You speak, they listen: Nintendo clarifies ‘no second hand’ Wii Speak lock-out

The other week, a news item from MTV Multiplayer noted that only a brand-spanking new Wii Speak peripheral will ever be of use. This effectively locks out any second hand buying. Cue an uproar from the Internet masses (Mister Common Sense and ISOHaven included) and enter Nintendo. They just clarified the matter: second-hand buyers can still redeem their Wii Download Ticket Number through other means.

The other week, a news item from MTV Multiplayer noted that only a brand-spanking new Wii Speak peripheral will ever be of use. According to MTV, this is because the microphone (speakerphone, more like) accessory came with a specific Wii Download Ticket Number, which you need to download the Wii Speak Channel with.

This effectively locks out any second hand buying, because unless the original person who first bought the unit didn’t use the Ticket, your second hand unit will be devoid of a Ticket. Which means no Wii Speak Channel. And if you have no Wii Speak Channel… well, tough luck.

Nintendo has clarified on the matter now, however, following quite an uproar from the Internet masses (apparently, it’s not only Mister Commen Sense and ISOHaven doing the uproar). Here’s a Nintendo representative issuing a statement to Eurogamer:

Nintendo can confirm that when consumers purchase the Wii Speak accessory, they are provided with a Wii Download Ticket with a unique number. The ticket, which can be redeemed via the Wii Shop Channel, will enable the user to download the Wii Speak Channel free of charge to a single Wii console.

Any consumer who may have misplaced their Wii Download Ticket number for the Wii Speak Channel or require a new number following a Wii exchange may contact their local Nintendo Customer Services department, where they can request a replacement Wii Download Ticket number.

Note the line which goes “…or require a new number following a Wii exchange” – presumingly, that line is the salvation of the second hand Wii Speak buyer, my friends – unless PR speak is trying to give us a 1-2 punch again.

• Wii Speak peripheral: your ONLY gateway to the Wii Speak Channel, don’t buy second hand
• Downloadable Wii Speak Channel coming in December

Via Eurogamer