They've always said that the previous iteration of the "Revolution" controller wasn't quite final, but now that Nintendo has
unveiled what is presumably the
final controller design for the Wii (though Nintendo is still calling it a prototype, and might tweak a few things), we thought we'd lay out what exactly this Wiimote is, and why it makes Nintendo so darn smarmy all the time. First off, the new version unvieled by Nintendo on Tuesday includes a built-in speaker -- the addition of which lengthened the controller slightly -- along with minor interface tweaks like swapping out "a" and "b" for "1" and "2" buttons and other icon changes. GameSpot is also reporting that this Bluetooth wireless version is quite a bit heavier than the feather-light wired prototypes, and that the nunchaku attachment is tweaked slightly in shape and button design. As for the actual operation of the controller, that is managed by sensors within the Wiimote, in tandem with a sensor bar located on your TV, which can watch for movement in full 3D space. A better equivilant to Sony's
new PS3 controller design unveiled on monday would actually be the Wiimote's nunchucka attachment, which also includes an accelerometer. While all of this motion sensing might provide an easy learning curve in some instances, the number of buttons available to the user, including dual trigger buttons ("c" and "z") on the nunchucka, a trigger and face button ("b" and "a") on the Wiimote, along a bunch of other face buttons, could make things a bit more complicated than anticipated. With that said, we'll be playing with the Wii on the E3 show floor tomorrow so we're sure it won't take long to find out if our fears come to fruition.
[Via
Joystiq]
posted May 10th 2006 7:45AM
reminds me a lot of those seat-back tv remotes on planes that let you play games n such... at least on JAL
As innovative as the controller is, this style of play just doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't want to swing my arms to hit the ball in a baseball game, and I don't want to swing my arm to attack in a Ninja Gaiden style game. I'm glad they offered a traditional controller for people like me because I'd feel like an idiot playing games with the motion sensor.
Hey #2 don't knock it quite yet as they will also be releasing the shell to go over top the controller, (I'm hoping it releases with personally) allowing games like Super Smash Brothers to be played. Also check out some of the videos on it. I saw some of the stuff you did with red steel... holy crap! Its not you simply swing and the sword swings with... it seems you have complete and utter control of your blade in a very realtime setting. In other words... its hot!
http://revolution.ign.com/articles/706/706256p1.html
it is still backward compatible with gamecube controller (there are slots on the wii)
this controller rocks ... i think
take a games like Metal Gear Solid, with this kind of controller, it would bo impossible to play.
having said that, it would be cool to have one of those on a PS3.
-- James
(blu-ray 4eva)
unvieled?
spell check ahoy mateys
looks like it should be attached to a massage chair from the sharper image.
Imagine how much fun a Star Wars: Jedi Knight game would be? People always wanted to be able to swing a light saber, and we all know that the replicas aren't good enough.. Imagine the Wiimote making that wooshing sound from Star Wars.
I think Wii and this controller could potentially have a great impact on the gaming market as well as the large group of non-gamers they hope to attract... except that the very nature of this controller will VASTLY limit the ability to market the gameplay of the Wii that they need to achieve market penetration.
Gaming kiosks are now a nessesity for any gaming console to break into a market. With Wii's departure from conventional game controllers, it's going to be even more important for them to get kiosks out there for people to play and understand the new mechanics required. But how on earth will they be able to demonstrate the wireless nature and movement of the controls without risking damage or loss at the kiosks?
Current kiosks have controllers all but bolted to the displays, but with this new generation of controllers coming out, you're going to need to manipulate the controllers. I'm frankly more curious to see how Nintendo or Sony marketing will handle THAT.
"Fears"? What "fears"? That it has sufficient buttons to shut up the nutjobs that think a controller can't have less than a dozen buttons and a kitchen sink with which to play games properly? Please...
How does the speaker volume on the controller adjust with that of your sound system? Or does it not? I?m worried it could easily become drowned out or be too loud.
why nintendo.. why... I thought I have left gaming world (since PSX), leading a more economical way to spend my money. Now I'm really into it once again, checking what's the update in gaming industry. It really does reach people that has stop playing games like me to once again experience the feeling like first time you hold a 2 buttons controller.. And I'm also considering buyin DS lite.. Guess i have to save some cash now
#3 Quote: "Hey #2 don't knock it quite yet as they will also be releasing the shell to go over top the controller..."
