Report: Nintendo To Offer Wii Speak Vouchers For Used Mics After All

Nintendo says that, contrary to previous reports, it's not employing one-time vouchers with each new Wii Speak microphone set to discourage used sales of the peripheral. While it's true that each purchase of the hardware will include a download code required to access the accompanying Wii Speak Channel, Nintendo UK told consumer site Eurogamer that any consumer who misplaces or otherwise lacks a code -- such as if they buy the hardware used -- can simply contact the company's Customer Service to receive a new one. Explained Nintendo UK in a statement, "Any consumer who may have misplaced their Wii Download Ticket number for the Wii Speak Channel or require a new number following a Wii exchange may contact their local Nintendo Customer Services department, where they can request a replacement Wii Download Ticket number." Consumer site MTV Multiplayer previously reported that the peripheral came bundled with a pamphlet that said that the 16-character access code "cannot be replaced by Nintendo or your retailer if it is lost or stolen." A Nintendo representative also told MTV Multiplayer that the Wii Speak Channel will only be available to new Wii Speak purchasers and not through any other means, such as the Wii Shopping Channel. Available separately or with Animal Crossing: City Folk, Wii Speak is a microphone allowing multiple players in a room to chat with others online while playing games like City Folk. Nintendo plans to launch the Wii Speak Channel in December, which will allow users to voice chat without needing to load a game first.