Nintendo finds hard drive unnecessary
by Candace Savino 
{ Oct 27th 2007 at 9:00PM }
Ever since Wii Ware was announced, we've been wondering if Nintendo would be introducing a hard drive to help store games. Let's face it, 512 MB is not a lot of memory when it comes to storage space. Add your game saves and virtual console purchases to the mix, and well, things might get pretty tight. We reported in June that Nintendo UK said "no" to a hard drive. NoA's Public Relations manager Eric Walter recently confirmed this stance, explaining Nintendo's reasoning behind the issue:"... We really don't want people storing every single game they buy on their drive. When you buy a game, it's yours forever, so you can delete it, and go back and get it at any time you want. In a way, we liken it to putting music on your iPod; you listen to it for a while, and then you get tired of it, and you pull it off, and you put some new stuff on."
We're disappointed by Nintendo's take on this. We know that we can delete our stuff and redownload it, but it would just be easier to keep it there in the first place. What about you? Do you think a hard drive will become a necessity soon?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TedTheBug7 @ Oct 27th 2007 9:14PM
I thought that was the point of buying games....to keep them forever, so we don't have to keep downloading them. Maybe there will be an after-market hard-drive we can plug in.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Oct 27th 2007 9:14PM
Walter clearly fails to realize that the difference is that the Ipod has gigabytes of space to begin with, and its a very long while before you'd have to delete songs.
With the Wii, everything you download takes up at least 2% of the storage space available. And that's way too much.
gamermasterman @ Oct 27th 2007 9:18PM
the thing i like about my 30G iPod is that i can have every single MP3 i own on it, not that i can take stuff off and add it later
what about in the future? i know they wont support the wii forever, even if its 3-4 generations into the future, nintendo will eventually have to do away with the wii ware,wii store, and you will no longer be able to re download the game. what happens then?
atleast we can copy the VC games to SD cards, hopefully we will be able to do the same with wii ware
DonWii @ Oct 27th 2007 9:30PM
Meh. I think that only a minority of people actually download/fill up their Wii's, so I would assume it is a non-issue for Nintendo.
Hell, only 30-40% of Xbox360 owners actually know about Xbox Live Arcade.
Chyld989 @ Oct 27th 2007 9:33PM
"the thing i like about my 30G iPod is that i can have every single MP3 i own on it, not that i can take stuff off and add it later"
Exactly what I was thinking. The beauty of the iPod is, unless you have a shuffle, you can pretty much put all your music on it without any problem. I don't want to have to copy everything I get on the Wii onto an SD card, and then when that gets full either buy another card or copy it all to my desktop...just allow us to use a regular USB hard drive and all will be well.
I really think they only reason they don't want to do this is because it GREATLY increases the possibility for a soft-mod if things can run off either SD cards or a HD. Just look what happened with the PS2.
mike.raiwet @ Oct 27th 2007 9:37PM
"Hell, only 30-40% of Xbox360 owners actually know about Xbox Live Arcade."
Just where are you getting your sources there buddy?
Gareth Williams @ Oct 27th 2007 9:42PM
What is Nintendo's major problem?
I mean, we all pretty much would love the chance to buy a hard drive and link it up to our Wii for storage.
Eric Walter gives a throw-away argument there too. We are talking about 512MB internal storage here - and as someone else above has point out iPods have 10's and 10’s of gigs - no need to change songs around....just adding more and more.
Sure, we have the option of SD Flash Cards which do offer a few gig (as well as PC to Wii, Wii to PC movement of Data) but these flash cards have limited write.
Plus if Nintendo has any dreams of making the Wii a HUB for downloading their game demos, as well any other new content that may have larger file sizes, they need to at least allow us the option of a HDD.
I am a Nintendo fan all the way, they make great games and they always have changed the way we all play, paving the way for the future of console gaming.....
But my god they are shockingly stubborn!
LeChuck @ Oct 27th 2007 9:49PM
"Hell, only 30-40% of Xbox360 owners actually know about Xbox Live Arcade."
