Scheduled Maintenance Could Point to Wii U Firmware Update

Yesterday, a Nintendo employee named Julie posted on Miiverse that there will be a scheduled maintenance time this Monday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM Pacific Time. This will mainly affect the Friends List and all online multiplayer aspects. To start with, this is a good thing, because they are not only doing preventative maintenance, but they could also be making improvements. At least, this is what Emily Rogers (@Emi1yRogers), blogger at Dromble.com, thinks. She writes, “From what I hear there is a firmware update for Wii U this week. Most likely Monday.” While we can only speculate for now, this does seem promising for an update. Even so, it could just be a small update.

On a side note, Julie also stated, “Let me also take this time to let you know that there is a scheduled maintenance that occurs weekly on every Monday from 12pm – 4pm PST, or 1pm – 5pm PDT.” So, get ready for some maintenance every Monday at one of those time slots. My only complaint is that I live on the East Coast (meaning those times are later for me), and Mondays are usually my best gaming days. So, it looks like this is rather unfortunate for me.

What do you think about this maintenance, and what could it mean for a possible Wii U firmware update?

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Wii U 4.0 firmware update live, puts Wii games on GamePad screen

by Sinan Kubba on Oct 1st 2013 5:00AM

Nintendo's latest Wii U firmware update is stuffed with additions, including the ability to play Wii games on the GamePad screen - although Wiimotes are still required to control them. The 4.0.0 U update is live, so you can download and install it right now.

Standing out among the various features and tweaks is the ability to plug a headset directly into the GamePad for Wii U Chat, and being able to take screenshots and upload them through the Internet browser during gameplay.

The 4.0 update also adds USB keyboard support, Surround Sound support for Wii games, the option to automatically download recommended software and demos via SpotPass, and even the ability to view PDF files in the browser, and more besides.

Check out the full update notes here.

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Wii U Firmware 4.0.0U Now Available

Following the maintenance today on Wii U, Nintendo has release version 4.00 U for the system’s firmware. The update is quite large (about 650 MB), as it took me approximately 70 minutes to download and install. We will update this post as soon as we find out more details on what is included.

UPDATE: NIntendo has now released their official list of features (found below).

New Features:

A feature to output video and sound to the Wii U GamePad when using Wii Mode
Users can choose to output to the TV and GamePad, or just the TVA feature to automatically receive recommended software and demo titles from Nintendo using SpotPassSupport for USB keyboardsAn option to disable use of a Nintendo Network ID on non-Nintendo hardware, such as PCs and smartphonesSupport for Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround Sound when playing Wii software

Changes to Wii U Menu:

Added a friend list icon to the Wii U Menu for easier access to the Friend List

Changes to System Settings:

An option to automatically receive recommended software is now available under “Internet”A setting to select which cable outputs sound is available through “TV” Users can choose to output sound through an HDMI cable, non-HDMI cable, or both cables at the same time. Click here for instructionsA setting to adjust the hourly interval in which standby functions are performed is available under “Power Settings” when Standby Functions are enabled

Changes to Wii U Chat:

Added the option to view a friend’s profile on Miiverse when sending or receiving a chat requestUsers can now chat using a headset connected to the Wii U GamePad

Changes to Internet Browser:

Pressing the R or L Buttons on the Wii U GamePad will skip video playback forward/back a small amount of timeHolding the R Button will speed up video playbackAbility to save username and passwords for websites that require login
Ability to launch the Internet Browser during gameplay and upload screenshotsAdded support for viewing PDF files
Added features intended for website developers that allow the user to enable developer tools and set user agent

Improvements to system stability and usability:

Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience

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ORIGINAL LIST OF FEATURES WE FOUND:

Off-TV play for Wii gamesFriend-List icon on main home screenAbility to auto-receive software (recommendations and demos) from NintendoSpotPass checks every so often while in standby (default time is every 1 hour)USB keyboard inputNew settings for Nintendo Network ID (utilize with smart phones and PC’s)Dolby Pro Logic II support for Wii gamesSound output updatesFull resolution screen capturesNew loading screens for eShop and MiiverseMinor changes to eShop format (i.e. “Front Page” is now “eShop Home)Internet Browser updates Save username/passwordsView PDF filesFast-forward & rewind videos (including YouTube)Wii U Image Share lets you share screenshots to Twitter, Facebook, & TumblrWii U Chat updates Can use headset connected to GamePadIncoming response time improvedFaster loading times, especially when returning to Wii U main menuQuickly move between pages on Wii U menu via buttonsOverall system improvementsMore to be added as we find it…

Did we miss a part of the update? Let us know, and we’ll add it to the list.

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[PS3] New PS3 Firmware Unleashes Wrath on Hackers

[PS3] New PS3 Firmware Unleashes Wrath on Hackers Sony is sticking it to gamers who hack their console and play Black Ops online. As we all know, a minor security update was released (v3.56) the other day, however it seems that we may only just be starting to see the aftermath.
Legions of players have been posting on forums after discovering that they have been permanently banned from Black Ops online feature, and not only them but their entire console. It seems as though the new update blocks your console's access to the title's online feature if you are deemed to be a hacker, though it is currently unclear as to how this decision is made. As expected there are posts galore on the official forums for the PS3 version of the game. Here you'll find many gamers proclaiming their 'innocence', though it is difficult to tell at this point just how innocent they are.

What do you think of Sony's methods? And just how innocent do you suspect some of these people are?

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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