Nintendo says it's considering Wiimote with built-in MotionPlus

It's pretty far down on the surprise-o-meter, but it looks like Nintendo is at least considering the possibility of a Wiimote with built-in MotionPlus for further on down the road. That word comes straight from Nintendo's Katsuya Eguchi, who told a developer round table that, "as to looking at whether or not it will be an attachment or built in - we're always looking at how hardware should evolve and where we should take it," and that, "it's something we'll be looking at." Katsuya also insisted that MotionPlus wasn't an acknowledgment that the original Wiimote was somehow lacking, saying that Nintendo is "very happy" with what it did, but that, "of course, you always want more."

[Via Yahoo! News / PC Magazine]

[Rafer @ Jul 18th 2008 4:07PM]

YAY MORE PERIPHERAL MONEYS

[Rafer @ Jul 18th 2008 4:07PM]

YAY MORE PERIPHERAL MONEYS

[DefPo3t @ Jul 18th 2008 4:23PM]

Boooo. Double posts

[Ignatius @ Jul 18th 2008 4:09PM]

I wonder if this is how Sony's fans felt when the Dualshock 3 came out.

Punch in the freaking balls if Nintendo doesn't give a huge discount to people who paid $60 for three full sets of extra controllers...

[primetime4 @ Jul 18th 2008 4:31PM]

The difference is that you don't necessarily have to have a DS3 to play any games. You might enjoy it more but it doesn't actually affect the controls. Not so sure about this.

[Phoenix @ Jul 18th 2008 4:39PM]

They're not forcing you into buying a new controller, it's available as an addon

[Jonathan @ Jul 18th 2008 4:37PM]

Well, it'd actually be $180 for three sets of extra controllers.

Then, you have to add the price of a WiiMotion Plus x 3, which I believe the add-on plus Wii Sports is set to come out at $30, no?

So then you have the $249.99 Wii + $300 more just to get a Wii with 4 fully capable controllers.

*sigh*

I'm a Wii owner, FYI, so no need to Low Rank me, fanboys.

[Jonathan @ Jul 18th 2008 4:39PM]

@ me

WiiMotion Plus x 4, rather.

[mykie @ Jul 18th 2008 4:44PM]

I would imagine that the "discount" comes when you buy the attachment, rather than the new upgraded M+-equipped Wii Remote.

I already have 4 Wii Remotes, I'd probably only buy the upgraded version if one of my remotes gets fishtanked.

...What I really think is going on here is Nintendo's playing at putting M+ in the controllers of their next console. Hopefully existing Wii remotes with M+ will be forward-compatible.

[Ignatius @ Jul 18th 2008 4:48PM]

I'd rather trade in my old controllers for the Wiimote with the built-in MotionPlus. I hope Nintendo would give a discount for it...

[mabhatter @ Jul 20th 2008 2:18AM]

the add-on is the "discount". They might make an upgraded controller as standard in the future, but with the sellouts, they seem to be careful not to split the market into too much. If you start having too many add-ons and special versions then it gets hard for game writers to support the new cool stuff because they're not sure everybody has one.
personally, I think they're about to find out just how they shortchanged the hardware and painted themselves in a box for the next two years. They are selling huge numbers, but didn't leave themselves any upgrade ports, or any way to do some of the things that Sony is just catching on to, like Little Big Planet. They're adding trinkets which have limited developer appeal. If they upgrade the hardware in the slightest, it will go unused, or they'll split the market, neither is a good option.

[jason @ Jul 18th 2008 4:16PM]

What does the motion plus do?

I dont get it.

[Mark @ Jul 18th 2008 4:35PM]

Seems to add gyroscope or something similar to better tell the orientation of the wiimote for things like 1:1 fencing

[Unclekoolaid @ Jul 18th 2008 4:36PM]

It allows for tru 1:1 motion, basically if you move your arm, the character on the screen will move the exact same way.

[Phoenix @ Jul 18th 2008 4:38PM]

There's been like 4 articles on it. It makes the Wii remote able to sense much more accurately.

You move your arm so much, the character moves it the same.

