Changes

}}

}}

The '''Wii Shop Channel''' was the place Nintendo created to buy/download official software from the internet directly to your Wii. You could download lots of different content for your Wii, this includes new channels, [[Virtual Console]] games and WiiWare. The latter two could be purchased using [[/Wii Points|Wii Points]], which were obtained by either buying a points card at a retail store, or by entering your credit card into the channel. On January 31, 2019, the Wii Shop Channel was shut down. The shop can still be accessed, however, only the [[Wii U Transfer Tool]] and The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel are downloadable.

The '''Wii Shop Channel''' was the place Nintendo released official software to allow for payment/download from the internet directly to a Wii. Lots of different software could be downloaded to a Wii, including new channels, [[Virtual Console]] games and WiiWare. The latter two could be paid for using [[/Wii Points|Wii Points]], which were obtained by either buying a points card at a retail store, or by entering a credit card into the channel. On January 31, 2019, the Wii Shop Channel was shut down. The shop can still be accessed, however, only the [[Wii U Transfer Tool]] and The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel are downloadable.

When a channel is purchased, a small piece of data known as a [[ticket]] is downloaded from Nintendo. After this, the Wii Shop Channel downloads the title from [[NUS]], and decrypts it using the key found in the ticket. Most of the software that was in the shop is still on NUS, but the software is simply hidden from plain view, unless if they were already purchased by the user, in which case the ticket is detected on the [[Hardware/NAND|NAND]].

When a channel is paid for, a small piece of data known as a [[ticket]] is downloaded from Nintendo. After this, the Wii Shop Channel downloads the title from [[NUS]], and decrypts it using the key found in the ticket. Most of the software that was in the shop is still on NUS, but the software is simply hidden from plain view, unless if they were already paid for by the user, in which case the ticket is detected on the [[Hardware/NAND|NAND]].

Whenever Nintendo released an anti-homebrew update, they often updated the Wii Shop Channel and made their servers incompatible with the older version, in order to convince people to update. However, [[WiiSCU]] can work around this.

Whenever Nintendo released an anti-homebrew update, they often updated the Wii Shop Channel and made their servers incompatible with the older version, in order to convince people to update. However, [[WiiSCU]] can work around this.

== Channels ==

== Channels ==

The Wii Channels section featured additional non-game channels that could be downloaded and used on your Wii.

The Wii Channels section featured additional non-game channels that could be downloaded and used on a Wii.

The Wii Channels section in the Wii Shop Channel was originally under the name of WiiWare in North America and Wii Software in Europe, before moving to its own dedicated space when WiiWare launched. This was reverted in 2019 when the shop closed.

The Wii Channels section in the Wii Shop Channel was originally under the name of WiiWare in North America and Wii Software in Europe, before moving to its own dedicated space when WiiWare launched. This was reverted in 2019 when the shop closed.

During downloads, an 8-bit Mario runs across the screen collecting coins, representing the download's progress. Every 33%, Mario will hit one of the three blocks on the screen. The third and final block is a multi-coin block that Mario will stand under and continue to hit from 99% until the download is complete. Pressing the A button will make Mario shoot fire balls if he is Fire Mario. Sometimes, Luigi  appears in place of Mario, or both Mario and Luigi will swim across the screen. There are six different animations, some appearing more often than others.

During downloads, an 8-bit Mario runs across the screen collecting coins, representing the download's progress. Every 33%, Mario will hit one of the three blocks on the screen. The third and final block is a multi-coin block that Mario will stand under and continue to hit from 99% until the download is complete. Pressing the A button will make Mario shoot fire balls if he is Fire Mario. Sometimes, Luigi  appears in place of Mario, or both Mario and Luigi will swim across the screen. There are six different animations, some appearing more often than others.

Software downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel is saved onto the Wii console's internal memory. After a download is complete, the new software appears on the Wii Menu as a channel. Software can be copied to SD cards or re-downloaded for free if you purchased it. Wii consoles with system software version 4.0 can download software directly to SD cards.

Software downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel is saved onto the Wii console's internal memory. After a download is complete, the new software appears on the Wii Menu as a channel. Software can be copied to SD cards or deleted and re-downloaded if it was previously paid for. Wii consoles with system software version 4.0 can download software directly to SD cards.

== Revisions and Updates ==

== Revisions and Updates ==

*On March 20, 2008, the Wii Shop Channel was updated in preparation for the launch of WiiWare games coming out later that spring.

*On March 20, 2008, the Wii Shop Channel was updated in preparation for the launch of WiiWare games coming out later that spring.

*On October 22, 2008, the Wii Shop Channel received an update where the controller information was moved to a separate window within the game program. The Wii Shop Channel also prompts the user before he or she purchases a game to confirm if the user has the required controllers. The Wii Shop Channel also supposedly loads faster after this update, and it now uses [[IOS51]].

*On October 22, 2008, the Wii Shop Channel received an update where the controller information was moved to a separate window within the game program. The Wii Shop Channel also prompts the user before he or she pays for a game to confirm if the user has the required controllers. The Wii Shop Channel also supposedly loads faster after this update, and it now uses [[IOS51]].

*In November 2008, the Wii Shop Channel was updated by adding "Wii Download Ticket" feature. Wii Download Tickets may be found packaged with select retail software and accessories (such as Wii Speak) and contain a 16-digit code (which can only be used once) that allows you to download specific software titles.

*In November 2008, the Wii Shop Channel was updated by adding "Wii Download Ticket" feature. Wii Download Tickets may be found packaged with select retail software and accessories (such as Wii Speak) and contain a 16-digit code (which can only be used once) that allows you to download specific software titles.

*On March 25, 2009, the Wii Shop Channel was updated so that channels can be directly downloaded to an SD card, and it was switched to [[IOS61]].

*On March 25, 2009, the Wii Shop Channel was updated so that channels can be directly downloaded to an SD card, and it was switched to [[IOS61]].

*On October 20, 2009, the Wii Shop Channel was updated so that demo versions of certain games could be purchased for free at different points in time.

*On October 20, 2009, the Wii Shop Channel was updated so that demo versions of certain games could be downloaded for no charge at different points in time.

*On September 8, 2010, Nintendo released another Shop Channel update. This adds the "Korean IOSes" to all regions as well as a new Shop Channel which requires an updated [[IOS56]].

*On September 8, 2010, Nintendo released another Shop Channel update. This adds the "Korean IOSes" to all regions as well as a new Shop Channel which requires an updated [[IOS56]].