Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus add-on makes the Wii Remote a true 1:1 motion controller
By Paul Miller 
posted Jul 14th 2008 12:19PM
posted Jul 14th 2008 12:19PM
[Thanks, Erie T.]
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first post! im thinking this could make the next zelda mega cool!
Several people I've talked to suggests Zelda will use this also.
.....
You're welcome Engadget!
and what about the next star wars?
You should go and try and be the first post on every article engadged posts....you will have then actually done something with your life that people will remember you for.
...and no not in a good way
dude mega cool try a different word next time maybe u wont get picked on so much
come on
mega cool
maybe try using different words and u wont get picked on so much
Shouldn't this have shipped with the wii?
Not if it wasn't ready for production until now, and especially not if it would increase production costs without providing a feature that most games would take advantage of.
That's like saying that the Expansion Pak should have shipped with the N64, or that the HDD and modem should have shipped with the original PS2.
Too right the expansion pack should have been included as default system ram. The PS2 also should indeed have included the modem.
I can see the point to keep costs down, but this early in the console's lifetime it seems like a refinement on what should have already been done(i.e. there is already 1:1 even if it is crappy).
So... no nunchuck now with this thing?
Seriously Nintendo, how about getting the Wiimote right the first fucking time? This is what everyone expected from the beginning. Especially with those bullshitted up Red Steel promo videos.
Oh, and @Josh L:
That expansion pack really should have shipped with the N64. They knew the RAM was crap from the start. It would have cost them 1/10th the amount to slap it in initially without needing an extra bay, packaging, shipping, manufacturing, and just the general headache of some giant plastic enclosure for a crappy 4MB extra.
Once again, people just can't be happy with upgrades.
For a multitude of reasons, N/Sony/MS decides to upgrade their hardware and software at later dates. It may be due to cost, parts availability, technology, or a simple desire to stagger products launches to perpetuate sales.
I bought the MGS4 PS3 (in part) because I was waiting for the DS3 to include rumble and sixaxis. I also know that Sony will eventually release a Wiimote of their own. When they do, and if it it's worth it to me, I will be happy to buy it.
I'm all for added functionality, but this feels almost like a bug fix. I will still want one and be excited with what they do with it, I just don't like the execution with the rollout.
i agree this is stupid it better be a free accesory cause i dont wanna pay $50 for a little attachment that will increase what i do just a tad.
This should be a free upgrade.
I agree 100%. I'm still baffled each time I drop $50 for every game since I don't quit trust the habit of hacking my wii since most hacks out there are sort of narrow and shaky to follow .....or simply can leave u in the grey area.... NOW i have to drop another bux to a small device to improve motion sensing capability of something that already should be there originally? thats lame Ninetendo! I might end-up selling my unit back on e-bay! I'm just playing tired...of this thing..
Good I still have the box..and all d cables. :-)
This could probably ship with a game... Nintendo do that all the time like the rumble pack with Starfox back in the N64 days! I don't mind paying 60$ for a good game and a hardware expansion.
I've been quite pleased with the Wii as of now and I really don't see why they should've included this thing in the first place. Am I the only one who thinks the Wiimote serves its purpose quite well? Anyway i'm waiting to see what it does first and it'll be a lot easier to bitch/praise after... Not enough info for now!
and yes, i am a nintendo fanboy
Well, at least you made your first post much easier to low rank.
Too bad that you're also an idiot...
I had no idea what 1 to 1 meant till I read the last line. Thanks for clearing that up though. Sounds cool.
The last line only states that they don't know much more about what it does...
2nd last line*
very cool! maybe it'll be supported for wii music. this would be perfect for conducting music~
I wonder if thats a removeable cover on the bottom to attach my knumb-chuck which will aslo have 1:1 because of this device.
looks like it
No, even if it has a passthrough port (which it looks like it may and I REALLY hope it does) then the nunchuck would NOT be upgraded by it. This device contains EXTRA SENSORS, which would NOT in any way affect the nunchuck
well thats what I meant
I was talking to him not you lol
Oh yeah, baby! Die By The Sword: Ressurection, here we come!
