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The Wii Channels collectively form the top level menu interface of the Wii game console from Nintendo. Separate channels are graphically displayed in a grid, and are navigated using the pointer capability of the Wii Remote. The grid is customizable, users can move channels, including virtual console games, between the menu's 48 slots. (Drag and drop of channels is accomplished by simultaneously pressing the B and A buttons).

Contents 1 Default channels 1.1 Disc Channel 1.2 Mii Channel 1.3 Photo Channel 1.4 Wii Shop Channel 1.4.1 Virtual Console Channels 1.5 Forecast Channel 1.6 News Channel 2 Firmware Update History 2.1 2006 2.2 2007 3 Additional channels 3.1 Internet Channel 3.2 Everybody Votes Channel 3.3 Mii Popularity Channel 4 Message Board 5 Limitations 6 References 7 External links

The Disc Channel allows users to play Wii and Nintendo GameCube titles. The Disc Channel displays the name of the Wii title that is present in the drive and plays a clip of its theme song. If a GameCube title is in the drive it displays the GameCube logo as it plays the GameCube's default startup sound. However, unlike the Wii games and unlike the GameCube itself, it cannot display the actual game's logo or identifier information. If a DVD, a CD or a Wii or GameCube title from a different region is in the drive or the disc is inserted the wrong way around it will display an error message reading "Unable to read the disc. Check the Wii Operations Manual for help troubleshooting." If no disc is inserted in the drive, it displays the image at the right. When either type of disc is inserted into the drive, the pictures of both discs spin until the type of disk is recognized, at which point the other type disappears.

This is the only channel that cannot be moved. It is always in the upper left.

The Mii (pronounced "me") Channel is an avatar creator, where users can design 3D caricatures of people (Miis) by selecting from a group of facial and bodily features. At the Game Developers Conference 2007, Shigeru Miyamoto explained that the look and design of the Mii characters are based on Kokeshi, a form of Japanese doll used as souvenir gifts in Japan.

A Wired News interview of Katsuya Eguchi (producer of Animal Crossing and Wii Sports) held in 2006 confirmed that the custom player avatar feature shown at Nintendo's E3 Media Briefing would be included in the hardware. The feature was described as part of a "Profile" system that contains the caricature and other pertinent player information.^[1] This application was officially unveiled by Nintendo in September 2006. It is incorporated into Wii Channel's operating system interface as the "Mii Channel". Users can select from pre-made caricatures or create their own by choosing custom facial shapes, colors, and positioning. In certain games (including Wii Sports, Wii Play, and WarioWare: Smooth Moves), each player's caricature will serve as the character he/she controls in some/all forms of gameplay. Miis can interact with other Wii users by showing up on their Wii consoles through the WiiConnect24 feature or by talking with other Miis created by Wii owners all over the world. This feature is called Mii Parade. Early-created Miis as well as those encountered in Mii Parades may show up as spectators in some games.^[2] Miis can be stored on controllers and taken to other consoles. The controller can hold up to a maximum amount of 10 Miis. The Wii itself can hold 100 Miis. A new channel which features popularity contests for the Miis is in development.

If a user inserts an SD card into the console, or sends photos (JPEG) or videos (MJPEG) via email, they can be viewed by means of the Photo Channel. The user can create a slideshow by simply inserting an SD card with photos and, if they want to add music, an MP3 file. The Wii will automatically add transitions between the photos and play the music in the background. A built-in editor allows users to add markings and effects to their photos. Mosaics and puzzles can also be created with this feature. Edited photos can be saved to the Wii (The Wii will not overwrite data on the SD card) and sent to other Wiis via the message board. According to the system's manual, the following file extensions (i.e. formats) are supported: Photos (jpeg/jpg), Movies (mov/avi), and Music (mp3).

JPEG files can be up to 8192x8192 resolution and in baseline format.^[3] Video data contained within the .mov or .avi files must be in an OpenDML compliant MotionJPEG (MJPEG) format and no higher than 848x480 resolution (Most digital cameras use some variant of this format for their videos).^[4] An unknown file size limit is currently in effect on the photo channel, with a approximate cutoff of the equivalent of 10 minutes of standard Wii-formatted video.

