Can Someone Explain the Wii to Me?

[malephoenix]

I wanted to dedicate a thread to simply trying to understand the Wii system.

Will the console have four places to plug in controllers? Or is there just one place to plug in the bar? Do you plug in one bar for all four controllers or one bar per controller?

Is the nunchuk attachment *necessary*? Can friends play Ultimate Alliance for example, with just the controllers, or does each one need a nunchuk?

I have a lot more. Does anyone actually know about this, yet?

[Kid Kamikaze10]

I wanted to dedicate a thread to simply trying to understand the Wii system.

Will the console have four places to plug in controllers? Or is there just one place to plug in the bar? Do you plug in one bar for all four controllers or one bar per controller?

Is the nunchuk attachment *necessary*? Can friends play Ultimate Alliance for example, with just the controllers, or does each one need a nunchuk?

I have a lot more. Does anyone actually know about this, yet?

Fours places to plug in controllers

The nunchuk is necessary, from what I've seen. And yes, you do play Marvel: Ultimate Alliance with the nunchuk.

[blackdragon6]

i'm waiting on them to start pre orders already.both Toys"r"us and walmart don't have any pre orders.

[Young Avenger]

I played with the Wii first hand at Nintendo World a couple weeks back and it's a really fun system. I got to play Warioware and Wii Sports. I can tell you that you don't need the nunchuk for those games. Anyway, isn't the bundled with the system?

[malephoenix]

I played with the Wii first hand at Nintendo World a couple weeks back and it's a really fun system. I got to play Warioware and Wii Sports. I can tell you that you don't need the nunchuk for those games. Anyway, isn't the bundled with the system?

The system, according to the official website, includes the console, one controller, one nunchuk, and Wii Sports. But it's just frustrating to think that to be able to play four-player on Ulitmate Alliance (or Smash Bros when it comes out!), I have to have three more controllers PLUS three more nunchuk attachments. This puts you in a position where very possibly, you could go to the store and buy three extra controllers, but - oops - they only have one more nunchuk.

Plus, now we're talking more for the controller + nunchuk (about $60.00 w/o tax) than for a game (about $50.00 w/o tax).

[Young Avenger]

The system, according to the official website, includes the console, one controller, one nunchuk, and Wii Sports. But it's just frustrating to think that to be able to play four-player on Ulitmate Alliance (or Smash Bros when it comes out!), I have to have three more controllers PLUS three more nunchuk attachments. This puts you in a position where very possibly, you could go to the store and buy three extra controllers, but - oops - they only have one more nunchuk.

Plus, now we're talking more for the controller + nunchuk (about $60.00 w/o tax) than for a game (about $50.00 w/o tax).

If I recall, there should be a regular controller for the Wii. It's basically an SNES controller with two analog sticks.

[Robotech Master]

^Yeah, and so far they have said that Smash Bros. will likely only utilize the Classic Controller or even be compatible with a plugged in Gamecube controller since they currently have no plans to use the Wii's innovative controller for that particular game.

[Sanagi]

It is true that buying a set of controllers for multiplayer will be the biggest "hidden cost" of the Wii, especially for games requiring more than just the basic remote. The controller pieces needed will vary with each game.

And I'm guessing you only need one sensor bar, since setting up multiples sounds a bit silly, but I haven't heard that stated for sure.

[Buddahbelly]

I usually get an additional controler for myself. As a just in case. In the past I have usually had my friends "buy their own" controller. It sounds mean, but they can play for only the cost of a controller, not the system and game. And I'm really not that in to the party games so if they don't wanna it don't break my heart if the don't come to play.

[Tadhg]

If I recall, there should be a regular controller for the Wii. It's basically an SNES controller with two analog sticks.

Most Wii games won't be using that, it's primarily for the Virtual Console games.

[Tadhg]

^Yeah, and so far they have said that Smash Bros. will likely only utilize the Classic Controller or even be compatible with a plugged in Gamecube controller since they currently have no plans to use the Wii's innovative controller for that particular game.

That actually kind of blows since neither the retro controller nor a gamecube controller are included with the system. Most likely I won't be buying Brawl now, ah well.

[Agent Helix]

I don't get why people are shocked. The controllers aren't notably more expensive than the wireless XBox controllers, and you'd need to buy three more of them to play four player games on the single console.

[malephoenix]

Most Wii games won't be using that, it's primarily for the Virtual Console games.

What does Virtual Console mean?

[Agent Helix]

The Virtual Console is Nintendo's pay-for-play download system for older games. Most, if not all, of Nintendo's first party games from the NES to the N64 will be available for download onto the Wii for somewhere around $4.99 each, and they're attempting to get as many second and third party titles, including those for other systems, such as the Genesis, TurboGrafx 16 and Neo-Geo, available as well.

[GremlinClr]

The Virtual Console is Nintendo's pay-for-play download system for older games. Most, if not all, of Nintendo's first party games from the NES to the N64 will be available for download onto the Wii for somewhere around $4.99 each, and they're attempting to get as many second and third party titles, including those for other systems, such as the Genesis, TurboGrafx 16 and Neo-Geo, available as well.

$5 for NES, $8 for SNES, $10 for N64.