Just where are you getting your sources there buddy?"
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/13/research-30-of-xbox-owners-dont-know-about-xbla
He got the numbers backwards, it was 30% that don't know about XBLA.
troy @ Oct 27th 2007 9:51PM
How much does a four gig SD card cost on Amazon? How much less will it cost in six months? A year? Can't spent $20 on an SD card? They are dirt cheap on amazon and get cheaper every couple months, name brand ones too. Probably what will happen is that Nintendo will come up with firmware updates letting better file management between the SD card and internal memory but obviously getting like a 4 GB SD card once per YEAR tops should solve your problems, and only be like $20-$30 a year.
Charcoal @ Oct 27th 2007 10:05PM
god damn it nintendo...
Jimiisama @ Oct 27th 2007 10:11PM
Go by an SD card... duh
Kogen @ Oct 27th 2007 10:23PM
Aren't people limited to a 2GB SD card? How many demos can you fit on that? 1-3? That's not even counting everything else. A HDD in the future is an obvious choice and hopefully they will allow it once demand gets high enough - it's hard to know if Nintendo will though since they ignored online last gen like morons.
Steve Viglio @ Oct 27th 2007 10:24PM
I think what some people are trying to get at is that Nintendo has yet to allow us the ability to play these downloaded things straight from the SD card. People want accessibility in this day and age. I don't need a huge hard drive but I do need the ability to play these things right from the media. From my understanding, currently if I want to play something like the upcoming Final Fantasy Wii Ware game I will need to save it to an SD card. Then, I have to make space on the original 512 MB storage just to boot the thing up. I know that damn thing is gonna take up a truckload of space if it's a full game.
I'm one of the few hardcore gamers who ranks Nintendo #1 this generation but even I can't stand to see news like this. Unless they're BSing, they're going to cost themselves money in the long run.
Jeff @ Oct 27th 2007 10:25PM
I'm thinking (hoping) that in less than 5 years (2012, in time for the holidays / before the apocalypse) we'll have a the Wii-HD, a backwards-compatible Wii with a 200gb drive, 1080p resolution and 7.1 surround, for $300.
you heard it here first. :P
I would certainly buy a simple little HDD add on for my Wii, something like 40-80gb for $50 - $99 (which would be over-priced, but what do you expect?)
the big N could even add a well designed little media player in the WiiShop and i could recommend a Wii to parents and friends as an AppleTV-like device. :)
Gareth Williams @ Oct 27th 2007 10:33PM
Exactly, how cool would that be?
It's all about quick access without copying things from Card to Internal storage and vise-versa.
I've got loads of SD card and while they are handy, they aren't the best solution for what Nintendo are trying to do.
Shogan @ Oct 27th 2007 10:39PM
Honestly, Nintendo does not get it. People buy larger capacity iPods so they don't HAVE to waste time swapping music in and out for storage limitations.
I've stopped downloading anything from the VC for months now because my Wii is past full with save files, Channels, and games. If they don't want to give us more storage options, I'm not interested in paying for VC games.
Bboy1up @ Oct 27th 2007 10:41PM
It would be nice if Nintendo would stop telling us what we want/need and actually listen to their fan base. I know my paltry 512mb is getting filled very quickly and I'd probably download more liberally if I had a bigger HD to play with. As it stands now, I have trouble DLing lesser VC games because there's a ton of great N64 left for them to release.
The comparison to IPods is laughable. Come on, can't Nintendo PR do better than that? If you turn on your console knowing what you want to play, I guess it's not much of a problem. However, if you're like me and you turn on your console and decide afterwards, not having all your games available sucks. And I think we can all agree there are enough great games to fill up the 512mb drive.
That's the beauty of the IPod: you get to listen to whatever the hell you want even if you didn't know you wanted to listen to it.
Verde @ Oct 27th 2007 10:48PM
Oh my God! I just don't get Nintendo sometimes. Well, I guess Nintendo doesn't get "it" sometimes...
