Miyamoto and Reggie talk storage solutions, peripherals

by David Hinkle { Sep 8th 2008 at 11:52AM }

In a recent Club Nintendo interview, Reggie Fils-Aime and Shigeru Miyamoto both touched on some important things on the mind of all Wii owners. The first thing that many are still asking about is the lack of a hard drive. Well, Miyamoto commented that the company is still working on it and exploring all of the possible technologies, to which Reggie added that the company hasn't specified a traditional hard drive or another kind of storage, but will create a solution that is "better than what we have now."

Miyamoto was also asked about MotionPlus and incorporating it into future Zelda games. Miyamoto said that Nintendo was working on a new Zelda game (and also Pikmin), but would not comment as to each title supporting Waggle 2.0. He also commented that we shouldn't expect any new peripherals any time soon, seeing as how there are so many available for the Wii now. We're glad for that, because our limited closet space has meant that storing them all has been a big hassle.

So, the biggest thing to come out of this piece for Club Nintendo is more of the hard drive talk, although we guess we can't call it that, since Nintendo may want something different than a traditional hard drive. What other kind of technologies could they mean? What could be a comparable storage solution to a hard drive and yet not be a hard drive?

Tags: hard-drive, miyamoto, pikmin, reggie, reggie-fils-aime, shigeru-miyamoto, storage, zelda

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JR @ Sep 8th 2008 12:00PM

A second Wii! Two's better than one, right!?

Hardy @ Sep 8th 2008 12:01PM

USB hard drive it up already, nobody cares if you're innovative on storage.
USB hard drives are cheap now, for Gods sake just do it already!

Brian @ Sep 8th 2008 12:19PM

Nintendo cares about aesthetics. They don't want a big old clunky hard drive attached that someone could easily trip over the cable and pull the Wii down and break it.

For the most part, it looks as if USB flash drives are the way to go, unless they wanted to go with a network solution (perhaps a wireless compatible USB storage device, or the ability to connect to a network and transfer to a PC)

Wah-hah-ha! @ Sep 8th 2008 12:19PM

They really seem to skip around on this. Sometimes they talk about it like the solution is imminent, something we could expect before the end of the year, sometimes they backtrack and claim that no solution is on the table at all, and that we just need to deal with it, and now they seem to imply that they are only just beginning to develop prototypes for a potential solution

No straight answers, though, that's for sure

TWOO DEE @ Sep 8th 2008 12:22PM

in a gonintendo article, someone commented that online storage might be an option - how plausible is this?

also, pikmin should always come in parenthesis...

Tim @ Sep 8th 2008 12:41PM

Online storage isn't feasible at all for we rural folk who don't have access to broadband.

Hardy @ Sep 8th 2008 12:49PM

What is the point of online storage? We already have that, if you buy a game you can redownload it whenever you want.

What people want is a way to store all their download and access them instantly.
They need a storage device that directly attaches to the WII, hell they could just reprogram the OS to consider an SD card a harddrive and up it's data access rate.
Or, considering most USB keys are only 20 bucks for 8gigs now, they could shrink the size of it and it would only bit a little bump at the back of the Wii.

Considering it's probably hurting sales of WiiWare and Virtual Console sales, you think they'd be going at a faster rate.

Sonic_13 @ Sep 8th 2008 1:28PM

"Online storage isn't feasible at all for we rural folk who don't have access to broadband."

But technically without broadband you can't access the Wii Shop Channel and thus don't have a storage problem in the first place. Game saves alone won't fill up your Wii.

Sure some people may have rigged a setup with dial-up, but since dial-up isn't officially supported they don't have to worry about it in the event of online storage.

JuanGrande386 @ Sep 8th 2008 12:24PM

1. It isnt a problem for me yet but im glad theyre working on the storage problem.
2. I have been wondering why people say the Wii has alot of accessories. I have 3 wiimotes, 2 nunchucks, 2 wavebirds, and the balance board I just got yesterday. For my 360 I have 2 controllers, the hddvd drive, 3 guitars, drum set, microphone, and the vision camera. Any piece of plastic out there that you put your wiimote into IS NOT AN ACCESSORY ITS PLASTIC. Yes I have mariokart so I can judge the wii wheel, it adds nothing to the controls that Excitetruck already did first.

