Wii TV sensor image surfaces

by Blake Snow { May 9th 2006 at 8:55PM }

Nintendo has released a small picture of what appears to be the the final version of the TV sensor used with the Wii controller. From Wii's official site: "Up to four Wii Remotes can be connected at once using wireless Bluetooth technology. The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console. Both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers include a three-axis motion sensor."

We'll get a close up of the thing and how well it interfaces with the controller tomorrow.

[Thanks, Pantsman]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

AdamBot @ May 9th 2006 8:59PM

Good to see it's small and something that can be placed and forgotten about. It'll barely be noticeable in my entertainment center.

Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ May 9th 2006 9:09PM

Hey, am I the only one who thinks that TV slightly resembles an HDTV? Heh just messin around. I am quite pleased the bar is so small. But what will it be called? "Wiibar"? Anyways, heads up for the DS Lite launch! Can't wait!

DS Lite: $129
Wii: $150+
Twilight Princess (Wii): $50+
Watching a pre-professional wrestler shriek as he runs all the way home to try out his new games: Priceless.

Ben Hollis @ May 9th 2006 9:09PM

Is that a widescreen TV in the shot? Does this mean it supports widescreen? God I hope so. The revelation (on their site) that it supports component video means I can finally sell my 'Cube!

Sabre @ May 9th 2006 9:11PM

Yea definetly. The way they designed it looks like it will blend in with most current TVs (including mine.)

I'm sure there will be people bitching and whinning about it or ragging on it (like biased Sony fanboys.)

R.Glover @ May 9th 2006 9:13PM

So PS3 have advanced motion sensor than Wii Remote because they have 6 axis to Wii have 3 axis.

Or I'm misread it.

what? @ May 9th 2006 9:14PM

where does the "wiibar" chord connect to?

Shiro @ May 9th 2006 9:15PM

Only about the length of a DVD case? w00t. It'll fit places.

I'll spare you all the agony of listing said places. xD

Shiro @ May 9th 2006 9:17PM

@6

I can't tell if it goes in the console or the TV, myself. Maybe we'll figure that out tomorrow.

On a sidenote, anyone know what day E3 ends?

Ben Hollis @ May 9th 2006 9:18PM

Holy crap those screenshots are 16:9. That's it, it supports widescreen. Fantastc!

@#5 - the Wiimote has 6 axes - 3 rotational and 3 translational. I'm actually guessing it's better than the Dual Shake because the sensor bar means it'll track absolute position instead of just relative position. In other wors, with the Dual Shake it'll know if you jerk it to the left, but the Wiimote will know when you move it to the left - you probably can't do a pointer with the Dual Shake.

Kazi @ May 9th 2006 9:19PM

The Wii sports an AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video.

Awesome.

This sensor looks like it'll fit nicely on the laptop I'll be playing my Wii on at my friends thanks to the out of the box s-video output. Thank you Nintendo.

EvilGeniusDan @ May 9th 2006 9:20PM

@Ben Hollis

It's been confirmed that the wii will work with widescreen HDTVs, at 480p. Progressive scan capability will mean that your game will still look better on a HDTV, then it will on a regular TV..even though it does not support High-def resolutions.

@R.Glover

You misread it. PS3 having 6-axis, simply means that the controller can detect 6 directions (up down forward back left right) The Wii is a more advanced controller.

Arex @ May 9th 2006 9:20PM

"So PS3 have advanced motion sensor than Wii Remote because they have 6 axis to Wii have 3 axis."

The bar is only so the system can detect the location of the controller relative to the TV. The Wii controller itself can detect pitch, roll and all the other goodness the PS3 controller can.

Shiro @ May 9th 2006 9:20PM

Oops, I meant to answer to #7. Stupid changing numbers.

Ben Hollis @ May 9th 2006 9:20PM

@10. Um, the Wiibar definitely goes into the console, unless you have some magical TV I don't know about.

Josh @ May 9th 2006 9:22PM

Shiro, from where did you get this "length of a DVD case" stuff?

Also, to "what?", it connect to somewhere on the console, most likely in the back of it, and from the looks of it, the cord is very LONG, but it comes with one of those twist-ties on it, so you can "shorten" it to your needs that way.

