Nintendo's Wii Conference Invitation

Hopefully we'll get those prices of hardware and software confirmed, since we aren't far from launch now.

Perhaps Nintendo can highlight a few more upcoming DS titles too.

Hey Spong can you ask Nintendo for me. 'Is the Wii actually gonna be region free?' and 'What do they think of gamers who import games (for GBA, DS and GC) that don't see a wider release, do they still frown upon it in the same way they used to, or has piracy changed their attitude (better a sale than no sale at all, if you will)?', and last of all 'Will Wii combat piracy in a similar way that the GC did, via its software media, to prevent mass piracy?'

I'd really like to know what they say. Thanks.

I actually ask the Regi-lution about that last november (mainly cause i was really wanting to get and english version of Jump All Stars, so good!) He said nintendo doest mind at all that people import games but they also dont do anythign to support it because if they felt a game was worth localizing they would do it. And if not, well, happy importing. (not a direct quopte)
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When were you with the Man With No Tailor? :)

That's good to know, Lupos. Cheers for that. But what about the other questions.

The piracy issue on Wii and how they plan to combat it. Can we find out about this and the region free rumours?

as for piracy, i was wondering what measures they had in place to protect their virtual console venture. im sure that hackers will start working on a way for you to use roms with it that are widely available on the net for free, or they may try and rip the emulator out of the wii and adopt it for windows and the roms you can find on the net

Someone may try to do it, but it would be too much hastle for most users.

Nintendo can choose their ROM format and they'll probably encrypt. They could also encrypt using some kind of unique Wii serial number or something like that so you couldn't transfer between Wiis using the flash memory.

Also, you need to remember the Wii will be PowerPC-based and any software won't run on X86 PCs directly; you'd probably have to have another emulation layer.

like you said, it'll probably just be a load of encryption and rom signing, paired with a unique format.

but i think the idea of getting a perfect N64 emulator, or if its all contained in one program, a perfect multi-platform (snes nes, megadrive, turbografx, 64) emulator onto the pc, ready to play the roms already availale on the net, could be quite attractive to lots of people in the emulation business

and if some people in the know take a shine to such a quest, it wont take forever before the wii's virtual console secrets fall into the hands of those wishing to exploit them

im not anti-emu, just a thought

On the topics of emulators and whatnot, Nintendo would be pretty smart if they made a deal with Microsoft. They both want to box out Sony and we all know there is one retro game that people want to play, and that's Goldeneye. If Nintendo made a deal with Rare, Microsoft, the Fleming family and EA to release this game in a revised format with online multiplayer through their respective arcade/virtual console on the Wii and 360 they would make a mint on it. As it stands nobody is making money on this old game as it's locked into copyright purgatory. If all the parties involved put their heads together there is definitely a deal that could be made to benefit all parties involved and screw Sony over at the same time.

why should Nintendo go in bed with M$ ? Nintendo has an awesome catalogue of "old" games while M$ need to buy every single piece of s/w they sell.

Nintendo doesn't need to be afraid, they're looking to a bright future, one more time making money with the first consol they sell... compared to 1.3 billion loss from our american fiends, this year....

Thats just crazy talk, I doubt Goldeneye holds up very well, though it would be a chance to play the game with a viable controller. Besides they made a Goldeneye game for XBox with online multiplayer and it was s**t. One of the many reasons why was it looked like Goldeneye. The world has moved on, if Rogue Agent hadn't tanked, and if they could get the rights, it might merit inclusion alongside a later franchise game as an unlockable extra. But Rogue Agent did tank. I'd rather see an updated Wolfenstein for the 360, I used to play the Beach level online for hours...

Miyamoto signing last year. Couldnt think of a blasted thing to ask the man at the time except about the importing thing as i was obseessed with all things DS. Perhaps ill get a crack at him again come Wii launch if they do it in the city. *crosses fingers*

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Rogue agent tanked because it was generally crappy, as most every other Bond game since has been. People saw through the fact they were simply trying to bilk the Goldeneye name to make more money from it. I wasn't suggesting it for the sake of Nintendo needs it to make money, more from the perspective of giving people what they want. When people talk fondly about the N64 more often then not it will be about playing Goldeneye marathons against friends. WHy do you think people are making mods for Half-Life 2 that replicate the game. It's obvious there is demand for it given it sold 8 million copies. Every other game that's ahead of it in all-time sales has been re-hashed or had a proper sequel. It only makes sense as it's the only game in the top 20 that won't be playable on a next-gen console.

And as for the Microsoft comment, Nintendo has repeatedly stated they aren't competing with the 360 or the PS3 with the Wii. While it would be unprecedented, it would be a bold move to make.