That actually kind of blows since neither the retro controller nor a gamecube controller are included with the system. Most likely I won't be buying Brawl now, ah well.

If you're not willing to spring for something you can get on Ebay of at Gamestop used for like $5 or less you must not want the game very badly.


Will the console have four places to plug in controllers? Or is there just one place to plug in the bar? Do you plug in one bar for all four controllers or one bar per controller?

Four GAMECUBE controller ports. Zero wiimote controller ports since all wiimotes are wireless. And one sensor bar for all four wiimotes.


Is the nunchuk attachment *necessary*? Can friends play Ultimate Alliance for example, with just the controllers, or does each one need a nunchuk?

Game dependent. Some games will use it, some won't.

[Tadhg]

If you're not willing to spring for something you can get on Ebay of at Gamestop used for like $5 or less you must not want the game very badly.


It's multiple things. One. Using Gamecube controllers on the Wii kind of sucks if you have it standing up since the ports are on the top. Two. I'd rather not see a proliferation of games that use Gamecube controllers as I think that'd be a bad move for the Wii overall.

[Robotech Master]

If you don't want to use the classic controller or Gamecube controller you also have the option of turning the Wiimote on its side and using it as a traditional controller, though I think that works mainly for Virtual console.

By why not buy the virtual console controller? That's a given for me when I buy my wii; I'll want it for the virtual console itself and will then be able to use it for games like Mortal Kombat, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2, Smash Bros, etc.

[Serik]

Remember when consoles had only 1 controller instead of, what, 4 or 5 :)

[Agent Helix]

I remember when controllers had one BUTTON.

[Tadhg]

By why not buy the virtual console controller? That's a given for me when I buy my wii; I'll want it for the virtual console itself and will then be able to use it for games like Mortal Kombat, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2, Smash Bros, etc.

Because I'd have no use for it outside of Smash Bros.

[Sparda]

How much are the memory cards for the Wii? And if I can use the Wii controller (the one that looks like a snes) to be able to play with Gamecube games?

[Tadhg]

How much are the memory cards for the Wii? And if I can use the Wii controller (the one that looks like a snes) to be able to play with Gamecube games?

The Wii uses SD memory cards. So you don't need to buy a proprietary Nintendo card. Right now I'm waiting to see if the Wii will be able to read a 4GB SD Card. You can get a 1GB card for 20-30 dollars.

[Frodo-X]

I remember when controllers had one BUTTON.

Ah, yes. The glory of PONG....

[Sparda]

The Wii uses SD memory cards. So you don't need to buy a proprietary Nintendo card. Right now I'm waiting to see if the Wii will be able to read a 4GB SD Card. You can get a 1GB card for 20-30 dollars.
So that mean's it comes with a built in memory card? Just wondering if I could save gamecube games with this SD memory card?

[Tadhg]

So that mean's it comes with a built in memory card? Just wondering if I could save gamecube games with this SD memory card?

It comes with 512 MB of built-in memory. I don't know if you can save Gamecube saves on it. It does have ports for Gamecube memory cards though.

[Gozwald73]

I usually get an additional controler for myself. As a just in case. In the past I have usually had my friends "buy their own" controller. It sounds mean, but they can play for only the cost of a controller, not the system and game. And I'm really not that in to the party games so if they don't wanna it don't break my heart if the don't come to play.

wow - what an a**hole! Glad I'm not YOUR friend, lol!

Do you also make your guests buy and bring their own crockery, cutlery and meals when you have them over for dinner as well?

[Tadhg]

wow - what an a**hole! Glad I'm not YOUR friend, lol!

Do you also make your guests buy and bring their own crockery, cutlery and meals when you have them over for dinner as well?

Why would you even care what a guy you don't know does?

[Agent Helix]

Well, he did bring it up, and it is kinda jerky. People are going to react negatively to that kind of stuff when it's brought up. (Edited)

[malephoenix]

wow - what an a**hole! Glad I'm not YOUR friend, lol!

Do you also make your guests buy and bring their own crockery, cutlery and meals when you have them over for dinner as well?

I didn't like reading that at first, either, but after thinking about it for a while, I have to say that it totally makes sense, now. I think the idea makes a lot of sense considering it would be more than a Ben to get three more controllers. Not everybody has as much disposable income as everybody else. I know I sure don't.

[Tadhg]

Well, you did bring it up, and it is kinda jerky. If you don't want people to react negatively, don't bring it up.

It wasn't me that brought it up, but I'm not going to call some guy I never met an asshole over it.

I don't have friends, so it's not an issue for me.

[Agent Helix]

Sorry, it's early, and I read the quote text wrong.

[malephoenix]

Well, he did bring it up, and it is kinda jerky. People are going to react negatively to that kind of stuff when it's brought up. (Edited)

The rest of us seem pretty cool with it. Like I said, I don't have tons of extra cash, so it's fine by me. And to be honest, I wouldn't mind if one of my friends had a rule like that. It's a great deal to play with my buds for only the price of the controller, instead of the price of four controllers + console + game.

(We even have something similar over here at Oklahoma Christian University with our Smash Club - turns out a lot of people dig Smash Bros here, so people get together every so often to play.)