You're a little creepy.
Just a little.
Maybe its the picture...
or the words hes using
he creaps me out
Great more add ons I have to buy. A peripheral for my peripheral, this is getting rediculous. It's like the rumblepack all over again.
Remember when you used to just buy games for your consoles?
I'm not looking forward to dishing out for this either. I already bought four remotes ... now I need to buy something else to get 1:1 motion? Come on ...
Wonder why they had to make an "addon" vs just updating the remote components?
Let me know when this "addon" is free ...
I'm guessing this will be a bundled accessory for the first game that requires or takes advantage of this. Also Nintendo will probably sell this very cheap for the extra controllers you have.
I'm not an expert so don't quote me on this but, I'm fairly sure that it isn't mandatory to buy this.
I remember when I used to buy power pads, super scopes, and light guns...if that's what you mean.
@Lowest Ranked:
It very well may be mandatory for certain games in the future.
Accelerometer technology has come a long way in the past couple of years. Perhaps you would rather buy a new console (with a wiimote with new sensors) than get an add on to your existing wiimote?
Seriously people - this is not a fix for something broken, it is an opportunity to keep up with the pace of change in a rapidly moving market.
Now I don't have a Wii but would this essentially make it more work to do with the wiimote or less? If I am correct, I assume that the fat lazy kids will not be buying this as 50 full pitches in Wii Sports will take some energy.
Wait... you mean the original Wii motion controls are not good enough?
In my opinion, yes. To me, the motion always felt unnatural, always synthesized and imperfect. But I mean, hey, it's better than nothing, so I don't really care. The thing is, you had to calibrate the Wiimote's sensitivity for a lot of games that required precision accuracy (or at least I did). With MotionPlus, controls are going to feel more fluid and natural, something that I'm all for. The possibilities, which seemed endless without this new add-on, have just been brought to a whole 'nother level.
Naw, you can play tennis with a flick of the wrist, and Wii Bowling hardly requires you to make the motion of bowling, I presume this could make more accurate motions necessary to play.
That's why when I play the wii I get so F**king frustrated because it rarely does what you want...
Seriously, this is long overdue. I never play my wii because it just plain sucks to control. GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK THIRD PARTY GAMES!!!
Okay, does the nunchuck plug in? And am I getting this free?
1) looks like there's a passthrough on the bottom (under a flap)
2) maybe if you buy a new console or remote, almost certainly bundled with the first few games that need it
Your mother must have beaten and neglected you as a child for you to be such a tool to crave attention like this. The only motion sensing your iPhone will ever have is when your boyfriend shoves it up your ass.
That's why when I play the wii I get so
frustrated because it rarely does what you want...
Seriously, this is long overdue. I never play my wii because it just plain sucks to control. GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK THIRD PARTY GAMES!!!
this seems like the equivalent of Microsoft adding an internal hd-dvd drive and than making hd-dvd games.
meaning that "better late than never" does not apply. they're essentially saying their system is broken and you must pay to make it right.
The best-selling console this generation is "broken"?
Oh how the general public disagrees with you.
@scentedflame
considering a failure rate of one third, the general public probably would call it "broken"
they should incorporate this tech into future wii remotes, but have the add-on available for wii remotes that have already been manufactured without it...
Why isn't everyone more excited?
This could make the wii awesome!
I am excited. Especially with that new Star Wars coming out... I hope they take advantage of this, but it might be too late in the game. Regardless, I look forward to true 1:1 motion. It takes the reason I bought my Wii and makes it that much better...
