bobawesome
Member
What. This was like, the best part of the Gamepad.
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Nintendo TVii is shutting down on August 11th
- Thread starter Vylash
- Start date
What. This was like, the best part of the Gamepad.
D
Deleted member 126221
Unconfirmed Member
Hey, by removing that icon, they'll finally have the space in the UI to have a "play Mother 3" icon!
Just meant the red TVii one, not the physical button. That one is pretty rad (assuming you don't have a receiver. If you have a receiver it is slightly less rad).
That said, the actual concept of the service is good but the implementation was off. I wouldn't mind having a unified place to search/watch all content from Hulu, Amazon Prime video, Netflix, and other video sites but TVii wasn't it. It would even fail to search for content that I knew was available and when it wasn't failing it was chugging along at a miserable pace.
DarthWalden
Banned
Too bad... the fact they were going down this Avenue really excited me at launch but they dropped the ball so hard. The service was terrible, you couldn't control your home theatre with the wii mote and the loading times made it virtually unusable.
yeah. Biggest mistake was that they made it a web based application instead of a native application. I hope they don't take this to mean people don't like that sort of stuff - they love all in one guides. Seriously, I was stoked to combine my cable, netflix, etc basically all in one. Even tried using it during a superbowl for those polls they were running. The problem? Lag. lots and lots of lag. It was just so slow.
Executed properly, it's a really great idea.
sturgboski
Member
Yay, the Critic! I wish this was on a streaming service.
Also whats TVii? I own a Wii U and dont think I have ever used this service. And I am guessing others like me are in the majority.
Astral Dog
Member
Im still not sure what this thing is. a few weeks to find out i suppose.
Alex_Mexico
Member
I forgot this was a thing. I'm in Mexico so Im not even sure it was available for me in the first place so yeah, never used it even once.
Won't be missed.
Won't be missed.
ShinRPGamer
Member
And nothing of value was lost. Potential was there but the execution squandered it.
bobawesome
Member
Oh, whoops! I see what you're saying. I completely forgot about the TVii button in the menu.
Cheeseman Battitude
Member
Now, about that button on the gamepad...
This service suffered severely from the epically slow loading times of the launch. As some of the other services evolved with updates like Miiverse and the eShop, TVii just stagnated and at one point lost features.
There was potential, but it never evolved, and I feel competitors made it better such as the XBOne's media guide feature.
There was potential, but it never evolved, and I feel competitors made it better such as the XBOne's media guide feature.
Hamster Plugin
Member
It could have been more successful if they just called it TiiVii.
bobawesome
Member
You monster. It's a godsend for people who constantly lose their remote.
TVii never even lived up to its initial premise and promise. Features shown before launch, like being able to pick who is in the room and thus get a listing of available TV shows based on the group's consensus of interests, never were added to TVii. DVR control never showed up. Briefly we had some barebones searching of Netflix and Amazon at different times, but never all 3 (Netflix/Hulu/Amazon) together as initially shown. Never with results seamlessly shown side by side with Live and Cable/Satellite and DVR.
As originally shown, TVii showed some promise. Built from that starting point it could have even evolved to something useful and interesting. But it never even got to it's starting gate.
As Reggie once said: "That's great!"
It was supposed to be a content aggregator for the family. It instead turned into a strange 'make comments on parts of TV shows' app.
As originally shown, TVii showed some promise. Built from that starting point it could have even evolved to something useful and interesting. But it never even got to it's starting gate.
As Reggie once said: "That's great!"
It was supposed to be a content aggregator for the family. It instead turned into a strange 'make comments on parts of TV shows' app.
JinjoUnchained
Member
It was actually a really good idea, ruined by 3 problems:
1) It's a normal Wii U app that needs the system on to work. Compare that to the Wii U TV remote for basic input source change/volume/channels, which can be instantly launched without booting up the console,
2) Poor GamePad battery life meant you couldn't use it as freely as a TV remote.
3) Related to 1), the Wii Us initially slow app loading time meant it might take a whole minute to get into Nintendo TVii. Many forgot about it by the time system speed was fixed the next summer.
