Post by: WindyMan on November 24, 2008, 06:04:22 PM
Last week, Microsoft rolled out its brand-new Xbox Live Experience, or in other words, a massive firmware update to the Xbox 360 which totally transformed the interface, functionality, and overall experience to give the console a fresh new look with some kickin' rad things to do. Ignoring the fact that Microsoft still hasn't done much to address the long-standing hardware issues surrounding the Xbox 360—a friend of mine recently got the dreaded red ring of death, even this far off from the console's launch three years ago—the fact that such a large refresh of a console can come so far from its birth date bodes well for the future of consoles in general, including the Wii.
Though I personally am starting to be annoyed by it, I believe the channels system for the Wii Menu is a good idea when considering those who maybe aren't so technologically advanced enough to navigate through more complex menu systems such as the PlayStation 3 XMB or the (now) old Xbox 360 dashboard. The thing is, though, that as we've just seen with the Xbox 360, the front end interface of a game console can be radically altered with a simple software update. There's no reason why a similar makeover couldn't be possible on the Wii.
Consider already that Nintendo is fixing (kind of) a major flaw in the hardware, the lack of storage space, with some promised software updates. Initially, Wii Channels or Virtual Console games could not be accessed directly off of an SD card, and the deletion process recommended by Nintendo to help clear up space was so convoluted and inconvenient that it was probably costing Nintendo lost sales in the long run. The fix, which will come in a future update, will no doubt help alleviate these issues. A previous software update has sped up the SD transfer process, showing that's it's possible to improve upon hardware with the right kind of software.
The thing that's most promising about this, however, is that it's completely possible for the Wii of 2010 to be orders of magnitude better than the Wii of 2006, even if both are using the exact same hardware. Nintendo could find some optimizations here and there to speed up the Wii Shop Channel, or perhaps rebuild it from the ground up to be just as easy to use as the Nintendo Channel. The possible future addition of memory expansion could require more advanced memory management tools, making it easier to sift through several dozen game saves, Wii Channels, WiiWare games, Virtual Console games, and other saved data.
Going even further, Nintendo could totally overhaul the Wii Menu if it felt so inclined, perhaps turning it into a more fully-featured menu where some of the stock channels are built-in to the menu or more tightly integrated into the console. Perhaps other channels could be collapsed into each other, like the Virtual Console Channel idea that many would like to see become an option, wherein all of your VC games can be accessed via a single channel. In fact, the concept of channels could be dumped entirely for a better layout or a more appropriate one depending on how much functionality Nintendo adds on to the console in subsequent, future updates.
Who knows? Maybe Nintendo can unlock DVD player functionality for all with the proper firmware update, as long as the console is technically capable of doing it in the first place. That's the neat thing about console updates nowadays, because you never know what fresh ideas, performance enhancements, bug fixes, and other goodies will be delivered to your hardware every time you update. This is only possible in an Internet-connected age. Nintendo's new console hardware will come eventually, but as long as Nintendo keeps evolving and refining the built-in software residing on the actual Wii console (and it keeps producing games we want to play on it), it may be something we won't much mind waiting for.
Post by: ATimson on November 25, 2008, 07:55:11 AM
Who knows? Maybe Nintendo can unlock DVD player functionality for all with the proper firmware update, as long as the console is technically capable of doing it in the first place.The *ahem* unofficial developers' community has already done so; there's no reason Nintendo technically couldn't.
Post by: KDR_11k on November 25, 2008, 08:42:45 AM
Post by: Nick DiMola on November 25, 2008, 09:46:51 AM
The channel system is >>>>>> the 360's cluttered mess of a menu system
This, so hard.
Though I wouldn't mind a VC/WiiWare Channel as an option to organize all my games and un-clutter my main menu.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on November 25, 2008, 10:21:02 AM
I don't want it to end up like it's on the 360 where the list of games on your system is buried some 2-3 menu layers deep, the channels are the main purpose of the system and should be the first thing you see.
Yes, yes, a million times yes. The NXE has improved it a bit, but it still takes quite a bit longer to get to a game on the 360 than on the Wii. The only reason I'd want a separate VC channel is if we got a real storage solution and it was the only way for me to access more games than I had channel slots on the menu.
Post by: Morari on November 25, 2008, 10:31:44 AM
This is only possible in an Internet-connected age.
Nintendo could always just send out DVDs with the appropriate firmware on it to all of their customers and let them flash the Wii themselves. :P
I do like the idea of a WiiWare/Virtual Console channel however.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on November 25, 2008, 04:26:32 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 25, 2008, 04:29:50 PM
My 360's menu constantly confuses me. The colors, the flashing lights, all of the buttons, the words, sometimes there's sentences, pictures...it's madness.
