Wiimote has unused 'voice translator'
by Justin McElroy 
{ Jun 1st 2007 at 11:10AM }
Much like pinball wizard Tommy, the Wiimote hears but cannot answer to your call, according to a new CNN feature. The interesting piece includes a mention of an "audio translator" that "converts analog data such as human speech into a digital data stream." That may sound like a microphone, but it's really more of a microphone's brain ... and it's not being used. What makes this especially unusual is that the thing apparently costs $2. When you multiply that times the 2.5 million Wiis that have already been sold (not to mention separate Wiimotes) it equals well over one-hundred-thousand dollars ... or something.Although they could probably blow that sort of coin if they wanted to, it doesn't seem likely. We'd expect to see some major usage of some sort of microphone attachment during the console's lifespan, surprising no one.
[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
andrew @ Jun 1st 2007 11:13AM
1. I thought well over 2.5 million wiis have been sold.
2. $2 x 2.5 million wiis sold... is WELL OVER one hundred thousand dollars. I would think it'd be 5 million dollars.
kingofwale @ Jun 1st 2007 11:14AM
but here's the thing, with Nintendo's expanding of audiences, can this 2 dollars hardware understands from "mommy, Tommy's mean to me", to "OMGZ, DATS RAD" to "Damn kids, get off my lawn" ?
after all, it's a lot to process there.
Anam @ Jun 1st 2007 11:18AM
I thought they had already announced a microphone attachment for Boogie? Or does that have nothing to do with this?
arrrgh @ Jun 1st 2007 11:30AM
ding ding ding! anam get's the prize!
i thought it seemed kinda obvious too sir :)
fredrik dunder @ Jun 1st 2007 11:32AM
this hidden feature will be used in mario galaxy for the first time...
thanks for spoiling it for thousands.
Joshua @ Jun 1st 2007 11:31AM
Greetings, professor Falken.
Shall we play a game?
How about Global Thermal Nuclear War?
James @ Jun 1st 2007 11:32AM
They also announced a microphone attachment for High School Musical too, correct?
Alistair @ Jun 1st 2007 11:32AM
the whole thing about is costing $2 is crap - if hey are making the amount of wiimotes that are in homes today the price will be alot less at they most likely ordered them in bulk - lowering the cost of the translator chip
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Jun 1st 2007 11:33AM
Soon people everywhere will be blowing my wiimote ;-)
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 11:33AM
You guys are silly.
That chip they added was not used because the CPU in the Wii cannot caculate to much data at once.
hail2dking @ Jun 1st 2007 11:35AM
Actually... Tommy was a deaf, dumb and blind kid (but he sure played a mean pinball...).. So he was more like the nunchuck attachment than the actual Wii-mote
required @ Jun 1st 2007 11:35AM
looks like they're trying to copy sony again
http://www.talkmanpsp.com/
Nate @ Jun 1st 2007 11:40AM
To Anam and arrrgh the mic that comes with that game...is a usb mic. It plugs into the Wii not Wiimote. So this is kinda new...not really though. The way I see it is that its a Xbox360 mic that plugs into the Wiimote NOT Wii AND it can actually take what you say and use it in games.
I think Nintendo had a patent showing this very thing...where you could read what other players were saying. When you yell letters became bigger and bold.
XGamerX @ Jun 1st 2007 11:40AM
This has some potential i just hope it isn't used in a gimmicky fashion.
http://gamergeddon.com/
AndyL @ Jun 1st 2007 11:44AM
Probably it's for digitizing audio for a planed microphone add-on that plugs into the Nun-chuck port.
Shagittarius @ Jun 1st 2007 11:42AM
The device is actually a sonic transducer which keeps the duct tape sticky; holding together the 2 gamecubes permanently. It runs at 1.21 jiggahertz.
Anam @ Jun 1st 2007 11:49AM
Thanks for clarifying Nate.
That makes me a bit disappointed with Boogie though. If they could have made it plug into the controller rather than the console it would be much less annoying.
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 11:49AM
No Shag...
Its a brain controlling chip that makes you think you are having fun playing the Wii. This chip has been in production since the GCube.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 1st 2007 11:50AM
that would explain why walking contradiction doesnt have fun with wii, he has no brain.
REUYL @ Jun 1st 2007 11:50AM
Step 1: Include $2 device in Wiimote
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!
