In my review a few weeks back, I mentioned the burn-in issue with Mario Party 8. I don't play a lot of MP8, but I do play when I have friend over and of course - anytime there's something big to unlock (like a new character and a whole game board). So you can imagine how irritated I was about the unchanging screen on the game anytime you are on any screen other than the main load screen.
So I called Nintendo and yelled at them after sitting down to watch "Lady in the Water" (surprisingly not a horrible movie) and noticed that I could still see the MP8 screen. My TV is only about a month and a half old - 63" plasma - and so I was rather ticked to see my investment ruined thanks to Nintendo and their $50 game.
However, surprisingly, their staff was really nice. The initial guy I talked to didn't know what I was talking about. He took my number and told me he'd have someone call me back. Well that someone called back within 10 minutes and had an actual solution. It seems that those of us who have newer TVs typically run the Wii in widescreen mode (it's an actual setting on the Wii console). I affirmed that I do run my Wii in widescreen mode (since my TV is widescreen). I had tried changing the viewing mode on the TV and the bars never disappeared. BUT - it seems if you change the mode on the actual Wii console, those nasty bars disappear.
Overall, Nintendo was friendly, prompt, and geniunely concerned. They fixed the problem so I can continue playing my game too. I will say though, that I'm not thrilled that this information was easily accessible somewhere on the net and wasn't anywhere in the manual that came with the game. So problem fixed - but the problem still shouldn't have occurred to begin with.
cpnichol @ 2007-06-21 14:34:59
63" plasma! wow. Always nice to know a company has good customer support, even if the problem was stupid and totally their fault. When my PS2 er, "broke" I rang Sony and they had someone come and collect mine and provide me with a replacement, can't remember exactly how long it took but I think it was a day or two.
weaver @ 2007-06-21 20:57:21
uh.. Where is my TV? And who plays 'console'.. ew
Chicky @ 2007-06-22 02:03:41
I play console when I have friend over who aren't typically gamers. As much as I think everyone should bring their computer with them everywhere they go - people keep insisting it's not necessary - freaks!
So yeah, MP8 and Rayman Raving Rabbids and such are all really good games for when you have people over. Plus the Wii is really awesome for surfing the net when you have people over. Tonight we spent a good hour looking at cat videos on YouTube watching my cat freak out. She figured the sound was coming from the TV - but she kept trying to look behind it. Since it's hanging on the wall, no luck for her. :P
cpnichol - yeah - love the TV. We're setting up our whole "theater" thing in our family room for the time being. IF we ever get around to finishing our basement, I want something even bigger down there. They make DLP TVs in the 70+. I don't think the quality is as good and they're huge - aka fat. I like that the plasma's are skinny. They don't take up a lot of floor space. :)
No idea how we'll fit something bigger in the basement. :o
