Wii Speak Channel Only For Wii Speak Purchasers, Don't Buy It Used

MTV Multiplayer writes:

"As is so often the case, I discovered something interesting in the fine print. Here's a tip: if you're buying Wii Speak, don't buy it used.

The Wii Speak peripheral is a microphone that is made to be placed above or below your TV, enabling group Internet-connected voice chat with other people who also own the peripheral. I can't tell how useful that's going to be until Multiplayer's own Tracey John and I try some "Animal Crossing" chat.

The peripheral can also be used without "Animal Crossing," just for game-free voice chat, but that requires used of the Wii Speak Channel, which will be released in December.

But there's a catch, a fine print surprise. There is a pamphlet packaged with the peripheral that includes a 16-character code, a "Wii Download Ticket Number," to be used for downloading the Wii Speak Channel. According to the pamphlet, this code "cannot be replaced by Nintendo or your retailer if it is lost or stolen.""