Just curious if anyone is using any of the available Wii channels.
I was playing around and checked out the Weather in various area's, read the News, looked at video's & demo's on the Nintendo channel, and finally took a look at questions on the Everybody Votes channel. Weather and New's were good, can live without Dark Gary on Nintendo week, and some really silly questions on the Votes channel.
Do any of you use any of the channels? Regularly..... occasionally.... never..... ?
Mendon
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Wii Channels
Started by Mendon, Aug 7 2010 5:36 AM
18 replies to this topic
#2 OFFLINE
Gregory DG
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Silvery Robot Thing
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Posted Sat Aug 7, 2010 7:27 AM
I did the first week I had the Wii. Now I never look at them. I'd rather get that info from my computer. 
#3 OFFLINE
radiohead
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Space Invader
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Posted Sat Aug 7, 2010 8:54 AM
The News Channel is servicable, while a doppler radar option on the Weather Channel would make that more useful. But like everyone else, it's much easier to get that info off a computer.
Photo Channel is not totally useless, but as just about every digital camera has a TV out to slideshow pictures and video they shot, it's easier to plug the camera in than removing the SD card, turning on and booting Wii, selecting Photo Channel, etc. Besides, my kids don't even access the "fun" picture doodling and puzzle aspects of that channel.
Check Mii Out Channel is only used by my kids to get celebrity miis and get ideas to make more of their own (we always have the maximum 100 mii in the console.) It really should be an element of the Mii Channel and not a stand alone. Plus it always bothers me that the title is trunciated ("Check Mii Ou...") when it appears on the menu as a popup with the wiimote.
Everybody Votes Channel is checked out once every couple of months. We answer the questions (that lasts about 2 minutes), then we're good for another couple of months.
Internet Channel's Opera browser needs better flash support. Period.
Nintendo Channel is the most used downloaded channel when there are behind the scenes speciality videos to view. Nintendo Week was entertainig when it started (Alison is so cute!), but now we're over it.
Wii Shop Channel is what it needs to be. Though it should have better intergration with Nintendo Channel so you can at least watch a video of the game you want at the time you shop.
We also have the pointless Wii Fit Channel and a Mario Kart Channel installed by their games. We almost never use them as 99% of the time you need the game disc to do what you want (except for weighing yourself in Wii Fit), so why use these channels when you can go through Disc Channel? If it wasn't the kids wanting them (Mario Kart, at least), they would be uninstalled.
All my downloaded VC titles have been moved to the SD card, so they get viewed in that separate black menu via the SD button.
Really, the only Channels getting regular activity is Disc Channel (and HBC!) A Netflix Channel would be incredibly useful, but can never happen with the current Wii. But since Ninty hasn't created any new channels that's not specific to a game title (Animal Crossing) in quite some time, I think even they realize they've carried the Wii Channels gimmick as far as it can go.
Photo Channel is not totally useless, but as just about every digital camera has a TV out to slideshow pictures and video they shot, it's easier to plug the camera in than removing the SD card, turning on and booting Wii, selecting Photo Channel, etc. Besides, my kids don't even access the "fun" picture doodling and puzzle aspects of that channel.
Check Mii Out Channel is only used by my kids to get celebrity miis and get ideas to make more of their own (we always have the maximum 100 mii in the console.) It really should be an element of the Mii Channel and not a stand alone. Plus it always bothers me that the title is trunciated ("Check Mii Ou...") when it appears on the menu as a popup with the wiimote.
Everybody Votes Channel is checked out once every couple of months. We answer the questions (that lasts about 2 minutes), then we're good for another couple of months.
Internet Channel's Opera browser needs better flash support. Period.
Nintendo Channel is the most used downloaded channel when there are behind the scenes speciality videos to view. Nintendo Week was entertainig when it started (Alison is so cute!), but now we're over it.
Wii Shop Channel is what it needs to be. Though it should have better intergration with Nintendo Channel so you can at least watch a video of the game you want at the time you shop.
We also have the pointless Wii Fit Channel and a Mario Kart Channel installed by their games. We almost never use them as 99% of the time you need the game disc to do what you want (except for weighing yourself in Wii Fit), so why use these channels when you can go through Disc Channel? If it wasn't the kids wanting them (Mario Kart, at least), they would be uninstalled.
