Nintendo has updated the Wii firmware to version 3.0, and it looks like it's finally making some decent changes to the Wii interface and Shop Channel.
On the menu side, Nintendo has added a digital clock to the bottom of the Wii channel menu and the windows themselves seem to be a lot more aware of your wireless internet connection.
The Forecast Channel now displays the current weather condition directly in the Wii menu and in the same vein the News Channel displays two scrolling headlines.
The biggest changes modifications however have been directed at the Wii Shop. The welcome screen has been completely redesigned display Nintendo's recommended titles, and an extra button for titles you've downloaded has been added to the main shop menu.
You can now search for Virtual Console games by category, most popular and even search for a name manually. We've already tried putting rude words in to the search engine with lacklustre results.
To wrap the update up nicely, there's an added pre-system update warning that Nintendo will come round your house and punch you in the chin if you modify your Wii. Or something like that.
The full list of changes is below:
Channels:
Digital Clock added to the Wii Menu
Forecast Channel now displays the current condition (cloudy, raining) directly in the Wii Menu
News Channel can now show 2 scrolling headlines at a time in the Wii Menu
Message Board now has the "Today's Accomplishments" message
Address Book entries can now be shifted around using A+B but only to empty spaces.
Calendar in Message Board no longer shows "Today's Accomplishment"
Scrolling messages in the Message Board now uses a different sound
Wii Shop Channel Overhauled
New Welcome screen detailing 4 Recommended Titles and the points they cost
Titles You've Downloaded moved to the main shop menu
Popular Titles
Search for a title
Search by Category
System shows the different systems and how many titles have been released under each
Publisher showing different publishers and amount of titles released
Nick, I've not checked it out myself but from what I have heard I think the weather channel update means that when you have all the mini wii channels on the wii main menu you can see the actual days forecast, instead of weather channel. I know what you mean though. When you select the weather channel you can see the forecast without actuall starting up the channel itself. But the update takes that screen and puts it on the mini window on the main screen. Same thing goes for news. Its a bit like what you see on the everyone votes channel where the last poll is always scrolling.
I think the clock is a great addition. Small, I know, but it was missing.
It may not be a gaming related update, but the modifications they've made to the Weather and Forecast Channels are something I've been waiting for since the Everybody Votes Channel came along with its ticker-scrolling goodness.
That's super Nintendo, now if you could actually provide us with some decent games to go with that, and more frequently than once a week that would be great
My weather channel already does show the current weather... Hmmm.... ?
Anyways, not really that beneficial but still, it's always nice to have an update.
Its shows the weather when you click on the Weather chanel, but no w it should show the weather in the main wii channel menu before you click on anything
I only use the VC for SNES games but now i have them all running, around 150 or so, on my DS i wont be bothering with the VC anymore.
How did you manage that?
A homebrew emulator. SnemulDS works best methinks. It requires that you have additional hardware plugged into your DS to make it run, but it's a nice thing to have, you can also watch video and listen to music as well as a massive number of other stuff. The only reason I don't use my DS for SNES games is because it cuts off the top and bottom parts of the screen to fit. Kinda annoying, expecially when you can't see the holes in Mario games!
I only use the VC for SNES games but now i have them all running, around 150 or so, on my DS i wont be bothering with the VC anymore.
How did you manage that?
A homebrew emulator. SnemulDS works best methinks. It requires that you have additional hardware plugged into your DS to make it run, but it's a nice thing to have, you can also watch video and listen to music as well as a massive number of other stuff. The only reason I don't use my DS for SNES games is because it cuts off the top and bottom parts of the screen to fit. Kinda annoying, expecially when you can't see the holes in Mario games!
darn it, It would be nice to play snes games without having to resort to the loft and drag out my old machines. What sort of hardware?
darn it, It would be nice to play snes games without having to resort to the loft and drag out my old machines. What sort of hardware?
The way I do it is using the Max Media Dock with a 1GB CF card, a 2GB one is only Ł5 more expensive from there. If you go down that option, you'll need a CF reader for your PC. This one seems reasonably priced. Then you want to get the homebrew software; message boards provide the best links, and DCEmu is the best of the bunch, as well as MaxConsole if you're gonna use the Max Media Dock.
There are a few problems, the Max Media Dock is not the best supported solution (in terms of being able to run homebrew - I found this out the hard way), but with a bit of technical knowhow and research, you can get a great deal to run well. SNES emulation works fine, apart from the aforementioned loss of the top and bottom portions of the screen. NES and even MegaDrive (although without sound) emulation is possible, as well as many other formats.
If you want to have a better supported solution, then you're gonna have to do some research - check out the DCEmu forums (search before asking a question). This guide also seems quite comprehensive, without being difficult to understand. You're gonna need a little technical knowhow to get the most out of it (or just know where to look or ask), but it's worth it once you get it working - some clever people have even got Doom, Quake and even Duke 3D working on it.
I hope this was of some use (to anyone). Good luck!
there's 2 changes i want when it comes to the wii vc shop etc.. allow pal gamers to download from the ntsc servers(we won't get ripped off then,y'see) and let us play the games from sd card instead of all the moving around 'lark'.
wish they'd fix the RGB SCART/standby mode problem
What problem is that?
Also @seancuk23 The "issue" of overheating is bull as far as I can see, me and at least 5 other people I know have had the Wii since launch and that's with the Wii Connect 24 always on without any problems.
Another thing added in the update is support for USB keyboards. Can be used in message board and Wii Shop, but not the internet channel yet. Probably why Nintendo weren't shouting about it.
wish they'd fix the RGB SCART/standby mode problem
What problem is that?
Basically, the Wii is sending a signal telling the TV that the Wii is on when it's in Standby/WiiConnect24 mode (Orange light on console).
So instead of me switching the Wii to standby and being able to watch Stargate SG-1 or Atlantis I, instead, get to hear it but see a black screen, manually changing the channel on my tv doesn't fix this either...need to switch my Wii 'off' to the red power light mode in order to watch Stargate
Basically, the Wii is sending a signal telling the TV that the Wii is on when it's in Standby/WiiConnect24 mode (Orange light on console).
So instead of me switching the Wii to standby and being able to watch Stargate SG-1 or Atlantis I, instead, get to hear it but see a black screen, manually changing the channel on my tv doesn't fix this either...need to switch my Wii 'off' to the red power light mode in order to watch Stargate
hope that makes sense.
Ah that old thing, yeah my TV automatically switches to Wii too when in standby but manually changing it does work for me. My TV is a Daewoo from about 4 years ago, maybe it only happens on certain TVs.
Basically, the Wii is sending a signal telling the TV that the Wii is on when it's in Standby/WiiConnect24 mode (Orange light on console).
So instead of me switching the Wii to standby and being able to watch Stargate SG-1 or Atlantis I, instead, get to hear it but see a black screen, manually changing the channel on my tv doesn't fix this either...need to switch my Wii 'off' to the red power light mode in order to watch Stargate
hope that makes sense.
Ah that old thing, yeah my TV automatically switches to Wii too when in standby but manually changing it does work for me. My TV is a Daewoo from about 4 years ago, maybe it only happens on certain TVs.
yeah, I was thinking that...my TV is quite old...it was second hand and probably 3 years old when I got it...so we're looking at 6-7 years old here...saving up for a new tv...then I'll be able to abandon Wii SCART altogether and get component
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