Engadget

Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and golden Wiimote headed for November 20th release

Joseph Volpe — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:25:00 EST

It's hard to believe Link (read: you) has been saving Hyrule and the kidnap-prone Zelda for 25 long years. To commemorate this video gaming milestone, and its upcoming Skyward Sword installment, Nintendo's issuing a limited edition Fabergé egg. Alright, we kid, it's actually the golden Wii Remote Plus we told you about back at E3, except now we've got a release date and pricing. Hitting retailers' shelves on November 20th, gamers can opt for the golden remote bundle at $69.99, or the standalone game for $49.99. Although the swanky controller won't be sold separately, all initial units of both offerings will come with a gratis The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert music CD. You can head past the break to check out the Big N's official presser.

Continue reading Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and golden Wiimote headed for November 20th release

Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and golden Wiimote headed for November 20th release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo announces gold Wiimote for Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Donald Melanson — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:37:00 EST

Nintendo just announced at E3 that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Wii is "finally done," and it also revealed that it'll have something of a surprise to mark its release this holiday season: a limited edition gold Wiimote. That, of course, comes with MotionPlus built-in, but details (including a price) are unfortunately a bit light otherwise. We'll let you know more as we get it.

Nintendo announces gold Wiimote for Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Move.me database used to create gesture-enabled mouse driver (video)

Sean Buckley — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:51:00 EST

Unless you're into weird promotional mascots, video games, or measuring the rotation of the earth, the PlayStation Move probably hasn't caught your eye. Here's an idea: what if you could wave it about to control your PC? Earlier this week, electronics hobbyist Jacob Pennock used the Move.me C library to build a gesture-controlled mouse driver, and we've got the project's tech demo after the break. Watch as Pennock launches Facebook by drawing an "F," starts a video with a jaunty "V," and closes a few items with a quick "X" motion over the offending windows. Control motions are loaded through the creator's own gesture recognition library, called hyperglyph, which he claims can record motions with 98 percent accuracy. As Move.me is currently a closed beta, Pennock is keeping the source code under wraps, but he hopes to eventually put the driver to use controlling a gesture-based Linux media center. Pretty neat, but not quite enough to stave off our Kinect hack envy.

[Thanks, Robert]

Continue reading Sony's Move.me database used to create gesture-enabled mouse driver (video)

Sony's Move.me database used to create gesture-enabled mouse driver (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii Remote Plus is just $39, gets included in shiny new red bundle

Tim Stevens — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:41:00 EST

We've been waiting for it to get more official in more places, and Nintendo's finally spilling the beans on the American release for its Wii Remote Plus. As you'll surely know, the controller takes that unsightly MotionPlus attachment and bundles it right into an otherwise stock looking Wiimote, and will do so at a very fair price of $39.99. That new model will also be included in a new Wii bundle, in which the little console is so charmed by its new controller that it's blushed into a bright crimson (again). Or maybe it's the included copy of New Super Mario Bros. Regardless, that'll be $199, and that new, 25th Anniversary red DSi XL bundle Nintendo announced last month is official too, costing $179. All three launch in just a couple weeks, on November 7, so get ready to ditch those dongles.

Gallery: Nintendo new releases

Continue reading Nintendo Wii Remote Plus is just $39, gets included in shiny new red bundle

Nintendo Wii Remote Plus is just $39, gets included in shiny new red bundle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo announces Wii Remote Plus with built-in MotionPlus tracking

Paul Miller — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:13:00 EST

As a follow-up to this morning's announcement, we now have some shots of Nintendo's colorful new Wiimote. Still no extra details, but what we do have is confirmation from Nintendo that they are indeed building the Wii Remote Plus, which combines a Wii Remote with its Wii MotionPlus gyro add-on into one Wii Remote-sized package. We spotted the controller in a FlingSmash bundle last week, the telltale "smile" text below the Wii logo, and now all we really need is a price and a launch date. Hopefully we'll be getting all of these colors when this lands in the US as well, but since this is a Japanese presentation that Nintendo is making this announcement, we can't be too sure.

Nintendo announces Wii Remote Plus with built-in MotionPlus tracking originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 3DS ships in Japan February 26, US and Europe in March, auto-generates Mii from camera (update: video!)

