NTSC-UK Wii FAQ Home and Abroad

[Red_Breast]

I've just ordered a US Wii. A few posts up camaj said something about connecting to a router and channels. I'm not entirely sure what these channels are. I have a Netgear that does wireless although I turned it off as I wasn't using it. I've never heard of these channels. I'll have to log in to the router and check. But any insight would help.
I was happy after reading the original sticky saying all hardware will work. Good job I checked the most recent posts. Is it true that a WiiMote purchased from the local GAME shop won't work? How about nunchuks. I actually bought a WiiMote to try WiinRemote and the Half-Life 2 Wiimote mod.
One more thing. I understand Opera has to be purchased now. Is it worth it? Anybody prefer it over PC/Mac web browsing?


Just checked the router. It was set for 11. I've learnt something new today and it's only half an hour old

[egparadigm]

I'd also like to know about any compatibility issues with Wii remotes from different regions. I heard UK ones tend to disconnect from the console when used on a US console. Is this true? Is it OK to get an asian one?

[MattyD]

The remotes are region free, but you have to synch them properly as described in the Wii instruction manual. I think this story came about because people were using the 'one-time' synch through the Home menu instead of synching all their remotes at once.

[egparadigm]

Cool, thanks. I thought it sounded daft, but didn't want to risk it.

[shadow_dancer]

I have a Wii NTSC version and get a black and white picture. Obviously my tv can do 60 hz, but has problem with the colour coding. Would it solve the problem to buy a S-video cable for my Wii? (As I understood the NTSC does not do RGB)

[MoFo2]

Does you TV accept NTSC 3,58? It's true that NTSC doesn't have a RGB-signal but I thought that would just decrease the quality of the picture (to composite) if used with a NTSC-console.

[Lyris]

I have a Wii NTSC version and get a black and white picture. Obviously my tv can do 60 hz, but has problem with the colour coding. Would it solve the problem to buy a S-video cable for my Wii? (As I understood the NTSC does not do RGB)

No. S-Video still relies on an NTSC or PAL colour subcarrier so you'd get the same black and white, even if your TV did accept an S-Video type signal.

Assuming you don't want to buy a new TV (I say that so casually...) then the best thing to do is probably to buy the Component video cable for the Wii and also get a transcoder to convert that to RGB SCART: http://www.keene.co.uk/electronics/m...?mycode=RGB2CE

A bit pricey, but cheaper than a new TV.

[Red_Breast]

Thanks to the person posting about synching WiiMotes.
Other hardware I was wondering about. The Classic pad. The Gamecube pad and Gamecube Memory card. And the Network adaptor.
My US Wii turned up today. My jaw dropped when I was quoted ?60 Customs fee. I didn't have that much on me and had to arrange next Wednesday (pay day) as a re-delivery day. It was right in front of me. So near yet so far!

[MattyD]

All controllers work fine including the Classic, GameCube and WaveBirds. However, the GameCube network adaptor and Game Boy Player can't be plugged into the Wii as it lacks the serial ports needed to connect them.

Memory cards are *technically* region free, but you can't load saves for the PAL version of a game, onto the US version of the same game. You also can't have JPN and USA/PAL saves on the same memory card or you'll corrupt it.

Note that GameCube memory cards are used only to save data from GameCube games, so unless you plan on replacing all your existing PAL GameCube games with US versions, you're probably better off leaving the memory cards alone and using them with your GameCube only. There's no need to plug them into the Wii otherwise.

Whilst I'm on the subject of memory cards, SD cards (used with Wii to either back up data or to view say photos from your digital camera) are obviously region free as they are PC peripherals.

[Red_Breast]

Thanks MattyD.
I was actually asking about the Wii Network adaptors. Should of made that clearer.
As for Gamecube I never got one. So a Wavebird will work regardless of territory? Do they have a dongle? Are they RF or infra-red? Just asking incase I go second-hand.
So now I wait till Wednesday. Still can't believe the ?60 Customs fee. Along with the console I've ordered Metroid 3 and Biohazard 4 Wii edition, the latter of which I still haven't played. I kept up with Nintendo consoles untill the N64. The only Gamecube games I'm after are the 2 Metroid ones and Biohazard Zero.
So yeah I won't ask if the Zapper gun is territory restricted
I appreciate that the Zelda training will be.
Talking of the Zapper do you know if Nintendo will be giving it away with all compatible games? I hear bad things about Umbrella Chronicles, surely not as bad as the Gun Survivor games, but those bikini babes in Ghost Squad look interesting.
Incidentally do you know what the customs fee is for a single game?

