Nintendo's E3 booth tour

After swearing to the Nintendo booth staff that yes we bow at the feet of Miyamoto, no we've never touched a Sony device before in our lives, and yes we'd like to skip the mile long line to see the Wii, we managed to find ourselves in Nintendo's special little (or not so little) Wii paradise. There were playables galore, though that "27 playable titles" they mentioned at the keynote was a bit misleading. Sure, you could grab a Wiimote and start making a fool of yourself in any one of 27 different ways, but most of the playable stuff was actually just a tech demo or a mini game. Luckily, the big names like Zelda, Mario and Red Steel were there in force, and the good times were aplenty even with the tech demos. We'll have our impressions of the Wiimote pretty soon, but for now we've got a whole slew of pics from the booth, so take a look.

The Wiimote

It looks good, it feels good, but how does it play? In truth, we can't say we were blown away. Sorry to tease, we'll have our full impressions up soon, but for now feel free to ogle.









The Hardware




Virtual Console






The Vritual Console screens were supposedly just mockups, and may not necessarly represent the Wii interface, or the Virtual Console interface -- so don't be surprised if these change shape.

The Games

Tennis!


Red Dawn Steel!


Fishing in Twilight Princess.











The Booth






The Mari-freaking-oh


More to come!

[grewell912 @ May 10th 2006 5:13PM]

first post :D

[Patrick @ May 10th 2006 5:13PM]

Cool pictures. I am a Nintendo fan, not a fanboy, so I am still unsure about the system. I guess I'd have to experience it to know for sure if it's what I'd want. Look forward to more info on the controller.

[Attillia @ May 10th 2006 5:14PM]

How will you hold the wiimote and use the retro pad attached to it?

[niklas @ May 10th 2006 5:16PM]

wow thanks for these pictures they look truly interesting. looking forward to the more detailed informations

[Tarek @ May 10th 2006 5:16PM]

so we have to use the sensorbar to detect the remote?

[Nomi @ May 10th 2006 5:21PM]

Looks pretty, can't wait for review to start coming out and where oh where is the Sony booth and how does it compare.

[Blair @ May 10th 2006 5:22PM]

This system is going to be one of the great systems...

[Loban @ May 10th 2006 5:32PM]

#3 Quote: "so we have to use the sensorbar to detect the remote?"

Yes, this is how the Wii knows the location of the controller with respect to the screen. You wouldn't need a sensor bar if all the controller did was detect movement (like the PS3 controller, in fact this technology has existed for years), but you need that sensor so the Wii console literally knows the location of the controller in 3D space. This is where the true power of the Wiimote comes into play.

[Mike S @ May 10th 2006 5:35PM]

@3 - It seems likely. But I doubt anyone's complaining about that. Its very slim, very unobtrusive.

@2 - Probably they're going to be kept separate.
The classic controller doesn't have any sensors in it (probably) so the use of the wiimote with the CC will be unneeded.

[ramen @ May 10th 2006 5:36PM]

http://www.engadget.com/media/2006/05/IMG_7957.jpg

[Rob @ May 10th 2006 5:36PM]

So if you are waving the wiimote around in your hand, is that speaker in it really going to do much? I would think that it would either be pointed away from you half the time or your hand might cover it enough to make it inaudiable. I must say I can definitely call the setup "interesting".

[ramen @ May 10th 2006 5:38PM]

^ i like the girl's expression ... (insert comment here)

[Bweetza @ May 10th 2006 5:39PM]

"Sensor Bar: Works with the Wii Remote and may be placed on either the top or the bottom of the TV."

Great.. another cord to fish through my wall to place on top of the plasma. *grumble* .. and yes, I have a spare 16 guage wire in there that I use just for this purpose but it still sucks.

[Master 0f None @ May 10th 2006 5:39PM]

Dear god, whose Zombie hand is that clutching the Wiimote in the shot directly below the zapper? I didn't realize Zombies got special E3 clearance...

[Ethan @ May 10th 2006 5:40PM]

Haha, whats with the lady? Shes looking down at a certain, uh, region of the guy.

[Special_K @ May 10th 2006 5:42PM]

The zapper looks like my ideal controller. I envy you guys, I just wish I could come to E3. Stupid parents, having me 2 years earlier.

