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?

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Tags: accelerometer, nintendo, wii, wiimote

Reader Comments (104)

Surprisingly nobody has said it yet, but I will.

DON'T COPY THAT FLOPPY!

The Kionix sensors are lousy. If they are better than the Wiimote ones, then N really outdid themselves in finding a crappy accelerometer.

My company wanted to use the Kionix one, but despite being a potentially HUGE sale for them (>10M sold, more if they were selected for follow-on products), they couldn't find their butts with two hands and a map. And their samples didn't even perform was well as their specs (which were not impressive) said.

My company would have loved to use the Kionix, as we could have potentially saved a bundle. But it would have been a poor business decision.

instead of changing the internal components nintendo how about offering us North americans more colours other than white wiiremotes?

I'm sick of Nintendo trying to put a lot of add on to the wii remote. Make it more convenient to the customers. Revamp the whole Wii Remote product line meaning add a new accleraometer and the wii motion plus all in the remote, I mean adding the new wii motion plus attachment makes it that we have to get a new wii condom err I mean wii remote protector. Nintendo we don't need a longer stick and yet more peripherals taking space in the drawers.

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