Recent Comments:
Analyst: Next Nintendo console 'may' release before competition {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Aug 25th 2008 6:56PM I think the next "Wii" will be a "WiiHD", which means basically the same system, but with enough fill-rate to do everything now in HD. Basic improvements like more memory and storage are inevitable. Probably some minor feature improvements too like built-in motionplus, adjustable sensor bar for large and small environments, and a small screen on the WiiMote.
I do expect a balance board update that is something like a roll-up fitness mat but with a grid of pressure points that can detect where each part of your body touches the mat and how much pressure you're putting on it. That way, it could sense if you are laying down, if more than one player is on the mat, or if you want to do more than one analog x-y axis.
Revolutionary: Special Effects {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Aug 14th 2008 1:38PM Because Doom3 heavily relied on programmable shaders and a standard GPU architecture. Sure, Doom3 could be done on the Wii, but it would have to be overhauled to work on a fixed-function TeV. I'm not sure the stencil shadows would work either, and would probably have to be changed to shadow mapping.
Toys R Us offers buy one, get $20 off deal {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Jul 30th 2008 8:19PM I got Zack and Wiki for $8 on clearance at my local Toys R Us. And they had plenty more.
Helix for WiiWare gets an official trailer {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Jul 24th 2008 5:46PM I wonder if it would be better to have a set of LED-equipped wrist and ankle bands with a stereoscopic camera to detect 3D position.
At the rate the Wii is going, that will probably be a peripheral at the next E3...
Nintendo says it's considering Wiimote with built-in MotionPlus {Engadget}
Jul 18th 2008 5:07PM 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.
Nintendo says it's considering Wiimote with built-in MotionPlus {Engadget}
Jul 18th 2008 4:51PM Well, we already have the obligatory "sell my Wii" post below.
Nintendo says it's considering Wiimote with built-in MotionPlus {Engadget}
Jul 18th 2008 4:49PM 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.
Revolutionary: More Motion {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Jul 16th 2008 9:24PM And IGN loved it. And the complaints are "why wasn't this brand new technology in Wii's two years ago?" Because it didn't exist. Engadget even thought it was an accelerometer in the MotionPlus block and not a gyroscope, and probably wouldn't know the difference anyway.
Revolutionary: More Motion {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Jul 16th 2008 7:34PM Wow, great info.
People dismiss this as just another peripheral that does what the Wiimote should have done in the first place, but I know that the sensor tech put into Nintendo's systems is the best that is available. The same is true for the silicon strain-gauge sensors in the Wii board. I'm sure developers jumped for joy when motion plus was announced.
I hope that developers don't just copy Nintendo though. Sword-fighting is cool for a couple of games, but not for a dozen. It would be nice to have an FPS that didn't require the IR pointer as its only input. Sports games could be better: How about a basketball game where you could actually dribble and shoot? How about a golf-game that used the board for body position sensing, and the new motion plus for arm position.
E308: First Animal Crossing: City Folk footage {Nintendo Wii Fanboy}
Jul 15th 2008 5:38PM I'm actually surprised it isn't "Animal Crossing: Castle Folk" where you decorate your castle, and build your kingdom of animal subjects, and send/lead them on quests.
It's what everyone else is doing right?
