Nintendo considering new Wiimote accelerometer tech

by Griffin McElroy on Dec 6th 2008 6:15PM

Nintendo must be pleased as punch with the McDuck-esque mountains of money that their motion-sensitive system has garnered -- though they seem to be focusing on making sure their well-received one-handed peripheral is at its waggliest. In addition to introducing the Wii MotionPlus at this year's E3 press event, Nintendo is apparently looking into swapping out the accelerometer in the Wii Remote, replacing it with newer, faster motion-sensing technology.

This is not only good news for accelerometer manufacturers (who are already wrestling to get their technology into the best-selling controller), but for Wii enthusiasts as well -- according to a Nikkei Tech-On article, a manufacturer named Kionix could provide an accelerometer that will noticably improve the Wiimote's motion sensitivity. However, we hope it doesn't make it too sensitive -- after all, what good is a controller that sits in its room all day, watching Love Actually and listening to James Taylor?

Source

Tags: accelerometer, nintendo, wii, wiimote

Reader Comments (104)

And this will be their reason for keeping prices on the Wiimote high.

I can't remember a console manufacturer *ever* lowering the price on controllers during the life of the system - at least not until 5+ years into it.

The 360 controller started out at $50 but has been $40 since sometime earlier this year.

Once again... Epic Fail :(

The reason is simple, the current one is SHIT...

Are you seriously going to say the xbox 360 controller is bad when the article is about the fucking WIIMOTE!? Like the worst controller design ever. It's a remote.

Tiptup, reading comprehension is a wonderful gift. Use it.

Need a hint?

BigSofty wasn't referring to Lorben's post, he was referring to Lone Starr's post.

GG.

The current one is shit?

Funny thing, "hard core" gamers I've seen on this site have complained about the wiimote being imprecise in MarioKart. It's one of the most asinine things I've ever heard.

It's fine the way it is. My guess is they're looking to sneak away from some other contractual agreement, or to source/mfg it for cheaper.

Tiptup, I think the controller design is genius.

But if you don't think I'm right then cast your eyes over some sales comparisons for all the consoles.

And I can tell you this much, people aint buying the Wii for the graphics or online gaming.

I'm saying the ergonomic design and button placement/naming. It's horrible. It's a remote.

Tiptub, name any other controller that can be played in two different positions. What other way is there of using a controller in one hand and be able to point it as the screen at the same time? It has be shaped like a remote for that to work. Plus, you can turn it horizontal and use it like a nes controller.

Yes it is not the most comfortable controller, but the design is close to perfect.

There, there babies all controllers this generation are friggin bad.

The D-pad on the xbox 360 makes fighting games almost unplayable. Seriously try to do a max combo in MK vs DC,I'll wait.

The wiimote is frustrating from time to time like in the most challenging levels of Super Mario Galaxy or any rail shooter.

The Dualshock well the triggers feel somehow bad but to be honest I don’t have a problem with this one because Sony at least have the decency to make the PS compatible with a keyboard and mouse. Seriously why can’t we have this same function on the xbaucks?

Analog sticks are really infuriating when you try to precise.

The Xbox 360's controller is nearly flawless, as you said the DPad is the only downfall. But seriously, the Wiimote isn't really a controller, it's a remote with motion sensing and a pointer device.

I lol'd at the "perfect controller" comment. Long story short, the Wiimote frustrates me. Why can't every Wii game just support the Gamecube controller?

Tiptup, the ergonomics and design is fine.

How can I say that?

Ive done a masters degree in ergonomics and a bachelors in product design. No, seriously. So, yes, I do know what I'm talking about.

I can say this - Kionix makes a good gyro, for realz.

Though the consumer in me wonders what this will mean for Wii and my wallet.....and games I already own that use motion to change into on-screen action.

Cos these gyros are sensitive.

We aren't talking gyros here, though. Accelerometers. Kinda similar in function, but not the same thing.