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:48:00 EST

Enough with the rumored prices and launch dates for the 3DS already, let's get official. Nintendo just announced a February 26 ship date in Japan for ¥25,000 (about $298). It'll then land in the US and Europe in March for an undisclosed amount. Launch colors are aqua blue or cosmo black. At a press event in Japan, Nintendo demonstrated the ability to take your picture using the 3DS' front-facing camera and then automatically converting the image into a Mii -- you can edit it too using Mii Studio on the 3DS. You can even merge two photos into a single image if you choose. Images can then be exported as QR codes in wireless "tag mode" or as a file to the bundled 2GB SD card.

Ninty also announced a special edition Super Mario DSi LL (no hardware changes) set to launch for ¥18,000 in Japan on October 28th. It also confirmed that a Wii Remote Plus is in development (it'll be announced at a date some time in the future) and a partnership with Fuji TV that will trial 3D video streaming to Nintendo's new handheld. Finally, a virtual console-style store was show serving up downloadable Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games to the 3DS.

Update: Nintendo just launched its 3DS microsite in Japan with a bit more product detail including new feature overview and software lineup videos found after the break. There you'll see a built-in pedometer with activity graph and what looks like background multitasking (or at least a state save) letting you launch other apps and then return to a game at the exact same point you left it. Nintendo also demonstrates the Mii Plaza app that lets you collect and view Miis from 3DS owners you pass throughout the day (even when the 3DS is sleeping); Augmented Reality gaming with six AR cards included in the box; a long-press home button for in-game access to web browsing, WiFi toggle, and more; a Book app; and note writing / diary software.

Gallery: Nintendo 3DS final hardware

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS ships in Japan February 26, US and Europe in March, auto-generates Mii from camera (update: video!)

Nintendo 3DS ships in Japan February 26, US and Europe in March, auto-generates Mii from camera (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii Remote Plus with built-in 'Plus' tipped in FlingSmash bundle?

Paul Miller — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:38:00 EST

We've been expecting a Wiimote with built-in MotionPlus for a while now -- after all, Nyko already builds the Wand+ with those succulent MotionPlus gyros built-in. Still, Nintendo has seemed slow on the uptake, outside of a mysterious FCC berth in May, so we were surprised to see this upcoming first party, MotionPlus-required FlingSmash title arrive on a GameStop order page with "Wii Remote Plus inside!" emblazoned on the box. Interestingly, the product description still mentions attaching the MotionPlus "accessory" to your Wii Remote, but the Wiimote in the picture does look just slightly different than normal with a curved bit of text below the Wii logo, and when Eurogamer pinged Nintendo Europe about it, a spokesperson said the Wii Remote Plus "is real" but "We have nothing to announce on this at the moment." Hopefully this all clears up soon enough so that millions of Wii owners can have an excuse to buy a new game in the noble name of hardware procurement.

Nintendo Wii Remote Plus with built-in 'Plus' tipped in FlingSmash bundle? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Ping Pong paddle reviewed, loved, unavailable for purchase

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:10:00 EST

We've seen our share of downright silly controllers for the Wii (we're looking at you, CTA), and we were expecting more of the same, but we'll be darned if no less an authority than self-avowed Wii Sports Table Tennis addict Paul Govan (from Gamepeople.co.uk) hasn't given the Wii Sports Table Tennis Bat high marks all around: it's weighted like a proper paddle, the build quality is decent, comes with a battery and a charger and, most importantly, it "replicates all the features of [the] Wiimote and MotionPlus perfectly." Unfortunately, the reviewer states that this is a prototype from an as yet unnamed Chinese manufacturer, and has no idea when they might become available. Way to harsh our buzz, man.

Wii Ping Pong paddle reviewed, loved, unavailable for purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wiimote RVL-036 mysteriously clears the FCC

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 20 May 2010 07:27:00 EST

We can't say for sure what's new here but that wireframe outline is most definitely a Wiimote. The Nintendo-branded Bluetooth device just passed through the FCC courtesy of Hon Hai Precision, aka Foxconn. There's very little in the way of detail here other than a new RVL-036 model number reminiscent of the console's "revolution" roots. Perhaps the new Wiimote finally integrates the MotionPlus add-on? Who knows, but it certainly makes sense given Miyamoto's recent comments. At least we can be certain that it's exactly 12 times better than the model RVL-003 Wiimote shipping today. Another FCC document grab after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo Wiimote RVL-036 mysteriously clears the FCC

Nintendo Wiimote RVL-036 mysteriously clears the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 May 2010 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus

Tim Stevens — Mon, 03 May 2010 07:08:00 EST

Nintendo's Wii has been available in black overseas for quite some time now, and while there were ways to get one in North America, those ways weren't exactly cheap -- nor legitimate. Now Ninty is finally giving us a color option, releasing a black Wii to American consumers for $199.99 on May 9. In other news, you'll have a copy of Wii Sports Resort included and a MotionPlus adapter to match, along with the controller and nunchuck that were previously included. In fact that looks to be the standard bundle going forward on the white models as well, which equates to something of a soft price drop assuming new Wii owners were going to buy Wii Sports Resort. And of course they were, because who can resist bopping their friends over the head with pretend wooden swords?

