Nintendo reacts to Wii issues

By Tom Bramwell Published 22 November, 2006

Will be sorted by Euro launch.

Nintendo of America has moved quickly to sort out problems experienced by a handful of Wii owners whose consoles were "bricked" by a WiiConnect24 downloadable update.

The patch, of sorts, appears to have crippled a small number of consoles, and Nintendo's admitted that these will need to be replaced.

According to a report on IGN, the company has offered to replace consoles within 3-4 business days, although it will take slightly longer (4-10 days) to process consoles where customers want to retrieve stored data (for example, downloaded Virtual Console games).

Nintendo UK said that it expected the teething problems that have led to the problem to be resolved in time for the console's launch here on 8th December.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (67) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • The12thMonkey #1 5 years ago

    Oops. Bad problem. At least Ninty are up front and pro-active about it though.

    Edit: First :D Oh, right. No-one cares. Oh well :)
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 10:53

  • lambtron #2 5 years ago

    oops!

  • AcidSnake #3 5 years ago

    Any word on what the first game will be that actually uses the Wiiconnect24 service?

  • Basselito #4 5 years ago

    Now they just need to fix the issue with not being able use your saves on other machines exept for your own. If this isn't getting bricked and you need to change it that is. :)
    Then you will loose all your saves. :(

  • Talha #5 5 years ago

    Ha! I told you Nintendo suckssssss! There!

    ;-)

  • zam786 #6 5 years ago

    thank god we are getting ours next month by then pal consoles should be patched and ready

  • Psi #7 5 years ago

    infected wii's !

    is there an umbrella patch?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #8 5 years ago

    Sad to hear about the bricked consoles. Nintendo always seemed the most reliable console manufactor. But with such updates there is always a slim chance of something not working correctly, so I am not really surprised about it. They just have to iron out the bugs for the European release.

  • Rambaldi #9 5 years ago

    LOL. Red Rings Of 360 DOOOOOM MS SUXXX - my arse!

    Welcome to the club Sony and Ninty :)

  • chupachups #10 5 years ago

    "Nintendo always seemed the most reliable console manufactor. "

    Erm... how does this change that?

    All electronic product launches have things like this happen, at least in a tiny number of machines.

  • Dexter #11 5 years ago

    Psi made me choke on my coffee ;(

  • MadMirko #12 5 years ago

    Heh. Good to know that won't be a problem for Euro machines, though. Sometimes there is something to be said for living on the arse of the console world.

  • JHuxley #13 5 years ago

    "All electronic product launches have things like this happen, at least in a tiny number of machines."

    I hope everyone is so forgiving when the same inevitably happens with the PS3...

    "infected wii's !"

    Some antibiotics should sort that out :p
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 11:22

  • GChris #14 5 years ago

    "LOL. Red Rings Of 360 DOOOOOM MS SUXXX - my arse!

    Welcome to the club Sony and Ninty :)"

    What ever happens between MS and your arse is entirely your business.

    360 users aren't exactly immune from these kind of problems though...

    [link url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/09/xbox_update_ blunder/
    ]http://ww w.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/09/...[/link]

    Hopefully Nintendo aren't going to charge people shipping costs to get replacements for their bricked consoles.

  • Steroyd #15 5 years ago

    Welcome to the club Sony and Ninty :)

    I'm a bit shocked at the lack of malfunctioning PS3 news.

    Eurogamer is T3H B!A5£D.

    /hopes he l33ted Right.
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 11:25

  • Gurgeh #16 5 years ago

    And Sony is going to fix their problems as well - probably before this site reports the issues in the first place

    "Recently, some PlayStation 3 owners determined... the system does not include an internal resolution upscaler. Because most PS3 games output in 720p, this means that users with HDTVs that accept only a 1080i signal will have their games downscaled to 480p, commonly called Enhanced Definition.

    "Today, Sony acknowledged the issue, though noted that it is the fault of the individual television sets rather than the PS3 hardware. Affected sets tend to be older models, at least within the context of HDTV's lifetime to date. Some internet users have responded to these statements by pointing out that Sony itself has released HDTVs that would suffer from this problem."