[Homeboy @ Jul 18th 2008 5:03PM]

It does what the Wiimoto was initially advertise to do, which is offer full control in the way that if the turn or move the Wiimoto it's movement would be mirrored in the sword game you might be playing.

By the end of the Wii's lifespan I bet that the early adopters will have a box in the living full of Wii accessories.

[Daniel @ Jul 20th 2008 12:36AM]

It adds 3-axis rotational position information on top of the 3-vector tilt/acceleration that the wiimote already has.

The wiimote can already detect large or fast motions and tilt. This adds slow and rotational tracking. Why can't it track slow movement now? Because gravity is always pulling on the accelerometer. For proper detection, it has to show a difference large enough from gravity to be detectable.

Why wasn't this done before? Because the tech was big, heavy, and expensive before late last year. If you used an older gyromouse, you know how even the smaller electric-motor based gyroscopes would be heavy, vibrate, and slightly push against you when you moved (this didn't happen with the newer presentation mice because on chip accelerometers like the wiimote has replaced the gyroscopes). The new tech replaces motors with piezoelectric oscillators that work like miniature Foucault pendulums. Rotational movement will squish the ellipsoid movement of the miniature "pendulum" on the chip. The chips nintendo uses has 3 "pendulums" on them and a small processor that combines the measurements of each.

[Andrew @ Jul 18th 2008 6:06PM]

Great post, Daniel.

[Pavan @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:35AM]

How about all those gyro mouse things that have been on sale for years - do they just use glorified accelerometers or...how did they solve these problems?

[DeaconGTG @ Jul 18th 2008 4:40PM]

"of course, you always want more [money]."

[mykie @ Jul 18th 2008 4:45PM]

Now we wait for people to ask how you plug in the nunchuck...

[Daniel @ Jul 18th 2008 4:51PM]

Well, we already have the obligatory "sell my Wii" post below.

[O2 @ Jul 18th 2008 5:15PM]

Wirelessly, of couse.

[BMErdin @ Jul 18th 2008 4:45PM]

I don't intend on buying an additional add-on for the 4 remotes I already own. I hope they don't start requiring this for games, because then I won't buy them either. My Wii may be headed for Craigslist.

[Phoenix @ Jul 18th 2008 4:46PM]

...Meh. makes sense I suppose. So long as both options are offered.

[SornyPanafonic @ Jul 18th 2008 4:50PM]

when will nintendo come out with the not so virtual drinking mans drinking game??? fuck the wiifit, how about the wiidrink. little white drinking mugs hooked up with God knows what. c'mon! a $3000 suit!

now if youll excuse me, the drinking hour nears.

[Ryroo @ Jul 18th 2008 4:57PM]

The whole reasoning for this is to force you to actually act out the motion to accomplish the motion. It isn't so much to improve how acurrate the Wiimote is, but to require you to not just flick the wrist, but use your arm to make the motion. I own a Wii and like the idea because I find even myself when I start to get a little tired or bored playing games that I do the minimal action. The games are supposed to be fun and physical (The physical nature of the system was a big seller for me). I can't believe they won't start making all the Wiimotes by next year with this built in.

[Boarderwoot @ Jul 18th 2008 4:59PM]

Why would they create a whole new controller? They've already got the manufacturing infastructure in place to create wiimote and WiiM+ stand alones. Just sell it as a bundle from now on and keep from changing the production keeping the cost 40 bucks. NBD.

[Daniel @ Jul 18th 2008 5:08PM]

Good point. They could just start selling a Wii Bundle with MotionPlus and Wii Sports Resort.

It might be a good idea since there are rumors the the MotionPlus attachment drains batteries.

[Wwhat @ Jul 19th 2008 8:23AM]

Because the thing gets too long and clunky now? Especially with the other controller attached.
Plus this will probably reduce sturdiness and have a number of failures if you attach a bit like that and then a nunchuck and meanwhile are waving it around like mad as you'd do with a wiimote.

[Ethan @ Jul 18th 2008 5:34PM]

Every new wiimote should include this and the plug-in module should be viewed as an upgrade module. Has to be cheap.

[Beast @ Jul 18th 2008 5:52PM]

and the profecy came true...

