I'll let you guys judge whether or not this is really an attempt by Nintendo to discourage second-hand purchases of the Wii Speak microphone, or just a simple oversight. Either way, buyer beware if you want to buy a Wii Speak used any time in the future.
As reported by Patrick Klepek at MTV Multiplayer, it seems that the only way to get access to the Wii Speak Channel is to use a redemption code that ships along with the microphone. If you happen to lose the redemption code or, say, buy a used Wii Speak that doesn't include the code, you don't get to download the Wii Speak channel.
So unless you and three hypothetical friends you want to talk to are all playing the same game, your Wii Speak microphone is basically just a paperweight. You'll never get access to the Wii Speak Channel, which Nintendo reps are claiming they have no intention of making available through the Wii Shop Channel.While this isn't dire enough to make me get my gamer rage on, I have to say it strikes me as pretty lame.