I hate the 360 menu now. It makes me appreciate the Wii's simple menu.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on November 25, 2008, 04:33:54 PM
Post by: Nick DiMola on November 25, 2008, 04:43:44 PM
In my opinion the XMB and Wii Menu are far more user friendly, and they make navigation to critical components much quicker and easier. Microsoft's forte has never been user interfaces, so this latest attempt is unsurprisingly a failure.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 25, 2008, 04:45:05 PM
While I don't think there is any need for 360 hate, I don't think the NXE was a usability upgrade in the least. The menu is just plain awkward, and information never seems to be organized in a logical fashion.
In my opinion the XMB and Wii Menu are far more user friendly, and they make navigation to critical components much quicker and easier. Microsoft's forte has never been user interfaces, so this latest attempt is unsurprisingly a failure.
I loved their old interface.
Post by: EasyCure on November 25, 2008, 06:15:44 PM
Wow, what a surprise. I'm sure everybody else will be spewing their 360 hate any minute now.
Geez is this really necessary?
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 25, 2008, 06:25:00 PM
Wow, what a surprise. I'm sure everybody else will be spewing their 360 hate any minute now.
Wait is Lindy saying I hate 360 now because I really dislike the new menu's interface?
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on November 25, 2008, 06:57:56 PM
oh.
Post by: ShyGuy on November 25, 2008, 08:41:44 PM
trying to derail the pending flame war
Post by: BranDonk Kong on November 26, 2008, 12:41:54 AM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 26, 2008, 01:51:03 AM
A lot of people are using "firmware" incorrectly...one of those people is the author here. ShyGuy = correct. The Wii has never had a firmware update either, just "system menu" (and IOS) AKA "software" updates. The 360 has never had a firmware update...unless you hack your DVD-ROM.
Has the PSP had a firmware update?
Post by: KDR_11k on November 26, 2008, 04:20:07 AM
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 26, 2008, 01:39:21 PM
Post by: Ian Sane on November 26, 2008, 02:18:11 PM
And even with the legality involved they could always bork the thing 10 years from now when only a small group of classic gamers would notice. And even if this generation is safe, maybe next time they introduce some "licence to play" model where you don't own the console but rather just a licence to play games on it and after so many years they pull the plug.
I know it's scary doomsday stuff but it's possible. With the movie and music industry telling me I don't own the DVDs and CDs I've bought but merely bought a "licence to use their IP" we know that big entertainment companies have this kind of mentality and will push to be able to legally have a remote off switch.
Post by: Plugabugz on November 26, 2008, 05:26:55 PM
I would love to see more accurate hairstyles around black culture for the Mii Channel (the dreadlocks one alone just ain't cutting it) but then who would want it knowing it needs 200 blocks?
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on November 26, 2008, 09:29:59 PM
Software updates have an inherent problem that the Wii is already running into. Adding more functions via firmware updates uses more memory, which in Wii's case is already short.
I would love to see more accurate hairstyles around black culture for the Mii Channel (the dreadlocks one alone just ain't cutting it) but then who would want it knowing it needs 200 blocks?
Well Nintendo can always go the Sony route and have their firmware flashed and reinstall it with the new firmware.
Post by: DAaaMan64 on November 27, 2008, 01:35:51 AM
My 360's menu constantly confuses me. The colors, the flashing lights, all of the buttons, the words, sometimes there's sentences, pictures...it's madness.
I hate the 360 menu now. It makes me appreciate the Wii's simple menu.
Ya the new interface is kinda weird. I like how their Mii's stand out front of their profiles though.
My immediate complaint though is that stupid thing all the windows "stand on", it blocks your custom background! I agree (so far) that the old menu system was easier to use and understand. This new one definitely looks better though and has some neat features.
Post by: KDR_11k on November 27, 2008, 05:34:49 AM
I can understand shutting servers down because they eat power but creating an update for an old console to destroy it? Why the **** would you do that?
Post by: ShyGuy on November 27, 2008, 01:01:25 PM
Ian, why exactly would anyone bother to flash a console to brick it? To push people to the new system? Fat chance, they'll run off to the competition instead. Do it really late like at the end of the next console generation? Why bother?
I can understand shutting servers down because they eat power but creating an update for an old console to destroy it? Why the **** would you do that?
Apparently you haven't installed XP service pack 3...
Post by: Morari on November 27, 2008, 05:01:20 PM
I do hate that backported "Windows Search" **** and wouldn't suggest anyone check it while updating.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on November 28, 2008, 12:17:21 PM
Post by: DAaaMan64 on November 28, 2008, 12:20:19 PM
Post by: vudu on December 03, 2008, 03:10:10 PM
We're already afraid that our VC purchases have a Nintendo controlled shelf life. Could the Wii itself have the same issue?
No one's afraid of this but you.