The Wii Shop Channel allow users to download games for the Virtual Console by redeeming Wii Points, which can be obtained via purchasing Wii Points Cards or directly through the Shop Channel using Mastercard or Visa credit cards. The Virtual Console Games from the Wii Shop Channel are updated 12:00 EST on Mondays in North America and 23:00 GMT on Thursdays in Europe.

The channel can also be used to download additional Wii Channels including the currently available Opera browser used in the Internet Channel, and the Everybody Votes Channel. These additional channels can be found under the Wii Ware banner in North America. In Europe it is listed as Wii Software.

The cost of the games are the same in almost every region, the following are the starting prices for each system:

• NES/Famicom games - 500 points
• TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine games - 600 points (R-Type costing 800 in NA, for the game was two separate games in Japan)
• Mega Drive/Genesis - 800 points (600 in Japan)
• SNES/Super Famicom games - 800 points (certain games are 900 points in Japan)
• Nintendo 64 games - 1000 points (Ocarina of Time is 1200 points in Japan)
• Channels - prices may vary

The 6 most recent "Hot Additions" are placed on the Shop Channel's splash page where they can be easily accessed.

In February 2007, the Warp Zone was added to the Japanese Wii Shop Channel; a similar feature had been part of the European Wii Shop Channel since the console's launch. Clicking the text-drawn smiley on the homepage directs the user to this section. It features background information about Nintendo's biggest games and characters in its history, as well as tips and tricks for the Virtual Console games. This feature is unavailable to the North American Wii Shop Channel.

Main article: Virtual Console

The Virtual Console allows games from previous (non-GameCube/handheld) Nintendo systems, as well as formerly competing systems, the Mega Drive/Genesis, the TurboGrafx-16, the MSX and the Neo Geo^[5], to be bought online and played on the Wii through software emulation. Games purchased appear as individual channels.

A selection of games was available at the system's launch in each region, with new titles added on a regular basis thereafter. For example, 33 games were added to the North American Wii Shop Channel between its launch on November 19, 2006, and the end of the year, with at least ten games a month expected in 2007.^[6] However, each region does not necessarily receive the same titles at the same time, if at all.

The Forecast Channel allows weather reports and forecasts to be downloaded onto the console from the Internet via the WiiConnect24 service. The Forecast Channel displays a view of the Earth as a globe (Courtesy of NASA), with which users can view weather in other regions. The user can also spin the globe. When fully zoomed out, an accurate^{[citation needed]} star map is visible in the background (the Big Dipper and Orion constellations are easily recognisable, for example). The forecast channel features include looking at the current forecast, the UV index, today's overall forecast, tomorrow's forecast, a 5-day forecast, and a laundry check (Japan only). The Forecast Channel first became available on December 19, 2006, one day earlier than previously advertised. Certain games (like Madden NFL 07) can use the Forecast Channel to simulate weather conditions depending on the player's region.^[7] Interestingly, when viewing weather conditions in Japan, a different set of weather icons is used.

The News Channel allows users to access news headlines and current events obtained from the Internet.^[8] News is available on a globe view, similar to the Forecast Channel, and headlines are also viewable as a slide show.^[9] The content is automatically updated and viewable via WiiConnect24. Clickable news images are supported, and the Channel's Operations Guide suggests that video and audio may be available in future.^[10]

The News Channel became available in North America, Europe and Australia on January 26, 2007. Content is in a variety of languages provided by the Associated Press, which currently has a two-year contract to provide news and photos to Nintendo.^[11] Canadian news is submitted by the Canadian Press for publication. Japanese news is provided by the Japanese news agency Goo.^{[citation needed]}

If you hold 1 while pressing A over passages, you can highlight them.

This section shows the history of the Wii's major firmware updates (for NTSC Wii systems in North America).

• Before Launch: The firmware on all launch systems was updated to not require a "startup disc," which was not included in the launch package. ^[12]

• 11/19/06: Changed the Wii Menu design, provided support for the online channels and also provided the ability to move the channels around. This is done by pressing and holding the A+B Buttons over top of the channel you want to move.

• 11/29/06: Blocked Wii Shop channel hacks^[13] by blocking DNS redirection.