Anyway, good show, Nintendo. This is most definitely the most excited I've been about video games in the past five years, at least.

Ben Hollis @ May 9th 2006 9:24PM

@16. I'm guessing he got it from Nintendo's site:

"Approximately the size of three stacked DVD cases, Wii's elegant design makes it an inviting addition to your entertainment setup without monopolizing it."

what? @ May 9th 2006 9:28PM

here's to hoping the "wiibar" doesn't take up one of the two precious USB ports!

Shiro @ May 9th 2006 9:28PM

@ 17

Look at it's size relative to the long edge of the Wii. The console itself has already been described as about the size of three DVD cases, so from what I'm seeing, the bar is about the length of the Wii's longest side.

But maybe I'm seeing it wrong. Who knows?

Takeo Rey @ May 9th 2006 9:49PM

Most notably widescreen is the screenshot they have on their site for Zelda. Here's hoping that all their games have widescreen options...

Josh @ May 9th 2006 9:50PM

Alright, I see where yous deducted that, but to me, it looks like the length of a DVD case and a half.

Anyway! "what?", it has its own connection separate from the two USB ports.

navstar @ May 9th 2006 9:57PM

You can have widescreen without having Hi-Def. Just watch any widescreen DVD today -- it's not HD.

I hope Nintendo make getting the component cable easier to get than the Cube one.

sgtpepper @ May 9th 2006 9:57PM

Does the bar have to be in front of the person? That means trouble for the projector-owners, with all their components behind them. I don't wanna run wire 20 feet....

Exo @ May 9th 2006 9:58PM

all the hands on reports Ive seen have said they played on a 16:9 screen

Grant @ May 9th 2006 9:58PM

According to IGN, Zelda, Metroid Prime 3, and ExciteTruck all run in widescreen (but WarioWare does not.)

http://revolution.ign.com/articles/706/706082p1.html

Ben Hollis @ May 9th 2006 10:36PM

@13: Yeah, I have the progressive-scan cables for my Camecube - I was feeling sad because it had looked like there would be no 480p on the Wii, and I'd have to keep my Gamecube around for Gamecube games. Now I can ditch my 'Cube and my SNES, and just have my Wii and 360 together ;-)

Kyle @ May 9th 2006 11:06PM

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f207/JosephSchmoe/wiicopy.jpg

All I have to say. Just check the pic.

Graham Hancock @ May 9th 2006 11:09PM

I could swear that the Demo TV's they were using on stage today were certainly 16x9. We'll have to wait for tomorrow when Nintendo unleashes the demo standalones on the E3 Showfloor.

striegs @ May 9th 2006 11:16PM

Sgtpepper, as far as I understand it doesn't matter where you put the bar, so long as it remains in the same place from the time you turn on the console 'til the time you're done. Of course, realistically the bluetooth range is finite, and the bar connects to the Wii via a cord, so you couldn't place the bar just anywhere, for instance the closet, or Minnesota.

Anyway, the bar is just there so that the remote has a consistent point of reference. As long as you calibrate it properly every time you move it from one place to another, it shouldn't matter where you put it. Of course, I'm no Nintengineer, so I could be wrong.

jadenguy @ May 9th 2006 11:17PM

bluetooth, eh? how interesting. since axises can tell data in 2 dimensions, you only need two to cover the 3 dimensions direction, then another axis to tell rotation on your directional vector. i've never seen that third axis be used in star trek, as the ships always seem to be oriented perfectly. either that or they always used that axis to synchronize. ANYHOW. then distance can be measured using something one dimensional, likely doppler shift from either infrared or sonar. i'm not too keen on bluetooth, but i thought there was some sort of perimeter measurement system, but i might have been misreading something off hackaday or something...
i transgress. on people's sensibilities. but enough about my personal life. god, i'm a horrible commedian. i remind me of my physics teacher in that aspect i guess. he was my favorite teacher in highschool. well, him and my english teacher.
anyhow, 6 axiseses seems folly. perhaps sony only has 6 directional states in their controller, like, an extra set of digital controls. mercury tube things maybe. although that doesn't make a whole lot of sense and it's past 1940. but you guys get the idea. anyhow, i seriously think the 6 degrees of motion is seriously 6 directions described in a digital manner, not analoguesque, like the revmotes. but that's just my guess.