Shagittarius @ Jun 1st 2007 11:55AM
I just gotta say this, I don't mean to start a flame war here. All you guys who constantly talk about how profits prove which console is the most fun, I don't see how this argument makes any sense.
I think you would have more fun playing the stock market.
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 11:56AM
Jody
No, its because my brain waves are not so easily manipulated like casual gamers.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 1st 2007 11:57AM
I'm with Shagittarius. Hate wii, love wii, doesnt matter. hate it or love it for the games, not how much money it makes nintendo.
Shagittarius @ Jun 1st 2007 11:58AM
I have another idea...I think its repeating over and over at a decible level lower than the human ear can pick up, "Try to bomb the harbor".
Vancaeyzeele @ Jun 1st 2007 12:01PM
If they want to use a microphone add-on they can't simply wireless transfer the voice-data. That would ask for too much bandwidth wich would have to be traded in for less distance to the Wii and less simulatious Wii-motes in use. Also there would be a considerable battery drain.
I don't think the CPU is limited, it would be rather the memory needed. It's just something often done to ease the work of the developer and lower the noise transfer and power consumption. I would not be surprised if the DS had one.
I haven't read the datasheet but you can suppose for example that it translates a consonant by mel-spectrum in like 20-60 integers.
Hirsbrunner @ Jun 1st 2007 12:02PM
If you start a post with something along the lines of "I don't mean to start a flame war..", delete your post and move on.
I see major potential w/the voice chip. Who knows, one day we may be screaming "blue...BLUE...BLUUUUUE" into the Wiimote.
Anam @ Jun 1st 2007 12:05PM
@Vanceayzeele
Wait, I'm confused. They have the ability to make a microphone add-on for the controller, but the signal can't go anywhere? What's the point then?
SuperChuck @ Jun 1st 2007 12:11PM
It's entirely possible that it's not being used for its intended purpose. It seems to me that a lot of the math for analog motion is similar to the math for analog sound.
It also seems weird that no one seemed to notice it for 6 months.
SoulBlade @ Jun 1st 2007 12:13PM
voice data wouldn't be too hard - you sample it at a low enough bit rate to process and send it over bluetooth the same way every other signal is sent over from the wiimote.
profits = success in business. In games, it's a matter of how much fun you provide to gamers. But, if Nintendo's providing a lot of fun, and it's making money, that just ensures we're going to have a lot of Nintendo in the future.
As for the trolls (they know who they are), just accept that the Wii is currently a success and that the market opened up. You still have your other "hardcore" systems - nobody's refuting that. There are things the Wii does better as well as worse. Don't let your insecurities about being right about the console war prevent you from having a good time. And your posts don't really provide anything useful.
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:20PM
"Nintendo's providing a lot of fun"
Its fun for like two hours(besides zelda& SPM). The system really isn't that fun. Its just new. The general consumer likes new things, but will lose interest when something else catches their eye.
megaStryke @ Jun 1st 2007 12:23PM
@Shagittarius
"I have another idea...I think its repeating over and over at a decible level lower than the human ear can pick up, 'Try to bomb the harbor'."
Yvan eht nioj!
Keif @ Jun 1st 2007 12:24PM
once again sony fanboys prove to be biter assholes that rather trash talk another system then play games on their own console.
Fernando Rocker @ Jun 1st 2007 12:24PM
@Walking Contradiction
In terms of gameplay, whats the diference betwen the PS3 and the PS2??? Nothing... you are playing the same games with updated graphics, and noting more.
Sidepocket @ Jun 1st 2007 12:35PM
@ Walking Contradiction
That can be said for any other console.
I agree with Soul. Its all personal tastes and Microsoft and Nintendo is selling high while Sony is selling low. Nobody is pointing fingers.
Man this whole Console War is even more useless and immature than the DC VS Marvel shit.
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:27PM
Fernando
"you are playing the same games with updated graphics, and noting more."
No most are new IP's.
Your playing the same games with almost the same graphics.
Ray Balhorn @ Jun 1st 2007 12:28PM
This is nothing different from what Nintendo had already done with the Mario Party mics. Probably will server the exact same purpose but without having to pass around a mic.
Fernando Rocker @ Jun 1st 2007 12:29PM
@Walking Contradiction
Correction - You are playing the same type of games since the PS1, and Without rumble, and nothing more.