Continue reading Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus

Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto says that Wii is 'honored' to be in such great company as Move and Natal

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:50:00 EST

While Sony might be doing its best to heat things up with its Wii-baiting "realistic movements" ad campaign, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto is taking the high road. Elaborating on recent comments that he made about the threat posed by rival motion controllers (or lack thereof), the elder statesman, whose career stretches back to the beginnings of the video game industry and includes everything from Donkey Kong to The Legend of Zelda and beyond (don't forget Nintendogs), said that "[c]ompeting with other companies" in a specific product category was "never our top priority." Rather, the company will continue to do what it does best: creating "unique and unprecedented entertainment." So how does he feel about PS Move, then? "The user experience we have created is going to be intensified by the advent of new machines from other companies. It's a new experience that we originated. So we really see it as a great honor." Class act, that guy. We'll see how he feels when we beat him to market with our Engadget Vitality Sensor.

Miyamoto says that Wii is 'honored' to be in such great company as Move and Natal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AiLive shows off its LiveMove 2 software for building MotionPlus and PlayStation Move gestures

Paul Miller — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:19:00 EST

If you've been following closely, there are really two sorts of input available to the PlayStation Move. The one that gets the most love and screen time is the camera-based, 3D meatspace tracking that the PlayStation Eye performs in conjunction with the fancy colored ball at the end of the PlayStation Move wand, but most of the actual gameplay we've seen is in truth much more similar to the Wii's MotionPlus than Sony might want to let on. The MotionPlus and PS Move have very similar configurations of gyroscopes and accelerometers, and actually use the same software from AiLive (co-creators of MotionPlus) for developing the gesture recognition that goes into games. We actually got to see the LiveMove 2 development environment in action, and it's pretty impressive: basically you tell a computer what gesture you want to perform (like "fist pump," for instance) and then perform a bunch of examples of that movement. LiveMove then figures out the range of allowable movement, and in playback mode shows you whether you're hitting the mark. AiLive showed us gestures as complicated as a Graffiti (of Palm OS yore) handwriting recognition in the air, built with just a few example movements from people back at their offices. So, this is great news for developers dealing with the significant complication of all these sensors, but at the same time we can't help but be a little disappointed. LiveMove 2 doesn't even use the PlayStation Eye, and as we mentioned in our hands-on impressions of PlayStation Move, we could really sense that a lot of our in-game actions were built from predefined gestures, not us interacting with the 3D environment in any "real" or physics-based way. It's great tech either way, but hopefully that's something that can be improved upon by launch or soon after. Check out a demo of LiveMove in action after the break.

Continue reading AiLive shows off its LiveMove 2 software for building MotionPlus and PlayStation Move gestures

AiLive shows off its LiveMove 2 software for building MotionPlus and PlayStation Move gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:55:00 EST

Surely you remember those Sixense motion controls that we caught lounging around at Razer's CES booth, right? Yeah. Today at the Game Developers Conference, both outfits have teamed up in order to distribute the Ultra-Precise Motion Controller SDK and FPS utility library via Steam, which should give devs the ability to create new games and port existing titles for use with the aforementioned sticks. We're told that these new tools will require "require virtually no knowledge of the inner workings of the controller," enabling coders to craft titles that take full advantage of the six degrees of freedom. Will this turn the PC into the next Wii? We kind of doubt it, but at least someone's looking out for non-console gamers who have a secret obsession with Nintendo's Wiimote.

Continue reading Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's Miyamoto casually references new hardware, MotionPlus games

Vlad Savov — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:37:00 EST

Do you think non-disclosure agreements apply if you're one of the guys who built the company you represent? Probably not, as evidenced by Shigeru Miyamoto, who recently took the opportunity -- while receiving an award, no less -- to blab about forthcoming hardware and games based around the MotionPlus peripheral. There wasn't much content to his mentions, beyond us now knowing that he's actively engaged in the design of multiple games outside of the next Zelda iteration, but this is the firmest confirmation yet that the Wii is set for a Wiiplacement. Parsing this with earlier comments from Miyamoto-san would suggest the company will be looking to optimize its present formula (maybe with a touch of HD?) rather than revolutionize what is already a wildly successful console. Until then, let's just be happy that one of gaming's patriarchs is still going strong and dropping crumbs of knowledge for us undeserving earthlings.

