Wii voting channel launches

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 February, 2007

We load it up and mess about.

Red or green? Monkeys or sharks? Age old questions that might now be put to bed thanks to a new Wii channel that sprang up overnight - the Everybody Votes Channel.

As the name suggests, it's all about voting. First you say where you're from, and then you can select up to six Miis to vote. Questions posed are different depending on the country - English samples included one about how you preferred your eggs - with three promised per week. There are also worldwide polls.

Selecting the poll takes you through to a voting screen where you use the tweezers approach (A and B buttons) to pick up and drop your Mii on the answer you prefer (boiled, obviously). You also get to predict how you think the poll will end.

Once you've done that, your data is sent off to wherever Nintendo keeps all this nonsense, and you're informed that you'll receive word - presumably through the Wii's built-in notification system - as to the results.

The main menu also allows you to keep an eye on your voting and prediction record (it'll remember up to 12 responses), and to see how your opinion lines up with the rest of the world's.

There's a facility to submit a question, too. Doing so advises you that Nintendo will then have the right to use it outside the Everybody Votes Channel, but Nintendo are nice people so we're sure they won't take your idea and sell it to rabbits or anything.

At that stage you're told your question will be considered, which raises its own question: who does the considering? And, for that matter, how often do they gather to do so? Are they a group of hooded elders camped in a smoky basement leafing through piles of paper and stamping them with Iwata's bloody approval? Or is it just Dave in admin?

Whatever the answer, the Everybody Votes Channel is free to download (just do a System Update), and has typically excellent music, which we're listening to in the background now. So hurrah for that.

Look out for more Wii downloads this Friday, when Europe gets its usual burst of Virtual Console additions. For more on other Wii channels, check out our coverage of the News, Weather and Internet variations, which are also free.

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 (50) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Darren #1 5 years ago

    I downloaded this morning along with the new system update but it was all a bit pointless really. While I'm all for Nintendo diversifying and stuff, I really wish they'd put more effort into releasing games for the *Wii* instead of all this gimmicky stuff. The Virtual Console has more games than the Wii!!!

  • mkreku #2 5 years ago

    This honestly sounds like crap.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #3 5 years ago

    Everyone send in questions moaning about VC issues. Maybe it helps :/

    As much as I like the voting channel I have my doubts that Nintendo focuses on the right things. It's a nice addition but the problems with VC should come first.

  • AcidSnake #4 5 years ago

    A very minor news item blown out of proportion with the usual humourous flair...
    Excellent read...

    Though this channel is not so very useful I think...
    How about a channel for new IP?

  • Mildew #5 5 years ago

    Totally agree - the new stuff is good to fiddle around with for a few minutes until the novelty wears off. How about a Demo Channel to download stuff to the Wii and DS - could have sworn I heard something about this a while back.

    And, Ninty, whilst you're thinking about it, how about some more games!

  • daku #6 5 years ago

    So... we get to fill in a questionaire?!! What am I 'voting' for?!
    Wot?!

  • Tonka #7 5 years ago

    Take the power back
    Right. Let's use Nintendos cunning weapon of finding out what users want against them. Let's use it to tell them how we want it.

    I suggest that we all submit the following poll:

    Q: Should Europe get 60Hz VC games?
    A: Yes / Absolutely

  • gizmo #8 5 years ago

    Useless tat.

  • Tonka #9 5 years ago

    Really, what use are videogames anyway? Time wastres the lot of them.

  • dbeamish #10 5 years ago

    Q. Do Europeans get gipped by Nintendo?
    A. Yes/No.

  • SBfistfun #11 5 years ago

    So this is Nintendo's answer to a rather barren release schedule.

    Dear o dear

  • Hog-lumps #12 5 years ago

    It may be useless to us (mature comptuer geeks) but I can see this being quite popular among the 'kids'.

    Maybe a good place to sort out those shoolyard arguments (i.e. which is the best Ninja Turtle? Would you 'do' the Ginger one form 'Girls Aloud? etc, etc).
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/07 @ 10:11

  • bushwod #13 5 years ago

    God, never have I heard people bitch so hard about something that's free.

