Nintendo shows off Wii Remote and Classic Controller

If there was one highlight of Nintendo's press conference earlier today, it was the Wii Remote. While Sony showed off what games on the PS3 would look like, Nintendo's focus was on what they would feel like. So, it's not surprising that, from the moment a tux-clad Shigeru Miyamoto bounded onstage and conducted a virtual orchestra using the remote, to a climactic tennis game, the unique Wii controller was the centerpiece of the show. So, what did we learn about the Wii Remote today that we didn't already know? For one thing, Nintendo confirmed that the remote does indeed include a speaker, which is used mainly to provide ambient sound connected to actions: fire an arrow, and you'll hear the bowstring being pulled right in your hand. There's also a microphone for voice-controlled gaming. The Wii Remote also includes motion sensors in both the nunchuk and the trigger controller, allowing both left and right hands to act independently and direct onscreen actions. While using the Remote may not be as intuitive and simple as Nintendo's execs want us to believe, one thing's certain: it definitely looks like a fun way to play golf. Or baseball. Or tennis. Or the drums. Or drive a car, truck or plane.  Nintendo also had an answer for anyone who isn't quite ready for the Wii Remote: the Wii Classic Controller. We'll stick with the Wiimote for now, but will pick off one of these for when we just have to kick it old skool.

[EEEEEH, WII @ May 10th 2006 7:05AM]

damn, all current-gen consoles rock... UNFORTUNATELLY all have a different twist to them. makes you wanna buy them all. its like PSP vs NDS but on a much larger scale (a lot of ppl arent into portable gaming systems).

the ps3 is definatelly way too expensive (the 60gb bundle is 2x the money you spend on a x360 core pack) - fuck blu-ray. the 20gb bundle is STILL 2x the price of a nintendo wii! sony pissed me off big time!

another aspect of the nintendo wii is: HOW WELL will it worked with widescreen HDTV? hdtv sets normally distort the 480p image to fill the WHOLE screen...

the wii JOYPAD looks very cheap... and the remote resembles a dildo with a wired remote for vibration settings (i wonder if the jap devs were watching JAPANESE PRoN MOVIES too often?!?!?!?)

i dont know who'll win, but it seems as M$ rushing the x360 to market... was a BAD IDEA, well... time will tell (the war is all over CONTROL CONCEPTS now).

[C @ May 11th 2006 11:57PM]

Too many controller options!
1) wiimote
2) wiimote + nunchucku
3) wiimote + classic configuration
4) wired gamecube controllers (see 4 ports)
5) Gamecube wavebird
6) Wiimote + Gun shell
7) DK Bongos
Am I forgetting anything else?

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Nov 29th 2006 10:30PM]

Wiimote + steering wheel shell. ;)

But that's not really another control device, nor is the light gun shell - they just house the Wiimote.

[firecocks @ May 14th 2006 12:06AM]

To a discussion a few posts earlier:

The Saturn analog controller that came with Nights was made in response to the proposed Nintendo 64's controller (or Ultra 64 at that time.)

It wasn't even first released until a month after the N64 came out in Japan.

[ozwobblytree @ May 14th 2006 9:50AM]

I'm loving all these people saying that they're worried about their arms hurting when using the wii controller..
how lazy are you?! next you'll be complaining it doesn't come with a beverage holder or a microwave..

and as far as i can tell the 'classic' controller is not being marketed as a true alternative to the remote but as an optional (nintendo have said the gcube controller will plug right in) peripheral to play 'classic' games. For the majority of wii games the remote will be compulsory

[seamonkey420 @ May 17th 2006 9:29PM]

also to those that do not want to move..

to me.. nintendo wasn't on my list of next gen consoles to buy.. but the more i read about the immersiveness, the more i love it..

also, it is in my opinion that what nintendo is doing (in regards to the wii remote) is changing us for the better... instead of just getting fatter and lazier sitting on our arses playing games, we're brought into the action and moving on our feet..

anyone see that news report on the guy that lost 100lbs playing dance revolution? the wii is a revolution in that it tries to reverse the previous history of video games and ideaology by making the player move with the game..

anywho.. just my .02..

go wii! i'll be pre-ordering for sure!! plus, it sounds like they will be including a sega genesis emulator and a 'virtual emulator' environment (sounds like a dashboard type enviro).. hmmm..

its my prediction that the wii becomes the top modable/hackable next gen console.. (no bluray or hd-dvd to worry about.. yes, xbox 360 can be hacked via firmware, but who knows w/the wii)..

peace

[Gamer @ May 19th 2006 2:22PM]