Nintendo's Miyamoto casually references new hardware, MotionPlus games originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pink and blue Wii Remotes ready for Valentine's Day pre-order

Vlad Savov — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:59:00 EST

Nintendo may be a lot of things, but stupid it ain't. Cashing in on yet another gift-giving holiday, the console sales leader is bringing Americans a pair of freshly paint-licked Wii Remotes that should appeal to the his-and-hers demographic that seems to grow in number at this time of year. As you can see above, grabbing one will set you back $54.99, which is about the same price as the regular MotionPlus bundle. So, even if you weren't thinking about wooing your loved one with yet another Wii peripheral, at least the US now gets a 200 percent improvement in MotionPlus color choices. How is that not progress?

[Thanks, Brandon]

Pink and blue Wii Remotes ready for Valentine's Day pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video)

Darren Murph — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:00 EST

Razer's already solidified its presence here at CES, but it obviously left the best for last. The peripheral outfit has hooked up with Sixense to bring motion sensing controls to PC gaming, and it utilized a wild demo of Left 4 Dead 2 to showcase the device. We hate to link everything to the Wiimote, but if you're desperate for a quick n' dirty explanation of this, it's sort of like a Wiimote / Natal mashup, but just for PCs. Users will find one-to-one tracking, and while further details were few and far between, we're told that devices based around the tech would be launched later in the year. Enough chit chat -- hop on past the break for an unashamedly gory clip of this thing in action.

Continue reading Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video)

Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo bringing pink and blue Wiimotes to America on Valentine's Day

Darren Murph — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:48:00 EST

Hey, kids. We got your attention? Good. Remember those pink and blue Wii controllers that were quietly launched in the Land of the Rising Sun back in October? Yeah, well it seems that both of those gems are coming to the United States, but it'll be well after Christmas before you can get your hands on either (without a good importer, anyway). Starting on February 14, 2010, the blue and pink Wiimote will be on sale on US soil, and both devices will come bundled with Wii MotionPlus dongles. There's no word yet on pricing, but we're guessing a small premium is in order for those badly in need of some hue variation.

Nintendo bringing pink and blue Wiimotes to America on Valentine's Day originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exspect launches racing wheel for Wii Motion Plus controllers in the UK

Laura June — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:57:00 EST

Sure, there are plenty of Wii racing wheel options out there, but Exspect's launching one just for the Wii Motion Plus controller -- and just in time for the holidays! The wheel is also compatible with the plain old Wiimote, but sadly, if you live in the States it doesn't look like you'll be able to get one of these any time soon. The Racing Wheel is available now in the UK and will run you £6.99 (that's about $11.67 if you don't speak "£") on its own, or £19.99 ($33.35) if you buy it as part of a Wii accessories pack.

Filed under: Gaming

Exspect launches racing wheel for Wii Motion Plus controllers in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Wii gets unboxed just in time for the darkest holiday

Laura June — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:39:00 EST

Those lucky enough to live in Europe will soon (as in November 6th soon) be able to purchase a special edition of that black Nintendo Wii some of us have been drooling over for the past few months. Sure, it's just a regular Wii... but it's black, which is so much cooler. Well someone's finally gotten their hands on it and done an unboxing, and we have to say that it looks even better than it did in the press shots. The limited edition Black Wii bundle with Wii Sports Resort and a Motion Plus controller will run you around £164.99 in the UK, and those of us in the US? Well, we'll just have to make due with the black controller and nunchuk. There are a few more shots after the break. Hit the read link for the full unboxing and video.

[Thanks, Emilia]

Continue reading Black Wii gets unboxed just in time for the darkest holiday

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Black Wii gets unboxed just in time for the darkest holiday originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo shipping black Wii to Europe in limited edition bundle

Darren Murph — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:06:00 EST

Why, Nintendo -- why? Americans have been buying your underpowered, kid-centric console faster than you can ship 'em here for years now, and yet you ignore our innermost desires to see a Wii in some color other than white. Have we not made ourselves clear? Are our voices going unheard? Clearly, you've an ear for those in Europe, as folks in the UK and Ireland will be able to procure a dark Wii starting on November 6th as part of a limited edition bundle that includes Wii Sports Resort and a Wii MotionPlus dongle. The rest of mainland Europe will see the same bundle on November 20th, and as if that wasn't enough, a black Classic Controller Pro and a slew of black Wii accessories will also accompany the package for those looking to stock up. Naturally, there's no mention of a price, but considering that you'll pay anything to join the still-limited black Wii party, it (likely) matters not.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Filed under: Gaming