[Roddie]

Wavebirds are RF and the dongle that plugs into the controller port looks like this.

[Lyris]

As for Gamecube I never got one. So a Wavebird will work regardless of territory? Do they have a dongle? Are they RF or infra-red? Just asking incase I go second-hand.

They're RF (thank fork) and use a dongle, without any region lockouts.

[MattyD]

So now I wait till Wednesday. Still can't believe the £60 Customs fee... The only Gamecube games I'm after are the 2 Metroid ones and Biohazard Zero.

Incidentally do you know what the customs fee is for a single game?

That customs fee seems awfully steep TBH, how did you have it sent to you (courier or regular post)? I paid less than £20 tax on my US one only a few months ago.

I've never had a single game in a jiffy bag stopped by customs TBH, even when they have the full market value printed on the invoice. So many DVDs etc come from the Channel Islands and elsewhere that I think Customs and Excise don't have the time or manpower to bother checking them.

As for the Metroid games, make sure you get the Player's Choice (budget re-release, basically like a 'platinum' version) of Metroid Prime, as it has a tonne of bug fixes (inc. no more random crashes on opening doors) and a big plot hole edited out of the story text

[Red_Breast]

That customs fee seems awfully steep TBH, how did you have it sent to you (courier or regular post)? I paid less than ?20 tax on my US one only a few months ago.

I've never had a single game in a jiffy bag stopped by customs TBH, even when they have the full market value printed on the invoice. So many DVDs etc come from the Channel Islands and elsewhere that I think Customs and Excise don't have the time or manpower to bother checking them.

As for the Metroid games, make sure you get the Player's Choice (budget re-release, basically like a 'platinum' version) of Metroid Prime, as it has a tonne of bug fixes (inc. no more random crashes on opening doors) and a big plot hole edited out of the story text

Yes I had it delivered UPS courier. When I ordered it there wasn't much difference in price I seem to remember. I don't understand why customs charge so much for a courier package and not regular mail. Is it because once it's arrived in UK if it's courier it goes to the front of the queue and I pay for the priviledge? I ordered Monday evening and it arrived Friday afternoon.
Metroid Prime noted.
Apart from EBay any tips on picking up NTSC/US games in this country.
I've already had a mate ask me if he can borrow the console for Manhunt2 if US gets it and UK doesn't.

[SG]

That customs fee seems awfully steep TBH, how did you have it sent to you (courier or regular post)? I paid less than £20 tax on my US one only a few months ago.

I've never had a single game in a jiffy bag stopped by customs TBH, even when they have the full market value printed on the invoice. So many DVDs etc come from the Channel Islands and elsewhere that I think Customs and Excise don't have the time or manpower to bother checking them.

As for the Metroid games, make sure you get the Player's Choice (budget re-release, basically like a 'platinum' version) of Metroid Prime, as it has a tonne of bug fixes (inc. no more random crashes on opening doors) and a big plot hole edited out of the story text

Absolutely to that. MP1 pre-Player's Choice was a mess. Not that it's easy getting non PC games anyway. Being a collector I went to the trouble of getting the original style case but the PC game.

I do think that given MP3's fluid controls, you're going to detest MP1 & 2 - which I hope you don't as bar the controls they're IMO the best games ever made. I wish I could talk you into playing then first and then MP3!

Yes I had it delivered UPS courier. When I ordered it there wasn't much difference in price I seem to remember. I don't understand why customs charge so much for a courier package and not regular mail. Is it because once it's arrived in UK if it's courier it goes to the front of the queue and I pay for the priviledge?

They try to extort as much money as they can out of you by dressing things up, quite simply. You're paying tax, not a service - and then if you are liable for tax, you also have to pay a fee for having the company process it. Where'd you buy it from anyway?

I ordered Monday evening and it arrived Friday afternoon.
Metroid Prime noted.
Apart from EBay any tips on picking up NTSC/US games in this country.
I've already had a mate ask me if he can borrow the console for Manhunt2 if US gets it and UK doesn't.

I got my Wii marked down and it slipped past customs. Movietyme are slow to ship but always mark games as under $20 and all Wii games are £25 with free p&p so I'm loving the importing.

Videogameplus does the same apparently but their prices work out to around £33 once shipping is factored in.

A word of warning about the Wavebird - it doesn't support rumble like the wired pads. Wireless convenience pales when you have no rumble IMO.