• 12/19/06: Provided support for the forecast channel.

• 1/26/07: Provided support for the News Channel

• 2/14/07: Provided support for the Everybody Votes Channel.

Main article: Internet Channel

The Internet Channel is a version of the Opera web browser for use on the Wii by Opera Software and Nintendo.^[14] On December 22, 2006 a free beta version (promoted as a "trial version") of the browser was released.^[15] The final version of the browser is scheduled for release in April 2007^[16] and will be free to download until the end of June that year. After this period the browser will cost 500 Wii Points to download.^[17] Users who download Opera before June 30, 2007, can continue to use the browser at no cost for the lifetime of the Wii system.^[18]

Features and fixes confirmed for the final version include: improved zooming and scrolling with an improved font, reduced startup time, the ability to hide the toolbar, and preset buttons for typing phrases such as 'www' and 'com'.^[19]

Opera Software was previously responsible for the Nintendo DS Browser for Nintendo's handheld system.

The trial version of the Internet channel was released on December 22, 2006. Internet channel uses whichever connection is chosen in the Wii Settings, and utilizes the user's internet connection directly; There is no third party network that traffic is being routed through. It receives a connection from a router/modem and uses a web browser to pull up HTTP and HTTPS (secure and encrypted) web pages. Opera, the Wii's web browser is capable of rendering most web sites in the same manner as its desktop counterpart by using Opera's Medium Screen Rendering technology. For most internet users, the Wii offers all of the functionality they need to perform the most common web tasks.

The software is saved to the Wii's 512 MB internal flash memory (can be copied to an SD card after downloaded). The temporary Internet files (maximum of 5MB for the trial version) can only be saved to the Wii's internal Memory. The application launches within a few seconds, after connecting to the Internet wirelessly (using Wi-Fi).

The Opera-based Wii browser allows users full access to the Web and supports all the same web standards that are included in the desktop versions of Opera, including CSS and JavaScript. It is also possible for the browser to use technologies such as Ajax, RSS, and Adobe Flash 7. Opera Software has indicated that the functionality will allow for third parties to create web applications specifically designed for the use on the Wii Browser, and it will support Widgets, standalone web-based applications using Opera as an application platform.^[20] The company has also stated that some Wii video games may implement the use of the browser.^[21]

Main article: Everybody Votes Channel

The Everybody Votes Channel is a Wii Channel that allows users to vote in simple opinion polls and compare and contrast opinions with those of friends, family and people across the globe.

The Everybody Votes Channel was launched on 2007-02-13, and is available in the Wii Software section of the Wii Shop Channel. The channel requires a system update to be activated. The Everybody Votes Channel allows Wii owners to vote on various questions using their Mii as a registered voter. Additionally, voters can also make predictions for the choice that will be the most popular overall after their own vote has been cast. Each Mii's voting and prediction record is tracked and voters can also compare whether their beliefs are in line with those of the majority of voters. Whether the Mii is correct in its predictions or not is displayed on a statistics page along with a counter of how many times that Mii has voted. Up to six Mii's can be registered to vote on the console.

A popularity channel (currently called Mii Popularity Channel) is currently in development by Nintendo Co. Ltd, and will allow players to compare their Miis online and enter them in popularity contests.^[22] The Japan release date is set for April 29, 2007 (2007-04-29) but Europe, North America and Australia do not have a date for this channel currently. ^[23] It is noted that a POSSIBLE release is 4/29/07 for the U.S, seeing that all the other channels were released around the same time world wide.

The Message Board (located underneath the Wii Channels menu, accessed through the envelope icon on the lower right of the screen) allows users to leave messages for other family members on a calendar-based message board. Users can also use WiiConnect24 to trade messages and pictures with other Wii owners, conventional email accounts, and mobile phones (through text messages). Each Wii has an individual wii.com email account, containing the Wii Friend Code. Prior to trading messages it is necessary to add and approve contacts in the address book. The service also allows all users for incoming game-related information. Games can constantly be updated.

