I doubt Nintendo themselves would make it backwards compatible with previous games, but you never know. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a homebrew application for that somewhere down the line. Not that I would expect too many people use it.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not too keen on in-game voice chatting, unless it's with people I know personally. Otherwise I usually end up muting people. Most of the stuff being spouted off in online matches is annoying mindless gibberish(12 year olds ranting and raving) or going through customary motions (good game and that sort of thing).

At least, I wouldn't have to feel and look like a douche wearing a stupid headset. I am concerned though about how well it filters noises that come from sources other than speakers. Allegedly it works really well and if I'm just going online against my friends, I don't think it would be a big deal either way, but I'd like to test it out 1st hand. I suppose headsets could become optional in the future if really became a big issue, though I doubt Ninty would have gone this route, if it was.

Who knows? Maybe, the Wii Speak Mic will encourage a friendlier community and more socialable experience with the more relaxed setup and higher likelihood of more people going online from the same system. It is a very social game system after all. Wouldn't that be nice change of pace? Gamers actually playing for fun, instead of being obsessed with wins and stats. I'm not expecting it change human nature, but it seems like a step in the right direction.

Also, I noticed how everyone seems completely focus on it's online aspects. I'd really like to see it being used for voice recognition. Multiple people could use the microphone feature in Mario Party at same time. It would also be great for games that have micro-management, like Pikimin,Overlord,war games, tactical RPG's, action strategy games, a follow-the-leader Lemming style game, or for co-op with an NPC like Ico or RE0. Hell, it'd be cool just to use it for supers in fighting games. A Hadouken here, a Kamehameha there. That's certainly better than some overly elaborate button combo. I know voice recognition isn't the easiest feature to incorporate, but there's a lot of potential for developers to tap into, if they dared.

You have a very interesting point. Since it does have that feature, and voice recognition isn't exactly state-of-the-art technology. Developers could put ALOT of potential into wii-speak, allowing a game with the balance board, wii-mote/zapper, and voice recognition? Sounds like "the" tactical shooter for me. I can see alot of games making good use of this, I do hope it has a learning AI so it can adapt to your voice after repeated use. So you don't gotta sound like a robot.

@Griffin: Not knowing the specific tech, i can't say how it specifically works, but i'd assume it's similar tech that are used in phones for example. I mean sound processing isn't exactly a new invention. For example Dolby NR is something about 40 years old, car stereos turn the volume down when you are playing them too loud. Even the cheapest computer microphones can pick voice from noice etc.

I'd assume the simpliest way would be that it records changes in the noise and cuts down highs and lows, as well as the continous noise. If the Wii Speak codes the sound it sends, with a special sound code, it can cut the coded sound completely, no matter how loud the volume is.

Of course no system is perfect, but i'd assume Wii Speak is a working system.

@Jake: WTF? It's a little different thing with DS, where you have only one player per console, when with Wii you can have multiple players. It's the social aspect of the communication.
If it would be about whether the gamer looks stupid or not, Brain Training wouldn't have stroop test.

We propably hear babies crying in PSN and XBL too, since they have the microphones too in the headsets?

@Pichu: BC could be possible too, if it would have direct connection to WFC and a firmware update would come along.