[BobLHed @ Jul 18th 2008 6:25PM]

Really, here, somehow "douche" falls short

[brentdanz @ Jul 18th 2008 6:20PM]

This might really become a problem for Nintendo. They are complicating a "simple family friendly" console. People will ask "will I need this controller add-on for this game?"

Can anyone say "Sega 32X" - NOT a good idea.

American consumers are easily confused and turned off by "special add-ons" like this. And also they often feel duped when an "enhancement" like this arrives on the market.

Better technology does not always mean happier customers.

[mike @ Jul 18th 2008 6:29PM]

Agreed

[digitallysick @ Jul 18th 2008 6:29PM]

Let all the suckers buy it first, to feel like they have an edge over opponents. After sales of it die down, then integrate it into the controller.

[Wwhat @ Jul 19th 2008 8:27AM]

"opponents"?

[mike @ Jul 18th 2008 6:29PM]

...

[Richie @ Jul 18th 2008 6:45PM]

I for one, applaud this attempt at satire. +1

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jul 18th 2008 7:36PM]

I'm sure Nintendo was thinking about the built-in option from the moment they invented MotionPlus.

[hiko36 @ Jul 18th 2008 8:35PM]

I had a Wii, played it for a few hours and then returned it. Now I understand why the Sony Exec says he doesn't see it as a threat. Sales does not mean it's a good console... Just means people have horribly low standards.

[John @ Jul 18th 2008 9:46PM]

In my dorm, I knew about 5 or 6 guys with Wiis. None of them used them by the Spring semester. I mean, in the beginning of the year, sure, since they'd just bought them for college. But then it would be Halo, CoD4... and then the Wii would get put to the side and forgotten.

The 360 and PS3 just have more you can do with the console, and more games that appeal with to gamers. The main argument against the PS3 seems to be that the 360 has most of the good games for PS3 as well, which is only a reason not to get a PS3 if you already have a 360. The Wii has some fun games, but they get old. But, it will keep selling because if you're buying your kid a console, what are you going to get - the big, hulking box of a PS3, the Microsoft Xbox with its myriad super-detailed shooters, or the shiny white Wii, made by Nintendo, with its kid friendly Mario and with all those touted athletic attributes.

[Phonixfire @ Jul 18th 2008 10:01PM]

Either that's a complete fabrication, or you're an idiot.

It could be a lie because nobody in their right mind would buy a console and return it anything less than a few days later (after realising they actually didn't like it).

You could be an idiot because you didn't take the time to work out if you actually liked it or not.

In short;
*Don't be a fanboy
*Don't base opinions on first impressions.

[hiko36 @ Jul 18th 2008 10:03PM]

@ John

What you said is exactly why I took mine back. Deep down the Wii is just a casual console... It's great at what it does but horrible at what I want...

[Tina Darby @ Jul 18th 2008 11:49PM]

How nice this would've been in the first place. So, what genius over at Nintendo came up with this idea AFTER the stand alone MotionPlus is out of production and ready for the market?

[El Taco @ Jul 19th 2008 12:53AM]

I can't believe I'm the only one who noticed this: look at the wrist straps in the picture. They are different. It looks like they have a clip so they stay in place. Yay for no slidey wrist straps!

[ds @ Jul 21st 2008 3:57PM]

Yes, you must be the only one that noticed these 'fancy new clips'...

[alan @ Jul 19th 2008 7:41AM]

i love my wii and if and when this is released i will buy it, i have ps3, xbox 360 and wii, i think the wii is more "fun" than the other ps3 and the xbox 360, there is nothing more funny than having a bunch of friends round your house, having a few drinks and having a few games on the wii, thank god its saturday :) http://www.gadget-mania.co.uk

[Alex Kirby @ Jul 19th 2008 7:45AM]

MotionPlus
Ninetendo's latest attempt at stealing ppls money with dumb pointless peripherals. This is why I dont agree with the argument that the Wii is a lot cheaper than the ps3. By the time you've bought the accesories and expensive games bundled with accessories you've paid about the same and you still have no blu-ray

[Wwhat @ Jul 19th 2008 8:25AM]

pfff.