3 ms·

WiiLink – Japanese Wii channels revived

122 points by mdwalters 3y ago

FredFS456 3y ago
How does WiiLink compare to RiiConnect24?
- Lammy 3y ago
  > Is your service a replacement for services such as RiiConnect24? > No! This service is designed to be a companion to RiiConnect24, providing exclusive Japanese and streaming services, though some channels will be able to replace them (such as Mii Contest Channel and Everybody Votes Channel)
- mdwalters 3y ago
  It's not a competitor to RiiConnect24, but they have been working on a small number of WiiConnect24 channels, such as Forecast Channel, and News Channel. I use the WiiLink Forecast Channel, as it supports my city, and has a larger support of cities than RiiConnect24. For everything else, I use RC24. Too bad they decided to rerun Nintendo's polls. I wonder what would happen when they run out...
coolandsmartrr 3y ago
These channels are part of my childhood memories. I would scour through the content in these channels every Friday night after school. Furthermore, they illustrate Nintendo's capability in creating engaging UI/UX. Before iPhone apps became prevalent, Nintendo was able to design simple, pleasing UI with their own Nintendo personality. Unlike apps nowadays, the accompanying music was memorable; Wii Shopping Channel music remains popular on YouTube recommendation algorithms. Despite the rise of smart TVs later, they still haven't captured the magic one would feel touching a Nintendo Wii Channel. UI designers can learn much from engaging with them.
- mdwalters 3y ago
  Very true. My family had our Wii since 2006 (according to the Wii Message Board), and we really loved it. I'm glad people are reviving these channels, it makes the Wii much more than a paperweight in 2023.
- ytch 3y ago
  In some interview, Mr. Iwata said that he want Wii to be a part of living room[1], rather than a game console that may look out of place. Comparing to other consoles around 2000, He accomplished this goal successfully. [1] https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-E3-2011-Special-Edition-Wii-U/E3-2011-Special-Edition-Wii-U/1-Looking-Beyond-Wii/1-Looking-Beyond-Wii-205181.html https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-E3-2011-Spe...
  - HeckFeck 3y ago
    C.f. "Xbox is the new water cooler"
- robertlagrant 3y ago
  THAT'S what that music is. Thank you.
jonny_eh 3y ago
Similarly for WiiU/3DS, Pretendo: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37377078 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37377078
tramtrist 3y ago
How about joysound Wii support?
- mdwalters 3y ago
  Seems like someone needs to make a separate revival, WiiLink revives Japanese-exclusive channels from Nintendo themselves. And didn't Joysound launch outside Japan in 2012?
raytopia 3y ago
If anyone is interested in making homebrew for the Wii: https://github.com/devkitPro/libogc https://github.com/devkitPro/libogc is pretty good. Certainly not as easy as say GBStudio or any game engine but the Wii's graphics being fixed function makes things a lot easier.
- mdwalters 3y ago
  Would also reccommend GRRLIB for games.
extraduder_ire 3y ago
I've seen a youtube video of someone using this with the food channel to order a dominoes pizza. (they're the only one added right now, because they have the simplest ordering API) A very novel concept, I hope it can be expanded.

122 points by mdwalters 3y ago

FredFS456 3y ago

How does WiiLink compare to RiiConnect24?

Lammy 3y ago
> Is your service a replacement for services such as RiiConnect24? > No! This service is designed to be a companion to RiiConnect24, providing exclusive Japanese and streaming services, though some channels will be able to replace them (such as Mii Contest Channel and Everybody Votes Channel)
mdwalters 3y ago
It's not a competitor to RiiConnect24, but they have been working on a small number of WiiConnect24 channels, such as Forecast Channel, and News Channel. I use the WiiLink Forecast Channel, as it supports my city, and has a larger support of cities than RiiConnect24. For everything else, I use RC24. Too bad they decided to rerun Nintendo's polls. I wonder what would happen when they run out...

coolandsmartrr 3y ago

These channels are part of my childhood memories. I would scour through the content in these channels every Friday night after school. Furthermore, they illustrate Nintendo's capability in creating engaging UI/UX. Before iPhone apps became prevalent, Nintendo was able to design simple, pleasing UI with their own Nintendo personality. Unlike apps nowadays, the accompanying music was memorable; Wii Shopping Channel music remains popular on YouTube recommendation algorithms. Despite the rise of smart TVs later, they still haven't captured the magic one would feel touching a Nintendo Wii Channel. UI designers can learn much from engaging with them.

mdwalters 3y ago
Very true. My family had our Wii since 2006 (according to the Wii Message Board), and we really loved it. I'm glad people are reviving these channels, it makes the Wii much more than a paperweight in 2023.
ytch 3y ago
In some interview, Mr. Iwata said that he want Wii to be a part of living room[1], rather than a game console that may look out of place. Comparing to other consoles around 2000, He accomplished this goal successfully. [1] https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-E3-2011-Special-Edition-Wii-U/E3-2011-Special-Edition-Wii-U/1-Looking-Beyond-Wii/1-Looking-Beyond-Wii-205181.html https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-E3-2011-Spe...
- HeckFeck 3y ago
  C.f. "Xbox is the new water cooler"
robertlagrant 3y ago
THAT'S what that music is. Thank you.

jonny_eh 3y ago

Similarly for WiiU/3DS, Pretendo: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37377078 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37377078

tramtrist 3y ago

How about joysound Wii support?

mdwalters 3y ago
Seems like someone needs to make a separate revival, WiiLink revives Japanese-exclusive channels from Nintendo themselves. And didn't Joysound launch outside Japan in 2012?

raytopia 3y ago

If anyone is interested in making homebrew for the Wii: https://github.com/devkitPro/libogc https://github.com/devkitPro/libogc is pretty good. Certainly not as easy as say GBStudio or any game engine but the Wii's graphics being fixed function makes things a lot easier.

mdwalters 3y ago
Would also reccommend GRRLIB for games.

extraduder_ire 3y ago

I've seen a youtube video of someone using this with the food channel to order a dominoes pizza. (they're the only one added right now, because they have the simplest ordering API) A very novel concept, I hope it can be expanded.