ps2 also has a digital audio input. 

Because it doesn't matter.  How often do you listen to music in surround sound?  Never, because 99% of music isn't recorded in surround sound.  I understand that it is recorded in stereo, not mono, but does it really make that much of a difference?  Aside from some songs using panning for effect, I don't think it does -- and the panning thing would be incredibly distracting while you're trying to play a Guitar Hero game.  So it's really a non-issue.  BTW, I have a 5.1 system, and this doesn't bother me one bit.  The game sounds awesome.

Surround sound is a complete non-issue in a music game.  Sound quality is of the utmost importance, and in that regard, they've done a fine job.  But it's not like you need to listen for someone creeping up behind you in a music game.  Positional accuracy just isn't important.

For those who aren't familiar with the gramophone he is referring to:

Not costing a lot is NOT the same thing as not costing money at all. Read what I wrote again. 

For those asking for a patch. Maybe it isn't possible to patch this problem. What if the problem isn't programming but some sloppy sound tech who mastered all of the songs in mono. If all of the music is mono on the disc then the disc has to be replaced. It's not like you can download all of the songs in stereo/surround and save them on your Wii.

Recall > Patch.

I know that sounds asinine, but with a Recall you're at least getting a complete game disc, not a patch which relies on an external source to provide you with it and is by its very nature supplemental to the game disc, not truly a part of it.

While we all wish the Wii had more internal storage, this lack of storage prevents lazy developers from using quick fix patches which greatly impedes the quality of the end product no matter what your philosophy on the matter is. Downloadable Content is fine, Expansions are fine, Patches on the other hand are just lazy bandaid solutions to problems that should have never been.

Must be those loud car stereos and Ipods....

On topic (sort of): Does this mean that it is not possible to patch wii games with an online patch?

This is Western developers at their finest, this is primarily why I prefer Japanese developed games, rarely if ever a patch is needed for any game, products work the way they were meant to when you buy them.

Even a rushed title like Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles required a number of studios and companies in addition to Capcom to produce the final product.

Western developers at best will have one or two development teams collaborating on a title, but it very rarely reaches the level of proffesionalim foudn in even the most lowly of Japanese developed games. So far EA is ironically one of the only publishers who has established a thorough infrastructure of industry studios and development teams, but even then they leave 90% of their titles to small studios which they merely own then publish the game.

EA publishes their share of "unfinished" games for the PC. The Battlefield series is particularly well-known for this.

@marcusmash: I don't think anyone was asking for a patch.

Exactly. The fact that Wii games can't be patched is great, because for once the philosophy of console gaming stays unchanged - games are supposed to work when they are released. Patching is completely stupid, because for one thing it assumes everyone has internet access and their consoles connected to the internet.

Recalling the DVDs makes companies financially responsible for their mistakes, which is always a good thing.