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WiiWare launches in Japan, Wired's Game|Life has impressions for days photo

While the rest of the world will have to wait until May for the launch of Nintendo's digital download WiiWare service, the Japanese and Game|Life's Chris Kohler are basking in its glory at this very moment.

The service launched in Japan today without about nine titles available, including Square Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King which appears to have some sort of "pay-to-play" elements. Kohler also notes that the service appears to have gotten off to a rocky start, as he experience a handful of connection issues and turtle-like download speeds.

Wired's Game|Life page loads just fine, so head over there to check out impressions of Lonpos, Angel's Solitaire, Star Soldier R, and Animal Panic. 

 


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27 comments | showing # 1 to 27

MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 10:28
MaxVest
It's still hard for me to reconcile a long-term WiiWare strategy with the limited storage space. Maybe I'm just a packrat, but I've filled up every hard drive I've ever owned.
bloodylip's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 10:30
bloodylip
Connection issues and slow download speeds on a Nintendo online service?! You must be kidding me!
Mr Wilson's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 10:31
Mr Wilson
I dont understand why all the fuss about this WiiWare crap
Bluefusion's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 10:36
Bluefusion
@ Mr Wilson

Don't you understand? The Wii is like the developmentally challenged child trying to compete with the big boys. Everyone knows he isn't quite up to snuff, but we all congratulate him on every little achievement he gets.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 10:50
HarassmentPanda
Is my Wii messed up or does the online just really suck? I can never get updates to download without failing maybe a dozen times. They always eventually work, but it's infuriating. I hope WiiWare doesn't give me the same problems.
eelel kielat's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 10:54
eelel kielat
with the way that online play works i am hesetent about this i hope to be proven wrong though because i love the wii and would like it to get mor respect from ps3 and 360 fanboys
TurboHyperFighting's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 11:01
TurboHyperFighting
@Panda:

While the majority of the Wii's online problems are on Nintendo's side, you can minimize problems on your end by setting your Wii up w/ a static IP, then giving that IP a DMZ setting (do this in your router's settings). I tried that, and now I can connect to the WFC and play Brawl with no problem.

Downloads too.
Evil Cheese's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 11:01
Evil Cheese
@HP: Is your wireless router's channel set to 1 or 11?

Also, I really wish I could read just one console post without the all the rabid fanboyism.
Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 11:01
Nick Chester
@ HarassmentPanda:

I've had the same issues consistently, too. I'm surprised when I update without fail. I also find that sometimes I can't connect to the Wii Shop Channel, and I'm baffled as to why it takes two to five minutes to download a Super NES game.
smurfee mcgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 11:16
smurfee mcgee
that pic has a time of 4:20. you must have to be high to "pay to play." or crazy. so I'll probably buy some of the games.
Cowzilla3's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 11:46
Cowzilla3
I don't have update problems but I use to never be able to log into the Wii Shop channel. It took me forever to download Sin and Punishment too. Strangely though my updates download at light speed every time. Hopefully that's how my WiiWare will work too.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 11:51
MaxVest
I never had any problems with my Wii's connection timing out or anything, even before I set static IPs (which I did to keep the PS3 media server from flaking out).

Sounds like you guys are having firewall issues. Panda's suggestion of setting up a DMZ is a good one.
Klytus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 12:10
Klytus
MiOdd's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 12:16
MiOdd
This news makes me sad... Star Soldier R was the only Wii Ware game I was looking forward to, but with only two caravan stages I'll think I'll pass. Why couldn't they develop a full shmup? Does anybody know what the physical disk space limitations are for these games? They all look too simplistic as though they didn't have enough space to develop anything more...
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 12:31
mistic
pfft I had expected more out of Wiiware to be honest, but then again, when was the last time Nintendo delivered on their promises?
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 12:34
Cheeburga
Klytus got it right.
Thats basically how their online service is.
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 13:20
AngelsDontBurn
Have they said anything about when the US can expect it?
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 13:54
The-Excel
When it comes to the Shop Channel, I have yet to experience anything that resembles a problem.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 13:59
Mxyzptlk
This link will hopefully help anyone having Wii connection problems. Never had any connection issues myself, updates and VC downloads are pretty speedy.

I'm curious what the pay to play elements are for the Final Fantasy game... maybe extra costumes or something silly like that?
Klytus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 14:29
Klytus
I think Nintendos actual plan is to keep the speed of their service up by not bogging it down with things like "on-line play" or "games".
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 14:47
Necros
I have the same concerns as MaxVest. They really need some hard drive solution.
Bluefusion's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 15:40
Bluefusion
@Pander, Chester

Online lag is one thing, but if you are constantly getting failed updates and disconnects, or it takes minutes to finally connect to any of the online channels, the problem is probably on your end.

As already mentioned, change the router settings, and try to think of the possibility of any interference. For instance, we have cordless phones that work on 2.4GHz frequency, which required me to change the channels on my router. Before that, I experienced exactly what you were describing.
CWal37's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 17:35
CWal37
All I want from Nintendo right now is external hard drive support. My 2GB SD card is NOT cutting it damnit.
Roryzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 22:44
Roryzilla
Sorry Nintendo. I've supported you for a long time, only buying your products for as long as 7 years of my life. But you aren't cutting the mustard. With all this wii momey, you better be making a better, more high tech console. And also, to quote chad warden, "get sum gaymes."
Roryzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/25/2008 22:44
Roryzilla
Sorry Nintendo. I've supported you for a long time, only buying your products for as long as 7 years of my life. But you aren't cutting the mustard. With all this wii momey, you better be making a better, more high tech console. And also, to quote chad warden, "get sum gaymes."
audio817's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/26/2008 02:58
audio817
Am I like the only one that thinks WiiWare is cool? I've seen some games being developed for it like Lit and Eternity's Child, and I think it might turn out even better than XBLA and PSN. Yeah online play is lacking, but the combination of VC and WiiWare looks pretty nice aside from me not having any space...
CWal37's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/26/2008 13:25
CWal37
@audio817

Yeah, it looks cool and all, but unfortunately it's still Nintendo and this does involve the internet in some way so there is a high probability that they will make some stupid fucking decisions. Also, the Wii in general lacks much space for downloads.

I love the big N, and have spent far too much on them over the years, but anything Nintendo+Internet must be taken with a grain of salt.
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