Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus add-on makes the Wii Remote a true 1:1 motion controller

While we saw it hinted at in patents, Nintendo is springing quite the doozy on us at E3 in the form of its new Wii MotionPlus add-on. Perhaps in a preemptive strike against supposed Wiimote competition from the likes of Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo is beefing up its motion support with this add-on, which is supposed to proved "an unmatched level of precision and immersion," with sensors to supplement the accelerometer and sensor bar to provide 1:1 motion -- as in, I move my arm this much, my character moves his arm that much. So far that's all we know about the unit, Nintendo will be detailing more at its E3 media briefing tomorrow.

[Thanks, Erie T.]

[John H. @ Jul 14th 2008 12:21PM]

first post! im thinking this could make the next zelda mega cool!

[nxtiak @ Jul 14th 2008 12:37PM]

Several people I've talked to suggests Zelda will use this also.
.....
You're welcome Engadget!

[El Taco @ Jul 14th 2008 12:39PM]

and what about the next star wars?

[Graham @ Jul 14th 2008 1:27PM]

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

[chrisparm1993 @ Jul 28th 2008 11:44PM]

dude mega cool try a different word next time maybe u wont get picked on so much

[chrisparm1993 @ Jul 28th 2008 11:52PM]

come on
mega cool
maybe try using different words and u wont get picked on so much

[John H. @ Jul 14th 2008 12:22PM]

and yes, i am a nintendo fanboy

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 14th 2008 12:30PM]

Well, at least you made your first post much easier to low rank.

[Ignatius @ Jul 14th 2008 12:32PM]

Too bad that you're also an idiot...

[rick @ Jul 14th 2008 12:22PM]

Shouldn't this have shipped with the wii?

[Josh L @ Jul 14th 2008 12:27PM]

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.

[Page @ Jul 14th 2008 12:35PM]

Too right the expansion pack should have been included as default system ram. The PS2 also should indeed have included the modem.

[rick @ Jul 14th 2008 12:35PM]

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).

[Pochi @ Jul 14th 2008 12:38PM]

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.

[NHAnimator @ Jul 14th 2008 12:52PM]

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.

[rick @ Jul 14th 2008 12:58PM]

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.

[nintendoman @ Jul 16th 2008 12:51PM]

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.

[O2 @ Jul 14th 2008 7:17PM]

This should be a free upgrade.

[Jimmy Jones @ Jul 14th 2008 7:59PM]

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. :-)

[Oskin @ Jul 15th 2008 1:33AM]

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!

[Ellianth @ Jul 14th 2008 12:23PM]

I had no idea what 1 to 1 meant till I read the last line. Thanks for clearing that up though. Sounds cool.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 14th 2008 12:31PM]

The last line only states that they don't know much more about what it does...

[Ellianth @ Jul 14th 2008 12:41PM]

2nd last line*

[whowhatme @ Jul 14th 2008 12:25PM]

very cool! maybe it'll be supported for wii music. this would be perfect for conducting music~

[Boarderwoot @ Jul 14th 2008 12:25PM]

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.

[El Taco @ Jul 14th 2008 12:41PM]

looks like it

[Phoenix @ Jul 14th 2008 12:41PM]

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

[El Taco @ Jul 14th 2008 4:09PM]

well thats what I meant

[Phoenix @ Jul 14th 2008 6:42PM]

I was talking to him not you lol

[Magnulus @ Jul 14th 2008 12:27PM]

Oh yeah, baby! Die By The Sword: Ressurection, here we come!

[Matthew C @ Jul 14th 2008 3:29PM]

You're a little creepy.

Just a little.

Maybe its the picture...

[chrisparm1993 @ Jul 28th 2008 11:50PM]

or the words hes using
he creaps me out

[FoxHoundADAM @ Jul 14th 2008 12:27PM]

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?

[HAI 2 U @ Jul 14th 2008 12:34PM]

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 ...

[nxtiak @ Jul 14th 2008 12:34PM]

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.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 14th 2008 12:36PM]

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.

[Cale @ Jul 14th 2008 12:49PM]

I remember when I used to buy power pads, super scopes, and light guns...if that's what you mean.

[o29 @ Jul 14th 2008 2:11PM]

@Lowest Ranked:

It very well may be mandatory for certain games in the future.

[Wouldya Rather @ Jul 14th 2008 4:37PM]

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.

[natels @ Jul 14th 2008 12:29PM]

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.

[Bj Sisco @ Jul 14th 2008 12:31PM]

Wait... you mean the original Wii motion controls are not good enough?

[Alex Padilla @ Jul 14th 2008 12:39PM]

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.

[Billy @ Jul 14th 2008 1:19PM]

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.

[Meridimus @ Jul 14th 2008 12:32PM]

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!!!

[Ethan @ Jul 14th 2008 12:32PM]

Okay, does the nunchuck plug in? And am I getting this free?

[Phoenix @ Jul 14th 2008 12:43PM]

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

[Boarderwoot @ Jul 14th 2008 12:33PM]

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.

[Meridimus @ Jul 14th 2008 12:33PM]

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!!!

[cranium @ Jul 14th 2008 12:35PM]

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.

[Scentedflame @ Jul 14th 2008 12:42PM]

The best-selling console this generation is "broken"?

Oh how the general public disagrees with you.