All my downloaded VC titles have been moved to the SD card, so they get viewed in that separate black menu via the SD button.
Really, the only Channels getting regular activity is Disc Channel (and HBC!) A Netflix Channel would be incredibly useful, but can never happen with the current Wii. But since Ninty hasn't created any new channels that's not specific to a game title (Animal Crossing) in quite some time, I think even they realize they've carried the Wii Channels gimmick as far as it can go.
#4 OFFLINE
Video
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Posted Sat Aug 7, 2010 3:38 PM
Never. I messed with each of the predownloaded ones when I first got the system (back when people couldn't give me a simple answer to why the remote wasn't working, like the power bar may not be plugged in)
After that, it was more of an inconvenience than anything. Seriously, if I had NO other options, I might use some of them, but I have several computers, which do all those features, only better. (and yeah, I can even hook them to the TV if I wanted to, the TV has a VGA on it)
Honestly, it's just another in a long line of gimmicks that Nintendo constantly put out on their hardware....at least they aren't required like some of their other gimmicks
After that, it was more of an inconvenience than anything. Seriously, if I had NO other options, I might use some of them, but I have several computers, which do all those features, only better. (and yeah, I can even hook them to the TV if I wanted to, the TV has a VGA on it)
Honestly, it's just another in a long line of gimmicks that Nintendo constantly put out on their hardware....at least they aren't required like some of their other gimmicks
#5 OFFLINE
Mendon
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Posted Sun Aug 8, 2010 7:18 AM
My wife uses the News Channel almost every day. She will work out with Wii Fit Plus then sit down with a glass of juice to read the news and cool down. Other than that, Wii channels don't get a lot of use in our house.
Mendon
Mendon
#6 OFFLINE
Lord Helmet
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AtariAge Anomaly
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Posted Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:26 PM
I don't touch the official channels anymore. The only channels I ever click on are the Homebrew Channel and the USB Loader GX channel 
#7 OFFLINE
Player 3
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Star Raider
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Posted Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:07 PM
I noticed I don't really use any channels often anymore, including the Game Disc channel. Now, I mostly select The Homebrew Channel and play some Atari (Asteroids, pretty much) there. Later, I plan to use it rarely for Wii purposes anymore and instead, install Linux on there. Still contemplating on which build to install...
#8 OFFLINE
calfranklin
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Moonsweeper
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Posted Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:13 PM
Just getting into Wii and the wifi thing. I'm hoping to earn enough points to purchase one of the games on WiiWare or Virtual Console. I have used the Internet Channel to do some light browsing, check Sports, search movies, etc. Yea, I feel it's not quite a replacement for serious browsers.
Mendon, on Sat Aug 7, 2010 5:36 AM, said:
Just curious if anyone is using any of the available Wii channels.
I was playing around and checked out the Weather in various area's, read the News, looked at video's & demo's on the Nintendo channel, and finally took a look at questions on the Everybody Votes channel. Weather and New's were good, can live without Dark Gary on Nintendo week, and some really silly questions on the Votes channel.
Do any of you use any of the channels? Regularly..... occasionally.... never..... ?
Mendon
I was playing around and checked out the Weather in various area's, read the News, looked at video's & demo's on the Nintendo channel, and finally took a look at questions on the Everybody Votes channel. Weather and New's were good, can live without Dark Gary on Nintendo week, and some really silly questions on the Votes channel.
Do any of you use any of the channels? Regularly..... occasionally.... never..... ?
Mendon
#9 OFFLINE
calfranklin
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Moonsweeper
- Location:Fremont, Nebraska
Posted Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:24 PM
How do you access the Homebrew Channel? I'm a new Wii user.
Lord Helmet, on Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:26 PM, said:
I don't touch the official channels anymore. The only channels I ever click on are the Homebrew Channel and the USB Loader GX channel
#10 OFFLINE
Lord Helmet
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AtariAge Anomaly
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Posted Wed Sep 1, 2010 8:56 AM
calfranklin, on Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:24 PM, said:
How do you access the Homebrew Channel? I'm a new Wii user.
