The Nintendo Channel gets a brand new interface and several new features. UPDATED with official Press Release, and Nintendo Week show information. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19942 A few months ago, Nintendo
updated the Everyone's Nintendo Channel in Japan. Today, Nintendo released this update in North America. If you try to launch an older version of the Nintendo Channel, you will be prompted to go to the Wii Shop Channel and download the update. The new channel boasts many new features and enhancements, such as USB keyboard support for text input.
Nintendo is also premiering Nintendo Week, a weekly show dedicated to Nintendo news. This week's show features a story on Mario & Luigi 3, a look at the development of Guitar Hero 5 for Wii, and a preview of the new Nintendo DSi colors and DSi games.
When you access the updated the channel for the first time, you must choose between high video quality and normal video quality. If for some reason you need to change the quality later, you are able to do so in the channel settings.
The interface has received an overhaul and is now much easier to navigate. The available videos are prominently displayed in the center, and if you hover over the listing with your cursor you will see the listing expand to display more information about the video. If the channel is left idle, it will automatically cycle to the next page of videos. Each page contains six videos, and the top of the channel contains a Wii button to go back to the Wii menu along with a wrench icon to access the channel settings.
The bottom of the channel contains six buttons. New Arrivals shows new game releases and new video releases on the Nintendo Channel. Find Titles for You allows one to search for games by Name or Category, and also lets you view more information about a title. DS Download Service allows you to download DS demos from the channel.
Recommend Titles is self-explanatory, allowing you to recommend Wii or DS titles that you have played for at least an hour. To recommend a DS title, you need to have the game card in your DS and then follow the instructions displayed on the channel.
Everyone's Recommendations shows games that others have recommended. The recommendation system now ranks games with medal designations of bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.
Records displays your gameplay records, showing how much time you have spent on a game or Wii channel and how many times you have booted it up. Recommendation Records displays all the recommendations that you have made (you also have the option to delete all the recommendations). Finally, the Favorites option displays a list of games that you have marked as your favorites in the channel.
The update is available now.
NEW-AND-IMPROVED NINTENDO CHANNEL GETS UPDATED FEATURES AND WEEKLY SHOW
Sept. 14, 2009 - The Wii™ console's Nintendo Channel is getting a makeover. On Sept. 14, the channel, which provides users with videos and information about current and upcoming Nintendo products, re-launches with a new look and feel. Some of the upgrades include higher-quality streaming videos, lists of top games that other viewers recommend and a new ability to rate and recommend Nintendo DS™ games.
Current features of the Nintendo Channel will remain, including Nintendo DS demo downloads and an extensive lineup of videos about Wii and Nintendo DS games.
As part of the update, Nintendo Channel will also premiere Nintendo Week, a weekly, hosted series about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. The premiere episode includes an in-depth look at Mario and Luigi™: Bowser's Inside Story, an interview with the developers behind the Wii version of Guitar Hero 5, plus coverage of the new Nintendo DSi colors, Nintendo DSiWare games and other surprises.
Nintendo Channel is available free of charge to Wii owners, and can be downloaded by going to the Wii Shop Channel and following the on-screen instructions. For more information about the Nintendo Channel, please visit www.NintendoChannel.com.