Rumor: Nintendo exec hints at MotionPlus-infused Wiimotes

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 19th 2008 at 8:30PM }

Though little is known about the Wii's recently unveiled peripheral, the MotionPlus attachment, other than the fact that it will allow you to throw virtual frisbees to virtual puppies with unparalleled accuracy, Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development director Katsuya Eguchi alluded to a new Wiimote model that would include the MotionPlus technology during an E3 developer roundtable.

In Eguchi's own words, Nintendo is "looking at whether or not it will be an attachment or built in," so a MotionPlus Wiimote is far from confirmed. Still, we certainly hope Nintendo never ceases production of the attachment altogether -- forcing a populous that scrambled to acquire the Wii's elusive controller last year to chase after a new Wiimote SKU could lead to an unforeseen, if not slightly ironic, revolution against the prosperous company.

Tags: e3-2008, katsuyaeguchi, motionplus, nintendo, nintendowii, rumor, wii, Wii-MotionPlus, wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Pedobear @ Jul 19th 2008 8:35PM

So what is this supposed to do anyways? Provide 1:1 movement? If thats the case then why wasn't it included from the get-go.

Ignatius @ Jul 19th 2008 8:37PM

... Nintendo is a company. That's all I need to say.

meist3r @ Jul 20th 2008 6:39AM

Read the article posted a few days ago ... the technology wasn't small enough and took to much energy two years ago to put it into a small enough (wireless) form factor. I'm not being apologetic I'm just trying to get you people off these early accusations. They could just do what everyone else does and hide that technology until the next generation because they already own most of the markets with the "inferior" Wiimote. But they put it out anyway.

To me that's positive ... not negative as you want to put it.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 20th 2008 7:01PM

They're lying when they say that. I work with this technology. It may have been too expensive, but it wasn't too large and as to power usage, the Wiimote is a power hog anyway.

No MEMS device is terribly large, because making them larger makes them even more expensive. It would be odd to see it even be 1/2" on a side, and even at 1/2" on a side it would have fit inside the Wiimote just fine.

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 19th 2008 8:37PM

Built in, please.

By the way... I'm going to see The Dark Night in 2 hours. Any impressions? AAA movie or just A?

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 19th 2008 8:39PM

*Knight

Damn english skills =(

syrik zero @ Jul 19th 2008 8:44PM

I haven't seen it. I've heard it's really good and SO good in some parts he wet his pants. And that the Joker is the best played Joker ever

Superstar90 @ Jul 19th 2008 8:46PM

its incredible

ButtersParker @ Jul 19th 2008 8:53PM

AAAAAAAAAA++++++++++

Sesur @ Jul 19th 2008 8:58PM

you have no idea what your in for...

ChooChooCharlie @ Jul 19th 2008 9:39PM

Best movie I've seen in years.

samfish @ Jul 19th 2008 10:18PM

I can't type enough A's to convey how awesome it is. Easily the best comic movie ever. Probably end up as one of my favorite movies ever, too. This is honestly the first movie I've ever seen where all the hype is actually warranted and it lives up to it.

Watch out for the Joker's magic trick! Best part of the whole film!

Jhongerkong @ Jul 19th 2008 10:22PM

Its no Die Hard though

j.howlett @ Jul 19th 2008 10:24PM

jay sherman said, "It stinks."

Anticrawl @ Jul 20th 2008 12:33AM

It would be the best movie in years if not for Batman and Christopher Nolan's bat-fetish for bat-fucking huge bat-wheels on all their overly bat-macho bat-vehicles.

Jakka @ Jul 20th 2008 5:26AM

Dunno...nobody gives a shit about UK so it's coming out on 25th.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jul 21st 2008 9:20AM

Yeah, best movie I've seen in a long while... my current favorite. The magic trick was easily the funniest thing I've seen in a long time.

syrik zero @ Jul 19th 2008 8:39PM

I'm listening to the podcast about the Nintendo Conference at E3. I'm guessing no one has any idea but is this supposed to fix all the schitty controls of games past?

Mr Khan @ Jul 19th 2008 10:42PM

Legend (by which i mean i can't remember where i read this) has it that it's not backwards compatible, but I would think, since it can be combined with the nunchuk or classic controller anyway, that it WILL make older games better, but since the games weren't programmed around it, won't make them 1:1

The new GlovePIE possibilities, however, are endless

Foetoid @ Jul 20th 2008 1:33AM

Out of the 11 Wii games i own, none have shitty controls. In fact all of them have perfect controls enhancing the already awesome gameplay, and i'm a picky hardcore gamer who doesnt buy mini-game compilations.

mr mobius @ Jul 20th 2008 11:13AM

Just being picky but since it is the same console would it still be backwards compatable or would it be called laterally compatable?