Nintendo shipping black Wii to Europe in limited edition bundle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th

Paul Miller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST

We knew they were coming for the holidays, and now Nintendo's black Wii gear has some prices and a November 16th release date. The black Wii Remote comes bundled with a MotionPlus add-on -- obviously Nintendo doesn't want to risk too many more people picking up a controller without one -- and retails for $50, while the black Nunchuck (shown after the break) is all by its lonesome for $20. Unfortunately, still no word of a black Wii in the US to hang out with these finely tinted accessories.

Continue reading Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Sports Resort bundle doubles-down with a MotionPlus pair: $60 on October 12

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:23:00 EST

The Tokyo Game Show may be winding down but a few bits of information are still trickling out. Like this new limited edition Wii Sport Resort bundle with a pair of MotionPlus accessories. The bundle lands on October 12th for a penny shy of $60 -- saving you $10 if you bought the standard $50 Sport Resort with MotionPlus plus a second $20 MotionPlus separately. Hoozah?

Filed under: Gaming

Wii Sports Resort bundle doubles-down with a MotionPlus pair: $60 on October 12 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Wii remote bundle coming to North America, no matching console in sight

Ross Miller — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:42:00 EST

Oh Nintendo, you tease. You still won't give us that jet black Wii console bound for Japan, but you've got no problem giving us in North America a taste of the dark side with a black Wiimote and Motion Plus bundle, coming this holiday along with a black nunchuk sold separately. With any luck this is just the sign of things to come, and should the Wii's sales momentum drop, we're sure quite a few new colors will start shipping their way over here (light blue, anyone?). On the more portable side of things, the DSi will be adding pink and white to its repertoire on September 13th. Unless the House that Mario Built is feeling particularly nasty, prices should be the same as their pre-existing color counterparts -- you wouldn't put a premium on a palette swap, right Nintendo?

Gallery: Black Wii remote bundle coming to North America, no matching console in sight

[Via Joystiq]

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Black Wii remote bundle coming to North America, no matching console in sight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus add-on?

Darren Murph — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:11:00 EST

It took the Big N right around a year to actually ship its Wii MotionPlus dongle after first showing it off at E3 2008, and now we're curious to know if you think the wait was worth it. We've already spilled our deepest, darkest thoughts on the $20 add-on accessory, but now that Wii Sports Resort is out (and still firmly lodged within your Wii's optical drive), we just can't wait another second to hear from end users. Are you pleased with the additional sensing capabilities? Has it enhanced your gameplay as you thought it would? What aspects would you like to see changed? You just paid a Jackson for a brick that attaches to your perfectly functional Wiimote -- don't miss your chance to pick it apart.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

How would you change Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus add-on? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEMS takes step forward, MEMS looking nervously over shoulder

Vlad Savov — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:42:00 EST

Just as it's starting to seem like MEMS motion sensor technology is gaining more widespread use, we're now hearing rumblings of activity from the developers of its eventual successor: NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems). To contextualize this discussion (and to give laypeople a shot at understanding), MEMS sensors are the magic behind the Wii MotionPlus as well as a stunning tech demo recently conducted on a Toshiba TG01. The nascent nano version promises even greater sensitivity, and now scientists from TU Delft in the Netherlands claim they have successfully measured the influence of a single electron on an 800nm-long carbon nanowire. Just detecting such an event is a feat in itself, while the ability to measure its effects can be used in a huge range of ways: from transportation and medicine to ultra-sensitive gaming controllers. While accurate comparisons between the Dutch breakthrough and current generation sensors cannot yet be drawn, we can confidently say that this marks an important step toward making our dreams of playing a nanoscale piano a gargantuan reality.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Science

NEMS takes step forward, MEMS looking nervously over shoulder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Sports Resort impressions (and video!): MotionPlus killer app, or killer tech demo?

Paul Miller — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:23:00 EST

Sure, EA and Sega already have MotionPlus offerings on the market, but everyone knows the real kickoff for MotionPlus is Nintendo's first party title: Wii Sports Resort. We've spent some sweaty days with the product to get a real feel for all 12 games included (each with a few different activities to keep things fresh), and while there are certainly shortcomings to the depth of gameplay per activity, there's no denying that the package will liven up a party and rake in cash by the truckloads for Nintendo. Read on for our full impressions and some action-packed hands-on video.

