Nintendo Wiimote design changes
by Blake Snow 
{ May 9th 2006 at 11:45PM }
Nintendo unveiled a lot of goodness today during their E3 media briefing. Not only did we see Wii in action, we saw a "new and improved" (we think) version of the Wiimote. Gamespot got their grubby hands on the thing citing the following: "[D]uring our play session Nintendo reps noted that the controller we were playing was still considered a prototype, as the possibility for some fine-tuning still existed. That said, the controller we got our hands on wasn't too radically different from what we tried last year at the Tokyo Game Show, though there have been some noticeable tweaks to the design."
Here are the most notable changes from the article:
- A speaker is now built-in to the controller to use in tandem with the rumble feature during gameplay
- Button change: "select" now has the image of an arrow on it that's curved counterclockwise, similar to those seen in the refresh icon on a web browser.
- Button change: "home" now has the image of a house on it, similar to one you'd see in a Web browser.
- Button change: "start" now has two horizontal bars on it that look like the "pause" icon on a music or movie player.
- Button change: "a" and "b" are now "1" and "2."
- The "nunchaku" has a more streamlined shape and features a tweaked button design.
- The controller now has some added weight.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tom Hayden @ May 9th 2006 11:53PM
Please clarify:
Does the nunchuk come with the wii, or is it extra? It seems like it is necessary.
Rooster @ May 9th 2006 11:55PM
it would make sense that the added weight is from the magnet for the speaker ... its probably a good thing too, if it were too light, it would feel cheap and gimmicky
Mark D. @ May 10th 2006 12:00AM
I was looking at the early versions and could just imagine an 'untouched' gamer getting confused between the 'A' and 'a' buttons. Good thing they changed it.
Pince @ May 10th 2006 12:00AM
@1 Good question, but, knowing the way in which Nintendo is keeping things like pricing and accessory availibility secret, they likely havent said (though I would really hope that at least one Nunchaku comes with the system and that other Wii-motes come with Nunchakus when sold.
Another comment: I am just hoping that the battery life on those controllers is ridiculously good. I know wavebirds have pretty good battery life, but it is still sad when you forget how long its been since you've changed the batteries and they go out on you in the middle of something important.
Is there a light or something on the controller that will tell you when battery power is low (that would be very useful) and is there any news of an alternate charger or something so that we don't all have to stockpile AA batteries for yet another device. for some reason, AA battery power just seems outdated in gaming devices, even if it is a decent power supply.
gavin @ May 10th 2006 12:01AM
Hey? Refresh and Pause?
The official wii.nintendo.com site says they will be plus and minus buttons..
(Like the pic above!)
Matt @ May 10th 2006 12:03AM
Yay, my newstip was accepted!
That aside...
I used to -hate- the Wii and the remote... but the stuff they brought out today really got me liking it. Kudos, Nintendo. :D
GamerCrusader @ May 10th 2006 12:07AM
I seem to remember hearing something about the controller having a lithium ion battery that would be charged by some sort of stand that comes with the Wii. This was last year when information was little and shakey so it may not be true. Would be nice though.
Thomas @ May 10th 2006 12:10AM
Anyone know yet if it comes with a strap to make sure ya dont throw it..
Someone mentioned damagin their TV, but what about Clockin someone in the face.. OOPs..
Nambit @ May 10th 2006 12:10AM
It would be really *REALLY* smart if Nintendo included technology in which the battery is charged by the moving of your hands. I wonder if they ever considered that?
robert @ May 10th 2006 12:13AM
I'm surprised that it's a speaker in the wiimote, I would have thought they would have added a mic port ala the DS for games like that puppy game and wario ware.
On My Couch @ May 10th 2006 12:16AM
#8 Iwata and company had straps on the controllers during the tennis game at the end of the presentation, I would assume something that sensible will come to market.
Pince @ May 10th 2006 12:17AM
@9 Wow, that is actually kind of a brilliant idea. Seems hard to implement, but I'm sure we've all seen those flashlights that are powered with a few shakes. However, implementing that kind of power, however cool, seems like it would add some unwelcome size and weight to the controller as much of the space would be dedicated to the power source.
Cool idea though.
Splorky Fish @ May 10th 2006 12:17AM
"Button change: "start" now has two horizontal bars on it that look like the "pause" icon on a music or movie player."
