Funny, when Nintendo announced that they were releasing a downloadable beta of their web browser for Wii, I was skeptical. Seems like every durned embedded device out there, from cellphones to pocketpc's to game consoles, has a web browser. And they all suck. They all lack some important technology that pretty-much guarantees that 80% of the websites you view will look like burned mud.

When I heard, though, that the Wii-browser would support &#106avascript AND Flash 7, I was heartened. I also wondered if my games would run on it, given that my <A HREF="http://www.thecodezone.com">web page</A> also requires &#106avascript and Flash 7.<br><br>Big thanks to pal <A HREF="http://www.cyberbrinedreams.com">Bryan</A> for confirming that the games not only run, but they look pretty good!<br><br><img src="http://members.gamedev.net/johnhattan/diary/Wii-2.jpg"><br>My new <A HREF="http://www.thecodezone.com/games.html">carousel menu</A><br><br><img src="http://members.gamedev.net/johnhattan/diary/Wii-1.jpg"><br>A game of <A HREF="http://www.thecodezone.com/games/pokerpatience.php">Poker Patience</A><br><br>My other question was about how keyboard input is handled. My games are pretty mouse-centric, save for logging in at the beginning. I assume that there's a passable way to enter keys, because Bryan appears to be logged in to Poker Patience.<br><br>I'm still wondering about performance. I'll have to track down a Wii and try 'em myself.<br><br><br>I also wonder if this is gonna usher in a new era of Flash games for the Wii. I'll bet a Wiimote-friendly version of <A HREF="http://www.jmtb02.com/flash/foursecondfrenzy.htm">Four Second Frenzy</A> would be loads of fun.<br><br>Of course, if such a thing did get popular, it explains why console-browsers necessarily suck. If you could just go to a console-friendly game-portal that plays loads of great little games for free or almost-free, a lot of people wouldn't feel the pull to buy boxed games at the store for $60 a pop.<div> </div>