Topic: PDP Headset Not Compatible with Existing Wii Speak Titles

[NWR_Neal]

The Wii Speak alternative won't work with existing games, for now.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23506

 One of the questions gamers had about PDP's upcoming Headbanger Headset - a Wii Speak replacement - was whether or not it would be compatible with existing games that utilize Wii Speak.  Unfortunately, a PDP representative that we talked to recently confirmed that it is not compatible with existing games at the present time.    

   

The reason for this lack of compatibility is that the headset requires a special driver to be present in order for it to function with a game.  This explains why the upcoming Conduit 2 will work with the device, since the driver will presumably already be present on the game disc.    

Games can theoretically be patched to include the driver, however.  When pressed as to whether or not Nintendo or Capcom would be offering patches for games like Animal Crossing or Monster Hunter Tri, our contact stated that that information is not available "just yet".

[broodwars]

So...if the few Wii Speak titles that already exist can't support it, what will and why should any company support it?   

[NWR_Lindy]

Conduit 2 will be a big reason to own this.  Hopefully it's easy to patch existing games...Monster Hunter Tri support is pretty much mandatory, I think.

[AV]

Is this an easy firmware update from Nintendo or something that needs to be put onto the disk?


I'm wondering if Goldeneye will use it

[Jonnyboy117]

Goldeneye isn't even supporting Wii Speak (that could change, but I don't expect it to).

So right now, this is the Conduit 2 headset. They're going to have trouble convincing people to buy it for just one game. The patching idea seems far-fetched on the Wii, which isn't set up for game patching. I can see the original Conduit possibly be patched for the headset, but I wouldn't hold my breath for Monster Hunter, and it's out of the question for Nintendo titles like Animal Crossing and Endless Ocean 1/2. (Whoa, did I just name every Wii Speak game?)

[BeautifulShy]

Goldeneye isn't even supporting Wii Speak (that could change, but I don't expect it to).

So right now, this is the Conduit 2 headset. They're going to have trouble convincing people to buy it for just one game. The patching idea seems far-fetched on the Wii, which isn't set up for game patching. I can see the original Conduit possibly be patched for the headset, but I wouldn't hold my breath for Monster Hunter, and it's out of the question for Nintendo titles like Animal Crossing and Endless Ocean 1/2. (Whoa, did I just name every Wii Speak game?)

No there is NBA2K10,NHL2K10 and the Wiiware Uno game out now.The Grinder will support it too in the future as well.

[TJ Spyke]

Endless Ocean doesn't support Wii Speak, only its sequel does.

[greybrick]

I wonder what percentage of Wii users are even interested in the current online services and games offered on the platform. I am interested in what Nintendo and third parties could do with the Wii online, but I have yet to have an online Wii experience that I returned to. Nintendo upset me when Animal Crossing fell completely short of its possibilities, especially with WiiConnect 24, so I didn't expect much to ever come out of Wii Speak.

[NWR_Lindy]

They're going to have trouble convincing people to buy it for just one game.

It's worked for Wii MotionPlus so far.

HEY-OH

[Mop it up]

Don't forget Tetris Party Deluxe, that's another game which supports Wii Speak.

I'm not surprised by this at all. The Wii Speak is only a microphone, it has no speakers, and instead incoming voices come from the television's speakers. If this headset were only a microphone then it could work with Wii Speak-compatible games, or it could emit the entire game's audio, but it can't separate the voices from the main game audio.

[UncleBob]

Don't forget Tetris Party Deluxe, that's another game which supports Wii Speak.

I'm not surprised by this at all. The Wii Speak is only a microphone, it has no speakers, and instead incoming voices come from the television's speakers. If this headset were only a microphone then it could work with Wii Speak-compatible games, or it could emit the entire game's audio, but it can't separate the voices from the main game audio.

It'd be a complicated little device, but there's no reason that it couldn't plug into the Wii via USB *and* into the A/V port, providing a pass-through for the Audio and Video, while also supplying the audio to the headset.

[Mop it up]

Wouldn't that still have the entire game audio come out of the headest, instead of just the voices? I think that's what they don't want. You could get the same effect if you just use a pair of headphones and tape a Wii Speak to your cheek.

[UncleBob]

I assumed it was for better audio quality when it came to picking up the voices.

You could, in theory, create the headset both ways - but have new games recognize that you have the headset in vs. having Wii Speak in (or, make it an option to turn off/on-headset/on-Wii Speak).  If you have Wii Speak on, all audio (via A/V port) goes through the headset.  If you have headset on, only voices transmit through the headset (via USB dongle).