Nintendo's Wiimote gets dissected, inspected

While the console launch frenzy has given us some exciting innards to look at lately, it's good to see someone finally take a big step away from that potentially hazardous (and sued) Wiimote, pick up a screwdriver, and delve right in. Similar to the precise movements that splayed the Wii itself, these folks used utmost caution (and a fairly nice digicam, too) when dissecting their brand new Wiimote. Beneath the casing was the IR sensor, capacitors, a Broadcom BCM2042 Bluetooth chip, vibration motor, LEDs, accelerometer, EEPROM, and a myriad of other random forms of circuitry. Interestingly enough, the kids behind the scenes got a little carried away and found that the "EEPROM contained all the constants like Bluetooth ID, firmware revision, etc.," while the Wiimote "functionality was burned into the Broadcom" chip itself. So if cramming a SIXAXIS controller into a model airplane is too amateur for you, crack open that Wiimote (before it does the same to you) and get to hacking.

[Thanks, Kevin]

[Smeagol @ Dec 20th 2006 10:42AM]

Finally, a dissection with decent lighting and composition.

[Wirelessdeo @ Dec 20th 2006 10:47AM]

Im surprised it took this long to get something like this posted.

[Evan @ Dec 20th 2006 11:25AM]

No DSP for the IR sensor? Maybe that's what the unidentified U7849 6Q63.

Also, what's the IR sensor's model number?

[Alcaron @ Dec 20th 2006 11:37AM]

PERFECT timing...I just got done ripping apart my wireless 360 controller and dyeing it black, wanted to do the same with the wiimote, was wondering what type of screws it uses (lol I don't own one). Heres my answer. :)

[NHAnimator @ Dec 20th 2006 11:57AM]

It uses Y-head screws. If you don't have the proper screwdriver, just pretend you have one in your hand and make turning motions with it. It's an amazing system, that Wii is.

Just be sure not to let your imaginary screw driver go flying.

[asteron @ Dec 20th 2006 11:44AM]

Anyone else feel kinda dirty after looking at those pictures? It feels like I'm looking at wii porn.

[Frank @ Dec 20th 2006 11:45AM]

EEPROM contains bluetooth data? I don't think so... Why in a EEPROM?
No, the EEPROM is obviously to store your Mii!

[Scott @ Dec 20th 2006 11:49AM]

So now will someone post instructions on how to replace that God awful speaker in the Wiimote? I can't imagine it is too difficult or expensive.

[Alexander @ Dec 20th 2006 12:15PM]

Sure. I'll do it here:

Remove speaker. solder a headphone jack to the side of the wiimote. Close up the case.

Just be carful you don't garrote yourself when you send your wiimote flying.

[Alexander @ Dec 20th 2006 12:13PM]

Inside the firmware it says "Nintendo RVL-CNT-0" a bunch of times. Methinks that someone forgot to chant it to the 'Nintendo WII-CNT-0' before final code was burnt to thousands of EEPROM. :D

Love it when codenames get out into retail product.

[doob @ Dec 20th 2006 12:42PM]

You'll find that many Nintendo products leave the codename abbreviation in the part numbers (Gamecube was originally Dolphin, all part numbers start DOL. N64, originally Ultra 64, part numbers begin NUS).

[Isaac @ Dec 20th 2006 1:39PM]

LOL! I'm going to try that, and if I choke myself to death (highly likely, knowing me), I'll make sure my next of kin sue you for giving me the idea! Hehe

[tiuk @ Dec 20th 2006 1:52PM]

Ultra = NUS? Couldn't NUS be like, Nintendo US or something?

[Brian @ Dec 20th 2006 12:50PM]

what, no four leaf clovers? I thought it was magic...

[James @ Dec 20th 2006 1:32PM]

I don't think the speaker is the problem -- I read the WiiLi discussion of what they know so far about sending sounds to the 'mote, and they say that you have to send 150 packets per second with precise (millisecond-range, I think) timing or it sounds like absolute ass. Which means that if your neighbor decides to microwave a burrito while you're gaming, packets might get dropped, or arrive at the wrong time, and your sound goes to hell.

I think the 'mote should have had a multi-KB (maybe even multi-MB) buffer, and an easy way to transmit entire multi-second sound effects ahead of time, so that, for example, the Zelda "ching" sound effect from a sword swing (or whatever) can be sent in one go, then you could tell the 'mote to "Play Sound #37" or some such. Would have made a lot more sense. At the very least, the 'mote could have offered the A2DP profile as a service...

[Enough Already Guys @ Dec 20th 2006 2:02PM]

I love how you guys always include how "dangerous" the remote is.

Did you read that? You're calling a remote dangerous.
Why not report on the dangers of baseball bats and tennis rackets?
Maybe because people seem to be able to hang onto those, but they can't hang onto a remote.
Give us a break Engadget, time to grow up and stop with this crap.


btw I love how you keep banning my IP, great work....let's not let the people speak since they may start to think.

[Joseph @ Dec 20th 2006 2:22PM]

James-
Is it Wiili?
--Joseph


Im pretty sure that wiili is engrish.

[Joseph @ Dec 20th 2006 2:24PM]

tiuk-
That is too easy. Try: Nin Ultra Sixtyfour = NUS

[axel000 @ Dec 20th 2006 2:34PM]

Now its only so long until someone creates a light sabre hack. Just put those Wii-mote innards into the handle of the toy sabre...

[Matt @ Dec 20th 2006 4:43PM]

I wonder if it's possible to mod the Remote with a hard power switch to help increase battery life when it's not in use. That's one thing I really liked about the Wavebird controller, the ability to shut the entire thing off.