Today sees the launch of an exciting new communications tool, as Nintendo launches the innovative Wii Speak accessory and its associated communications portal, the ‘Wii Speak Channel’. The launch of both will help Nintendo to create new social gaming experiences for all.  From today you can also experience the full benefits of Wii Speak with the launch of Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City for Wii which comes bundled with the game.

The Wii Speak accessory enables Wii users to easily connect to and talk directly with each other* through their Wii console, using the free-to-use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection**. Wii Speak is placed on or in front of the TV in the centre of your living room, which means conversations can be picked up from an entire room of people. This ensures that your friends and family can converse in comfort with you - whether they are just up the road or half way across the world, enabling true global communication on your Wii.

Launching simultaneously, the Wii Speak Channel***, which is downloaded and accessed from the Wii menu, will act as a portal to allow up to four different locations to connect, chat and share images and texts anywhere in the world at no extra cost. The Wii Speak accessory and Wii Speak channel work in conjunction with each other. When a Wii user purchases the Wii Speak accessory, a Wii Download Ticket is provided which contains a unique number. The ticket, is then redeemable via the Wii Shop Channel, and will enable the user to download the Wii Speak Channel free of charge to a single Wii console.

In addition Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City which is also available across Europe today is the first game to utilise the functionality of the Wii Speak accessory.  The Wii Speak accessory is fully integrated into the game, so you can chat with others when playing via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Not only can you now immerse yourself into your own fully customised virtual world but also share it, chat about it and enjoy it with your friends and family who are also playing the game, however far away they may be.

The Wii Speak accessory can be purchased as a bundle with Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City or as a separate Wii accessory. The Wii Speak Channel is made available to redeem via the Wii Shop Channel when the Wii Speak accessory is purchased.

* Users are required to share their private Friend Codes to be able to communicate with each other, which makes the experience safe.

** there are no fees or subscriptions to pay (Usual broadband line rental and Internet Service Provider costs apply when accessing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection at home)

*** 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 user who misplaces their Wii Download Ticket number for the Wii Speak Channel or requires a new number following a Wii exchange, can contact their local Nintendo Customer Services department, where they can request a replacement Wii Download Ticket number.