I highly doubt that this will just make everything better automatically. A game would either have to be developed with this in mind or a update would have to be releaced. Force Unleashed will not support this
So far, the Wii has not lived up to the high expectations I had when its controller was first announced. It has very frustrating, expecting one to one motion detection and only having acceleration support. The limitation has been in the controller, which simply does not have the technology for the level of motion support I wanted. If this add-on is really as good as it claims to be, it could make the Wii what we all imagined. I hope this finally enables a Star Wars game where the wiimote acts as a lightsaber and other cool games the Wii has just not been able to support.
Thank god! I've always thought the Wii didn't have enough accessories or attachments or expansion/extensions/covers. Now I can buy one of these so I can rest easily knowing my Wii is fully 'pimped out' with the latest 'kit'.
*rolls eyes*
Maybe a proper Wii Lightsabre game now?
Guys al lof you bashing this thing better not praise microsofts motion controller. microsofts motion controller will be something you have to buy. An accessory also. This just makes the controller more precise for the companies who where complaining that it wasnt precise enough.
Come on dont be hypocrites.
Does this mean I need new condoms for my Wiimotes?
Duck Hunt, here we come.
Don't you think the additional size is going to keep this from fitting into existing zappers/perfect shots and mario kart wheels?
I can finally do the wave with the Wiimote!
it would be awesome as dual swords... but how the hell can I move the character while only I could slicing??
You could use the balance board to simulate wielding two swords while on a Segway.
You have thumbs, right? Said thumbs could easily mash on the conveniently placed D-Pad.
I'm so sick of the iPhone-hater hyprocrites. If you don't like the iPhone, good for you - it's not for everyone. But it doesn't make any sense to whine about how Engadget is covering it too much and then come into topics which are unrelated and start talking about the iPhone. I just don't see the logic - "omg i r hate ifone so i r gonna spend all my tiem talking about it."
On-topic, this looks pretty cool. Hopefully pricing is reasonable or perhaps they can bundle it with the first games that require it a la the Star Fox 64/Rumble Pak bundle. Hopefully this can be used for some much better FPS games than the current offerings.
I'm seeing right through nintendo right now.
£30 Wii remote
£15 NunChuck
£10 Wiimotionplus
£55 for a fucking single full remote?
Tbh nintendo can fuck off.
I was a nintendo fanboy, pc gamer now. for 55 smacks I could buy 11 keyboards.
Advanced motion sensing in video games: Priceless.
And how much less than that does a decent gaming mouse cost?
I thought this was going to be in the Wii2. Maybe, by the time the Wii2 comes out they'll actually have 1:1 done right?
Then, we can listen to more lies about how great the widgets will be and how there will be lots of stuff out there for WiiWare.
Crap, does this mean I have to send away for another freakin' silicone skin?
- W
http://5dollarmusic.com
I am looking forward to this. It is unfortunate that they could not have had this since the start, but I am excited to see 1-1 even if down the line. I imagine that Nintendo will have the accessory for old remotes and build it into the new ones coming out. There are so many games that could use this type of input. I can't believe the amount of hate being spewed here. One the of the major complaints from fanboys of the other systems was that the Wii was never truly 1-1 motion sensing. I guess they are just disappointed they have one less bullet point on their list of complaints.
Dig the passthrough accessory port...
But in any case it seems this thing is just a 2 or 3 axis gyro -- I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that already. If I had to guess, I'd say that they were much too expensive at the time of the Wii design for Nintendo to have included them - not to mention Nintendo's inability at the time to commit to enough volume to drive pricing down when it obviously wasn't an absolutely necessary feature.
Honestly gyros are still pretty expensive, so making it a peripheral does make sense, but one might assume that at some point a future rev of the remote will include this internally.
Did anyone notice that BoomBlox uses the picture of the MotionPlus controller when showing you how to tie the wrist strap? I was wondering what sort of protective covering it had on it until I saw the pic on this story.
You do realize that his iPhone comment was intentionally inflammatory, right? By taking the bait you're just encouraging it.
I have a feeling that there might be a wireless "upgraded" nunchuck to come with this as well.