The Wiimote is doing what the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 haven't been able to effectively do: cause excitement and controversy in the gaming industry. The Nintendo Wii is the only system that gamers, and, more importantly non-gamers, are very curious about. When's the last time you got excited about something being innovative in the gaming industry? The PS3 and the 360 are both doing the same thing: upping the horsepower and graphical ability on their systems. Sony is now taking initiative and copying Nintendo's idea, but the result still isn't the same. It's clearly a ploy to try and stay on the same level as the Wii intuitively, because otherwise Nintendo would have left them in the dust. According to numerous people who have tried both controllers, however, it still feels like a copy (I will repost with specific website links and people's comments, I don't have access to them right now because I'm at school and most of them are blocked). Nintendo is putting Sony under pressure with their remote, as well as making Sony put themselves under pressure. It is highly unlikely that they (Sony) had any plans of releasing a wireless controller out of the box. Even with their release of it at E3, the effect of the controller wasn't that great. This is supposed to be a post about the Wii Classic Controller, however, so I'll get back to that. The controller was most definetly a good idea as it is likely that the Wiimote will not be for everyone. The controller disappointed me at the same time, however, because it showed weakness in Nintendo (depending on how you look at it). On the one side, you could see it as Nintendo being scared that the Wiimote wouldn't be successful, so they gave another option so that gamers wouldn't have to use Gamecube controllers on a brand new system if they didn't want to use the Wiimote. On the other side, however, you could see it as Nintendo being intelligent and expanding the creativity of their system, as well as making an alternate option for users of the Virtual Console who wish to use a more comfortable controller (though, to be honest, that controller looks anything but comfortable...good idea, bad design). I'm not exactly sure what Nintendo's getting at, however, considering the fact that this controller plugs into the bottom of the Wiimote (I'll get a link to that image also, once I get home). Maybe it could plug into that mystery flap on the sude of the Wii, or has an extension chord for the controller similar to the Xbox controller that could plug into one of the Gamecube jacks? Who knows? Guess we'll have to wait and see...

[wii-remotes @ Aug 1st 2006 7:43AM]

C: "Too many controller options!"
I don't think so. Nintendo doesn't expect you to buy NEW Game Cube controllers - you can use the ones you have (maybe will save some money on buying the Wii Classic). And Wii remote will be included so it all OK.

[whatever dude @ Sep 9th 2006 12:31AM]

Lol! r3dir u had a dildo up ur A$$ who told u to stick it up there in the 1st place lol. now for my point of view to you r3ding on dick! the wiimote is intuitive and thats why sony copied them by adding motion sensing. the classic controller is great addition to the controller im basin this on the fact that this controller will be mostly played on retro games. and the wii will support wavebird controllers so for this is what im expecting that wii games will setup an option in the controller menu to switch from the wiimote to the regular controller, gamers are use to just incase ur not comfortable with this action. nintendo has set the bar to a new standard back then and are on the verge of doing it again dont be surprised when u see nintendo on top as the dominator it once use to be. it looks like a new era has opened up and nintendo is finally bringing out the big guns it once took out in the 1984-1995 era GAMEPLAY AND INNOVATION!!! GO NINTENDO! IM GETTING MYSELF A WII! and im damned proud of it!

[TN @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:11PM]

he wii costs 161.99...

the wii +2 games coasts 259.00

go to this web site and you'll see the prices and you can pre-prder stuff!!!!!!

[Some guy @ Nov 24th 2006 3:37PM]

anyone know where to find the classic controller??? any help will be appreciated

[ahome4sherry @ Nov 25th 2006 4:43AM]

Anyone looking to get the Wii with TONS of extras should check out my auction on ebay. comes with 2 games PLUS the one included with console, memory card, xtra controls, (all offered!!) if buy it now is accepted, you get 2 additional games of YOUR choice and rather than express shipping via USPS, I will go FedEx overnight! Killer deal for someone who REALLY wants this game before Christmas...because prices will sky rocket before then!
Here's the item number! 300052485932
Thats eBay!! Paypal only as payment option. Insured. And honest seller.
TWO IN HAND!!!!!!

[Abdul @ Nov 29th 2006 5:47PM]

to r3dir

http://nexgenwars.com/

looks to me like the only thing sony is winning is a consumerwhore fanbase

[Seth @ Jan 10th 2007 1:34AM]

parden my french but dam why do you dumbasses keep going on about Cool factors and shit about the wii, your just pissed #1 because nintendo fans are having way more fun on a system that doesnt have as much power as the ps3 or xbox360 #2 if and when consoles get into multiplayer games via the internet your not going to be having any fun geting creamed by even a newb on a wii-mote on any shoot-em-up and #3 your pissed because your sytems didnt come out with it first and you know that if they dont copy nintendo or make somthing new thats as entertaining/easy then they will slowly dwendly out of buisness, especially after nintendo pushes gyroscopes with alot of power... personally im a computer gamer and i dont really like how console has been slowly taking over the gaming world simply because prices but ive always been a nintendo fan and the only reason why i even liked ps2 a little bit was because it was the only system had buduki tenkichi...simply put, your just hoping that the wii/nintendo will die off so everyone will be misrable using only their thumbs to look around trying to shoot people...heh how fun is that

[Mike @ Jan 25th 2007 7:35PM]

so what controller would you use for GC?
is it the classic, or can you use the original GC controllers?

If you know anything E-mail me at:

[e-mail]

[scott @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:16AM]

the classic controller is the bomb