and Technical Specs
codejunkies.com - GameCube Action Replay info
Contributions from:
[email protected] - GameCube Memory Card size correction and Wii
Update for SD cards
[email protected] - On-line tax determined to be area / region as
he was charged tax
[email protected] - Reminded me about the battery life display on
the Wii Remote
