Nintendo announces motion controls ... again. "MotionPlus," 1:1 add-on for Wiimote

Lunker

http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/eMMuRj_N6vntHPDycCJAKWhEO9zBvyPH

Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

I, uh, I'm not sure what's happening. Is this going to be a mandatory add-on for games, or does it just refine pointer controls, or will it be included with new Wiis and Wiimotes from now on? QUESTIONS AND LOUD NOISES.

brynstar

Is this going to split the user base of the Wii? That's my one main concern. Otherwise, looks interesting.

Clint Eastwood

If I had to guess, I'd say they'd probably bundle it with a game, like they did with the N64 rumble pack.

As for what they'd bundle it with, there are two options: sword game or lightsaber game. Your choice, nintendo.

Icemopper

It seems like they're actually saying this will be useful for 1:1 action... like swordplay.

And I don't think the pointer can be refined anymore. It worked more than perfectly in Trauma Center, theres no way it could be more accurate in that regard.

Dr Mario Kart

Thats a horrible idea. You dont ever divide the install base, especially one thats nearly 30 million strong.

And true 1:1 response from the player is only part of the problem. The other part is how to handle it on the gameplay side. If you are swinging a remote as a sword for instance, and you hit a block, you can still keep swinging through on the player side, but in game the swing has stopped.

There is no 1:1 feedback.

This shouldve waited till next hardware cycle.

Voth

I guess this will satiate the complaints about the accuracy of the remote for future games. Maybe Force Unleased will used it heavily.

Olivaw

Well this is cool I guess

I hope it is bundled with certain games that require it, otherwise it could be a pain

I also hope they intend to actually use it a lot, rather than just have like one or two games that require it

Steev

Cloudman wrote: »

If I had to guess, I'd say they'd probably bundle it with a game, like they did with the N64 rumble pack.

As for what they'd bundle it with, there are two options: sword game or lightsaber game. Your choice, nintendo.

Something Called Zelda: A Swordfighting Game confirmed!

Someone out there still has to have that gif.

Olivaw

Dr Mario Kart wrote: »

Thats a horrible idea. You dont ever divide the install base, especially one thats nearly 30 million strong.

And true 1:1 response from the player is only part of the problem. The other part is how to handle it on the gameplay side. If you are swinging a remote as a sword for instance, and you hit a block, you can still keep swinging through on the player side, but in game the swing has stopped.

There is no 1:1 feedback.

This shouldve waited till next hardware cycle.

Just have the sword pass through the guy

Simple

Klyka

1:1 lightsaber game finally possible.

I still think it's a joke how many accessories are being made for the Wii and also the other two consoles.

Xenogears of Bore

Bundle it with Wii Sports 2 or Links sword training, and or throw it into new Wiis.

Strato

Nintendo was supposed to be announcing more "core" games at E3 right? This is probably aimed at that player base, rather than at the moms.

Mr_Grinch

Maybe it's just me being silly but there doesn't look any space to plug a nunchuck in there.

::Edit:: for 1:1 controls in, say, a starwars game, you could have the controller emit a buzz/rumble when you come in to contact with something. If you don't return the controller to the correct angle within seconds then you lose the dual.

You could decrease the amount of time you have to return the remote to where it should be with each difficulty level increase until skilled players would stop almost instantly.

LewieP

I just don't get it.

Xenogears of Bore

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

Maybe it's just me being silly but there doesn't look any space to plug a nunchuck in there.

That looks like a hatch at the bottom, but we won't know for sure until tomorrow.

Icemopper

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

Maybe it's just me being silly but there doesn't look any space to plug a nunchuck in there.

I'm fairly certain that the little white thing that sticks out in the bottom is what that would be used for.

MiserableMirth

I want a whip game.

I want to whip things.

Waka Laka

Wait what?

Is this meant to fix the delay you sometimes get when playing or... ?

Lave II

Yeah, no nunchuck. But I'm still waiting for a wavebird style nunchuck add on. So it could pass through to that.

Add ons for multiple games split the install base which is a terrible idea. But this still sounds awesome!

Lunker

Cloudman wrote: »

If I had to guess, I'd say they'd probably bundle it with a game, like they did with the N64 rumble pack.

As for what they'd bundle it with, there are two options: sword game or lightsaber game. Your choice, nintendo.

And we all remember what a blazing success the Rumble Pak was. That said, all of the developer support already behind the Balance Board does give a somewhat positive response to Nintendo-developed, Nintendo-game-bundled hardware accessories.

That said ... Wii Music?

Olivaw

MiserableMirth wrote: »

I want a whip game.

I want to whip things.

I'd like a hammer game, to hammer things

...Oh wait

Shit

theSquid

Undoubtedly developed to combat the oppositions desire to copy Wii's technological achievements and stay on top.

I'm for it.

-SPI-

Olivaw wrote: »

MiserableMirth wrote: »

I want a whip game.

I want to whip things.

I'd like a hammer game, to hammer things

...Oh wait

Shit

Mario's Wrecking Crew Wii sequel Confirmed!

Lave II

I'm pretty stoked for this.

Zelda sword fighting game perchance?

Guek

even if this "splits the userbase," it'll be much more effective than say a new 360 motion controller or a split apart dualshock. more developers will likely be on board for this little add on because the wii has been motion control from day one. this is like the ram expansion pack for the 64, only much much better and way more practical.

Lunker

Honestly, I'm wondering how this is going to gain traction among the Blue Ocean-styled crowd, who think the Wiimote already does 1:1 motion. Positioning this well and either making it dirt cheap or bundling it with a superfuckawesome game is critical. Because really, if it's needed for Wii Sports 2 or Play 2 or whatever, who's going to go out and buy four of these?

