View source for Software:Wii Speak

{{short description|Microphone accessory for the Wii}}
{{Infobox Video game system
|title          = Wii Speak
|logo           = 
|image          = File:Nintendo-Wii-Speak-Mic.jpg
|manufacturer   = [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]
|type           = [[Microphone]]
|lifespan       = {{vgrelease|NA|November 16, 2008<ref name="Release">{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6198683.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123230120/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6198683.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-23 |title=Nintendo reveals UK dates for Wii Speak, Animal Crossing |access-date=2008-10-07 |date=2008-10-07 |publisher=GameSpot UK }}</ref>|EU|December 5, 2008<ref name="Release" />}}}}
'''Wii Speak''' is a microphone accessory for [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]'s [[Engineering:Wii|Wii]] home video game console. Connected to the console via USB, the device can be placed near the video display, which allowed voice chat to be conducted within entire rooms across multiple households.<ref name="filter">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/07/how-nintendos-w/ |title=How Nintendo's WiiSpeak Mic Works |access-date=2008-08-02 |last=Kohler |first=Chris |date=2008-07-24 |work=Game{{!}}Life |publisher=Wired }}</ref> The device features an [[Engineering:Light-emitting diode|LED]] indicating when the microphone is active.

Wii Speak was announced at Nintendo's 2008 E3 media briefing. It was released on its own, as well as in a bundle alongside ''[[Software:Animal Crossing: City Folk|Animal Crossing]]'', on November 16, 2008 in North America, and on December 5, 2008 in Europe.

The Wii Speak accessory was succeeded by the embedded microphone on the [[Engineering:Wii U|Wii U]]'s GamePad controller.<!-- The official Wii U karaoke microphone is not direct successor to Wii Speak, but is actually the successor to the licensed karaoke microphones which were bundled with some music Wii games --> Nevertheless, the Wii Speak hardware is still compatible with the Wii U.
==Design==
[[File:Nintendo-Wii-Speak.jpg|thumb|right|The Wii Speak shown with its USB cord]]
According to Shigeru Miyamoto, the microphone was designed to "clearly capture many different voices being spoken in a room at the same time and convey that over the Internet."<ref name="Miyamoto" /> Addressing concerns over background noise due to the placement of the microphone near a television set, ''Animal Crossing: City Folk'' producer Katsuya Eguchi stated that the device was designed to [[Filter (signal processing)|filter]] out video game sound from the audio speakers.<ref name="filter" /> Miyamoto noted at the time that the quality of the noise filtering functionality in the Wii Speak is "very good", which may have contributed to the cost of the device.<ref name="Miyamoto" /> An on/off switch was originally planned, but the microphone was ultimately designed to only turn on when a compatible game wants access to it.

==Software==
In addition to the standalone accessory, the Wii Speak was also made available as a [[Product bundling|bundle]] alongside ''Animal Crossing: City Folk''. However, it was not originally Nintendo's intention to release such a bundled product.