The Message Board is available for users to post messages that are available to other Wii users by usage of friend codes with WiiConnect24. In addition to writing text, players can also include images from an SD card in the body of messages, as well as attaching a Mii to the message. Announcements of software updates and video game news are posted by Nintendo. The Wii's message board can be used for posting memos for oneself or for family members without going online. These messages could then be put on any day of the calendar. The Wii Message Board could also be updated automatically by a real-time game like Animal Crossing. The only current games to access this feature are Wii Sports and Wii Play. The Wii message board also records the play history. This feature automatically records details of what game was played and for how long. It cannot be deleted or hidden without formatting the console itself.^[24]

Although in the Wii's manual it says that you can change the order of people on your Wii Address Book by pressing A + B while highlighting a person on your Wii Address Book, but at this time it just opens the person's information not let you change the order.

Although the Wii Channels let one do a number of tasks that are not associated with games, these features have originally been met with limitations on the software. The Mii Channel is sometimes criticized for restrictions such as the lack of flexibility, a Mii that's supposed to be "fat" looking is "bulky" instead. There is also, as some say, a lack of variety.^[25] For example, there is no option of red hair (but has 4 different shades of brown instead). Photos, even high resolution ones, are compressed and decreased in resolution. Thus, a photo taken by an 8.0 megapixel camera will not appear in its original resolution^[25] if copied to the Wii's internal memory (the new copy will have a lower resolution). The Wii Shop Channel is sometimes criticized for being slow to load, sometimes not even loading at all.^[25] Virtual Console games are stretched if the console is set to 16:9 widescreen mode, requiring the player to change the TV settings (not the Wii's, however) to 4:3 to play Virtual Console games in their original aspect ratio.^[25]

1. ^ Kohler, Chris. "Confirmed: Wii Hardware Stores Player Caricatures, Profiles", Wired. Retrieved on 2006-06-03.
2. ^ "Wii Channel Breakdown".
3. ^ File types compatible with the Photo Channel. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
4. ^ Known Compatible Devices - Movie Files. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
5. ^ "Nintendo Japan Virtual Console overview", Nintendo. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. (in Japanese)
6. ^ Casamassina, Matt. "Live from New York", IGN, 2006-09-14. Retrieved on 2006-09-23.
7. ^ Madden NFL 07 (Wii). CNET (2006-11-19). Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
8. ^ "News Channel", Nintendo. Retrieved on 2006-09-14.
9. ^ Woodward, Curt. "Wii gamers to get online news service", Nintendo, 2007-01-25. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
10. ^ "Nintendo's Wii News Channel goes live", 2007-01-26.
11. ^ "Wii news for gamers", CNN, 2007-01-25. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
12. ^ http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/what-happened-to-the-wii-start+up-disc-215897.php
13. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2509fk1j8o
14. ^ Wii will be using the opera browser Console Watcher
15. ^ The Opera browser for Wii launches just in time for the holidays
16. ^ Wii Internet Channel To Finally Appear In April Entertainment Wise
17. ^ Nintendo of Europe press release
18. ^ Opera Press Release
19. ^ Final Version of Wii Browser in April
20. ^ Second Quarter 2006 Financial Presentation. Opera Software.
21. ^ Temperton, James (2006-06-03). Interview: Opera's Nintendo Wii Browser. Cubed3. Retrieved on 2006-06-04.
22. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/fun.games/03/09/wii.channel.reut/index.html
23. ^ http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/index.html
24. ^ "Reasoning Behind the Wii", Nintendo, 2006-09-14. Retrieved on 2006-09-14.
25. ^ ^{a b c d} http://wii.ign.com/articles/748/748526p3.html

• Wii Channels from Nintendo.com
• Introducing Wii Channels from Wii.com

v • d • e Wii

Controllers: Wii Remote • Nunchuk • Classic Controller • Wii Zapper Wii Games • Untitled Wii Games • Wi-Fi Connection Games • Comparison of Wii Games Virtual Console: North America • Europe • Australia • Japan Online Features: WiiConnect24 • Wii Points Wii Channels Wii Game Series: Sports • Play • Music • Health Pack

v • d • e  Opera
Companies	Opera Software • Telenor
Topics	History • Features • M2 • Community • Presto
Notable individuals	Håkon Wium Lie • Jon S. von Tetzchner • Geir Ivarsøy
Devices	Opera Mobile • Opera Mini • Nintendo DS Browser • Internet Channel