Two horizontal lines are similar to an "equals" sign in mathematics, whereas two vertical lines are similar to a "pause" icon on a movie or music player. I think the picture makes it look like two vertical lines, but I'm not sure.
Eric @ May 10th 2006 12:24AM
This thing is badass, I don't care who you are. I wanna wrap my hands around the Wii....controller..and pull it and yank it and bend it to my will.
EzPz @ May 10th 2006 12:31AM
You need some considerable size and heft to be able to have a system in which vibration charges the wiimote. I don't really think it's too feasible and is just better to have either a charging station or normal batteries.
Also, I noticed during the videos at the press conference that the B button (trigger on the remote) is a trigger now instead of just a button.
scott @ May 10th 2006 12:52AM
i was hoping they would announce force feedback. imagine that with the sword fights in red steel.
idioteraser @ May 10th 2006 12:58AM
Yes a chargable controller isn't out of the question. Nintendo has hinted at it. After all the port on the button can easily function as where you stick the charger in. It's what powers the nunchuck after all.
Also who says the speaker cannot double as a mic? Or they won't have a wireless mic headset for you?
Also it was hinted that there would be no loading times. Something the xbox 360 psp still have and with blu-ray being so slow odds are the PS3 will have tons of loading screens.
Also hinted was the mere fact that like the DS the Wii have a instant pause the action feature. It looks like your Wii is off but it isn't off and the game is saved as long as the power supply is uninterrupterd.
You can bet Sony would try to copy that if they had the chance if Nintendo was upfront in announcing it.
How many people would cry foul if sony added a speaker to their controller prior to the PS3 launch?
I wonder how many Sony fanboys would remember Nintendo did that and get disgusted at Sony's stealing ways.
You can bet Sony will claim no one else came up with it and that they are the masters of innovation.
David D @ May 10th 2006 12:58AM
I am fairly certain (though I can't prove it) that Nintendo said that a Nunchuck attachment would be included with the Wii, considering such vast amounts of games will require it.
The bigger question, in my opinion, is whether or not the Nunchuck will be sold seperately from additional remotes, or included with each. I'm thinking they'll just include it, that way developers don't have to worry about whether or not a player will have it (like the 360 and the hard drive).
mike @ May 10th 2006 1:00AM
Using kenetic energy to charge the controller is a GREAT idea. They need to implament that before the product is released. I doubt it would add weight and bulk considering you can get the same functionality in a watch.
now I doubt that the movements you use in the controllers would be enough alone to power the device, it certainly would extend the battery life. They need to develope that hybrid style.
Furthermore, Im getting a little concerned with the wire between the remote and the stick. Im smart enough to use rechargeable batteries, Cant they make the thing wireless?
idioteraser @ May 10th 2006 1:11AM
Number 17 a watch uses next to nill energy. Watch batteries can last years and years even five years ago.
The nunchuck isn't wireless because it couldn't be made larger due to battery size also bluetooth couldn't handle that many signals floating around.
Also latancy would be an issue.
toast @ May 10th 2006 1:22AM
#4) AA batteries may seem low tech or old or whatever, but you can get NiMH AA which are pretty nice. And you can replace them when they die. With a lot of the Lithium Ion batteries, the batteries only last so long, regardless of if they're used, and if the manufacturer stops manufacturing new ones, you have to hack in AA batteries anyhow. It's easier if they just support AA to begin with.
Also, since I have many devices that use AA batteries, I can get a bunch of rechargable AAs and make the most of it. With every device coming with its own built in rechargable battery it's a pain. If my camera drains its batteries, I should be able to take the batteries out of my mp3 player or my wiimote to get my camera back up.
Grant @ May 10th 2006 1:28AM
They get your hands from being 3 inches from each other to several FEET from each other (possibly your entire ARMSPAN) and people still manage to complain that it's not enough. Not specifically at you, mike, but I've heard that weird complaint far too many times.
Avi @ May 10th 2006 1:55AM
The 1 & 2 buttons kinda annoy me. Those buttons have already gone through three seperate designation changes; in the original animation from last year, they were simply X & Y. Nice, simple, obvious. However, the physical model shown at the same show they were labled a & b, presumably to tie into the NES style orientation. Then the next model, shown earlier this year, had them as X & Y again, with a & b printed next to them in NES orientation. This was my personal favorite, but apparently it was deemed to complicated for Nintendo's new market (y'know, idiots) so we get 1 & 2. Bleh.
