Wiimote In-depth

[nshady]

http://wii.ign.com/articles/718/718946p1.html

Great read.

[nshady]

CHECK IT OUT GUYS! EYE IN WIIMOTE!

IGN got its hands on specs for the Wii controller. Yeah, that's right. Specs for a controller. The Wiimote will run on standard AA batteries for at least 30 hours, increases to 60 if the motion-sensing is off (say, for VC games).

The controllers 'speaks' to the Wii using Bluetooth (on a 2.4GHz band), and includes a whopping 6KB of memory. Get excited. Presumably this could be used for the speaker, or to store settings for each user (sensitivy and the like).

The mysterious sensor bar, which is meant to situated above or below your TV, is about 20cm long, and contains a sensor at each end. The lights at the bottom of the Wiimote show battery life when the system is started (one bar is 25% or less, two bars is 25-50%, three is 50-75% and four is 75-100% full), and then become your controller number (from 1-4, obviously).

There's a SYNCHRO button on both the console and in the battery compartment of the remote which are obviously used to connect the two. Each remote will get a different frequency. Now to the interesting stuff.

The remote can also 'see' like an eye, in a sense, through the sensor bar. The tip can apparently sense a mexapixel image through the end, which qualifies previous reports that mirrors/fluorescent or halogen lighting/plastic could interfere with performance. It's unknown whether any games will utilise this 'eye'.

Every button on the controllers is digital (except the analog stick, of course), and the rumble has only one setting - on or off. Apparently, by quickly flipping between the two settings, the feedback given will be more significant - a handy tip for developers.

The VC console controller is expected to be in developer hands by September, which I guess throws doubt on a Wii release that early. Some very cool news, nonetheless.

COMMENT!

[kenny]

I dont like the battery option, we are gonna go through heaps of AA batts. They should of just had recharble batts like the DS or rechargable AA ones.

[AusCube]

Hey, if it makes the Wii-mote cheaper than having a rechargable battery (which it undeniably would), I guess its for the best. 30-60 hours gameplay is quite considerably good, considering it features rumble, motion sensing, pointer use, wireless control AND of course the in-built speaker (and perhaps that 1 megapixel camera strip thing - if it indeed is a camera).

But what I'm confused about is that if the Wii-mote does have a camera and a built-in speaker... Why not a microphone too? Too expensive..!?

[nshady]

My interpretation is that the DS is sorta like an extra controller if need be - microphone in that.

[WHONG]

WRIGHT doesnt think Wii will be good for racing games. no analog buttons

[nshady]

You mean, like triggers? There's one on the nunchuck.

[kenny]

Hey, if it makes the Wii-mote cheaper than having a rechargable battery (which it undeniably would), I guess its for the best. 30-60 hours gameplay is quite considerably good, considering it features rumble, motion sensing, pointer use, wireless control AND of course the in-built speaker (and perhaps that 1 megapixel camera strip thing - if it indeed is a camera).

But what I'm confused about is that if the Wii-mote does have a camera and a built-in speaker... Why not a microphone too? Too expensive..!?

You think cheaper now, but your gonna be spending heaps on new batterys every 3-4 days. So it will add up more in the end

[AusCube]

WRIGHT doesnt think Wii will be good for racing games. no analog buttons

Turn the stick on its side and you've got a steering wheel..

You think cheaper now, but your gonna be spending heaps on new batterys every 3-4 days. So it will add up more in the end

You play games 30-60 hours over a period of a mere 3-4 days!? O.o

[kenny]

WRIGHT doesnt think Wii will be good for racing games. no analog buttons

Turn the stick on its side and you've got a steering wheel..

You think cheaper now, but your gonna be spending heaps on new batterys every 3-4 days. So it will add up more in the end

You play games 30-60 hours over a period of a mere 3-4 days!? O.o

I dont, but some people do, mostly on the weekend but you get my point. 30 hours is nothing.

[nshady]

I can manage AAs. I never felt the Wavebird was sucking power too quickly, and the Wiimote can only be a step up.

[AusCube]

I dont, but some people do, mostly on the weekend but you get my point. 30 hours is nothing.

That really depends on the game(s) you are playing. I have a feeling that Nintendo has thought all of these factors through.

[zen]

i dont see it as a problem - i think i change my wavebirds batteries MAX 3 or 4 times a year hehe

[Link]

i'd say that more then likely, in time, nintendo will release chargeable batteries, which can be bought seperatly just like u can do for the 360 controllers...and if they dont then more then likely sum third party company will.
I see it as another way for nintendo to cut costs on things that arent necesasarily needed to be bundled with there console, like the dvd attatchment which was said to be sold seperatly. Its pretty smart in a way, that way, people who just want the core system without paying for dvd expansion (i mean cmon, who doesnt have a dvd player these days) dont have to pay for it instead of paying for sumthing they may not use.

I know alot of people will be more then happy to just play with AA's, or just buy 4 rechargables and charge two and leave them in there, and then when ur two in the wiimote run out, swap em over. Simple.
But to be honest, i imagined itd be sumthing like this for charging the batteries in the wiimotes, seems like the best idea:


30 hours is still a while though, probably find theyll last longer then that

[kenny]

Yeah that thing is bloody cool

[Blitzkrieg]

Nintendo seem to be all about the cost cutting, so they can release the cheapest console on the market, so it is no surprise to see things like the mic and the rechargable batteries left out. After all, the battery thing won't deter anyone from purchasing, and after thinking about it, a speaker makes more sense than the mic. A speaker is original, and can be utilised by most, if not all games. A mic however, would go unused often, and if a game like Singstar or something was released, they could just make an attachment. A headset will also be available. All good.

[nshady]

Yeah, for singstar all they'd need to do is plug in a little square microphone at the bottom, and then you can hold it upside down.

[kenny]

Dont get me wrong i dont think any less of the wii or nor will i not buy it cos of the batteries. I just think they should come with rechargeable ones.