SoulBlade @ Jun 1st 2007 12:31PM
It's a great party system - anybody with a girl or real friends would understand. I'm still playing Wii Sports and I enjoy Tiger Woods. Yes, you can go out and do those things in the real world, and while I do, it's not practical to do all the time.
The single player experience definitely needs some work, but with the incoming online support and growing dev support, I think it's going to stand on it's own pretty well.
It's rare for a game to actually hold anybody's attention for more than 2 hours at a time. It's different for each person. Some people absolutely love Halo - some don't. Same can be said for all great titles like GTA, God of War, etc. All Nintendo did was reach out to those who weren't into games and asked them to give it a chance. They also made sure their fan base stayed satisfied, and they continue to do so w/ titles like smash, prime, and galaxy in the pipe.
Haters can hate, but they're being ignorant if they can't see it proving to be a success in the gamer's world and the business world.
Doug Kaplan @ Jun 1st 2007 12:32PM
I smell J.O.N.T., does anyone else smell that? It's the small that comes immediately after someone says the Wii is fun for 2 hours (because that's when they decided to give up on it and then took that opinion and applied it to everyone who will ever interact with a Wii because if it happened to them it must happen with everyone else).
Now if you excuse me, I am ready to begin my 40th hour of Super Paper Mario (38 hours of more gametime that I am supposed to be doing before it loses the fun factor. Wow, why would I do still do something
38 hours after it stops being fun, maybe because I still am having fun, wow, what a novel thought!).
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:34PM
Fernando
Lol. Sony has developed more IP's just in the PS1-PS2 era than Nintendo has ever. Also, rumble is on its way back.
Fernando Rocker @ Jun 1st 2007 12:36PM
@Walking Contradiction
And all the Sony Ip's are moving to the 360
Tim Adèr @ Jun 2nd 2007 10:51AM
@ 11. The DS had a mic way before the PSP had...
Also I think the chip is used to process sounds, made by the added on mic...
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:39PM
Doug & Soul
Yes, it is a great party system, but thats it. I know the Wii is a success. duh. Im telling the truth on why its such a big success. Manipulation of the general consumer. Graphics good enough?? No 360,PS3 graphics are good enough but AI and Enviroment Interaction needs alot of work.
Aran @ Jun 1st 2007 12:42PM
"Lol. Sony has developed more IP's just in the PS1-PS2 era than Nintendo has ever. Also, rumble is on its way back."
What? :D
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:42PM
Sidepocket
On the Mavel vs DC. Marvel whoops ass. Hulk will smash any of them!
Back on subject:
Kief
That was nasty lol.
Fernando
They will make up new IP's to counter the ones moved to the 360.
jduke @ Jun 1st 2007 12:44PM
Wasn't this already discussed before the Wii was released? I thought it was a hidden feature that was revealed right before launch, or was a patent Nintendo had or something.
Doug Kaplan @ Jun 1st 2007 12:48PM
What's with the "manipulation of the consumer" nonsense? Were the PS3 customers manipulated into buying a PS3 because it was the trojan horse for the Blu-Ray player? I was not manipulated, I knew exactly what I was getting into with the Wii as did most casual gamers, a fun system without all of the fluff of Xbox Live or the Playstation network. Stop saying we were manipulated, that's ridiculous.
SoulBlade @ Jun 1st 2007 12:51PM
I don't think they're manipulating the general consumer at all. They're basically adapting to them - they know general consumers know nothing about high end graphics or even what AI is. All they know is consumers want to get the most out of their money, and Nintendo clearly offers it w/ the Wii. It also opens the doors for families to interact more and for the generation gap to lessen.
M$ and Sony could easily say they are better than the Wii because of graphics or processing power, but if a game isn't fun to play, graphics aren't going to save it. Rather than focus on putting in high end tech, Nintendo decided to focus on fun and interactivity - something much more intuitive and easy to relate to for the general consumer.
Hirsbrunner @ Jun 1st 2007 12:51PM
lol @ Keif :D
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:54PM
When I first played the Wii I was let down. When I read on Red Steet having one-to-one motion controls I was bought, but as soon as I played it I was left very dissapointed.
Saying graphics are good enough is total bullshit excuse to resell the damn Gcube. You know this and I do too. If graphics were good enough Nintendo would have stuck with shitty 64 graphics. They were on a downfall from the SNES and they knew they had to change their strategy without losing alot of money.