Continue reading Wii Sports Resort impressions (and video!): MotionPlus killer app, or killer tech demo?

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Wii Sports Resort impressions (and video!): MotionPlus killer app, or killer tech demo? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus selling well, and Wii Sports Resort ain't even out yet

Darren Murph — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:20:00 EST

For a device that took a solid year to go from "debuting at E3" to "shipping," we're pretty surprised to see that Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus held as much steam as it did. With overall video game sales dropping in June for the first time since 2000 (when looking at year-over-year figures, anyway), the Big N still had a few hundred thousand reasons to smile. Aside from the 361,700 Wii consoles and 766,500 DS units that shipped in June, the company also managed to sell 169,000 Wii MotionPlus dongles -- and that's not including the ones that were packaged with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, of which 272,400 units were sold. The real kicker, however, is that the accessory's real partner in crime (that'd be Wii Sports Resort) has yet to be released. It's good to be king, ain't it Mario?

Filed under: Gaming

Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus selling well, and Wii Sports Resort ain't even out yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 153 - 07.03.2009: Independence Day edition

Trent Wolbe — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:01:00 EST

It's your holiday weekend America -- how are you going to spend it? We'll tell you how: by listening to Engadget Podcast 153 over, and over, and over. What better way to utilize your extra day off and barbecue-packed good times than by putting Josh, Paul, and Nilay on repeat for you (and your friends') enjoyment? Check out the 'cast this week as the boys explore the ups and downs of the Olympus E-P1, Dell's MID plans, and field a handful of questions from our handsome, intelligent, and just basically awesome listeners. You won't be disappointed.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Virt - Katamari on the Rock

Hear the podcast

00:02:10 - Olympus E-P1 hands-on, test shots, and mini-review
00:10:26 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 gets officially detailed, priced for US market
00:14:22 - Wii MotionPlus impressions: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss
00:24:45 - Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ
00:32:08 - Android 1.5 gets official SDK for native development
00:38:10 - Video: Mobinnova élan sporting a custom Tegra UI
00:47:30 - Video: NVIDIA Tegra's GPU gets busy with HD video and full-screen Flash -- Intel 945GSE shrugs, kicks dirt
00:47:30 - Verizon BlackBerry Tour unboxing
00:50:17 - BlackBerry Tour hands-on, wild sibling confrontation with Curve and Bold
00:53:00 - RIM CEO: "SurePress is here to stay"
00:57:00 - 13-year-old trades iPod for Walkman, reports on mysterious ancient artifact
01:04:55 - iPhone 3GS review
01:07:15 - Palm Pre review

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Engadget Podcast 153 - 07.03.2009: Independence Day edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii MotionPlus review: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss

Paul Miller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:12:00 EST

At first glance it's a little difficult to understand the necessity of another motion-sensing add-on. What could possibly be inside this particular block of white plastic that's not inside those other countless slabs of white plastic that Nintendo has already slathered on the Wii? Sure, we know in theory that the gyroscopes that MotionPlus provides allows the controller to truly orient itself in 3D space, instead of just sensing acceleration in various directions, and breaks some of that reliance on the sensor bar, but do those theoretical advances result in a true leap in gameplay? We tested it out with EA's new MotionPlus-enabled Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and Grand Slam Tennis -- the first such titles on the market while we wait for Nintendo to get its own Wii Sports Resort in order -- and we'd say the results are pretty inconclusive so far. Check out our full impressions after the break, along with enthralling videos of both games in action.

Major thanks to The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers for letting us test this out at their facilities, and to golf pros Herb and Marj for letting us waste some of their valuable time.

Continue reading Wii MotionPlus review: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss

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Wii MotionPlus review: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nitho releases a plethora of Wii Motion Plus accessories

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST

If your gaming experience seems a little underwhelming for want of little plastic Wii Motion Plus-compatible accessories, it looks like the gang over at Nitho has got your back. A quick trip over to the company's website reveals baseball bats, golf clubs, a revolver / nunchuck, charging docks, and more: all suitable for the make-believe Pete Rose, Arnold Palmer, or Chuck Norris in your life, and all in that boring white plastic that's become synonymous with the game system. We haven't seen a street date or price for these bad boys yet, but we're keeping our eyes peeled. PR after the break.