[johnny redbone @ May 10th 2006 5:43PM]

how is this going to work with projectors i wonder?

[pattyboi @ May 10th 2006 5:45PM]

She's marveling at how he can handle his wii.

I'm so sorry.

[Rhuan @ May 10th 2006 5:46PM]

It will work very easily with a projector, you just plae the bar on top of or underneath the screen.

[Velcrocore @ May 10th 2006 5:47PM]

So.. this system looks like fun while your standing up, but I just don't see 4 guys sitting on a couch and moving their arms all around. Probably not a system we'll be seeing installed in the back seat of a car on Pimp My Ride. haha.

[Wally Pfingsten @ May 10th 2006 5:48PM]

"How will you hold the wiimote and use the retro pad attached to it?"

You won't. The "classic" controller connects to the wiimote through the same dock as the nunchuk component. It merely connects to the wiimote as a means of connecting to the Wii system itself, making it where the "classic" controllers themselves don't need to have Bluetooth embedded within them. We'll see cheaper prices for peripherals than if each peripheral (light gun, "classic") had to be designed with its own Bluetooth built-in.

The only controller ports on the Wii are 4 Gamecube ports. Hopefully, they'll fit the adaptor for my Wavebird, as I have a feeling that I'll be finishing RE4 on my Wii this fall.

[Eli @ May 10th 2006 5:52PM]

I'm curious to know how far away you have to be from the sensor bar in order to use the remote. Is this something that is going to work okay in a little dorm room?

[johnny redbone @ May 10th 2006 5:53PM]

at 17) how long do you think the cord is that comes with that, it looks long enough, but i'll need at least 15 feet, reckon they'll have an extender?

[Vilhelm @ May 10th 2006 5:54PM]

Dude, I dont see why everyone is calling this controller "revolutionary". Seriously, who wants to play video games like that all the time. I see this system becoming a party favor, nothing more.

[Calum @ May 10th 2006 6:02PM]

#10. i like the girl's expression ... (its so small, may i touch it)

#20 the final control will be wireless only, you won't get a wired on. the wired ones a prototypes,

!shame no rumble tho, they might just leave it as an add on, ie rumble pack

[BLAHBLAH @ May 10th 2006 6:09PM]

Eh, when did they say there is no rumble...aren't you thinking of sony's Dual Crock?

[Duophonix @ May 10th 2006 6:14PM]

@21 - there is a rumble feature and i think 20 was refering to the sensor bar, not the controller

[chris joseph @ May 10th 2006 6:16PM]

in regard to the coming fanboy wars between the consoles, how are people going to react to being called wii-ners or wii-nerds (because it sounds like weiners!)

hehe

[Dale @ May 10th 2006 6:22PM]

They can call us wii-ners all they want . . we'll be the ones having a blast playing great games with money left over for 2 am pizza binges.

[Jon M @ May 10th 2006 6:44PM]

The sensor bar location is a real issue.

How exactly am I going to place the sensor bar "above or below" my projector screen which drops from the ceiling in the media room? Or in my bedroom which has a plasma screen embedded into the wall? The best hope is the family room which has a LCD mounted on a swivel mount but that requires me to permamntly mount the sensor to the LCD (bad wife factor) or work out some sort of velcro type setup.

Anyone know what the connection between the sensor and the actual console? Can it be extended (e.g. did they do something smart like use cat5)?

I realize that I am not necessarily a "normal" customer but the sensor bar setup will not (unfortunately) work with my setup and I'd imagine will cause some other people issues.

-Jon

[CianC @ May 10th 2006 6:51PM]

There is a rumble feature, a speaker and a microphone all embedded in the controller, so it will be similar to the DS

[Cameron @ May 10th 2006 6:58PM]

Jon, hard to tell. But I do believe the sensor bar cable cable runs via USB, and I think I saw a press shot of it having a long looking cord. I'm sure if it is USB, I think you can easily get an extender cord up to the USB max. The USB max is 5 meters. So if the default cord is below 5 meters, you may be able to get an extender to add up to the maximum length.