SoshiKitai @ Sep 9th 2008 5:03AM

Well, considering that you have to have nunchuks for each Wiimote (not HAVE to, but most likely want to)... and also Classic Controllers... and completely optional accessories (wireless nunchuk & coolers, for example)... and guitar hero stuff... and Hori Fighting Sticks... and SD cards... and chargers for controllers... and wristbands and Wiimote covers... and additional Wiifit go-alongs... and advanced sensor bars... and upcoming WiiSpeak & Motion+... and stuff.

In all honesty, the Wii would have the same amount of accessories as all other systems as long as you take out the idea of "nunchuks being separate purchases" & think "so-and-sos aren't accessories, they're plastics".

...it's just the nunchuks, really. That's what adds to the number. Not to mention that you mostly HAVE to get up to 4 controllers when you have family and friends who play with ya'. (as opposed to the 360, where not everyone wants to play with you. :P)

Oh, and as much as I agree that those plastic bats and sword-attachments for the Wiimote are just plastic (adding no additional feel for the handler... other than the fear of breaking something) - - I do believe the Zapper & Wii Wheel are accessories by their own right. Though not everyone's comfortable with the Zapper, many (including me) find the Zapper beyond more comfortable & fun than just using Wiimote+Nunchuk by themselves (for only some games though). And many people love the Wii Wheel... since just holding the Wiimote-sideways normally doesn't feel so wonderful.
Since it changes the feel for the game for people, those "plastics" can be considered accessories.
(Especially when compared to the things REALLY considered as plastics)

Oneiroi @ Sep 8th 2008 12:48PM

How will Nintendo innovate hard drive capabilities, without a hard drive?

Clearly they've finally developed worm hole technology...which will keep my 8 reiterations of Mario games available whenever I need them.

PhoenixGeek @ Sep 8th 2008 12:49PM

I think they might be working on a program that you can install on your computer, and then select a section of your computers hard drive to use as network storage for the Wii. The big problem would be that transfer rates would suck, but at least it's better than not having any solution.

bukizzle715 @ Sep 8th 2008 12:50PM

What about that weird holographic storage thing they filed a patent on with Inphase Technologies? That looked pretty sweet.

Ryan P. @ Sep 8th 2008 1:36PM

Thats totally what it is...but i wonder how soon they can get that to market and how expensive it will be...holographic
storage sounds pricey.

Jeremy @ Sep 8th 2008 9:35PM

I think since the patent was just filed for the holographic storage that it may be a next gen thing since R&D takes lots of time then after you figure out how to make your product work smoothly then you have to make the technology affordable. That was Sony's downfall with the PS3 they rushed BlueRay and it still has a big price tag and as they find ways to make it work cheaper the price will slowly come down.

If Nintendo wants to do things right then holographic storage will be seen in the next generation of consoles so that their next system would be new tech while still keeping a reasonable price tag. As for the storage problem with the Wii I can see that we may be screwed since they have yet to do the cheapest and most logical thing by simply allowing the use of flash drives or SD cards (which would be a simple firmware update). Storage is the big flaw of the Wii and it was obviously not thought out very well or Nintendo had no idea that they would do WiiWare by launch.

Frances @ Sep 8th 2008 1:12PM

I don't see why people suggest a USB drive as a solution.

THE WII ALREADY HAS AN SD CARD SLOT!!!!!

Nintendo just needs to write a software update that allows you to run VC and Wiiware from the SD card.

And don't say it is too slow. The hombrew emulators have already proven it is possible to run ROMs at native speed from the SD card.

Sonic_13 @ Sep 8th 2008 1:30PM

I'm glad Nintendo is not releasing a hard drive. I've said all along that it would be a mistake (for my reasons why, please check out previous posts of mine. I don't want to go over them again).