Continue reading Nitho releases a plethora of Wii Motion Plus accessories

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Nitho releases a plethora of Wii Motion Plus accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Star Wars lightsaber and blaster accessories for licensed Wii Jedis

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:15:00 EST

Hey, who doesn't have a desire to get down and nerdy with their Wii on occasion -- we respect that. But if you're going to pretend to hold the Wiimote like a lightsaber, you might as well go for the full-on, officially-licensed accessory. Oh, there are plenty of pretenders but nothing can feed your delusions of grandeur better than George Lucas' blessing. Yes, the lightsaber glows, and the cats at Bensussen Deutsch & Associates have plans for a matching blaster too. Unfortunately, the accessories don't make room for MotionPlus which is fine, we guess, since they'll be shipping with Star Wars - The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes -- a game that doesn't support MotionPlus anyway. How wude.

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Official Star Wars lightsaber and blaster accessories for licensed Wii Jedis originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 with Wii MotionPlus now shipping

Donald Melanson — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:04:00 EST

It may not seem quite as impressive now that Microsoft and Sony have shown off their visions of a motion-controlled future, but Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus is still as good as it gets when it comes to consoles today and, as promised, it's now finally shipping alongside the latest Tiger Woods game. That may not be exactly what Nintendo had in mind when it first unveiled MotionPlus way back at last year's E3, but the first-party wares won't be too far behind, with its own Wii Sports Resort title (and requisite bundle) still on track for a launch late next month. If you're up for a little golf in the meantime, however, you can pick up the Tiger Woods game bundled with Wii MotionPlus for $59.99, or the standalone game (still playable with the standard Wiimote) for $49.99.

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EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 with Wii MotionPlus now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto "not worried at all" about Sony and Microsoft's motion controllers

Nilay Patel — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:08:00 EST

Sony and Microsoft certainly turned the motion-sensing heat up on Nintendo at E3 last week, but it doesn't seem like Shigeru Miyamoto is all that concerned at the moment -- he just told the BBC that while he's "flattered" his competitors are "moving in the same direction," he's "not worried at all" about Project Natal or the Playstation motion controller because "they don't have the type of depth that we're able to provide with Wii Motion Plus." Snap. We don't know about that -- we certainly haven't been blown away by Motion Plus -- but we can see why Nintendo's not sweating it just yet: the Wii's a runaway hit and a pop-culture phenomenon, while Natal and the PSMC are still tech demos without announced ship dates or even final names. That said, it's clear that Microsoft and Sony don't intend to just cede this space to Mario and Co., so we'll see how Nintendo fights back -- we'll tell you right now that the Wii Vitality Sensor ain't gonna cut it.

[Via Joystiq]

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Miyamoto "not worried at all" about Sony and Microsoft's motion controllers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motion control wars: Xbox 360 and PS3 are playing catch-up with Wii next year, who will do it right?

Paul Miller — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:02:00 EST

It doesn't come as a surprise that Sony and Microsoft are hard at work at motion controls for their respective consoles: Nintendo is eating their lunch. The Wii's incredible appeal with the average consumer -- due primarily to the accessibility and charm of its Wiimote motion controls -- has also created an annoying divide in the industry (real or perceived) between consumers who use embarrassing gestures to control meaningless mini-games, and those who memorize incredibly complex control schemes to control deeper and more "mature" experiences. There's been a small amount of crossover, of course, but since Sony and Microsoft have lacked most of the gestures option, a majority of it has taken place on the Wii -- the inclusion of an accelerometer in Sony's Sixaxis controller has had little impact on gameplay, and Sony's EyeToy 2 has had even less impact on the average gamer.

Of course, that's all about to change next year, with the emergence of the Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's PlayStation motion controller. Typical thinking would suggest that Sony and Microsoft will be attempting to capture a slice of the casual gaming market that the Wii has so well dominated, while also expanding on the Wii's capabilities at serving the hardcore gamer -- some capabilities which Nintendo itself is attempting to add to the Wii with the even more imminent MotionPlus add-on. So, does anyone here have what it takes to serve up the next generation of gaming controls to everybody, or do cost considerations and the current state of the console wars dictate an ongoing rift in the market? Let's weigh our options...

Continue reading Motion control wars: Xbox 360 and PS3 are playing catch-up with Wii next year, who will do it right?