And it's not like an iPod. Most iPods have at least 4GB of space, with each song being a few megabytes. Most people never have to pick and choose what songs go on their iPod. I know I don't - my whole library is on there.
If for some reason I feel like playing a game, isn't it a chore to go and delete one to make space, and then re-download it? It's only going to get worse, I can't see how a game like the WiiWare Crystal Chronicles can be less than 25-30 megs. Plus the fact that Nintendo has a couple more channels planned, space for downloaded games might be even smaller.
SD cards are a lousy alternative right now, since you can't run things directly off them. Gimme a HD add-on for Wii plzkthx.
Joe @ Oct 27th 2007 10:52PM
This is one thing that really makes me mad. I would like the Wii to come out with a hard-drive becuase in the long run it would be cheaper and may be even make load times better.
Plus there are rumors that Saturn games might come to the Wii so then the Wii really needs a Hard-drive.
I really hope Nintendo will change there mind soon to allow one to come out.
sasuke-kun @ Oct 27th 2007 10:54PM
wii blows
sasuke-kun @ Oct 27th 2007 10:56PM
wii is the biggest waist of money with it's horrible graphics, crappy game library and idiotic controller
D. @ Oct 27th 2007 10:57PM
WTH kind of logic is that? I bought an iPod so that I could, in fact, store all of my media on it. I hate adding and taking things off manually. It's a hassle. Nintendo needs to get a clue on this.
troy @ Oct 27th 2007 10:58PM
Just a firmware update allowing users to run VC and WiiWare games off the SD would be fine for me and much more affordable than a harddrive. A harddrive eventually would be cool. I think Nintendo are just in their first year of this and it is pretty inevitable. Pushing for everything so early on is just not likely.
Sack @ Oct 27th 2007 10:59PM
I would be more concerned with WiiWare games than VC games...how much space is something like Final Fantasy CC going to take up? That seems dangerous.
Archibold @ Oct 27th 2007 11:00PM
People have already expressed the fears I have. What is going to happen when they discontinue support for the Wii? Are you going to lose all your virtual console downloads that you've deleted. I haven't gotten to the point that I need to redownload, but nonetheless, it clearly wasn't thought out very well.
Kris @ Oct 27th 2007 11:07PM
I think that's fine... really. Why is everyone getting upset about this? it isn't even a big deal really. you just move things around, it isn't liek you're going to want to play ALL your VC games and WW games in close succession. The ones you don't play that often you just move to the SD Card, or delete like he says. If you truly wanted to play it so bad again you could just download it, but if you delete it in the first place, chances are you weren't that big of a fan anyways. Besides how many of you actually have full Wii's right now? All with games that you play frequently? I'm doubting any of you.
The Ron @ Oct 27th 2007 11:23PM
If you plug a USB drive with less than 120GB big and have no SD card inserted it should detect it as a SD card. Nintendo may have changed this is one of the newer updates, so I'm not positive. I have a 120 gig sitting around, so I'll see if that works.
And sasuke-kun, did you come to this website for the sole purpose of leaving a Wii-dissing comment? I agree, most of the games are crappy, but with the holiday season coming around, a lot of good games are being release. Then in February comes Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Kart sometime in late 2008. And the controller may be different than most controllers, but is the reason the Wii is the Wii and not a smaller version of an Xbox.
Patrick @ Oct 27th 2007 11:25PM
We might need one now, but when stuff like Wiiware comes we NEED one. I'm sure there are people like me whose internet works only like 1/5 of the time on their Wiishop, and we can't just redownload them every time (my friend's internet does this to). In case Nintendo doesn't notice, their internet system doesn't work perfectly. So if I delete a game, I won't see it for a while.
AJ @ Oct 29th 2007 12:58AM
20 bucks says Animal Crossing mmo ships w/ a hdd bundle.
Jumbo @ Oct 28th 2007 12:22PM
I make a fairly decent living, and the only thing stopping me from completely repurchasing my N64 catalogue over from the virtual console is not price.
Its that I dont want the inconvience of redownloading things. Thats why i'd want to pay $10. To have it ready to go, no fuss.