Lord Helmet, on Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:26 PM, said:
I don't touch the official channels anymore. The only channels I ever click on are the Homebrew Channel and the USB Loader GX channel
You have to install it. Takes just a couple of minutes. This is the best site for instructions and all of the other things you need to know:
http://wiibrew.org/w...omebrew_Channel
#11 OFFLINE
onmode-ky
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Moonsweeper
Posted Wed Sep 1, 2010 12:58 PM
calfranklin, on Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:13 PM, said:
Just getting into Wii and the wifi thing. I'm hoping to earn enough points to purchase one of the games on WiiWare or Virtual Console.
I don't have a Wii, and the people I know who do have one don't do anything online with it. But, I thought the points used to purchase WiiWare and VC stuff were just virtual currency converted from actual money. Is there some mechanism for earning the points as well?
onmode-ky
#12 OFFLINE
Animan
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Posted Wed Sep 1, 2010 6:29 PM
onmode-ky, on Wed Sep 1, 2010 12:58 PM, said:
calfranklin, on Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:13 PM, said:
Just getting into Wii and the wifi thing. I'm hoping to earn enough points to purchase one of the games on WiiWare or Virtual Console.
I don't have a Wii, and the people I know who do have one don't do anything online with it. But, I thought the points used to purchase WiiWare and VC stuff were just virtual currency converted from actual money. Is there some mechanism for earning the points as well?
onmode-ky
I remember reading a long time ago that there would be the possibility of games letting you earn Wii Points, but this has, to my knowledge, never been implemented.
That might have been in the actual manual. I will have to double check sometime.
#13 OFFLINE
vdub_bobby
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Posted Thu Sep 2, 2010 6:00 PM
Use Wii Shop channel occasionally, I used to use the Nintendo Channel, but apparently my connection is too slow to stream video off of there (but it worked fine six months ago...?), so I never bother anymore. Wii News I used a little, but was unimpressed, same with weather channel and Internet channel. I (rarely) use them if I don't feel like playing a game and my wife is using the computer.
#14 OFFLINE
jeremysart
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Stargunner
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Posted Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:29 PM
Just like most here, only messed with them when I first got the Wii. I do check out the Nintendo Channel frequently to see their new videos, and of course Wii Shop for DLC, but thats about it.
#15 OFFLINE
Vic George 2K3
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Posted Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:49 AM
I primarily use the downloaded Internet Channel, which is serviceable for a browser when I'm not on the computer. I occasionally use the Weather Channel and the Nintendo Channel, and hardly use the News Channel.
Overall, minus some features that one could get with the Xbox 360 or PS3, I think the Wii could be a great multimedia machine.
Overall, minus some features that one could get with the Xbox 360 or PS3, I think the Wii could be a great multimedia machine.
#16 OFFLINE
mimo
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Preppie!
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Posted Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:19 AM
I use the HBC, USB loader and BBC iPlayer channels.
#17 OFFLINE
Nerf Herder73
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Star Raider
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Posted Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:39 AM
New Netflix - This works very well and has saved me $60 that would've gone to renewing my Xbox Live Gold membership. 
News - It gets used a couple of times a week. A passable way to see what's going on, but hurt by sloppy articles posted by the Associated Press.
Weather - This doesn't get used as much as it did before a recent move. The closest weather station is too far, inaccurate and frequently offline. Can be useful if station is close-by and updates their information often.
Nintendo Channel - Much better after the update last year. DS demo downloads, game release schedule and the "Nintendo Week" show make this channel a destination at least once a week.
Everybody Votes - A quick time waster, but I look forward to the results to many of the silly questions.
Wii Shop Channel - My interest in this has dropped as the amount of releases has lessened. Many WiiWare titles are failing to excite me. The Virtual Console titles feel ignored in recent months and call for the addition of the HBC.
Internet - Used rarely. Too difficult and slow. The internet on an SD television is better left in the WebTV days.
Photo Channel - Almost never used, but kept around for those moments when it's needed.
Check Mii Out - It feels more gimmicky than useful. I just don't see the need to have Batman and Peter Griffin on my Wii. Deleted.
Homebrew Channel - Honestly this is here for WiiMC and emulation and not the horrible homebrew "games" and useless tech demos. This is the number one reason why my Wii isn't sitting there collecting dust. Some of the emulators are clunky but still get the job done. There is some very good work that has gone into these emulators that include unique features. Don't miss out on playing classic games on your TV just because the Big N hasn't added them to the VC line-up.
News - It gets used a couple of times a week. A passable way to see what's going on, but hurt by sloppy articles posted by the Associated Press.
