Besides television, radio, Internet and newspapers where do you get your news? Would you consider using a game console to receive your news? That’s what Nintendo and the Associated Press are hoping.
A new feature for Nintendo Wii owners is the “Wii News Channel“, which launched on Saturday. The content will comprise news from the Associated Press and will offer stories on various categories from across the country and around the world.
“What Wii has done for video gaming, we hope it will also accomplish for news,” says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Just by pointing at your TV screen, you become your own interactive editor, instantly accessing the latest headline stories, whether they originate in Kansas City or Kyoto.”
Japanese gamers have their own version of the news channel, which is provided by Internet news portal Goo. European Wii gamers will begin receiving News Channel content later this year.
The free news channel allows users to spin a virtual globe and point to the location of a news event with their Wii Remote. The AP will supply news for the Wii in English, Spanish, French, Dutch and German.
Wii users will be able to browse news under categories including Business, Sports, Arts/Entertainment, Technology and Science/Health. Icons will show which stories have been read, which are text and which ones have photos. Users will also be able to change the size of the text.
“The Associated Press is always looking for innovative ways to expand its audience for news and information,” said Jane Seagrave, vice president and director of AP’s digital division. “The Wii News Channel extends our global reach even further, on yet another platform, offering our news to people who otherwise might not see it.”
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Mike is a staff writer for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest ebusiness news.