If they're adding fuss, I'll just keep the $40, i'd spend today, and the $250, I'd spend if they would release things...
AzaMcWazza @ Oct 28th 2007 1:14AM
They don't want us having a convenient and efficient experience on Wii? I mean I'm not going to delete my VC, and even larger WiiWare titles and then re-download them later. The Wii downloading is slow as all buggery anyway!
Do they not understand that with arcade games you play them when you're in a particular mood - they can be an impulse play. I can get the urge to shoot some aliens and fire up RType, but if I had to re-download it again I honestly don't think I'd bother.
used cisco @ Oct 28th 2007 12:29AM
I don't think many people would buy an ipod if they only came in a 512mb size. Imagine having to do with your ipod what we do with the Wii. I love my Wii but that is ridulous. Don't they realize that at least if the SD card could hold save games and VC content for use, then we would buy more? The one major factor keeping me from buying more VC games is lack of space. Please fix it nintendo.
vidGuy @ Oct 28th 2007 12:46AM
Plain and simple, Nintendo not enabling the USB for harddrive support will kill their online. I'm nearly at capacity, and SD cards are just not cutting it. I'm pretty PO about this situation. Nintendo, get your stuff together on this one.
NvM @ Oct 28th 2007 12:56AM
I want to download Guitar hero 3 tracks :(
adam @ Oct 28th 2007 1:11PM
I'm already out of space, and I hate having to download games when I want to play them. When I want to play a game, I want to play it NOW.
samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 28th 2007 1:40AM
Sorry Nintendo, but there's not a chance in Hell I'm going to delete and re-download all of my VC games just because I want to play some new Final Fantasy game...
I don't know if running things of the SD card would really work, either. First, it takes forEVER to transfer a file to the SD card. Could it really run a game off of it properly? I have no idea.
But I think they'll either come out with one or enable external HDD support before Wii Ware officially launches. All it'll take is a flippin' firmware update. It can't POSSIBLY be that complicated...
Metayoshi @ Oct 28th 2007 1:42AM
I actually don't mind not having a hard drive... but like someone said, Nintendo needs to let us play things STRAIGHT from the SD card instead of having to upload them back to the Wii's internal memory.
In any case... How many people are actually filling up their Wii's memory? I'm not even close...
sepaar @ Oct 28th 2007 2:01AM
It would be nice to get some HDD support. I didn't think it was quite necessary before Wii Ware, but now that these inevitably larger files are coming, it would be in their best interest in the long run to allow this. But, at this point it may initiate some backlash after saying they aren't neecessary. I'm assuming they just don't think that most of their casual audience will ever come close to filling it up, and don't intend on releasing it.
IKE @ Oct 28th 2007 3:30AM
I think I just kicked your ass in GHIII. Is your name WiiFanboy?
Matt @ Oct 28th 2007 9:15AM
Just to point out another factor--what if you have your Wii in a place without internet access readily available? You'd need to bring your Wii to another location, delete some files, redownload others, and then relocate. Then to play the other game you need to relocate, delete, redownload, and return.
Anyone finding this to be an issue? I am. I have internet access everywhere I would use my Wii, mostly. But it's unreasonable to expect that everyone does.
spamslurpee @ Oct 28th 2007 3:54AM
My Wii memory is full already, I download a lot of VC games.
- I had to delete something to update the internet channel, so a part of the internal memory must actually remain free for updates.
- I still have 40% of the channels white. I bothers me to think that they will permanently remain unusable.
- My brother doesn't have broadband, he brings his wii over to get a new game if one he likes comes out, is he supposed to do that to 'swap games', too?
- SD copying is sooo slow, not an alternative.
DJ LINK @ Oct 28th 2007 6:26AM
I have filled up my space and had to store on SD cards - this is slow - but probably better than downloading.
Having to download them or get them off SD card when you want to play them would be a real psycological barrier to bothering on a lot of occasions - pretty much like setting up an old console - getting cartridges out etc. I really, REALLY like having games ready at the press of a button. Hell! - That's why I have re-bought classics that I already own on the N64, SNES etc.
