Translated directly from the Japanese press conference, Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata summarised the SD card-based storage solution heading to Wii next year.

It was a long time coming, but Nintendo's plans for appeasing Wii owners exhausted of emptying the fridge have finally been confirmed. Rather than release a hard drive, the simple plan is to allow downloaders to fully utilise SD cards, as if it were merely a memory card. The full translation of Iwata's speech regarding the matter is as follows:

"We will make it so that, when there is not enough room on the Wii's internal memory, you will be able to purchase and download Virtual Console and WiiWare software directly from the Shopping Channel to an SD memory card. We will also make it so that you will need to go through just one process in order to transfer Virtual Console or WiiWare software stored on an SD card to the Wii console and then be able to play it. We would like to deal with this issue utilizing two methods. Since the updates to realize these new structures will require significant revisions to the Wii system, and these changes need to be made by taking care of a variety of different angles, this method will become effective beginning next spring. For some of you, this may be considered late. But please know that we really appreciate your cooperation and understanding. We are working hard so we can begin the service as soon as possible."

So it seems not even Nintendo HQ could escape the wrath (internet forum-based wrath, of course) of scores of scorn Wii owners. All that matters is that a solution is coming, and it will only require a simple firmware update.