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Wii Speak Warning: Don't Buy It Used

Upcoming Wii microphone peripheral apparently comes with one-time use code for group chat software download.

K.K. Slider wrote a song about this story, but we'll have to wait until Saturday night to hear it.
K.K. Slider wrote a song about this story, but we'll have to wait until Saturday night to hear it.
The fine folks at Music Television received their review package for Animal Crossing: City Folk today along with the supported Wii Speak room microphone peripheral. Mr. Toltilo found an interesting bit of info inside the Wii Speak box.

It seems that the device comes with a software code that can be used to download the "Wii Speak Channel," which can be used to set up chats with other similarly equipped users. The catch is that it's a one-time code, so if you end up picking up a used one, chances are you'll get one without the code or with a code that's already been used.

Around these parts, we refer to that as a "hassle." This gives you one more thing to worry about, should your Wii break. Or if you want to bring the microphone over to another Wii, say, the second Wii that you keep in your living room. OK, I'm kidding. Only crazy people have two Wiis. You may also want to be skeptical about "open box" models. Be sure to check a store's return policy extra hard if you're going to end up with anything other than a factory sealed package.

Anyways, consider yourself warned. Retailers show the Wii Speak package as selling for $29.99 starting this Sunday, right alongside Animal Crossing.
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

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jeff

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Edited By jeff
K.K. Slider wrote a song about this story, but we'll have to wait until Saturday night to hear it.
K.K. Slider wrote a song about this story, but we'll have to wait until Saturday night to hear it.
The fine folks at Music Television received their review package for Animal Crossing: City Folk today along with the supported Wii Speak room microphone peripheral. Mr. Toltilo found an interesting bit of info inside the Wii Speak box.

It seems that the device comes with a software code that can be used to download the "Wii Speak Channel," which can be used to set up chats with other similarly equipped users. The catch is that it's a one-time code, so if you end up picking up a used one, chances are you'll get one without the code or with a code that's already been used.

Around these parts, we refer to that as a "hassle." This gives you one more thing to worry about, should your Wii break. Or if you want to bring the microphone over to another Wii, say, the second Wii that you keep in your living room. OK, I'm kidding. Only crazy people have two Wiis. You may also want to be skeptical about "open box" models. Be sure to check a store's return policy extra hard if you're going to end up with anything other than a factory sealed package.

Anyways, consider yourself warned. Retailers show the Wii Speak package as selling for $29.99 starting this Sunday, right alongside Animal Crossing.
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dsplayer1010

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Edited By dsplayer1010

That's stupid

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FallopianTube

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Edited By FallopianTube
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CurtisManCannon

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Edited By CurtisManCannon

You know who's not so good at implementing a solid online infrastructure?  Nintendo, that's who!

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Death_Burnout

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Edited By Death_Burnout

K.K Slider thats my dawg right there, Guhhhhhh!

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Will

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Edited By Will

Seems like its a pretty cool piece of equipment. Dont know if ill get it tho.

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ManMadeGod

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Edited By ManMadeGod

Ok Nintendo, how about you just put out a dam headset for your system and drop the Friend code crap?

Maybe then people will stop laughing at your console.
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irishjohn

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Edited By irishjohn

I couldn't really care less about Wii Speak, but it would be nice if Nintendo opened up the Animal Crossing multiplayer.

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MasterSplinter

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Edited By MasterSplinter

...or don't but it at all?

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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master

I'm not into Animal Crossing, even though I have a Wii, just not my type of game

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Crono

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Edited By Crono

@Media_Master

Sounds like an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

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DavidSnakes

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Edited By DavidSnakes

Jesus H, Nintendo! How hard is it to have universal voice chat?  You plug in the microphone, you talk to people.  Ughhh

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BawlZINmotion

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"jumps through a hoop"

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ColinD

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Edited By ColinD

People playing games online with other people? Surely you jest.

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MrKlorox

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Edited By MrKlorox

What?! Nintendo adds yet another hassle to its underdeveloped online module? What a fucking newsflash. REMOVE HEAD FROM ASS, NINTENDO!

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Milkman

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Edited By Milkman

Who ever heard of buying a used mic anyway? I don't think this is all that big of a hassle. But more importantly, ANIMAL CROSSING!!! WOOO!!

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Gameboi

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Edited By Gameboi

An enigma, Nintendo is. They do so many things that seem odd to us all, yet they always seem to turn a profit.

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TabooTongue

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Edited By TabooTongue

While it seems stupid Gears did the same thing did it not? Hopefully you can still buy the Channel off Wii Shop.
I look forward to it. I'll be getting myself one mic and Animal Crossing and my  second family one mic and Animal Crossing.

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Claude

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Edited By Claude

I'm looking forward to Wii Speak, no big deal, good to know and now I'm aware.

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Junpei

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super_machine

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Edited By super_machine

Good thing I dont use my wii anymore. One less useless device I would be tempted to buy.

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TheHBK

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Edited By TheHBK

This whole anti used thing is coming out more and more.  I dont mind so much since I dont like to give Gamestop my money so i never get anything used, but it does worry me that some of these measures will hinder me, especially if i borrow a game or my hardware does break.  At least xbox live can go with you and nintendo needs to figure out something better because having console specific ties means that a broken wii could me lots of money down the drain, more than the 250 for the system.
This hardware measure is worrying.  And they think the DRM on the PC is bad.

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Shabs

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Edited By Shabs

So let me get this straight.

I need to call/email/instant message my friends/family to get their Wii phone number and to let them know I want to call them on the Wii.

I need to buy a new USB-corded phone for the Wii that only works as a speakerphone yet costs more than a telephone.

I can only use this new Wii phone with one Wii.


Apparently this is Nintendo's take on "innovation" and "ease of use".

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Scooper

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Nets

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Are you fucking kidding me?! You're rich enough, Nintendo!

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KingGamer

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Edited By KingGamer

what the ****!?!? I might as well go buy a third party microphone. SERIOUSLY, what's wif this stupid one time code??? to prevent piracy? Aww, COME ON. Great one Nintendo. Congratulations.

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Adeline

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Edited By Adeline

its not really gonna matter to wii hombrew users i reckon
because they'll probably come up with a way to install it on another system, just like they do for vc games and stuff
it's still pretty annoying though, because then even if you lose the code yourself you can't do it