    It's a bit of fun. If you don't like it don't use it.

  • MadMirko #14 5 years ago

    God, never have I heard people bitch so hard about something that's free.

    You must be new here. :)

    Anyway, like I just said in the forums:

    Could be really useful as well, stuff like "Which of the following games would you like next on VC?", or "Would you buy XY if we localised it?"

    Direct feedback between Nintendo and gamers. Has potential, and is really needed. :)

  • Tomster #15 5 years ago

    The scary thing is that there is a team of people out there somewhere who have been working on implementing this, someone who thought this was a great idea, someone who had to write the project spec... blimey!

  • Killerbee #16 5 years ago

    Question:

    Sonic or Mario?

    PS3 or 360?

    Daddy or chips?

  • Tonka #17 5 years ago

    Can you play VC games over component lead?
    Yes / No

    Take the power back

  • Lagto_Soa #18 5 years ago

    Answers to the original poll:
    1) Raphael
    2) Only if extremely drunk

  • MadMirko #19 5 years ago

    Oh, and how about "would you want VC games from other regions, even if not localized, maybe even in Japanese?".

    *sigh* Japan just got Shin Megami Tensei in VC, and already have a Fire Emblem...

  • SBfistfun #20 5 years ago

    Question:

    Invade the goo or nudge the poo?

  • Rob #21 5 years ago

    How about a channel for new IP?

    Miyamoto is going to talk about that in his forthcoming keynote, watch that space.

    Can you play VC games over component lead?
    Yes / No

    Yes, unless you have a *TV* which does not accept a 50Hz signal via component. The 'problem' isn't really at the Wii end of things.

  • Hog-lumps #22 5 years ago

    Answers to the original poll:
    1) Raphael
    2) Only if extremely drunk

    Heh! :-D

    edit:

    1) Donatello
    2) I'm not at all fussy
    Edited by 2 at 14/02/07 @ 10:42

  • craigy Verified Senior Developer, Eurogamer Network #23 5 years ago

    Scrambled!

  • AcidSnake #24 5 years ago

    @Rob:
    Really? Nice...I'll be watching then...

    Then a nice ScummVM channel...Loading roms from an SD card into it...
    Makes all those point&click fans happy...

    A nice chat channel from Wii to Wii would be nice, but would be impossible to get past Nintendo's childlocks/friendcodes...

  • sanctusmortis #25 5 years ago

    1. Donatello
    2. Oh God No.

  • Genji #26 5 years ago

    Raphael the best ninja turtle??? WTF

    Donatello. I mean, really.

  • Hog-lumps #27 5 years ago

    Raphael the best ninja turtle??? WTF

    Donatello. I mean, really.

    Indeed! - Donatello had the best weapon and the power of the MIND!

    \god, did I just say that?

  • Tonka #28 5 years ago

    @ Rob
    No, that is not true. My TV does handle 50Hz over component. It's Nintendos constant resolution switching it can't handle.

    Stop spreading lies.

  • septimus #29 5 years ago

    What's the point?

    Give me some games with some substance that aren't gimmicky and crap.

    Wii Sports is great, as is Zelda, but the rest suck. Reminds me of the early days of the DS launch, so still have hope they can pull this off.

    Poll: Does Nintendo hate Europe? - Yes / No.
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/07 @ 10:54

  • MadMirko #30 5 years ago

    No, that is not true. My TV does handle 50Hz over component. It's Nintendos constant resolution switching it can't handle.

    If that's the case, why don't you turn off the TV and on again after the final resolution / refresh rate is in effect?

    EDIT: And oh yes, I'm half kidding.
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/07 @ 10:58

  • Tonka #31 5 years ago

    I will give it a try.

