Nintendo Staggers in the Right Direction

Nintendo continues its trend of being the craziest game company out there with its leap into online communication. Other companies played it safe by handing out the tried-and-true headsets to their hoards of online participants, but Nintendo took its time. When your products are printing money, what’s the rush?

Finally, Nintendo unveiled its answer to the bumbling online communicating portion of their games. Tired of playing Mario Kart Wii online, only to wonder if there is really anyone out there? Soon, the days of playing online with only a few pre-programmed texts will be gone and the days of shouting at the TV will commence. That’s right, Nintendo is unleashing a microphone attachment for the Wii. As usual, they have taken a conventional device, thrown it in the trash, and done it their way.

Their solution is a small box, reminiscent of a PA speaker, that sits atop the infrared sensor. This mic, dubbed WiiSpeak, absorbs all the sounds and ambience that might enter the room and sends it roaring through the Internet into someone else’s room. That’s right, Nintendo basically created a black hole for the living room. It is meant to be a relaxing alternative to the headset that is used by gamers and helicopter pilots alike.

Of course, Nintendo’s unique microphone does lend itself to some weird situations. If it is just sitting on top of the TV, does that meant that people across the internet will be able to hear your mother yell at you about taking out the trash/walking the dog/peeing the bed? This will surely take the embarrassment of an online game to a whole other level.

Nintendo has always emphasized their concern for a secure family oriented community with the crippling friend codes and lack of chat between strangers. With that in mind, how will this microphone change the security of their games? Will it require even more codes to chat with someone? Maybe a signed release from your guardian?

It is great to see Nintendo treating the online realm with a bit of respect, but it will be interesting to see how this is utilized. Will it work well enough to build large communities that grow, laugh, and trade fruits together? Or will no one use it in fear of hearing a dirty word enter their living room? It arrives in stores with Animal Crossing: City Folk (which is about as kid friendly as it gets), so let’s hope the censorship is not too prevalent.

After all, with this microphone, maybe now I will have someone to talk to about the money I owe T. Nook and my never-ending gambling problem, as well as my unhealthy obsession with Raisin Bran Crunch.