    [link url=http://www.shacknews.com
    ]http://www.shacknews.com
    [/link]

  • Darren #17 5 years ago

    So if the PS3 doesn't have an internal scaler that means that 720p games really are 720p unlike on the Xbox 360 where at least four of its game are reputedly 600p upscaled to 720p (PGR 3, Battlefield 2: MC, Call of Duty 3 and Tony Hawk's Project 8).

    And are PS3s malfunctioning then? I've not read much on the net to suggest that they are... :?

  • MadMirko #18 5 years ago

    I hope everyone is so forgiving when the same inevitably happens with the PS3...

    That depends on whether Sony is able to ship you a replacement... or if you have to wait a few months.

    No manufacturer is immune to firmware flashing issues, they are judged by the way they handle them for the consumer.

  • manlord #19 5 years ago

    If this had been Sony this thread would be 100+ comments long.

  • Genji #20 5 years ago

    /remembers the days when consoles were guaranteed to last a long time

    /pats Dreamcast

    Bought it on release day, and it still works!

    /glances at NES in the corner

    It still works... eventually!

  • Rambaldi #21 5 years ago

    "Sony acknowledged the issue, though noted that it is the fault of the individual television sets rather than the PS3 hardware"

    /falls of chair laughing at Sony's continued LALALALA we can't hear you from our ivory tower hyperbole

  • Steroyd #22 5 years ago

    That's not the same as a hardware malfunction, that is actually fixable through a firmwire update apparently.

    Surprisingly the PSP hasn't been attacked by Firmwire updates, although Sony have suspicously launched a Firmwire 3.01 security update on the PSP today.

    So if you didn't upgrade to 3.00 yesturday looks like you can't exploit whatever Security hole was in it now.

  • mkreku #23 5 years ago

    One of the joystick ports on my Commodore 128 is broken. I'm going to sue Commodore! What is the world coming to when a hard-working chap like me can't trust my hardware for more than 21 years?!

  • PlugMonkey #24 5 years ago

    I'm a bit shocked at the lack of malfunctioning PS3 news.

    Well you'll have to wait for them all to get off ebay and into the hands of the end user...

  • Rambaldi #25 5 years ago

    @Darren

    Have you actually SEEN any of these games running on a 1080 set? I do, every night mate, and you're royaly talking out of yer arse. I can clealry tell the difference between a 720 and a 1080 game and COD3 for one IS NOT 720.

    "The true definition of HD" should at least have a scaler built in, no?
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 11:38

  • Steroyd #26 5 years ago

    Well you'll have to wait for them all to get off ebay and into the hands of the end user...

    Oh come on give credit where it's due the PS3 as had a whole weekend of Ebaying.

  • Rambaldi #27 5 years ago

    Anyhoo, where's all the PS3 and Wii reviews? Two huge events with a plethora of new games to review and we only get Resistance? Sheesh, even our own web-sites leave us till last - no wonder these Eastern manufacturers follow suit ;)

  • Talha #28 5 years ago

    Of course no such issues will crop up for PS3 since Sony consumer products are the most reliable and well-built ones currently available - I can look at my 3 PS2's and solemnly testify to that! Laptop batteries, you say? Sony would tell you they were more the fault of the laptop manufacturers rather than Sony themselves. That is why Dell and co. haven't sued Sony yet. And that is why we don't hear about any Vaio laptops exploding. ;-)

  • Rambaldi #29 5 years ago

    /goes off to gamespot's usually generous reviews section and browses the PS3 and Wii launch games...

    /...comes back with four key words: PS3 overpriced Wii novelty

  • neuroniky #30 5 years ago

    @Genji: I had to buy a second Dreamcast myself, after getting one imported Jap DC. Actually the culprit has probably been the usage of, well, not-so-legit discs, as those made the laser lens ping pong back and forth on the disc like there was no tomorrow.
    Still the best console I've ever had along with the SNES and the GCube.

  • SFA_AOK #31 5 years ago

    Is "bricked" really the right word? I thought it just knocked out the Wii's online functions i.e. you can still play games, just not go online...

  • peterfll #32 5 years ago

    Blimey, how many more times does it have to be said - if this happens in the UK you'll be able to take it back or send it back to where it came from to get a replacement too. This "sending back to the manufacturer" really only applies to the US where they don't seem to have very robust consumer protection laws like us.