  • MadMirko #32 5 years ago

    Thinking about it, it should be enough to just switch channels. From confused Wii input to something else and back again when all refresh rate changes have gone through.
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/07 @ 12:14

  • CallousB #33 5 years ago

    I just wish they would use their updates to sort out the blank signal Wii sends though RGB scart in wiiconnect standby mode.

  • Rob #34 5 years ago

    @ Rob
    No, that is not true. My TV does handle 50Hz over component. It's Nintendos constant resolution switching it can't handle.

    You mean, your TV can't handle the original resolution of the game over component? If that's the case, no amount of switching it on or off will change that.

  • Royal Fool #35 5 years ago

    It sounds like it might have some potential, but at the moment this is utterly pointless.

  • Tonka #36 5 years ago

    @Rob I can play Gunstar Heroes for as long as I want until I press the home button to pause/save. After that all I get is a "Signal unsuported".

    That tells me 2 things.
    1 I can play 50Hz games over component
    2 Nintendo are doing something that changes that fact

  • Lebowski #37 5 years ago

    Jeez, if you don't like it, just delete the Vote channel. This is just another way to that Ninty has of making the Wii a family console that even Grandma can enjoy. The other way is, er, Manhunt 2?

    I, for one, am anxiously waiting if Fried Eggs or more popular than Boiled Eggs.

  • Agent_Llama #38 5 years ago

    First thing I said to my friend regarting the voting channel was why on earth are Nintendo not concentrating on getting some games released for the bloody thing? Today was the first time in a fortnight I've fired the Wii up, for the sole purpose of getting the new channel. I would consider Kororinpa but it's out on the same day as FFXII. Grrr.

  • Hendo #39 5 years ago

    Oh come on!
    It's bloody free! And no-one knew it was coming, so it was a nice surprise.
    As for Take the power back, I submitted "do you like using friend codes?"

  • McBain #40 5 years ago

    Poached

  • MoGamer2006 #41 5 years ago

    Bloody Nintendo! How dare they give us something - and for free too, damn them! - that I can take or leave as I wish... They hate us... they really hate us.

    You know, I think I'm going to stop reading these forums... the amount of toys thrown out of prams over nothing is, quite simply, astonishing.

  • secombe #42 5 years ago

    a) it's free
    2) nobody is forcing you to download it
    c) anyone who thinks that this has stopped another potential games release is deluded

  • Tonka #43 5 years ago

    Finally made it hoe so that I could try it. It's totally inoffensive. I like it. I like the fact that I can bombard Nintendo with my 0Hz VC requests once a day. I feel like that guy in "Shawshank Redemption"

  • smelly #44 5 years ago

    >The Virtual Console has more games than the Wii!!!

    I'm gonna download the voting channel and nominate this for a vote on whether this is the stupidest thing anyone has ever read on an internet forum or not?

  • smelly #45 5 years ago

    >So this is Nintendo's answer to a rather barren release schedule.


    Compared to WHAT exactly? Compared to the ps3??? Have you SEEN the games released on ps3 since it's launch (at the same time?). Or compared to the 360 at this point last year?

    Gamers really are whinging dumbasses arent they?

  • spiny #46 5 years ago

    Vote now!

    Red: Kylie
    Green: Danni

  • MadMirko #47 5 years ago

    I like it. I like the fact that I can bombard Nintendo with my 0Hz VC requests once a day.

    0Hz? Hope they don't listen to you. :)

    How did things turn out with your TV?

  • smelly #48 5 years ago

    60hz? No thanks! I'd rather play mario world in 50hz, without the frame dropping when theres lots of bad guys on screen.

  • Geowolf #49 5 years ago

    Terrific, since downloading Nintendo`s latest update, I can no longer access the shop channel. It just gets stuck in connecting limbo. Thanks for breaking my console Nintendo. Ever heard of testing BEFORE release?

  • Ryze #50 5 years ago

    Nintendo haven't started offering downloadble demos yet?

    Hurry the f*ck up Nintendo - ur dragging your feet. Get Sega to give you Streets Of Rage 2 while ur at it.

    Edited by 1 at 18/02/07 @ 14:57