I personally have no storage related issues, but I'm excited to see what Nintendo comes up with.

KidSqueek @ Sep 8th 2008 1:39PM

they should just release an update for the Wii that will allow you to hook up an external hard drive to the usb port. yes we already have a SD slot but with DLC comming out more often on the Wii, we could use the extra space. i would suggest an exteranl hard drive instead of flash drives or SD cards.

MnMaggot @ Sep 8th 2008 1:41PM

We've all seen Metalocalypse, right? Water based storage solution!!!! =)

Spike @ Sep 8th 2008 4:00PM

yep, we're gonna have to keep all of our water in a safe place, just in case we get drunk and fill out fish tank with out VC games

Magnus @ Sep 8th 2008 2:17PM

Nintendo most likely doesn't want a hard drive update because of piracy: allowing people to use a SD card as a hard drive would mean piracy of VC and Wiiware titles, as the Wii DRM was not made to trust external memory. I don't think Nintendo will have a solution to this anytime soon, specially considering they are scared about piracy.

Sonic_13 @ Sep 8th 2008 2:52PM

Actually, you have your facts wrong. You can already copy VC and WiiWare games to an SD card. You have been able to do that since day one. DRM prevents them from being copied to other consoles. That's not the issue.

The issue is that you cannot run games directly from the SD card. You need to copy them over from the SD card to the internal memory. Simply allowing the games to be played directly from the SD card would essentially fix the problem.

Wah-hah-ha! @ Sep 8th 2008 4:41PM

And the easiest way to make that click and void piracy concerns is through a simple system of software keys. You download a 1-block "key" for every title you own that's stored on the system memory, but cannot be copied. Corresponding games on the SD card could be run thus

You would also need to incorporate an SD channel (much like the Homebrew channel), where you can instantly access apps stored on the Card

Tom @ Sep 8th 2008 5:16PM

How about mapped windows drives over a network?

wiilover @ Sep 8th 2008 6:33PM

maybe it'll b a harddrive w/ the motion plus software plugged in

jessy @ Sep 8th 2008 8:28PM

Online or network storage?!? Ugh!!! No!!! Either the SD or USB route as long as it's 3rd party friendly.

Atlantis1982 @ Sep 8th 2008 9:31PM

We do have a storage device already folks, it's called an SD Card! Get over it, people, and just stop being lazy.

Ben @ Sep 9th 2008 12:01AM

usb storage support is probably what Nintendo is talking about.

That'd make it compatible w/ flash-drives, as well as external hardrives.

jerem_tb @ Sep 9th 2008 3:41AM

Holographic memory.

We heard some time ago that they are already looking into it. I think that would be a great idea, using some new cutting edge technology can't hurt (unless it's really pricey!)
Maybe we could get a really small-sized storage solution that would make Sony and Microsoft jealous.

SoshiKitai @ Sep 9th 2008 5:10AM

Unless it's really pricey?

......... it IS REALLY REALLY PRICEY.
It'd kill our wallets and make us wonder why we didn't just buy a PS3, which would be cheaper comparatively!

For now, even a shrunk-down version could still make a PS3 seem affordable.

Stanton Honour @ Sep 9th 2008 5:31PM

you know whats better than a hard drive for the wii? A demo downloading service for wii demos I mean come on already almost every system out now has a demo service of some kind but not the wii I wonder why.....

Elliot @ Sep 10th 2008 1:37AM

they could make it so you can use gamecube memory cards for wii games, channels, virtual console, and wii ware, that would definately work

Tony @ Oct 14th 2008 2:49PM

I'd like to point out that homebrewer have figured out how to get USB Hdd to work. i currently have a 32gb (stupid fat 32) harddrive attached to my wii. I say give it a little more time and you'll be able to apply a homebrew patch and get the harddrive to work. I can also run homebrew off the DVD drive too. screw nintendo lone live homebrew.