Without these flaws, it's actually pretty helpful to have touch screen functionality and smart show recommendations for TV watching. Too bad they couldn't pull it off.
1) It's a normal Wii U app that needs the system on to work. Compare that to the Wii U TV remote for basic input source change/volume/channels, which can be instantly launched without booting up the console,
2) Poor GamePad battery life meant you couldn't use it as freely as a TV remote.
3) Related to 1), the Wii Us initially slow app loading time meant it might take a whole minute to get into Nintendo TVii. Many forgot about it by the time system speed was fixed the next summer.
Without these flaws, it's actually pretty helpful to have touch screen functionality and smart show recommendations for TV watching. Too bad they couldn't pull it off.
An app that aggregated your services around content was a great idea, instead of the other way around. That being said, yes, the execution was pretty damn poor.
I also hope that TVii being an under-utilized feature does not give Nintendo the impression that we wouldn't be interested in wider multimedia features. They just have to be done right and with the right partners. Having nothing invested in the wider entertainment space or any rivalries with anyone in that space, Nintendo basically gets to pick from the best available partnerships. I know for me, if it were announced that Nintendo had partnered with Apple to offer my iTunes library of TV, movies and music on NX, essentially rendering it an Apple TV without AirPlay, I'd quite literally lose my shit.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Though I'll admit, it seemed like a missed opportunity to communicate with fans on the nature of their business, as well. I also miss Nintendo Channel, I feel like something was lost when features of it were carried over to the eShop.
I also hope that TVii being an under-utilized feature does not give Nintendo the impression that we wouldn't be interested in wider multimedia features. They just have to be done right and with the right partners. Having nothing invested in the wider entertainment space or any rivalries with anyone in that space, Nintendo basically gets to pick from the best available partnerships. I know for me, if it were announced that Nintendo had partnered with Apple to offer my iTunes library of TV, movies and music on NX, essentially rendering it an Apple TV without AirPlay, I'd quite literally lose my shit.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Though I'll admit, it seemed like a missed opportunity to communicate with fans on the nature of their business, as well. I also miss Nintendo Channel, I feel like something was lost when features of it were carried over to the eShop.
DownGrader
Member
Well, if you have a "TV" button and a "TVii" button which both control TV with IR port of GamePad, you ask for confusion.
I like all dem August updates.
No, honestly, I'm a sucker for updates. Give all of them to me, starting with Windows 10 update for PC. I want to spend August looking for brand new functions.
Stormwatch
Member
But seriously, it seemed like such a good idea that failed so hard. I would have loved a one stop shop for all of my internet and physical TV stations. The Miiverse integration could have been cool as well, but they only did it for extremely popular shows. Then with major events (like the Super Bowl) it got so popular that it crashed and you couldn't use it.
pinkurocket
Member
Repurpose the physical button for a screenshot button. Nintendo, do it.
Since Miiverse allows storage of screenshots with the update that's coming, it'll be a nice new feature.
Since Miiverse allows storage of screenshots with the update that's coming, it'll be a nice new feature.
Dice//
Banned
This was my situation, lol.
I tried 'loading it up' a few times but some pop-up kept saying "no" in some way and I just didn't care anymore.
So long, farewell, I wish we had a chance together.
outunderthestars
Banned
Seems like an apt description for the Wii U itself.
I would love to see the numbera on how many people actually used the service.
Oni Link 666
Member
The TV button on the GamePad brings up the TV remote interface. That's just a universal TV remote and doesn't have anything to do with TVii and will continue working as usual.
TVii is a web-based (like Miiverse) TV guide based on technology developed by i.TV, makers of similar second screen iOS and Android apps. It shows you your local TV channel listings and schedule, tells you about popular TV shows, changes the input and channel when you pick something to watch, and lets you post about TV shows on Miiverse, Facebook, and Twitter. The plan was to also integrate the Wii U's VOD services (Netflix, Hulu) into it. It has its own TV remote interface, separate from the GamePad's TV remote. The service is slow and clunky and you're better off using your Cable box's guide.