  • drumbaby #33 5 years ago

    Pika Pi --

    /bricked

  • Nova5lag #34 5 years ago

    Well Im in the UK so I dont mind... itll all be sorted for when I have mine... I think I would actually cry if my wii died on me the day I got it. I cant remember being this excited about any gaming news since the day I got Zelda OOT for my N64... God that was a f-ing great day.

  • bonker #35 5 years ago

    N only have experience of vanilla old-school consoles remember - the Wii has tons of extra bits in, Wi-Fi, online stuff etc etc. Wouldn't surprise me if they have quite a few things to iron out.

    Oh, and those problems won't be fixed for the UK release - our consoles are already well into the sales channel (i.e. sitting in UK warehouses somewhere) so any fix will have to come via a download patch ...

  • Psi #36 5 years ago

    "If this had been Sony this thread would be 100+ comments long."

    well im reading the comments and so far the off topic discussion of sony consoles is in the lead, most the posts below don't even mention the wii :S


    (sorry dexter :p )

  • sanctusmortis #37 5 years ago

    Yeah, not heard of it totalling Wiis from anywhere else. Odd...

    The PS3s are breaking, yes. It's just there aren't many of them to complain about to start with. So there you go, the real reason there are so few PS3s: to keep the breakage chatter low!

  • escalinci #38 5 years ago

    This is rushed firmware. Hopefully they will test things properly in the future.

  • GiarcYekrub #39 5 years ago

    I do hate this automatic update lark it worries me that if I get a Wii and it's online all the time that it I may wake up one day and it will have died on me. The same goes for the 360 and truth be told the red light stories are a major factor for me not getting one yet. Also while I'm on the automatic update subject XP has been continuously trying to install a update that I've already got

    I just don't like the idea of some1 altering my hardware without my knowledge does any1 know if it does the updates without asking for either console?

    What about the consoles not connected to the net could they still be "Bricked" if they're connected or have Ninty reissued/withdrawn the update?

    I'm glad Ninty are replacing the faulty units themselves because as far as I know stores don't have spare stock, I wouldn't wanna wait.

    Ninty did two things for me ages ago 1.Replace N64 power lead due to recall(gave me £10 off Mario Kart for that) 2.Replaced a not broken Perfect Dark cart (that was Ninty's fault) both times it was quite quick or though I phoned Ninty UK this year to complain about CD-WOW sending me a US version of Mario Kart DS and they just said that it wasn't thier problem.
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 14:25

  • Feanor #40 5 years ago

    What puzzles me about Wii launch in the US is that a certain small percantage need a start-up disc to work. And unfortunately some of the Wiis that need a start-up disc to function, don't actually come with one.

  • Steroyd #41 5 years ago

    The PS3s are breaking, yes. It's just there aren't many of them to complain about to start with. So there you go, the real reason there are so few PS3s: to keep the breakage chatter low!

    MS shipped off 100k extra than what Sony did it's enough units for people to complain.

  • Muddtallica #42 5 years ago

    I was a bit surprised to hear about this tbh, given Nintendo stuff is usually pretty reliable, but I guess thinking about it it's not that surprising, given this is the first time they're had to deal with firmware updates and so forth. I was always a bit concerned about this patching culture that Microsoft introduced to the console world; it has many benefits, but downsides as well. Still, as long as this is fixed come UK launch, it's not a huge problem, same with any PS3 malfunctions.

    Nova5lag - "I cant remember being this excited about any gaming news since the day I got Zelda OOT for my N64."

    So if I'm correctly understanding your meaning, the news that US Wiis are being crashed by firmware updates has got you more excited about games than you have been in eight years? Whatever floats your boat, I guess. :p

  • Penguinzoot #43 5 years ago

    GiarcYekrub -

    Don't know about the Wii, but with the 360 you can decline an update but you will be signed out of Live. You will be prompted each time you restart to apply the update.

    As far as your Windows update issue is concerned, Windows Update checks more than just whether or not the update is already installed. Could be that there is a pre-requisite that has not been met, or maybe the update has been installed, but 1 or more components were not updated correctly. I've seen this happen where an MDAC install was broken (somehow) and led to the same symptoms.

    If you get an error code or error message either on the screen or in the event logs, search support.microsoft.com for it. You may also get some useful info from WindowsUpdate.log that you can search for as well.
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 15:18

  • The12thMonkey #44 5 years ago

    I've had faulty Nintendo hardware before, my NES, years and years ago. It died after about three weeks use. My dad got on the phone to Ninty and once it had been sent off, they had a new NES out to me within ten days.