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Motion control wars: Xbox 360 and PS3 are playing catch-up with Wii next year, who will do it right? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InvenSense gloats about world's first 6-axis MEMS-based motion sensing solution

Darren Murph — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:06:00 EST

We tell ya, some proud folks work at InvenSense. After boasting last year about its Wii MotionPlus-powering IDG-600 motion sensor, the company is set to gloat once more at E3 this year. The cause for celebration? Its 6-axis motion processing solution, which it's calling a world's first. Said solution weds its IME-3000 3-axis accelerometer with its IDG dual-axis family of gyros in order to produce a wicked small 6-axis motion sensor. In theory, at least, this creation is small enough to add MotionPlus-like capabilities to smartphones and other ridiculously small devices, with even TV remotes holding the promise of one day letting you "roll through" the EPG. Currently, the only big-name devices utilizing 5- or 6-axis motion functionality is Logitech's MX Air Mouse and the aforementioned MotionPlus accessory, but obviously InvenSense is hungry for more. Too bad that DSi already launched, right?

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

InvenSense gloats about world's first 6-axis MEMS-based motion sensing solution originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus accessory up for pre-order

Darren Murph — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:19:00 EST

With June 8th barely a month away, we're finally seeing Nintendo's long (long!) awaited Wii MotionPlus dongle hit the pre-order stage. Right now at Amazon, eager Wiimote swingers can get in line for $19.99, or if you're feeling frisky, you can also pre-order Wii Sports Resort and / or Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10. So, who's down for making their controller the most expensive one on the market when fully equipped?

Update: Good news, gamers. EA Sports just announced that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and Grand Slam Tennis will now be released on June 8th alongside the Wii MotionPlus dongle.

Filed under: Peripherals

Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus accessory up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The rather uneventful (yet somehow exciting) evolution of Wii MotionPlus

Laura June — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:05:00 EST

Some recently unearthed European legal filings show us the timeline of development for Wii's MotionPlus. Well -- it shows us what could have been, anyway. The image, starting to the left, shows the oldest version, with an insanely hideous curve that was dispensed with in favor of an outwardly leaning shape in the next iteration, while the far right shows what we essentially ended up with: a tiny little lip that some theorize may be a design element intended to help keep the jacket in place. We'll say this much: we sure are glad they didn't use that initial design. Yuck!

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

The rather uneventful (yet somehow exciting) evolution of Wii MotionPlus originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 lands in June, comes with MotionPlus

Darren Murph — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST

Say it with us now: "Phew!" When Nintendo announced that its Wii MotionPlus dongle would be hitting US shelves on June 8th, we all wondered why Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo's first MotionPlus-enabled title) was set to ship over a month later. Now, EA Sports has relieved worries that early adopters would have no software to use with their new toy by announcing that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 will hit North America on June 15th. Better still, the Wii version will be available with a MotionPlus add-on bundled in for just $10 more than the standalone title (which will run $49.99). As great as all this is, Europeans still come out better, as they'll also see Grand Slam Tennis ship in June with a MotionPlus packed in. Ah well -- it's just a peccadillo, we'll let it slide this time.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 lands in June, comes with MotionPlus originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo not apt to add MotionPlus capabilities to older titles

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:48:00 EST

Hey, you know what would be awesome? If you could actually use the MotionPlus dongle you're going to pick up on June 8th. You see, there's a 1.5 month gap between the US release date of the add-on and the first first-party title (Wii Sports Resort) designed to take advantage of it. 'Course, we fully expect a few third-party games (EA's Grand Slam Tennis, for one) to filter out beforehand, but what we were really hoping was for the Big N to provide patches for a few existing titles. Sadly, Mario has chimed in from the Mushroom Kingdom with this: "The Wii MotionPlus accessory is only for games that are designed to make use of its abilities." Translation? You can forget about seeing MotionPlus support added to Mario Kart Wii... or Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal, for that matter.

[Via Joystiq]

Gallery: Nintendo MotionPlus

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Nintendo not apt to add MotionPlus capabilities to older titles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's $19.99 MotionPlus Wiimote add-on ships to US on June 8th

Darren Murph — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:43:00 EST

Alright, so maybe the rumors weren't that far off, but the Big N just did us a solid by establishing US availability of its MotionPlus Wiimote accessory a few weeks ahead of when we were expecting. Granted, it's downright baffling that these things still aren't out on the market, but we're fully anticipating perfection from something that has been in the Crock-Pot(R) for so long. Shortly after E3 2009 concludes (June 8th, to be precise), Nintendo will ship its MotionPlus add-on stateside. The device itself will run you $19.99, though you could wait until July 26th to pick up the totally attractive Wii Sports Resort for $49.99, which naturally comes bundled with one of the accessories.

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Nintendo's $19.99 MotionPlus Wiimote add-on ships to US on June 8th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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