At E3 2008, when asked why the device would not be bundled with ''City Folk'', Nintendo senior managing director Shigeru Miyamoto replied that cost was the factor behind the decision, adding that some users may prefer playing the game without a microphone, and that others may want to use Wii Speak who are not interested in buying ''City Folk''.<ref name="Miyamoto">{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/890/890133p1.html |title=E3 2008: Miyamoto Talks WiiSpeak |access-date=2008-08-02 |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=2008-07-15 |work=IGN Wii |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318140417/http://wii.ign.com/articles/890/890133p1.html |archive-date=2012-03-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite these initial statements however, Nintendo later revealed that a bundle of the Wii Speak, along with ''City Folk'', would indeed be released, as well as the standalone versions of each.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=55122 |title=Nintendo to offer Animal Crossing City Folk/Wii Speak bundle |access-date=2008-09-09 |publisher=GoNintendo |date=2008-09-07}}</ref> This bundle was a limited edition, and was released the same day as the standalone products.<ref name="Cammie">{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/915/915864p1.html |title=Interview: Cammie Dunaway |access-date=2008-10-14 |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Casamassina |date=2008-10-02 |work=IGN Wii |publisher=IGN Entertainment |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019071627/http://wii.ign.com/articles/915/915864p1.html |archive-date=2008-10-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Wii Speak Channel===
{{infobox VG Online Service
|title        = Wii Speak Channel
|logo         = [[File:Wii Speak Channel titlescreen.png|150px]]
|developer    = [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]
|type         = [[Social:Online chat|Online voice-only chat]]
|update       = March 27, 2009
|status       = 
|released     = December 5, 2008
|platform     = [[Engineering:Wii|Wii]]
|members      = 
|website      = 
}}
[[Image:WiiSpeakChannel.jpg|thumb|Wii Speak Channel|left]]
On October 2, 2008, Nintendo announced that Wii Speak would have its own Wii Channel. The Wii Speak Channel could be unlocked for download with a 16-digit "Wii Download Ticket" included with the Wii Speak package upon purchase. Only those who entered the 16-digit code on the Wii Shop Channel (prior to its closure) were allowed to download the Wii Speak Channel, which officially launched on December 5, 2008.<ref name="WiiSpeak Channel">{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/915/915632p1.html |title=WiiSpeak Gets a Dedicated Channel |access-date=2008-10-02 |date=2008-10-02 |last=DeVries |first=Jack |publisher=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005034408/http://wii.ign.com/articles/915/915632p1.html |archive-date=2008-10-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> If for any reason the download ticket was lost, or used on another Wii, users could at that time obtain a new download ticket by emailing Nintendo. Prior to launch, customers could download the "Wii Speak Channel Download Assistant", a channel which gave information about the release of the Wii Speak Channel. Following the release, the Download Assistant updated and converted itself into the actual channel.

The Wii Speak Channel allowed one to chat with Wii Friends (who also had the Wii Speak and the Wii Speak Channel) within one of four "rooms".<ref name="Cammie" /> There was no limit to the number of people that could be in each "room".<ref name="Cammie" /> Each user was represented by their Mii avatar, whose mouths were lip synced to the user's spoken words. In addition, users were also able to leave audio messages on the [[Engineering:Wii|Wii]] message board for other users, as well as make audio captions for their stored photos. Users could also share photo slideshows and comment on them.<ref name="Cammie" />

The Wii Speak Channel was also available via the Wii U's "Wii Mode", though it had no functional use, as the Wii U's Wii Mode has no friend codes.  However, the Wii Speak peripheral itself does function on the Wii U with games that support it. The Wii Speak channel is no longer available for download due to being discontinued, and any download codes that are used result in an error message stating that the channel is no longer available.

The Wii Speak Channel ceased functionality after May 20, 2014 when the free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service was discontinued. The Wii Speak Channel was succeeded by the Wii U Chat videochat app for the [[Engineering:Wii U|Wii U]].