  • icelt #45 5 years ago

    I'm still waiting for some nit to explain that this is in fact somehow Sony's fault.

  • peak_performance #46 5 years ago

    I thought that was common knowledge already?

  • miiiguel #47 5 years ago

    I had my PSP replaced twice, 1st had a big dent on the screen, 2nd had 17 dead pixels, 3rd (and actuak) has 4 dead pixels, but I phoned them, and:
    - Hello I'm on my 3rd PSP and this new one still has 4 dead pixels. (Me)
    - I'm sorry but we only replace units with more than 5 dead pixels. (Sony)
    - That can't be..., I don't want a new 250Eur malfunctioning device. I want a replace or my money back, please.
    - I'm really sorry sir, but out policy is regulated my XXX/XX European regulamentation.
    - I don't care, I dind't pay for a device with dead pixels, that was not advertised.
    - You got to live with it..., sir!
    < Sony hangs >
    /puts PSP in drawer, to never play it again/

  • JediMasterMalik #48 5 years ago

    I am also surprised by the low numbers of hardware malfunctions for the PS3. And surprised at the issues Nintendo are having.

  • icelt #49 5 years ago

    Wangh. Dead pixel refund/replacement rejections happen to laptop owners daily. If you want to immerse yourself in some bitching, visit the Apple forums any day (not to pick on Apple, I'm just aware of the gripe as a PBook owner).

  • LittleVoice #50 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:03:32 01-02-2012

  • miiiguel #51 5 years ago

    icelt: I don't know why you're upset with me for disagreeing with Sony's attitude, because having 4 shinny lights on a small screen is different from having it in 17" screens. Anyway I'm not "bitching", I'm just disappointed, I'm entitled to. I do not own Sony stocks nor do I have any kind of affective raltionship with a company, as many people seem to have (aka fanboys, I think...).
    For example I got a 40" Samsung TV wich I bought and my gf didn't like it, as a matter of fact she hated it and made me try to replace for a smaller model. Samsung immediatly said "no problem, pick what you want we give the money back as well if you want. Don't forget to try our products every so often"
    Imagine what, I do check Samsung products, allways!
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 16:53

  • jimbob101 #52 5 years ago

    Now they just need to fix the issue with not being able use your saves on other machines exept for your own. ....

    Is this true? So no copying your friends save files?

  • icelt #53 5 years ago

    miiguel: I don't even know you, how could I be upset with you? Regardless, I was just trying to point out, maybe a little gruffly and I apologize if that is how it was taken, that the dead pixel problem is very common is this "flat screen" age. Heck, even digital cameras have essentially the same issues and I'm sure those mfr's reject customers' replacement requests with similar justification. Now if you visit the Apple forums you will see some bitching ;) Imagine dropping $2,500 on a shiny new piece of aluminum ensconced computing hardware only to be distracted by a non-pristine display... well I think you can appreciate the annoyance.
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 17:06

  • icelt #54 5 years ago

    Holy cr*p (paint me an opaque shade of befuddled at this one):

    [link url=http:// ps3.ign.com/articles/747/747178p1.html
    ]http://ps 3.ign.com/articles/747/747178p1...[/link]
    Nike has also created a limited edition shoe to commemorate the PlayStation 3's release. Yes, really.

    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 17:32

  • Psychotext #55 5 years ago

    icelt: I'm amazed you can get away with dead pixels, in the UK at least. A product when sold has to meet its specifications and be fit for purpose. Well I'm guessing these specifications state that they can do 1280 x 1024 resolution (or whatever) so having a dead pixel means 1279 x 1023... so that's going straight back to the store. :)

  • dcangel #56 5 years ago

    Psychotext - part of the problem with the issue of dead pixels is the rather byzantine ISO standard governing dead pixels for Class II devices, under which category which most consumer-level devices fall. Most manufacturers don't interpret the standard correctly - some go above and beyond what is called for by the standard, but most seem to interpret it in a way that icauses them the least disadvantage (i.e. allowing them to get away with more pixel errors whilst still falling within the standard).