That said, I'm curious as hell how Nintendo's conference is going to play out ... and I'm assuming Microsoft executives' and scriptwriters' Blackberrys are ringing off the fucking hook right now.

Strato

Lave II wrote: »

I'm pretty stoked for this.

Zelda sword fighting game perchance?

Man, I dunno. Zelda games always have really simplistic combat, which I don't enjoy, but I don't see that formula changing. Zelda's always focused on puzzles and adventure.

Xenogears of Bore

Guek wrote: »

even if this "splits the userbase," it'll be much more effective than say a new 360 motion controller or a split apart dualshock. more developers will likely be on board for this little add on because the wii has been motion control from day one. this is like the ram expansion pack for the 64, only much much better and way more practical.

Being better than the RAM pack is questionable. Ram pack gave us MM and Perfect Dark the way it was meant to be played. That's a pretty high standard.

Guek

nintendo has done a fantastic job packaging peripherals with worthwhile hardware. but yes, price is probably the main concern. it better be cheap.

but if this comes packaged with the new zelda game...whoa. just...whoa.

Speed Racer

Lunker wrote: »

Cloudman wrote: »

If I had to guess, I'd say they'd probably bundle it with a game, like they did with the N64 rumble pack.

As for what they'd bundle it with, there are two options: sword game or lightsaber game. Your choice, nintendo.

And we all remember what a blazing success the Rumble Pak was. That said, all of the developer support already behind the Balance Board does give a somewhat positive response to Nintendo-developed, Nintendo-game-bundled hardware accessories.

That said ... Wii Music?

Um... the Rumble Pak was a blazing success.

galenblade

I'm assuming this is Nintendo trying to stay ahead of the curve.

It'll likely be built in to future Wiimotes if people start making games to utilize it.

Dr Mario Kart

If this adds another SKU and/or discontinuation, it will also add to the clusterfuck that is this generation :x

Xenogears of Bore

Lunker wrote: »

Honestly, I'm wondering how this is going to gain traction among the Blue Ocean-styled crowd, who think the Wiimote already does 1:1 motion. Positioning this well and either making it dirt cheap or bundling it with a superfuckawesome game is critical. Because really, if it's needed for Wii Sports 2 or Play 2 or whatever, who's going to go out and buy four of these?

That said, I'm curious as hell how Nintendo's conference is going to play out ... and I'm assuming Microsoft executives' and scriptwriters' Blackberrys are ringing off the fucking hook right now.

Nintendo has been pretty good with bundling their accessories this gen.

Wii Play is a solid casual appealing title that gets people more Wiimotes.

Links Crossbow is fun and cheap.

Wii Fit...is outselling the PS3 in Japan.

Mario Kart Wii is impossible to find in the states.

I'm sure whatever they bundle this with will be great.

Speed Racer

Lunker wrote: »

Honestly, I'm wondering how this is going to gain traction among the Blue Ocean-styled crowd, who think the Wiimote already does 1:1 motion. Positioning this well and either making it dirt cheap or bundling it with a superfuckawesome game is critical. Because really, if it's needed for Wii Sports 2 or Play 2 or whatever, who's going to go out and buy four of these?

The Blue Ocean-styled crowd?

Guek

Xenogears of Bore wrote: »

Guek wrote: »

even if this "splits the userbase," it'll be much more effective than say a new 360 motion controller or a split apart dualshock. more developers will likely be on board for this little add on because the wii has been motion control from day one. this is like the ram expansion pack for the 64, only much much better and way more practical.

Being better than the RAM pack is questionable. Ram pack gave us MM and Perfect Dark the way it was meant to be played. That's a pretty high standard.

but because the base technology was so limited at the time, it's hard to really point out where the ram pack helped out a game and what was impossible without it. I just think that this add on will have more immediately noticeable results, likely with a piece of software that is tailor made to do so.

autono-wally, erotibot300

they just need to bundle it with the games that need it

MiserableMirth

Lunker wrote: »

Honestly, I'm wondering how this is going to gain traction among the Blue Ocean-styled crowd, who think the Wiimote already does 1:1 motion. Positioning this well and either making it dirt cheap or bundling it with a superfuckawesome game is critical. Because really, if it's needed for Wii Sports 2 or Play 2 or whatever, who's going to go out and buy four of these?

That said, I'm curious as hell how Nintendo's conference is going to play out ... and I'm assuming Microsoft executives' and scriptwriters' Blackberrys are ringing off the fucking hook right now.

If the thing truly detects motion on all six axes without having to be pointed at the screen, then the type of gameplay (assuming Nintendo nails it) will be immediately noticable to even the casual person.

Rook

I don't know why people are worried about it splitting the playerbase. It just sounds like it would work the same way as a high resolution mouse would. Same input just more accurate.

Olivaw

Mushroom Pie wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

Cloudman wrote: »

If I had to guess, I'd say they'd probably bundle it with a game, like they did with the N64 rumble pack.

As for what they'd bundle it with, there are two options: sword game or lightsaber game. Your choice, nintendo.

And we all remember what a blazing success the Rumble Pak was. That said, all of the developer support already behind the Balance Board does give a somewhat positive response to Nintendo-developed, Nintendo-game-bundled hardware accessories.

That said ... Wii Music?

Um... the Rumble Pak was a blazing success.

Mostly because it was bundled with Starfox 64 and anyone who was anyone bought and loved Starfox 64

At least that's how I got my Rumble Pak

Otsego

Until I see the price and application of this I'm going to be very wary of it. Now if it's announced to be used with Mario Tennis or something that would be great.

Strato

So when do we get to play a game that requires the Wii Balance Board, Wiimote + Nunchuk, MotionPlus adapter, and a sensor bar strapped to your head?