Not true. I'm pretty sure that was a rumor or at least a statement by Nintendo a while back that never panned out. They have already shown their Virtual Console controller which looks pretty sweet I might add. But there will be no "shell" that slips over the Wiimote. With the option to plug in Gamecube controlls as well as the new VC controller, there's no need for this "shell" controller anymore.
I'm suprised at Nintendo. They are really getting a lot of people on their Wiivolution bandwagon. Sounds like they are the Apple of the gaming world.
Small, but really effective.
I wonder if the whole motion controller will get old after awhile. I wonder if developers will utilize it more than the touch interface on the DS.
I wonder when the compatibility between DS and Wii will be announced, if ever.
How does the remote communicate with the sensor bar to determine its position?
The communication between the controller and the system itself is Bluetooth, but what about that lit tle bar- IR, ultrasonic, RF of some sort? I don't think it's going to be another bluetooth setup.
Looks exactly like my Norelco razor. Maybe you can shave Mario with it.
A game like Star Wars Jedi Academy would RULE with that sort of controller, though...
I prefered the original nunchaku connector, it looked sturdier. I just know that I'm gonna end up ripping off the nunchaku in a huge swortfight in TLOZ:TP.
I'm looking forward to the Wiimote, but I don't get the whole nunchucka add-on thing. How am I supposed to drink and play video games if both my hands are full?
Simple, number 17.... BEER GOGGLES!
Looks like you'll be probably be covering the entire speaker with your hand while playing. Bad placement.
to B:
I am sure it won't affect the level of sound too much.
I'm so glad that they got rid of the N64 style stick from the nunchaku attachment. I was dreading that since I used to play the original Mario Party and had blisters from the mad mini games.
Hmmm ... I'm not very convinced of this new controller.
How can you do all the fancy moves and combos in games like Zelda?! After a while I'd get tired of swinging my arms around like an idiot ...
it's sounds too farfetched to me ... i'd stick with the normal controller
The idea is interesting, but I think the remote-control style controller should be designed better ergonomically. More like a TiVo "peanut" remote than a $5 before-rebate GE remote at Best Buy.
And while I agree this controller idea would rock with a Jedi style game, you still couldn't swing it with two hands since the other part of the controller still has to be operated. Maybe a sword swinging game would work best if a pad was also required so you could move your character with your feet while swinging your virtual sword.
I wonder how long it will be before we see licensed *Star Trek TNG* phaser style controls for the Wii.
I really want to know more about the "sensor" that has to live on the tv. We have a really nice HDTV, and I really don't want to have to stick a Wii-sensor on it to play games, I think this is a bad concept, and seems to fly in the face of nintendo's slick and user friendly design thus far, are we confirmed on this?
The positional sensor that I've seen in *very* few photographs is a really sleek bar that sits in front of the television across the base. It's not ugly. You probably wouldn't notice it after a week.
It is an interesting concept but does anyone here remember the Power Glove? Sounds alot like that. Something that moves through 3D space and needs the bar on your TV to make it work. Im not sure if Nintendo is being innovative or just going old school.
#12: This is from yesterday.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/09/nintendo-shows-off-wii-remote/
#25:
nunchuck attachment is removable.
I think that the biggest thing that the Wii has going for it is the family fun factor. There will be lots of games for group play, with or without nunchuku action.
I like the comparison of a family having fun playing some crazy game together (super duper mario kart, etc) versus some slob in their underwear playing their PS3 or XBOX360 by themselves until they pass out.
I might still get a PS3 or XBOX360 but I am almost definitely getting Wii for the family fun factor.
Swinging around the controller may be considered exercise. If I wanted to exercise, I wouldn't be playiing video games.
Seriously...while it looks pretty cool, it just doesn't look inviting to me. We can all speculate -- we need to get our hands on it and see if it is a hit or a miss. I wonder if there will be accessories that allow "normal" controllers to be used.
