Nintendo Voice Chat

Recently Nintendo finally provided a voice chat solution for the Wii. Some DS games (Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, Pokemon Pearl, Metroid Prime Hunters etc.) had already allowed for the use of voice chat. However, it took Nintendo almost two full years to bring voice chat to the Wii. Like the Wii itself, Nintendo has taken an unconventional approach to voice chat. Instead of using a headset like the xBox or PS3 Nintendo uses a microphone that sits on top of the TV and the audio is put through the TV speakers.


This design serves two primary functions for Nintendo. First, it promotes a more inclusive game play atmosphere. Everyone in a room can participate in the conversation. Second, it also allows parents to monitor their children's conversations.



At first I was concerned that there would be significant echoing as the mic pics up the gameplay audio rather than my voice. However, the speakers filter does a very good job and there is little to no echoing. Currently only Animal Crossing: City Folk supports use of the microphone. Nintendo has also provided a Wii Speak Channel, essentially a voice chat room, where friends can talk.


Hopefully more games will begin to use this feature. The Conduit has already announced that it will be compatible with Wii Speak. I just wish Wii Speak could have been provided earlier in the Wii's life so it could have been used for games such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl or Mario Kart Wii. I then wouldn't have to use Skype to rub in my wins.