LostRyoga @ May 10th 2006 2:12AM
The controller has always had force feedback. They announced it last year. If you dont believe me, check out Nintendo's Wii Site, "Wave, Point, Rumble, Listen"
Gwyn @ May 10th 2006 6:37AM
With regards to batteries - the DS and GBAsp use rechargable Li stick batteries, offering a pretty long play time and a pretty short charge time. I can't imagine the Wiimote using much more power than the DS (2 screens, 2 processors, 2 speakers, wifi vs. giro, accelerometer, rumble, speaker, wifi). I think it would be reasonable if there were charging ports with which to trickle charge overnight. If you play from a full charge to a flat battery in one session, well ... I think you need to get some fresh air and reassess your priorities.
I'd prefer to have a seamless power system like my DS, rather than a battery bay that can slip off or break over time, or leave me fumbling with AAs when all I need to do is plug it in for a while.
Gwyn @ May 10th 2006 6:42AM
#22 - rumble and force feedback are not the same thing. Rumble is indiscriminate, where FF is directional (eg. Steering wheel giving resistance on tight turns, or a light-gun with recoil mechanism).
Prof-KOS @ May 10th 2006 9:02AM
#9 You're talking about kinetic energy charging and while a great idea, I don't think it's feasible yet. Right now the only devices that can be charge kinetically are watches and other low draw electronics. A really great idea though, and a unique one, I haven't heard that anywhere else.
In terms of the bundling. I think I heard said a long time ago that the nunchaku and the shell are included with the remote in the Wii package. Hopefully that extends to extra remotes as well. Knowing Nintendo, I'm sure it will. The bigger question is whether they will bundle two remotes with the console.
ejflex @ May 10th 2006 9:13AM
Personally I like the older design better. To me it is quite noticably different. I think the older version was a bit more sleek in design. This one is too rounded... it just doesnt look as good. But whatever.. as long as it does what it's touted to do... "I'm game." (no pun)
anon @ May 10th 2006 11:17AM
I can't imagine them NOT bundling at least 2 remotes with the console. Their whole strategy is about getting other people involved, and playing games together. It would be really nice to see them do that.
Sam @ May 10th 2006 1:46PM
Re #27:
Imagine a rechargeable battery that can be replaced but can also be recharged via kinetic energy. While the battery could still be replaced, adding kinetic energy could add to the battery's lifespan. The best of both worlds.
TwoBah @ May 11th 2006 11:41AM
They make wrist watches that charge when your move your arm, its just a small weight on a clock spring that turns a gear that turns a small magnetic generator and it weighs the same as a normal wrist watch and is the same size. I don't think something that small would keep it charged perfectly, but make it a little bigger and it will help extend the play time while out of the charger.
jim @ May 15th 2006 9:28PM
For those of you who think that is is possible to implement a kinetic energy powered wii-mote you are dead wrong for two simple reasons:
1. the kinetic powered watched simply use a weight to wind the watch. I highly doubt that there will be a wind up controller.
2. the flashlights use a magnet running through a series if copper coils to move electrons through the coil. Not only would this be much to heavey for the size needed to power a controller but the magnet in the "power generator" would screw with the mmicrophone. pshaw!
craig delancy @ May 27th 2006 1:00AM
I would prefer to use a battery like the ds and sp both use (apart from the difference in the 2 plastic stubs on each but those can be removed easily to switch batteries as you please) I would rather just plug it in to charge it, as I am to lazy to hunt down replacement batteries.
the ultimate in force feedback would be (for example) your controller just stopping in air, midswing because the guy on screen blocked your sword, although I can't think of any way that would be pausible
I can't wait for mp3 corruption as Ive waited for it since a month after mp2 came out. I think from what ive read you can grapple onto almost anything now and sling it across the room
I am curious about downloading classic games as I would like to download some of my own hacked roms onto a console instead of using a key board and a 6-button gamepad but to cheap to buy blank cartridges usb hookups and stuff like that
Charles Mitchel @ Jun 7th 2006 8:51PM
What does the 1 and 2 button do anyway? What is going to be the first color for the Wii system? When is the real release date of Super Smash Bros. Brawl? So many questions left unsaid. Hopefully I get all the answers in September and the Wii will release in September as well.