[Knoxy @ May 10th 2006 6:58PM]

The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console, the pointer within 5 meters of the screen.

[maldoror @ May 10th 2006 7:01PM]

Best news of the day:
official announcement of Resident Evil on Wii

[maldoror @ May 10th 2006 7:06PM]

here comes the link:
http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/news/html/e060510.html

[Morbo @ May 10th 2006 7:09PM]

Thinking about it, that controller could do a great job on a re-do of a game like 'Manhunt'. The moves needed for the plastic bag, the glass shard etc. All can be done with a motion controller.
New attacks could be done also like a beaker of acid.
Could make for some pretty compelling gameplay.

[Attillia @ May 10th 2006 7:18PM]

Thanks Wally Pfingsten for the reply ;)

[Wonderer @ May 10th 2006 7:30PM]

I wonder how long it takes before your arms get to tired or you realze that you don't have enough room near your tv to be swinging your arms around like a complete idiot.

Sorry, but the whole concept of the wii is stupid. Stuff like this will work when we have true VR. Trying to coordiate your hand movemnts to a tiny on-screen golf club or the like won't be much fun.

[Tracy @ May 10th 2006 7:37PM]

I am a Nintendo fan.. Thanks for the great pictures. Any idea about the range of this little toy...

Thx

[JImmy @ May 10th 2006 8:47PM]

That Classic/Retro pad seems like a last minute addition to me. When you're playing, both hands will be on the pad, and the Wiimote's going to be hanging off of it, right? I can easily see someone celebrating a victory and the Wiimote's going to swing around and crack him on the head. Or if someone's really clumsy, they'll trip right over the Wiimote.

Why isn't it wireless on its own or why doesn't the Wiimote dock inside it somehow?

[iceblade @ May 10th 2006 8:52PM]

Ahh amazing... Hey, if I get a plane ticket out there, will you guys get me in to E3?

[Rory @ May 10th 2006 9:42PM]

I must say, from last years E3 until yesterday.
I had NO interest what so ever in Nintendo new console, I hated the control at first though it was a waste of time. Thinking it relate to non-gamers and old folks. But after since it with some interesting games :) OMG

Zelda with the wiimote looks incredible, plus it has sound in the control ( so what if it has sound in the remote) on word : BOW AND ARROW

Plus I can actually AFFORD this console.
Nintendo really surprised me with this one..

[Barc @ May 10th 2006 10:11PM]

@30 - Jon, I have a projector as well, and I doubt it's going to be an issue. If you've got a retracting projection screen, why not just attach it to the bottom bar of the screen? You may have to figure out something for it come retraction time, but it shoudn't be a showstopper. Maybe use a couple of strips of velcro and just put it on as needed? In my case my projection screen's down all the time so I was planning on just double-sided taping it to the bar on the bottom of the screen.

[Dant @ May 10th 2006 10:14PM]

how much will the Wii be costing?
don't think they mentioned on the press conference

[colin @ May 10th 2006 11:50PM]

i have a HD projector too... it sits ~16 feet back on my bookshelf... the USB length IS going to be a problem... i'm a bit bummed about this bar... i didn't think something lik ethat was necessary.

since it's not HD, I guess i can run video cables all the way there but i was really hoping for less mess. :( i assume a wireless (battery or small plug) would cause too much delay? :( let's hope they deliver something by Q4....

[will @ May 11th 2006 12:23AM]

it not announced but i think it will cost 311 (w->3)
just liike the title wii suggests
i cant wait to get one
it looks its going to be a blast playing with friends
and its going to make gamers excercise which is something i guess they dont want to do

[D @ May 11th 2006 12:39AM]

The Wii-mote will have a range of at most 10 meters from the sensor in order to work. You read more on Nintendo.com

[BogogF @ May 11th 2006 2:38AM]

Vilhelm and Wonderer = Idiots with a complete lack of understanding... Sony fanbois in disguise.

[Ross UK @ May 11th 2006 6:18AM]

This will be the greatest Nintendo Console Launch in history. Bring on the release date!!

[Russell @ May 11th 2006 9:15AM]

the pictures with the NES , SNES , and Sega games does that mean the Wii will have old time games u can buy or something to play on it!?