WiiSpeak preorders now available on Amazon
Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 4:54pm by Derek
Online retailer Amazon is now taking preorders for WiiSpeak.
Nintendo’s first voice chat peripheral for online gaming, WiiSpeak was designed to contrast the industry’s standard headset. WiiSpeak captures several voices at once and is meant to connect groups of friends online.
Perhaps consumers will have learned from Nintendo’s persistent hardware shortages over the last two years and will take advantage of the opportunity to secure themselves a WiiSpeak for the holidays.
WiiSpeak is priced at $29.99 and is scheduled to ship Nov. 16. The peripheral will also be bundled with Animal Crossing: City Folk, the only game with which it is currently compatible, for $69.99.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Wii Speak is probably the better of the voice chat solutions. It definitely cuts down on the accessories required, as one Wiispeak can serve for everybody in the room (should any game ever use that)
While it won’t tamp down completely the ass-hattery of the online gaming pool, it will at least allow more opportunities for social embarrassment when somebody steps out of line. It’s much harder to say “Die you jew n***** m*****f*****!” when somebody else is in the room. At least, that’s the intent. Furthermore it also allows for better relaxation as you don’t look like a damn cyborg hooked up to a machine, which is an image of headsets.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Not sure if I want to order this or not… more specifically, not sure if the number of games supporting voice chat will make it worthwhile.
It’s unfortunate that Nintendo is so late introducing this peripheral, because online games like Dr Mario (and many others) would really benefit from having voice chat RIGHT NOW. That said, if we get Animal Crossing then I’m going for the bundle anyway.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Is this not compatible with the Conduit as well? I thought it was. But yeah, I won’t be buying this, I’ll get Animal Crossing for sure so a separate purchase would just be silly.
An update for games like Mario Kart would make me want this ASAP. I can hear the people now.. “EAT BLUE, N00B!”
September 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Jamie: The Conduit is not confirmed to support it yet. It likely will be, as will countless other titles, but as of now, Animal Crossing is the only title that officially supports the peripheral.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Yipee.
Another plastic peripheral for Nintendo owners! =)
I wish that there were many games that this device would actually work with, then , maybe, I would consider picking it up. But as it stands now it just doesn’t have any real point for me.
Congratulations Nintendo on almost catching up with the original X-box concerning the ability to voice chat on a console…..
Better late than never, I suppose.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Conduit is compatible with this, as it is with motion+ , It’s also not ”Nintendo’s first voice chat peripheral for online gaming” – how about the ds headset released in japan, or the mic peripherals for famicom and its internet service ? (in japan). so at least two fallacies among only a handful of statements – if you are going to report things as fact, make sure that they are -or mention your uncertainties.
September 12th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
it IS about time nintendo catches up with online- and while i prefer headsets, this is a great move in the direction of the nerds and otaku who want full featured online experiences.