HDD-equipped Wiis now taunting you at Nintendo World Store
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Oct 22nd 2008 at 12:35PM }
The next time you pay a visit to the Nintendo World Store, we advise taking a balaclava and a glass cutter. As the above video demonstrates, the outlet now boasts a bunch of hard drive-equipped Wiis, each of which has around 20 games stored on it, ready for instantaneous selection; generally really good games, as well.
Judging by the menu from which you choose titles, these are identical to the Starlight Foundation Fun Centers that have been getting installed in hospitals. Now, you can try one out for free, without even having to break one of your limbs or anything.
[Via Go Nintendo; thanks, Glare!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr Khan @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:59PM
Gives me hope for their next console, at least. Proves that they understand the technology and its potential
Justin @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:12PM
That would be nice to put all your games on the HD and only have to put the disc in once. This is now second on my list. 1080p resolution and then this HD, so I guess I want HD and HD.
Sean @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:50PM
It's probably a blue or green face kit. It won't run regular games.
phenylketonurics @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:28PM
I don't think there should be any doubt about Nintendo's comprehension of HDD (WiiWare and VC content definitely hint at that). It's a matter of intention and the Wii was not intended to be a full-blown computer/console.
dekushrub150 @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:28AM
It was about time they put HDDs on them. The had this same thing with the Gamecubes at the store. Every demo station had about 25 full games that you could try. I was hoping that the Wiis would eventually get this.
sjames7 @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:52PM
As much as I would LOVE (and I can't stress LOVE enough) the ability to load frequently played games onto my Wii, I totally understand why Nintendo did not include a hard drive. If all I had to do was sit down on my couch and turn on my Wii I would probably play more often. Fooling around with discs is possibly my biggest pet peeve about console gaming. Next generation I will be leaning very much toward buying the system that can provide this functionality and I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible.
brbarnhart @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:28PM
"Fooling around with discs is possibly my biggest pet peeve about console gaming. Next generation I will be leaning very much toward buying the system that can provide this functionality and I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible."
Really? This is not some thing that has ever even crossed my mind. As for why you can't do it, I can thing of a million reasons. Why would you ever buy a game if you could just rent/borrow it and load it on to your machine. If they somehow locked the game to a console, then the game rental and gamestop/ebay resale market would be dead. If you bought a game you didn't like, you would be stuck with it.
I am always surprised by the hard drive concern around here. I have 3 WiiWare games and 12 VC games and space to spare. When I read the headline, I was pissed about it, because I knew that I was going to have to upgrade to the new "High Def" Wii. That is what HD means in my mind.
sjames7 @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:14PM
Okay, I didn't take rental into consideration because I haven't rented a game since the NES days. I still think it is possible to do.
I could see this working by including an activation procedure if you want to install. If you install the game then the disc is locked out and only functions for the installed system. If you want the disc to work again simply uninstall the game.
This wouldn't hurt trade-ins/used terribly because you don't have to activate and can always deactivate. Used game sellers would just have to check the game in a console before accepting trade-ins.
As for rentals, rental places could have a phone number to call and activate their copies so as to not allow users to install. And again, activation would only be required if you want to install it, otherwise things would run as they do now.
It could work and I would love to see it happen.
ChocoDK @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:46AM
With all do respect I can't seem to see your logic. Yes I do know sometimes it can be annoying when you are playing more then one game at once and have to switch the disc. But atleast now we have a power button on all current gen systems. Heck I even use the DVD remote for my PS2 to power up my PS2.
But one thing to remember about Digital Downloads is that you NEVER actually OWN what you are purchasing. The company can go ahead and remove it off of the servers whenever they feel like it and you can't do jack squat.
I like to rent games and only purchase games that I am a big fan of the series of. I also prefer to wait for price drops or buy used games. So for myself if everything went to digital download that would be horrible. Not to mention the fact that my ISP recently made a download limit per month and that I love to have a nice collection of games to show off =P.
sjames7 @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:25AM
Digital Distribution would be one way of doing it, but in my previous post I was referring to physical media. It would be possible to implement a system that would allow you to buy a physical disc and install/uninstall though an online activation system. It would preserve the ability to rent, trade in, and buy used games while allowing for an install process that removes the need for the disc. When you trade in simply uninstall and take the disc to the store. The store can check the disc to make sure it plays and you're on your way.
The best part of my idea is you don't have to install. It would not be mandatory (or possible for rentals); your physical discs would function just as they always have. Pop in your disc and with one quick online check, to make sure the game is not tied to a system, play your game. However, if you find yourself constantly swapping between several games you have the option to install a few to your system with an automated activation tying your game to your console. While your game is tied to your console the disc becomes non-functional. Decided you want to sell the game or loan to a friend? All you would need to do is bring up your menu of installed games and select deactivate. Deactivation would be even quicker than installing, and as soon as it was done you'd be all set to sell/lend your fully functioning disc.
Hell, now that I think about it, this would benefit the developers and publishers too. The activation would not need any personal info because it would be tied to a console not a person, and in doing this the pubs and devs could get an idea about general usage statistics. Granted, they like to know who is playing to learn demographics and target audiences, but at least they could track rentals and used game sales.
And yes, this idea comes about in part because I'm lazy, but there are other benefits as well. I don't know how often this happens but I have two friends who have had games stolen to sell for drug money. An ex-girlfriend of one friend and the older brother of another, both heavy drug users, stole Xbox360 games to trade in for some quick cash. If games were tied to systems the chances of this happening would be lower. I guess, though, you could argue the point that they would have stolen something either way, but I imagine they felt the games would not be missed enough to cause suspicion.
I hope all this better highlights my idea, which I should have thought about patenting. I think it could add some useful functionality without significantly disturbing the status quo. Thank you and goodnight.
Sonic_13 @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:33PM
Very cool indeed. I love the interface and how the virtual boxes appear for each game.
I kinda of wish Nintendo did a similar thing with Virtual Console games. Right now we just have the start screen featured on each VC game's channel, but I remember a demo way back before Wii launched had the actual boxes for VC titles.
TJF588 @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:48PM
Mega Man 9's boxart, anyone?
nastysquar3d @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:51PM
I'm low on storage and this is what I have downloaded so far...
Super Mario World
Super Mario Brothers 3
Castlevania SNES (whatever it's called)
Adventures of Lolo
Bubble Bobble
Super Metroid
Megaman 9
Lost Winds
Groovin Blocks
Dr. Mario
Tetris Party
Mario Kart Channel
Photo Channel
Weather Channel
Internet Channel
Which, in my opinion, isn't that much... yet another 2 Wii Ware games will probably max me out. It's a tad bit ridiculous.
WalkingCarpet @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:16PM
I don't have a whole lot either, but I do have Lost Winds, World of Goo, and two N64 games, which take up a pretty big chunk of space. I think I have about 40 blocks left on the system, but that is after I moved three games onto the SD card to make room for WoG
john @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:22PM
my wii is the only thing I have left that uses optical media.
once you get rid of it, it becomes a huge pain in the ass to use
DVR
Media Center PC
now if only I could load games on my wii like my modded xbox.....