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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
MaxVest at 03/25/2008 10:28
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
bloodylip at 03/25/2008 10:30
Connection issues and slow download speeds on a Nintendo online service?! You must be kidding me!
Mr Wilson's Avatar
Mr Wilson at 03/25/2008 10:31
I dont understand why all the fuss about this WiiWare crap
Bluefusion's Avatar
Bluefusion at 03/25/2008 10:36
@ 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
HarassmentPanda at 03/25/2008 10:50
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
eelel kielat at 03/25/2008 10:54
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
TurboHyperFighting at 03/25/2008 11:01
@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
Evil Cheese at 03/25/2008 11:01
@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
Nick Chester at 03/25/2008 11:01
@ 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
smurfee mcgee at 03/25/2008 11:16
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
Cowzilla3 at 03/25/2008 11:46
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
MaxVest at 03/25/2008 11:51
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
Klytus at 03/25/2008 12:10
MiOdd's Avatar
MiOdd at 03/25/2008 12:16
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
mistic at 03/25/2008 12:31
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
Cheeburga at 03/25/2008 12:34
Klytus got it right.
Thats basically how their online service is.
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar
AngelsDontBurn at 03/25/2008 13:20
Have they said anything about when the US can expect it?
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 03/25/2008 13:54
When it comes to the Shop Channel, I have yet to experience anything that resembles a problem.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 03/25/2008 13:59
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
Klytus at 03/25/2008 14:29
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
Necros at 03/25/2008 14:47
I have the same concerns as MaxVest. They really need some hard drive solution.
Bluefusion's Avatar
Bluefusion at 03/25/2008 15:40
@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
CWal37 at 03/25/2008 17:35
All I want from Nintendo right now is external hard drive support. My 2GB SD card is NOT cutting it damnit.
Roryzilla's Avatar
Roryzilla at 03/25/2008 22:44
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
Roryzilla at 03/25/2008 22:44
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
audio817 at 03/26/2008 02:58
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
CWal37 at 03/26/2008 13:25
@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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