Wii firmware updated

By Robert Purchese Published 7 August, 2007

Version 3 ruling roost.

Nintendo has rolled out a new firmware update for the Wii, which is available to download and install right now. Just select Wii System Update from the System Settings, like always.

The most noticeable changes have been made to the Wii menu, where a digital clock now displays the current time. And news and weather display icons will now be replaced by the latest headlines and local forecast, respectively.

Nintendo has also been tweaking the Message Board, which will now flash when there is something to read. You'll also be able to rearrange the order of your friends in your address book, receive a sent message history in Today's Accomplishments, have envelopes appear on your calendar on the date you received a message, and be able to scroll through lengthy deliveries by pressing the B button.

Registering to the Wii Friends service can now be done by pressing A on a blank spot in your address book, too.

The Wii Shop has also undergone a refit. A welcome screen will now recommend you four titles on arrival, and you'll be able to see popular choices, games you've downloaded, products by publisher, and new arrivals in a "What's New?" section. Sounds familiar. On top of that, general searching should now find what you're looking for a little more quickly and reliably.

Something about parental controls flashed up after we had installed the update, too, but we can't tell you what it is. Our parents won't let us. It isn't that we looked away at a Slitherlink in the garden or anything.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • cyacomini #1 5 years ago

    first!

  • Darren #2 5 years ago

    Some nice additions/improvements there.

    Hi-def 720p support and upscaling for older games confirmed for the v4.0 firmware. ;)

  • speedjack #3 5 years ago

    Do PAL virtual console games played through component games actually work now ?


    /wishful thinking

  • lennon #4 5 years ago

    I guess some of them must do as I was playing Paper Mario the other night. Any specific games you have problems with speedjack?

  • Atari_Boy #5 5 years ago

    Every VC game I have works via component. FZero, SMW, Sim City and Actraiser.

  • killyourtv #6 5 years ago

    sixth!

  • jmctavish #7 5 years ago

    I've tried everything except turbografx games through component and they all work perfectly fine.

  • Darren #8 5 years ago

    Virtual Console have always worked with component video, it's just they run in interlaced 480i/576i rather than progressive scan (480p/576p). I can't see that being any different now as the support has to be built into the games themselves and they're all so old that component video didn't even exist back then! I think the GameCube was the first Nintendo console to support progressive scan but the UK games didn't have the support built into them (unlike most UK Xbox games).

  • 5lectro #9 5 years ago

    Any news on the Stars points exchange?

  • Gavvie #10 5 years ago

    Lol, have a word.

    Knowing how slow Nintendo Europe are, they'll probably get around to implementing it just as the Wii is starting to get phased out.

  • BadBoyBonner #11 5 years ago

    Speedjack

    I have the same problem - but it is also dependant on your TV. Mine will not do 576i 50Hz through component (it does 576p no problem). Some do. If you TV does not, any game that is not 480p means you'll have to resort to crapola composite picture - which I can't be arsed doing with lead swapping.

    Luckily for me - I would have been happy dishing out £200 for a driveless Nintendo Wii Sports only machine with two controllers.

    It's a real shame about lack of 720p (even the old Xbox could pump that out) and once you get used to HD (I also have the full Sky HD package and 360) it looks bloody awful.

    I know it was never meant to look fantastic - but as time passes, it is getting worse as I view more and more HD stuff.

    Best looking game on the big screen through component on Wii is Sonic by a country mile - which uses the cheapo (forgotten the name) anti-aliasing technique, some call it blur filter, other's, call it the actual name which eludes me right now (sounded like an introduction for the Stigg! lol).

    I read an article (which actually stated how to switch it on) but can not find it, (will link if I do find it).


    So I hope the update is the ability to turn the filter/antialiasing - on or off independent of the game.
    Edited by 2 at 07/08/07 @ 17:09

  • indian23 #12 5 years ago

    LOL WII HAS FIRMWARE??

  • login_name #13 5 years ago

    "Hi-def 720p support and upscaling for older games confirmed for the v4.0 firmware."

    If only.

  • Wayne #14 5 years ago

    Call me an idiot, but wouldn't 720p either require:

    a) a chip for upscaling
    b) extra cpu power for outputting at higher resolution

    so as such, couldn't be done with a firmware update.

  • Wyrm #15 5 years ago

    ....hence the cries of 'if only'.

  • Tiel #16 5 years ago

    Actually got me thinking.
    720p could be done (though I doubt it will)
    Yes it needs more processor power, but the xbox could do it.
    All it means is more pixels. Something with strong shapes and colours like galaxy might look better in 720p without demanding the impossible from the gpu/cpu

  • Razorus #17 5 years ago

    So no Mii channel update then? I was hoping for more customization options such as new hairstyles and clothes for my Miis. Ah well. Also, the ability to rearrange the Channels on the dashboard to my preferance would have been nice. All those Zelda VC Downloads are in the wrong order!

  • remote #18 5 years ago

    You can already rearrange your channels! hold down B first, then click a to pick it up, then drop it where ever you like. Hover over the left and right arrows to go to another screen.

  • indian23 #19 5 years ago

    DUDE WHATS WII FIRMWARE LOL

  • Santino #20 5 years ago

    i dont know if it has anything to do with the firmware update but i updated all the available games i have bought that it applied to in the shop channel, and now i can play them over component with my tv now (previously i had to switch cables due to my tv), which is far better. only a few of mine arent working now(unfortunately super mario world is one such example) but at least it should be fixed at some point.

  • DaDon123456 #21 5 years ago

    Can someone tell me if this update 'bricks' a Wii that is chipped?
    And before you ask, I only use my chipped wii to play Virtual Console games that I already have on other platforms.

  • orakio #22 5 years ago

    well I'll be darned. One can adjust sensitivity of the wiimote? :-P

    (was browsing through settings. thoroughly this time)

  • Kafeen #23 5 years ago

    "Some nice additions/improvements there."

    Like? It all looked rather meh to me.

  • daz_john_smith #24 5 years ago

    I also want to know when I can start trading in these currently useless Star Points I've collected since owning a GameCube for Virtual Console points

  • Daikon #25 5 years ago

    Enough with the firmware updates already.

    Nintendo, we need more noses for our Miis!

  • Pooley #26 5 years ago

    Apparently, this latest upgrade has borked Freeloader. Haven't tried it myself yet, but that'll be annoying if I want to play my US Cube games on my UK Wii. Knew I should have bought a US Wii.

  • Lost_in_Darkness #27 5 years ago

    There's another feature that this update has added. USB Keyboard support!

    It may not work on all USB keyboards, possibly not on very old ones, but it has been noted to work by a lot of people, even with wireless keyboards.
    As of now it only works in the Wii Message board, however an update is expected to Opera some time in the near future.

    But this also means that games can use the keyboard if developers so do desire.

    Oh, forgot to say it also works in the Shop Channel. I tested myself with my own logitech wireless keyboard and can confirm that it does indeed work.
    Edited by 1 at 08/08/07 @ 11:29