They're just looking to make more money off each wiimote. I haven't seen any exciting news about Nintendo in months.

i can see it now on our next battle on brawl; "i call shotties the new remote! u'all can use the shitty remote" they better buy the new hotness if they want to beat me ever again.

-miyamoto cranking out money from wii pic here-

http://www.mywii.com.au/img/contents/miyamotomoney.gif

Why would improved motion sensing mean anything in Brawl?

sorry but i was speaking to the general public. i dont own a wii nor have i played brawl.

still this seems dumb. idk.

lmao at gif.i guess thats him penetrating the PAL continents

so wait, you don't own a Wii or have ever played Brawl (something which was painfully obvious by your comment) but you still felt the need to chime in on this topic?

...why?

If he has a relevant point to make, he's allowed to post, even without proper experience

He can't make any arguments from authority, but he's allowed to comment. Same problem that some people seem to have with me posting in PS360 topics

wow fffunfarm06, just stop commenting please.

This is good news.

If you consider being forced to buy a whole new suite of controllers to make sure your new games work as well as they should, sure.

Oh, who am I kidding. All Nintendo seems to care about is selling new hardware. Next generation I'm jumping ship.

No way! A hardware manufacturer cares about selling hardware?! We should go buy stuff from some company that's too cool to care whether or not we buy their product. Oh, wait. I already bought a PS3...

Didn't MS remake the dpad in their newer 360 controllers?
Didn't MS remake their original Xbox controller?
Didn't Sony finally realise it was best to add rumble to their controllers?
Didn't Sony also add analogue sticks onto the PS1 controller after the N64 was released?
Doesn't Sony keep adding minor updates to the PSP that don't seem to fix the real problems with it?
Didn't Sony once say that their PS3 will allow for CPU upgrades?
Don't MS keep updating their 360 with various new architectures, flash drives and video output options?

What has Nintendo's console done this gen... A 2 year old Wii that has had no changes. A 2 year old controller that has had no changes.

Thus ends teh uber pwn.

Lee, stop it with the valid and logical points, they are no good here.

Remember, we're talking about a Nintendo related article on Joystiq.

Yeah, you wouldn't want your wii to be too sensitive, otherwise it'd be prone to premature e-- oh wait.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/premature-ejaculatures-might-be-better-at-games/

it had to be done

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/premature-ejaculatures-might-be-better-at-games/

too late

Don't knock it 'till you try it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pXfHLUlZf4

You sir, made my day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8HB252MeAI

I'll really have to take a look at the inevitable comparisons that will be shown after these are released into the wild. Putting one of these together alongside motionplus might make a real difference

It's always the most awkward posts that get screwed up, always.

Don't post that! There could be little kids here looking at that Wiimote porn!

IT'S NUDE!!!
O_o

AND I LOVE IT! HAHAHA!

And it's not wearing any clothes too!

Foe, is that a Thumbtanic reference?

This seems like bad news for all existing controller owners, and all game developers who now have to support yet another wii controller.

Well no. This isn't bad like Motion Plus is, this is just an improvement on the existing tech. More accurate gesture recognition under the current system of programming, not a whole new means of programming better gesture recognition.

Definitely be a boon for playing Zack and Wiki, if nothing else

"More accurate gesture recognition under the current system of programming"

No, it would require different programming as it's different data received by the system. Games are expecting very specific data, and this is very different.

Umm... no. Why would the data be different? Doesn't matter what chips are inside as long as they output the same signals, and it would be stupid for them not to. I think what's really happening here though is that they're just using a cheaper manufacturer, and it might just happen to be more accurate. But API wise I doubt anything will change, because that's just not how things are done.

"Umm... no. Why would the data be different? "

Because it's receiving different data. This isn't rocket science. The whole article told you this.

can i just say that the "too sensitive" end joke caught me off guard. havent loled at/with joystiq for a long time

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Nintendo considering new Wiimote accelerometer tech

Reader Comments (104)

Posted: Dec 6th 2008 6:26PM Lone Starr said

Posted: Dec 6th 2008 6:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 6th 2008 6:42PM Lorben said

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