Weather - This doesn't get used as much as it did before a recent move. The closest weather station is too far, inaccurate and frequently offline. Can be useful if station is close-by and updates their information often.
Nintendo Channel - Much better after the update last year. DS demo downloads, game release schedule and the "Nintendo Week" show make this channel a destination at least once a week.
Everybody Votes - A quick time waster, but I look forward to the results to many of the silly questions.
Wii Shop Channel - My interest in this has dropped as the amount of releases has lessened. Many WiiWare titles are failing to excite me. The Virtual Console titles feel ignored in recent months and call for the addition of the HBC.
Internet - Used rarely. Too difficult and slow. The internet on an SD television is better left in the WebTV days.
Photo Channel - Almost never used, but kept around for those moments when it's needed.
Check Mii Out - It feels more gimmicky than useful. I just don't see the need to have Batman and Peter Griffin on my Wii. Deleted.
Homebrew Channel - Honestly this is here for WiiMC and emulation and not the horrible homebrew "games" and useless tech demos. This is the number one reason why my Wii isn't sitting there collecting dust. Some of the emulators are clunky but still get the job done. There is some very good work that has gone into these emulators that include unique features. Don't miss out on playing classic games on your TV just because the Big N hasn't added them to the VC line-up.
Edited by Nerf Herder73, Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:03 AM.
#18 ONLINE
Austin
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Quadrunner
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Posted Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:59 PM
Netflix is the primary channel used in my household now. I used to use the Wii Shop channel quite a bit, but VC additions are scarce these days. The family used to participate on the Everybody Votes channel on a regular basis, but it's probably been nearly a year since we've done so.
#19 OFFLINE
radiohead
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Space Invader
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Posted Sun Jan 2, 2011 6:02 PM
As ironic as this sounds, the homebrew app WiiMC actually convinced me to purchase a PS3.
While WiiMC is a great app in a sea of mostly pointless homebrew, I found it far too buggy to use. Plus, with the need of purchasing and configuring an external USB HD to store media (and Rockband using up all my USB ports and issues with USB Hubs), I pulled the trigger on the PS3 and made that my main media center.
Now I've converted 2 dozen of my DVDs to mp4 and keep them on the PS3, and I have Netflix installed (via HDMI, it looks great!) Then I started getting into BluRay, so it became a no-brainer. But my PS3 is not being used as a game console.
My kids are now only playing mostly Wii's "A" titles like Metroid Other M, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and New Super Mario Bros. And I only play the Atari 2600, NES, SNES game emulators via HBC. That's it.
We have about 10 WiiWare/VC titles that don't get played any more, and every few weeks we're trading in Wii game discs for cash to buy games or download points for my kids' DS Lite & DSi.
In the end, it's all about gamesplay (and that's why still have classic titles for PS/PS2/GCN & Atari 2600 in the house.) The motion-control novelty has worn off for us (no interest at all in PS3's Move.) Even Wii's homebrew scene is slowing down.
Curious to see what Ninty will carry over into the Wii 2, or start from scratch.
While WiiMC is a great app in a sea of mostly pointless homebrew, I found it far too buggy to use. Plus, with the need of purchasing and configuring an external USB HD to store media (and Rockband using up all my USB ports and issues with USB Hubs), I pulled the trigger on the PS3 and made that my main media center.
Now I've converted 2 dozen of my DVDs to mp4 and keep them on the PS3, and I have Netflix installed (via HDMI, it looks great!) Then I started getting into BluRay, so it became a no-brainer. But my PS3 is not being used as a game console.
My kids are now only playing mostly Wii's "A" titles like Metroid Other M, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and New Super Mario Bros. And I only play the Atari 2600, NES, SNES game emulators via HBC. That's it.
We have about 10 WiiWare/VC titles that don't get played any more, and every few weeks we're trading in Wii game discs for cash to buy games or download points for my kids' DS Lite & DSi.
In the end, it's all about gamesplay (and that's why still have classic titles for PS/PS2/GCN & Atari 2600 in the house.) The motion-control novelty has worn off for us (no interest at all in PS3's Move.) Even Wii's homebrew scene is slowing down.
Curious to see what Ninty will carry over into the Wii 2, or start from scratch.
Edited by radiohead, Sun Jan 2, 2011 6:05 PM.
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