I'm surprised that people are STILL saying that they don't want to wave their arms all over the place to play games.
You don't have to wave your arms frantically in most games, it has been in pretty much every hands-on article I've read.
Because the remote is so versatile and sensitive, it lends itself to both frantic and minor movements.
As for controller shells, whilst there isn't going to be a "standard" shell that clips onto the remote, the lightgun style shell looks pretty cool.
If Zelda can work with this remote, I've no doubt that Metal Gear would work with it. It would certainly make the 1st person mode interesting. It's also pretty awesome that they're putting Solid Snake into Super Smash Bros Brawl.
Every report I read, whilst most of them state that the control isn't as perfect as they'd hoped, it's doing pretty well, and just ramps up my anticipation for the machine.
Game kiosks... they're a great marketing tool, and there's no reason why they can't come up with a demo station that can be placed in malls. They just need to tether the remote to something, like the way mobile phone displays are set up now, you can pick them up, but they're tethered. They just need a long enough tether so that people can stand back a bit.
As for obscuring the speaker on the remote... think of how you generally hold a remote, or how you'd hold the remote in your hands... unless you have it upsidedown, chances are the remote isn't going to be covered.
Right okay for all those in doubt the speaker just plays object sounds and like punches and sound effects example picking up a coin in mario it would go ching! second no it dosnt cover the speaker as you hold it the other way round the back with your thumb on the speaker and a finger on the top for the trigger a bit like holding a mobile phone or a cell phone for u americans and third for racing games u turn it horizontialy and move it like a steering wheel and tilt the controller lastly the nunchuka thingy is also motion sensor so u can flick it and stuff basicaly go to www.ign.com for some wii videos and thatll explain it a bit.
game kiosks well they could attach like another seperate wire onto the controler like have a clip or something to secure a wire to the connection between the wiimote and the nunchuka
btw im from uk well scotland to be exact and u should email me at kieran_keyhole@hotmail.co.uk
I'm looking forward to getting some hands on with this new controller however I do have some concerns.
First off, there is no real force feedback. Sure, flicking the remote around is easy enough but when you're used to swinging, for example, a baseball bat it will be hard to guage the equivalent force you intend to apply using the Wiimote due to obvious weight and mass differences. Additionally, on Nintendo's web-site, they show a sword fighting game. What happens when your sword is blocked? In real life you followed through with the swing all the way, in the game it stopped halfway through. You will need to respond to what happened in game... How? Moving the Wiimote back to a more comfortable position will input commands to the game...
On a similar note, at some point or another you will change the position you sit in or perhaps grab something like a drink, all of this will most likely force you to unintentionally move the Wiimote which again will input unwanted command into the game. I guess the remedy to this would be to pause the game before moving however I see this as something that will take a bit of time to get in the habit of.
I'm sure some unwanted side effects to motion sensing input will emerge once the console is released.
According to the Nintendo.com website, the motion sensing ability will (with regards to the sword) only be for Special Sword Attacks. That makes sense, you'll use it enough but not to the point of getting you tired (which would be the case if it had to be used for every attack).
It would add more precision to the aiming which rules because I really don't like the aiming with any current and past console controller. Only PC games that use the mouse have been good with aiming (FPS). Looks like the Wiimote could change that. Btw, I love the "Wiimote" nickname people are giving it!:D
http://wii.nintendo.com/games_zelda.html
When I am need a drink while playing a game I allways press Pause, I don't see the problem in that!
And for everybody complayning about they would get tired, take a break! When you are running and get tired you stop right? So if you get tired while playing a game, then stop!
IM HAVING PROBLEMS HELP!!!!!!!! the wii controller is going crazy on me. On wii sports on the menu where you select which game you wanna play it just keeps going through all the options real fast. if i press "A" it will just pick which ever game it ends up on. I just got it and am already having problems... please email me back ASAP!!! mattzobrist@mac.com ive done synced it many times and still the same problem. am i the only one with this problem?
Im having same problem, let me know if you find out a sollution.