For those not already in the know, this is my second Wii. My first had a glitch that prevented me from getting online.

My experience with it has been interesting. I've downloaded the browser, Voting Channel (was free), Paper Mario, and Castlevania 4. The download screen is neat, with SMB1 Mario acting as the download "meter", throwing fireballs when he's fire Mario if you press A. But it'd be nice if it showed exact progress, and it gets a little annoying once he starts hitting that last coin block over and over when the download is almost done, especially with larger downloads.

Anyway, typing all this without a keyboard is really slow, so I'm gonna post the rest later on my computer.

Later: So as I was saying, I downloaded PM and Castlevania 4. It's amazing what difference higher resolution graphics make on N64 games. No longer is the whole screen super-grainy (compared to later generations). Now the screen is crystal clear. The downside to this of course being some 2D graphics are a little fuzzy around the edges, but otherwise it's no big deal.

I find it more enjoyable playing the original Paper Mario on my GameCube controller as well. The N64 controller sucks. Sometimes I had to jam the control stick all the way to the side to achieve full walking speed. I find it odd that the N64 Z button is now mapped to the L button, though. And this change is not reflected in game text at all.

No rumble support is a bummer. But aside from ground-shaking scenes, I don't find the loss very noticeable, because those scenes were the only times I payed attention to the rumble. Although I'm pretty sure there was an item or some other thing that used the rumble for hidden stuff. I think. If there is, that feature is now completely useless.

Now for Castlevania IV. This is my first time playing a Castlevania game. It's fun so far. Got to use my classic controller for the first time. I was skeptical at first, but it's definately not a total pain to hold. But I still find it an odd decision to put the cord at its bottom.

Onward to actual online stuff. First place I went to on Opera was homestarrunner.com. Watching the cartoons there full-screen on my TV is interesting. Naturally, the screen isn't as sharp as a computer monitor, but whatever. The Wii-enhanced games were a nice distraction. Unfortunately, a bunch of the cartoons it seems glitch up at certain points, leaving the sound out of synch midway through.

I also went to Youtube and watched Freakazoid in Candle Jack. In full-screen, of course. I thought I heard that Youtube didn't work on Wii. Either this was changed, or I just heard wrong.

Which reminds me, for some reason Opera can't handle larger files. I went to a page with a 7-meg video, and it started a little only to tell me that there wasn't enough memory for it. You'd think that if the Wii can put high polygon game action on the screen, it'd have enough memory to play the Weird Al Virus Alert! flash video. It also cannot run the Mag's chat. Which should have been obvious, but I felt like testing it anyway. But I didn't expect it to freeze my console.

I also tried out the weather channel and news channel. Nothing super-special, though you can access a globe on the weather channel and check out the temperatures across the planet. Including Antarctica, which was sitting at -17F when I looked at it this morning.

Oh, and there's the voting channel I mentioned earlier. Basically you have a few polls that ask random stuff like "Do you sleep with your windows open", or "How many presidents can you name" (with the answers being less than 10, or 10 or more), and you can predict which answer will be the most popular.

I haven't tested if this new Wii is as good with backwards-compatability as my old one, yet. Hopefully there won't be any problems.

Ok, now for the important stuff. I currently have 700 Wii Points left. This means I can still get an NES game or a TG-16 game. Any recommendations from what's out right now, or should I wait until something comes out later?

Yes, I'm typing on the Wii now. Always a pain to type, but it works well most of the time.

I actually think that it's pretty easy to type on the Wii, you just have to get used to it.

Anyway, congrats on getting your Wii fixxed Dray.

Replaced. And typing on the Wii is pretty much the same as typing on RPGM1. But there's no excuse on the Wii; it has USB ports, it should work with USB keyboards.

Isn't there only 2 USB ports on a Wii... which are strategically located inconveniantly in the back of the system?

Why do you hate the Wii so much? 2 USB ports is all you need on a console

First Law of Electronics:
All USB, Firewire, or any other type of port, electrical outlets, or all other entries for cables of any sort will always be placed inconveniently, if not in the back, in the spot where you can more painfully reach. The act of plugging most cables into such entries will ultimately damage the cable in some sort.

Now for the n00byshn3ss. What are Wii points? =P

They are points that act as money. you pay $20 for 2000 points, so 2000 points represents $20 to spend on stuff.

Actually, a port for every controller to charge up on would be best. Oh wait... I forgot, you can't recharge the Wii controllers.



The PS3's ports are in the front... There are 4, but I don't even use them for the controllers until I need to recharge them (which isn't often, in all honesty). I usually have a keyboard and mouse in it... especially if I have company over and they are like, checkin their e-mail or something. Worst case scenario I want to be on the internet and charge both controllers at the same time... that's just enough ports to cover that.

And Wii points are what you buy stuff with off the internet with your Wii... and when I say "stuff" I pretty much just mean ROMs for the 'virtual console' (which is what they are calling the sofware/hardware that runs these ROMs). I find it kind of funny they toss that extra step in there. I mean, instead of putting a dollar ammount on it, you first have to buy 'wii points' and then turn around and buy your rom with said wii point. Dray pointed out that those without credit cards would be shafted otherwise, which is true for the most part. I don't have a credit card, I use my debit card. I'm pretty sure most people will have a debit card, at the very least.

And I'm not hating any more on Wii than any single Wii fan did on the PS3 after hearing how much they cost. Most people bash it so they feel justified to not feel like that want to get one. But in all honesty, the Wii isn't a bad console at all. If you want a multiplayer system to keep you and your friends entertained, there's no better console. (And for the record, I'll sing Wii's praises all day long in contrast to Microsoft's consoles.) These few things I point out is meerly nitpicking... don't get so defensive, Phoenix.

Playstation fanboy! X-Box 4 Lyphe!

Psh, gtfo Gates lover!

*kicks*

I have a PS2, a Gamecube, and an XBOX.

I do not have any desire for a PS3, the Wii, or an XBOX 360...yet.

From my viewpoint, anyone who has any current gen console already is a fanboy.

But I love Bill... I have sex with him for money.

Anyway, if I had my own Wii, I still couldn't access the internet on it at school. Too many feckin' fire walls.

Just wanted to point something out. You can also buy Wii points from a store, like a card that gives you 2000 points.

And, out of curiousity, do ps3 or 360 have web browsers? Wireless?

Yes, the PS3 has a browser and Wi-fi. The 360... not sure.