It only makes sense since:
1) the wire between the two is really frustrating and other companies have realized this making money on Nintendo's missgivings,
2) This is the chance for Nintendo to release its own wireless nunchuck and sell it as an upgrade so now you have to replace two parts.
I think this would be a great opportunity to add in a small mic or something.
1:1 motion doesn't mean a thing unless the game is programmed well enough to use it properly. Top Spin 3 for the Wii is the perfect example. The controls should have been: Move your player with the nunchuck analog stick, swign with the Wiimote and thats it. Instead the controls are so cumbersome that the game is just better played on the PS3 or Xbox.
At this point to get full Wii functionality you are going to spend far more on a Wii than a PS3 or 360. This is going to lead to the downfall of the Wii system.
$250 system
$40 extra remote
$20 nunchuck
$20 classic controller
$90 Wii Balance Board
$40 2 Wii motion plus units
---------
$500 with tax
It is a lot to pay for a system with a handlful of good games that really don't even need motion controls, a mountain of shovelware, and barely enough storage space for any type of media library.
The Wii was supposed to bring a baseball game that played like baseball, a tennis game that played like tennis, and a multitude of games that used real interactions. Instead we have waggle supprt and broken motion controls. It is sad that the most true to like motion controls are found in the dart game of Game Party. It really feels like throwing darts, fun eh not really but realistic, yes.
I see your point about the wii being expensive...but it will not lead to a downfall.
Nintendo understands the consumer mind is looking at the console by itself as a purchase. Then they know once you have their console, they can "nickel and dime" you for a couple hundred more dollars. The average consumer does not figure all of this into his/her decision to purchase the console.
For example, the 360 was always closely priced to the PS3. They charge you $100 for a wireless adapter (which is required for most people) while it is included in the PS3.
I don't really like what they're doing either, but I must admit it is a smart business decision.
ya 500 for the wii. But...
Xbox 360:
Premium: $350 for the new 60gb
extra wireless controller: $40
extra play and charge kit: $20
intercooler: $20
wireless adapter: $100
Xbox live 1 year: $50
wireless headset: $50
quick charge kit: $30
$680 with tax
Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber!
...lightsaber
Not to be picky (we all make typos), but proved should be provide. I'm surprised nobody else noticed.
They should release these in batches of 20s. I should be able to tape them to all my body parts and play the most true to life fighting game ever!!! If I had boobs and they bounced true to gravity, my character's would as well!
if yall didn't know the ps3 has a controller called the split fish
its a gaming mouse with cross square triangle and circle on the left
and a wii nunchaku with 3 buttons on the ends and full sixaxis
its the shit
...No it doesn't
oh and if you look at the end of the expansion there is a slot for the other stuff so you don't lose your nunchaku
its ok all you little fanboys. nintendo isn't that crazy
Alas, too late for me to stop killing small animals after putting trouble in wii sports golf...
there are 2 new star wars games comin out for the wii. star wars: the force unleashed and star wars: clone wars lightsaber duels. i am defenetly lookin forward to both of those games
Umm........i don't know if any of you watched E3 but when i watched it they said it would come included with Wii Sports 2 (i dont know how much of a great game it is to buy it for the wiimotionplus..but well see -.-)
=D
No nunchuck huh..? Interesting. I think they should rebuild it, and make a connection slot inside of it, and then LATER when they decide they can make motion sensing better, they make the MotionPlus Plus! That way it'll have 1:1:1 blah blah blah, and then, later, a MotionMultiply, that will make it a 2:2:2 motion, and then another motion Plusplusplus thingthing to make even BETTER motion sensory! And then it all continues intil it's a giant sword, and then... THEN... They work on the motion sensory jyros for the Nunchucks.
Wii Music looks pretty good. I saw someone doing some awesome drumming with it on the BBC website.
Hobo.
--
http://www.nintendowiigameconsole.co.uk
Well, yes, common people are just like this ;)
http://www.love-vs-hate.com