    The reason consumer devices fall under Class II and not Class I (which permits no defects at all) is that LCD technology is (or certainly has been) comparatively expensive to manufacture. If all devices sold fell under Class I, then all units with even one subpixel defect would have to be rejected, which would jack up the overall unit price as less units would be available to be sold versus the number manufactured. Which is bad for the consumer. As technology improves and pixel defects become less common, then who knows, this may become a non-issue.

  • icelt #57 5 years ago

    psycho: Although I'm in the States, I would presume that in Apple's case this stated policy is universal. http://do cs.info.apple.com/article.html?...

  • Psychotext #58 5 years ago

    dcangel: I see what you're saying. But the consumer law in this matter in the UK is pretty clear with regards to fit for purpose (I intended to display X resolution, I can't). I know people that have used this with retailers and they've backed down immediately. Of course, you can just stick to manufacturers that have 0 dead pixel policies to be sure.

  • icelt #59 5 years ago

    dcangel: That right there my friends is a highlight of the internet's greatness... good poop that you'd be hard pressed to fall across by any other means. "Hye five."

  • dcangel #60 5 years ago

    Psychotext - Well, more or less every device I've bought incorporating an LCD has carried a disclaimer somewhere in the manual (usually at the back with all the tech specs), stating something to the effect of "small numbers of stuck pixels are an unavoidable consequence of the manufacturing process and don't constitute a defect". Which is of course not strictly true, but nevertheless, the ISO standard means the manufacturer isn't obliged to replace screens with these kind of defects as part of the warranty. They can choose to, but they don't have to.

    As consumer law goes, I'm definitely no expert, but I think this might be a bit of a tricky area. I'd say that the item could still be seen as fit for purpose because it's still generally possible to use the item for its intended purpose of displaying images, and in fact there used to be a fairly obvious disclaimer at Dabs which clearly stated that they flat out wouldn't accept dead pixels falling below the limits of the standard as justification for returning an item. (Not sure if they still have this disclaimer or not.)

    Nevertheless, as you rightly say, the retailer can opt to replace such an item. I bought a GBA SP and found it to have a single dead pixel almost dead centre of the display. When I returned it to the shop later that day stating there was a dead pixel, they checked to make sure I wasn't trying to pull a fast one, and then handed me a new unit, no questions asked. I don't know what Nintendo's policy was at the time regarding dead pixels, so I can't say for sure if it's just the retailer being accommodating when they really didn't have to be.
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 18:08

  • bonker #61 5 years ago

    "What puzzles me about Wii launch in the US is that a certain small percantage need a start-up disc to work. And unfortunately some of the Wiis that need a start-up disc to function, don't actually come with one. "

    This is because some muppet put Wii's that were destined to go into in-store kiosks into the normal retail supply chain! :)

  • Dezm0nd #62 5 years ago

    Apparently this is related to certain wireless routers and their settings.

  • Psi #63 5 years ago

    jesus christ i check back at this topic and nobodys talking about the wii still... apple laptops psp's nike running shoes...

  • Psychotext #64 5 years ago

    dcangel: Obviously buying from a site that has a plain warning about not returning items with dead pixels would be a bad idea. Don't think something printed at the back of a manual would hold up if it really came down to a fight though. :)

    * Your statutory rights are not affected * - Damn straight they aint! Still makes me laugh when I see signs in shops saying "No Refunds". :D

  • dcangel #65 5 years ago

    Psychotext - Don't think something printed at the back of a manual would hold up if it really came down to a fight though. :)

    Probably not. Unless one of the combatants wrapped the manual page around a bat or other suitable implement. :)

  • penhalion #66 5 years ago

    Pretty correct in saying that you can return a PSP or DS or LCD screen with dead pixels. Fit for purpose means fit for the purpose YOU bought it for. If the dead pixels mean you can't look at photo's properly or they obscure certain text etc. etc. then you can bring it back and simply state that the device is not fit for purpose.

    Shops may argue with you but, you always have 30 days in which to change your mind about goods regardless of how annoyed a shop is with you for doing so. The no refund sign is just plain illegal!

  • varsas #67 5 years ago

    @penhalion:

    Fit for purpose means fit for the purpose YOU bought it for

    I don't think that's the case in a court of law; if it went that far it would be an objective view on "fit for purpose".
    Edited by 2 at 23/11/06 @ 11:08