PixlBit

A unique user interface that stood the test of time and provided some fresh ideas about content on a game console.

Just for Fun

Even if they weren’t that widely used, the news and weather services sure seemed to be natural applications to have on the Wii.  Branching out into stranger territory, Nintendo launched two channels that gave people something to do that was wholly unnecessary and entirely for fun.

Everybody Votes Channel:

The Everybody Votes Channel gives users the chance to vote on a series of questions and then check back later for the
compiled results.  The questions asked are some of the most meaningless imaginable.  Do you prefer solid or patterned socks? Would you rather receive a handwritten letter or typed e-mail?  Once you decide your heartfelt opinion on these matters, you grab your Mii by the head and dump them on your selection.  Manhandling your Mii to cast a vote is sort of fun a few times, but even that gets dull after the first or second visit to the channel. 

Each set of results is revealed (once the polls close) with Miis scattering about until they align in a pie chart showing the voting split.  It’s actually a suspenseful reveal, but then once you re-remember what opinions are being displayed, interest again wanes.  The channel is still offering new questions to date, so feel free to check back in and let the world know if you prefer fairy tales or ghost stories! 

RATING:  Men have been shot over smaller quibbles

Check Mii Out Channel:

The Check Mii Out channel is a cross between the Mii Channel and the Everybody Votes Channel.  Fortunately, it’s a bit more entertaining than Everybody Votes, but it really ought to have been integrated into the Mii Channel itself since it’s basically an extension of those functions. 

Check Mii Out offers contests that forced people to think about designing new Miis.  Some were simple historical figure look-alike contests and others had more potential for laughs with themes like “the meanest bully.”  It’s a neat way to get some ideas for making new Miis on your own, and it allowed you to move any contest winners into your Mii Plaza.  If you entered a contest yourself, you could see how well your Mii fared amongst voters to hone your skills for next time – if you think people were actually making reasonable picks.

Checking in on the Check Mii Out channel, it looks like not much has changed, including the contest subjects.  A current contest is to design a Cleopatra Mii, which was also a contest when the channel launched. It also seems like more and more people are just dumping random Miis into each category unless you really think a large black woman looks like Wario without a hat on. 

RATING:   Great way to acquire even more Michael Jacksons