{{Clear}}

===Compatible games===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:20%;"|Title
! style="width:20%;"|Developer
! style="width:12%;"|Publisher
! style="width:12%;"|Release date N. America
! style="width:12%;"|Release date Japan
! style="width:12%;"|Release date Europe
! style="width:12%;"|Release date Australia
|- align=center
| align=left|''[[Software:Animal Crossing: City Folk|Animal Crossing]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/889/889629p1.html |title=E3 2008: Animal Crossing Coming to Wii |first=Jack |last=DeVries |publisher=IGN |date=2008-07-15 |access-date=2008-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718104026/http://wii.ign.com/articles/889/889629p1.html |archive-date=2008-07-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Nintendo EAD
| [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]
| November 16, 2008
| November 20, 2008
| December 5, 2008
| December 4, 2008
|- align=center
| align=left|''[[Software:Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep|Endless Ocean 2]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/4SheQX4csiGffF3TZaDBFL4oVt99GF-I |title=Nintendo.com description page |access-date=2010-02-12}}</ref>
| [[Company:Arika|Arika]]
| Nintendo
| February 22, 2010
| September 17, 2009
| February 5, 2010
| February 25, 2010
|- align=center
| align=left|''NHL 2K10''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/100/1006389p2.html |title=NHL 2K10 Feature Blowout |access-date=2009-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726125459/http://wii.ign.com/articles/100/1006389p2.html |archive-date=2009-07-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| [[Company:Visual Concepts|Visual Concepts]]
| [[Company:2K Sports|2K Sports]]
| September 15, 2009
| 
| October 23, 2009
|
|- align=center
| align=left|''[[Software:NHL 2K11|NHL 2K11]]''
| [[Company:Visual Concepts|Visual Concepts]]
| [[Company:2K Sports|2K Sports]]
| August 24, 2010
| 
| October 8, 2010
|
|- align=center
| align=left|''[[Software:The Conduit|The Conduit]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/03/the-conduit-motionplus/ |title=‘The Conduit’ Already Has ‘MotionPlus’ Support, WiiSpeak Too |access-date=2008-10-18 |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=2008-10-03 |work=MTV Multiplayer |publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref>
| [[Company:High Voltage Software|High Voltage Software]]
| [[Company:Sega|Sega]]
| June 23, 2009
| 
|
|
|- align=center
|align=left|''[[Software:Uno (video game)|Uno]]{{r|group=Note|d}}''
|[[Company:Gameloft|Gameloft]]
|[[Company:Gameloft|Gameloft]]
|January 25, 2010
|October 20, 2009
|November 6, 2009
|
|- align=center
|align=left|''[[Software:NBA 2K10|NBA 2K10]]''
|[[Company:Visual Concepts|Visual Concepts]]
|[[Company:2K Sports|2K Sports]]
|November 9, 2009
|
|November 27, 2009
|
|- align=center
|align=left|''[[Software:NBA 2K11|NBA 2K11]]''
|[[Company:Visual Concepts|Visual Concepts]]
|[[Company:2K Sports|2K Sports]]
|October 5, 2010
|October 14, 2010
|October 8, 2010
|October 8, 2010
|- align=center
|align=left|''[[Software:Monster Hunter Tri|Monster Hunter Tri]]''<ref name="Classes">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/monster-hunter-tri-hands-on|title=Monster Hunter 3 Tri Hands On|last=MacDonald|first=Keza|date=2009-10-28|publisher=Eurogamer|access-date=2009-12-15}}</ref>
|[[Company:Capcom|Capcom]]
|[[Company:Capcom|Capcom]] (NA)
[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] (EU)
|April 20, 2010
|August 1, 2009
''(No Wii Speak support)''
|April 23, 2010
|April 29, 2010
|- align=center
|align=left|''[[Software:Tetris Party|Tetris Party Deluxe]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/puzzle/tetrispartydeluxe/review.html|title=Tetris Party Deluxe Review|last=Fishman|first=Brian|date=2010-07-06|publisher=GameSpot|access-date=2010-07-27}}</ref>
|Hudson Soft
|[[Company:Majesco Entertainment|Majesco Entertainment]]
|June 1, 2010
|
|September 3, 2010
|October 14, 2010
|- align=center
|align=left|''[[Software:Jeopardy!#Games|Jeopardy!]]''<ref name="jeowof">{{cite web|url=http://www.wiinintendo.net/2010/06/10/jeopardy-and-wheel-of-fortune-to-use-wii-speak/|title=Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune to use Wii Speak|date=2010-06-10|publisher=WiiNintendo|access-date=2010-10-29}}</ref>
|[[Company:THQ|THQ]]
|[[Company:THQ|THQ]]
|November 2, 2010
|
|
|
|- align=center
|align=left|''Wheel of Fortune''<ref name="jeowof"/>
|[[Company:THQ|THQ]]
|[[Company:THQ|THQ]]
|November 2, 2010
|
|November 19, 2010
|
|- align=center
|align=left|''Mix Superstar''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/news/2010/11/digital_leisures_mix_superstar_decks_wiiware_on_monday|title=Digital Leisure's Mix Superstar|date=2011-11-04|publisher=NintendoLife|access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref>{{r|group=Note|d}}
|[[Company:Digital Leisure|Digital Leisure]]
|[[Company:Digital Leisure|Digital Leisure]]
|November 8, 2010
|
|
|
|}

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=d>Game was only available on the WiiWare download service.</ref>
}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


[[Category:Microphones]]

fr:Wii#Wii Speak

{{Sourceattribution|Wii Speak|1}}