Nintendo are damn wrong on this one. Can't they let a third party just get on with it?
Michael Baker @ Oct 28th 2007 6:28AM
I would love an add-on HD for the Wii. My internal storage is almost full and I hate the idea of deleting and re-downloading games or moving them to an SD card.
Here's what I think Nintendo should do: release a small hard drive that fits into a Wii stand (the base unit that the Wii can be placed on top of). This would be aesthetically pleasing and functional. However, they would also need to releasea firmware update that lets you access the HD contents from the channel menu. Rather than adding more space for channels, I think that they just need a better organization scheme. For example, there could be a Virtual console channel, that you can select, that has submenus for each system from which you can select each game. This would be so much better than the current system that has all of my VC games scattered across multiple screens.
If the hard drive came with a new game pre-loaded that was exclusive for hard drive purchasers (for a time) then it would be a great added incentive for people to buy it.
Shadow @ Oct 28th 2007 6:46AM
I say we just have nintendo should have the option to stream the games online, if possible, instead of having to download again and again
Peter Lawrence @ Oct 28th 2007 7:17AM
How do nintendo think this is not necessary
512mb is NO WHERE near enough memory - I have already filled my internal memory to the extent of I couldn't download the metroid preview channel
fair enough I have a 2gb SD card, but I have to keep transfering things backwards and forwards - just unacceptable
3 things are needed
1 - a firmware update to make sure 4gb SD cards are accepted
2 - a firmware update to be able to read from the card and internal memory
3 - A hard drive - I want to store all my items, not have to keep re-downloading and using my bandwidth again to download something I already had.
In regards to ipods - yeah, if you've got a shuffle or a nano, but I don't, I never remove anything from my ipod - I just add to it, that's the whole point of getting a classic version, I don't have to keep removing items.
Same with buying an external or larger internal hard drive for my PC - I don't have to delete items in order to make space for new ones.
Jreg @ Oct 28th 2007 7:31AM
They wouldnt be able to run the whole game straight from SD but surely they could keep the main files internally, then the rest of the files on SD for intermittent reading. It wouldnt be that much of a chore either as you have to changes CDs already, and just think about games on PSP with memory sticks(altough theyre so much faster).
Stream full games...? Thats a bit laughable, given that not even PCs are not able to yet. This isnt Flash.
Ben Mullinger @ Oct 28th 2007 7:45AM
just let us run games from as card!!! I'm in a slow broadband area in I'm and redownloading actually takes ages and is a major pain! I don't understand why nintendo won't budge on this. I refuse to buy any wiiware unless they sort this. I'm not going to spend 20 - 30 mind redownloading!
Hoffer @ Oct 28th 2007 8:47AM
Hopefully they let games be played off the SD card. Then I'll just buy a big SD card whenever stuff worth downloading comes out.
I bought a 2 GB SD card when I got my Wii. I realized within a day that it was going to be worthless. My parents bought a new digital camera and I gave them the SD card.
KiNGMONiR @ Oct 28th 2007 9:15AM
As we all know, Nintendo's gonna put Final Fantasy that they're making for download on WiiWare "Exclusively".
Now, u tell, how can a full Final Fantasy game fit in the Wii's crappy 512mb storage. C'mon, there must be something Nintendo will do.
I remember reading in some website that Nintendo will allow external storage through USB in a later software update. Not sure though.
joshua @ Oct 28th 2007 9:29AM
This is seriously one of the stupidest explanations I have ever seen. "we don't want people keeping the games forever". WHY THE HELL NOT?!? I have a 20gig iPod, and I swapped out the hard drive to 30gigs, and I am waiting for a bigger iPod Touch EXACTLY SO I can keep ALL my music on my iPod.
Here's the real reason: packing in a hard drive would cost $$$, more money than that crappy 512 meg flash drive, and Nintendo can't raise the price, and they like that fat profit margin they are getting.