# Virtual Console; Nintendo Wii Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679 "2007-06-27T20:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/1 "2007-06-27T20:34:13Z")
I want to get some VC games for my Wii. I dont have a broadband connection. None of my friends have broadband either. I’m pretty much screwed, right? Or can they be obtained any other way? Can I download VC games onto an SD card then copy them to the Wii? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/2 "2007-06-27T20:46:10Z")
Sorry to say, but I’m pretty sure you’re out of luck. To prevent unauthorized duplication, Nintendo specifically made it so Virtual Console games cannot be loaded onto an SD card. This means the games have to be downloaded directly to the Wii. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/3 "2007-06-27T21:11:29Z")
Well, they can be loaded onto an SD card but they’re digitally signed for each Wii. You can’t transfer them between systems. Even the network adapter that they have for the Wii is strictly broadband. There aren’t options for dial-up users. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/4 "2007-06-27T22:22:20Z")
Bugger. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/5 "2007-06-27T22:47:44Z")
You _can_ do it! All you need to do is get the broadband adapter for your PC, which takes your normal internet connection, and broadcasts it over wifi. It’s a USB dongle. > **[Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Adapter Hands-on - IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/07/nintendo-wi-fi-usb-adapter-hands-on)** > > Just how easy is it to connect the DS to the internet? Nice and easy! ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/6 "2007-06-27T23:27:09Z")
Yeah… doesnt mention the Wii, though, just the DS. And regardless, I’ve no broadband. Ah well, crappy old current-gen games it is. Thanks anyway! ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/7 "2007-06-27T23:38:21Z")
[QUOTE=bubastis] Yeah… doesnt mention the Wii, though, just the DS. And regardless, I’ve no broadband. Ah well, crappy old current-gen games it is. Thanks anyway! [/QUOTE] The DS WiFi dongle works with the Wii. It’s not a fantastic wireless connection, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/8 "2007-06-27T23:45:16Z")
[QUOTE=CandidGamera] The DS WiFi dongle works with the Wii. It’s not a fantastic wireless connection, but it works. [/QUOTE] I’ve had nothing but problems with mine from day one. Also, if you ever disconnect it, you basically end up having to reinstall it just to get it to work again - that is, when the installer doesn’t freeze up or simply cancel without doing anything. ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/9 "2007-06-27T23:47:31Z")
The DS broadband adapter is the same as the Wii one. I’ve actually seen some stores (EB/Gamestop, I’m looking at you) that charge more for the Wii edition… but it’s the same piece of hardware. Having said that, you still don’t have broadband to your PC, so that’s out anyway. Unless there’s some free wireless in your area, you’re still out of luck I am afraid. Even if there is free wireless in your area, dragging a tv and your wii down to Starbucks might earn you a few odd glances. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/10 "2007-06-27T23:58:25Z")
Out of curiosity, why does Nintendo require a broadband connection anyway? Aren’t these old Nintendo games fairly small, memory wise? I’m pretty sure no NES games ever got close to 1 MB (although I could be pretty off here). Even over a modem that would take less than 10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/11 "2007-06-28T00:17:51Z")
The Nintendo 64 games on the other hand are considerably larger. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/12 "2007-06-28T02:40:32Z")
I’m willing to guess that, if you establish a dial-up connection, and use the USB dongle, it might just work. Slowly. But it’ll work. It’s worth trying, as I see it. I mean, it’s better than _not_ trying. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/13 "2007-06-28T12:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=audiobottle] Out of curiosity, why does Nintendo require a broadband connection anyway? Aren’t these old Nintendo games fairly small, memory wise? I’m pretty sure no NES games ever got close to 1 MB (although I could be pretty off here). Even over a modem that would take less than 10 minutes. [/QUOTE] Because it has to download the graphics for the virtual store, and all the data about which games are available. It _might_ work with the dial-up/USB dongle, but that’s chancy. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/14 "2007-06-28T13:12:34Z")
[http://nickjuly4.googlepages.com/dialupwifi\_wii.html](http://nickjuly4.googlepages.com/dialupwifi_wii.html) Looks like some people get it to work ‘well enough.’ Happy gaming! ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/15 "2007-06-28T18:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=audiobottle] Out of curiosity, why does Nintendo require a broadband connection anyway? Aren’t these old Nintendo games fairly small, memory wise? [/QUOTE] I’ve heard that each one also includes the emulator needed to run it. Not sure of the truth of that though… it seems awfully wasteful. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/16 "2007-06-28T22:02:59Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] I’m willing to guess that, if you establish a dial-up connection, and use the USB dongle, it might just work. Slowly. But it’ll work. It’s worth trying, as I see it. I mean, it’s better than _not_ trying. [/QUOTE] But not trying is better than spending forty bucks on something that doesnt work! but hatnks for that link, those guys seem to have made the connection, so I’ll give it a go. One last pain-in-the-ass-look-it-up-yourself-you-lazy-bastard question; What is the range of the USB dongle? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/17 "2007-06-28T23:24:32Z")
I wouldn’t expect more than 20 feet or so. I understand the emulator is downloaded, yes. It’s not that much of an increase, and it lets the emulator be customized for each game, as well as stopping corruption of the emulator ruining all your games. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/18 "2007-06-28T23:33:20Z")
Not that it helps the OP much. But what is this wifi dongle you are talking about used for? I have wii and mine seems to come with built in wifi. It works great with my network at home. The goofy weather and news channels work great. Surfing the internet at NTSC resolution what could be better. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/19 "2007-06-28T23:44:54Z")
The dongle is used if you don’t have a wireless router. You plug it into a wired PC and it talks to the wireless Wii (or DS). It’s basically a single-purpose USB Wifi Adapter that only does ad hoc networks. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virtual-console-nintendo-wii-question/409679/20 "2007-07-01T23:43:50Z")
The range isn’t great, and since it’s basically a keychain-size thing connecting by a floppy cord to your USB port, good luck propping it up away from surfaces to prevent interference. I used mine for a while, and got fair-to-middling connectivity. Good enough to buy a Virtual Console game or two. But I finally opted to buy and install a Wireless Router, which was only a tiny bit more expensive.