A 20-year-old Nintendo Wii console has been demonstrated making an online Domino’s Pizza order in the U.S. This is quite a feat for several reasons. Firstly, the Wii’s online services were shuttered by Nintendo last decade. Secondly, as PCGamer notes, the service that has been resurrected to order at your local U.S. Domonio’s was previously a Japanese-only app called the ‘Damae Channel,’ which was deactivated in 2017. Lastly, the Wii app seemed to work very smoothly – we’ve definitely seen worse takeaway ordering apps on Android and iOS.
In the words of the team of tinkerers behind WiiLink, this software “attempts to revive all WiiConnect24 channels, region exclusive channels, and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.” WiiLink went into development in 2020 and supports nine channels, including the headlining Food Channel.
When you open up the Food Channel, though, the cupboard is a little bare. As of now, the only vendor in the channel was Pete’s local Domino’s . It isn’t mentioned in the brief video whether Pete populated that option, but it is explained that it integrates with Domino’s web API for digital orders. The WiiLink wiki confirms that Domino’s is currently compatible with the Food Channel for residents of the U.S. and Canada. Sadly, support for other online ordering APIs like Deliveroo and Just East seem to have come and gone, since they were added to WiiLink’s Food Channel.
Clicking the Domino’s icon in the Food Channel brings up a portal which shows your delivery address, order history, T&Cs, and the all-important ordering menu. Once into Domino’s you can browse the UI for all the currently available foodstuffs on the menu. Pete even goes and customized his Pizza toppings.
All throughout the process, the Wii doesn’t seem to skip a beat, which actually puts some modern food ordering apps to shame. Perhaps some notable restrictions that seem to be in place at this time, though, are that you have to use the pay on delivery option, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to input the discount codes that canny pizza pickers will be familiar with from Domino’s flyers and online offers.
Reassuringly, after the order goes through, the UI provides confirmation, including your phone number, address, and food order details. We didn’t see Pete input these details, and they were blurred for privacy. Thankfully it looks like you just set them once – using the Wii’s slow soft-keyboard input method, and they will be remembered.
As once-connected PCs consoles age, there is a lot of concern about preserving their access to games and apps that may have had an online element to them. Thankfully, community projects like WiiLink exist, so features don’t disappear and render once beloved old devices inanimate, irrelevant, old hunks of hardware.
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