TVii is a web-based (like Miiverse) TV guide based on technology developed by i.TV, makers of similar second screen iOS and Android apps. It shows you your local TV channel listings and schedule, tells you about popular TV shows, changes the input and channel when you pick something to watch, and lets you post about TV shows on Miiverse, Facebook, and Twitter. The plan was to also integrate the Wii U's VOD services (Netflix, Hulu) into it. It has its own TV remote interface, separate from the GamePad's TV remote. The service is slow and clunky and you're better off using your Cable box's guide.
Toadthemushroom
Member
foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
I used it a couple times, but never fully understood how it worked.
Pokemaniac
Member
Nintendo TVii was a cool idea that never really lived up to it's full potential. If they'd actually gotten all of the streaming service integration implemented, it could have been something really special.
Nintendo Video has been dead in Europe and Japan for a while, and in NA, they just sent out a notification a few weeks ago that the app was shutting down and all of the content was being moved to the eShop.
Very interesting. I wouldn't have been surprised at all if this shutdown was just because the service died a natural death, but I completely forgot that that i.TV thing happened.
It really seems to be rare that Nintendo shuts something down due to reason that doesn't involve their 3rd party partners bailing for one reason or another. This may be why they mentioned that thing in the DeNA announcement that said that, even though DeNA would help developing the new services, Nintendo would be the one to run them. The whole GameSpy thing seems to have made them a bit (justifiably) averse to 3rd party companies getting too involved in their services.
Nintendo Video has been dead in Europe and Japan for a while, and in NA, they just sent out a notification a few weeks ago that the app was shutting down and all of the content was being moved to the eShop.
Very interesting. I wouldn't have been surprised at all if this shutdown was just because the service died a natural death, but I completely forgot that that i.TV thing happened.
It really seems to be rare that Nintendo shuts something down due to reason that doesn't involve their 3rd party partners bailing for one reason or another. This may be why they mentioned that thing in the DeNA announcement that said that, even though DeNA would help developing the new services, Nintendo would be the one to run them. The whole GameSpy thing seems to have made them a bit (justifiably) averse to 3rd party companies getting too involved in their services.
You know Nintendo screwed this up when people get the Nintendo TVii software confused with a physical button on their controller.
It says "Set up TV Remote in System Settings." and vanishes after 10 seconds. It does not turn on the Wii U unless you set it up it apparently. It seems like hitting it again cancels out of it. It's still an annoyance when you hit it by accident.
When these services shut down, one at a time, it feels like Nintendo winding down the party. Turn on a Wii and see how many of the apps still work. It's like a ghost town.
I know, TiiVIi or however they format it never worked particularly well, but I don't like the idea of there being *one less* proprietary app on the device, especially one that has a dedicated button. It feels like the first domino.
I know, TiiVIi or however they format it never worked particularly well, but I don't like the idea of there being *one less* proprietary app on the device, especially one that has a dedicated button. It feels like the first domino.
Princess Viola
Member
If by dedicated button, you mean the one on the GamePad itself, that button was the button to activate the universal remote function of the Wii U, that's a separate thing from TVii and isn't shutting down (Because why would it?)
Also according to post #182 (on this page, if you use 50ppp), TVii is shutting down because the company that developed it is shutting down. It's probably out of Nintendo's control.
pinkurocket
Member
That TV button on the Gamepad stands out as a useless eyesore anyway.I thought the functionality of it was part of the TVii service, because you know, it says 'TV' on it. I couldn't give a crap about TV functionalities on my Wii U.
So yea, they screwed it up. That button annoys me so much.
Pokemaniac
Member
Nintendo was kinda forced to shut down nearly all of the Wii's (and DS's) online services basically all at once due to GameSpy being bought out. The only thing still online is the Wii Shop Channel (and the DSi Shop). Had that not happened, I think most of it might actually still be functional.
They seem to have thought ahead a bit more with Wii U's and 3DS's services. I think the ones that don't inherently rely on 3rd party content providers like TVii did will be pretty long-lived.
El Sabroso
Member
I'm in Mexico too, TVii never worked here