StickstoMagnet @ Jul 19th 2008 8:42PM

They're releasing a piece of equipment that allows your product to do what it was ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO DO. Don't charge me for something you should have had on day one.

The answer is pretty clear, Nintendo. Built-in. The end.

Poisoned Al @ Jul 19th 2008 10:13PM

I thought so too, but the other's are just as guilty with Sony's "rumble is soooo last gen" bullshit and Microsoft releasing a pad for it's original Xbox what wasn't designed for gorillas.

Easo @ Jul 19th 2008 10:47PM

The Duke was a damn good controller sir. Its not microsofts fault you have tiny girl hands.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 19th 2008 11:49PM

@Poisoned AI

Sony had the Rumble lawsuit with Immersion that went all the way back to the Dual Shock 2. At the time they said it was because the Rumble technology would interfere with the Six Axis technology. However, that was obviously a terrible excuse. The fact of the matter is they should have licensed the technology from the get go.

The Wii 1:1 motion sensor is a completely different story. I am not sure the same technology was available at the time the Wii was originally engineered. However, I am not sure if this is the truth or if like Sony it is just another excuse.

Jerk Face @ Jul 19th 2008 8:44PM

God, I am so done with Nintendo.

Lord Bowser @ Jul 20th 2008 9:42AM

Old age has made you rather bitter, Mr face.

Superstar90 @ Jul 19th 2008 8:47PM

no more heroes 2!!! please!!!

syrik zero @ Jul 19th 2008 8:51PM

First one was so boring. Lets do this over here... Lets go do the same thing again over there. Here, die on this boss right before defeating him so you get to do the whole same thing again. Awesome...

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 19th 2008 8:57PM

I'm really on the fence over buying NMH, hear so many different opinions...

syrik zero @ Jul 19th 2008 9:06PM

I rented it. That's what I would do if I were you. Don't pay full retail price

Quiggy @ Jul 19th 2008 9:53PM

I bought NMH for $20 during a sale at Circuit City. It was definitely worth that amount, though probably not the full $50. Somewhere between $30-$35 would be ideal, I think.

Superstar90 @ Jul 19th 2008 10:02PM

gah no way! its so worth the purchase, one of the best wii game out there. the controls are excellent too. but if you are iffy on it, rent it and see how amazing it is.

Jhongerkong @ Jul 19th 2008 10:14PM

Anyone who says anything negative about NMH is lying unconditionally.

samfish @ Jul 19th 2008 10:21PM

The only way I want a sequel to No More Heroes is if they COMPLETELY overhaul the combat and get rid of that open world crap. Having to do stupid jobs to progress was the worst part of the game.
As fort he aforementioned combat system. Blech. It didn't feel like you were fighting the enemies. They just kind stood around and occasionally you got into one of those duel things. You couldn't really tell what you were doing.
Make it more along the lines of Ninja Gaiden or God Hand and they'll have a winner.

Rob Accomando @ Jul 19th 2008 8:52PM

does this mean they have to re-issue longer wii remote rubber sleeves?

TheOverlord#2 can has Animals Crossing? @ Jul 20th 2008 12:06AM

You get one with Wii Sports Resort, and if they sell it seperatley, i'm sure they'd put one in too.
You don't really need a longer sleeve unless you have the MotionPlus.

Rob Accomando @ Jul 20th 2008 9:28AM

That's what I'm talking about; with motion plus

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 19th 2008 8:56PM

God I hate whiners like this. They're doing something extra for the Wiimote and giving you the option to buy it. I hate the whiny little bitch attitude of "They owe it to me for free, I deserve this in anyway I want them to give it to me. Since this wasn't in the controller they released years ago they now owe it to me for free, and how dare their business model suggest otherwise, waah waah"

I mean good lord, this reminds me of the morons who were complaining about paying 5 friggin dollars for the Mass Effect add-on, or a VC game. You're whiny little bitch entitled ass attitude is annoying.

Benny @ Jul 19th 2008 9:05PM

But you have to appreciate that a lot of core gamers were 'sold' on the idea of 1:1 motion control from the offset. If those sorts of gamers want what they've been drooling over the prospect of for the last two years (Star Wars: Lightsaber) they're going to HAVE to buy this.

Not to mention that if third-party support is encouraged for this device, it is almost being forced upon consumers.

Choice is good, but this generation's over-enthSKUsiasm is just plain annoying.

Chase @ Jul 19th 2008 9:46PM

Well said, Benny. +1

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 19th 2008 11:56PM

@Markez

The problem is that some of the new games will require this new add on part. I think that is a more than adequate reason to complain. Not to mention the Wii Mote was already supposed to be 1:1. Put your bias in the corner for a few minutes and look at the situation from a different perspective. Also, I think the majority of us are extremely upset from the E3 showing the essentially told us we are not needed, appreciated or even wanted anymore with the Wii.