Wii MotionPlus: Out now, Grand Slam/Virtua Tennis/Tiger Woods impressions

Lunker

Full details here, but the key takeaway: In the U.S., MotionPlus will be sold standalone for $20 starting June 8, and will come bundled with Wii Sports Resort for $50 on July 26. For reference, EA's two key sports titles that support MotionPlus—Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10—ship on June 16, a week after MotionPlus is available but a full month before the WSR bundle. Also, there's no mention of that rumored Grand Slam Tennis/MotionPlus bundle that was mentioned for European release.

This will put some people in a quandry: If you only want one MotionPlus, can you wait for the WSR bundle? Personally, I'm stoked as hell about Grand Slam Tennis, so I might drop scratch on one M+ and the game, since if I end up getting Wii Sports Resort I'm going to want a second M+ anyway. What are you kids doing?

Lunker

Elkatas is a poopyhead!

ZackSchilling

So I guess each and every Motion+ comes with a giant Wii Remote condom to fit over the whole thing? How stupid. I don't know anyone who uses the condoms. They make the remotes bigger, uglier, and harder to use.

plufim

Given some of the best sports resort games would require 2 players for the most fun (the sword battles for certain), seems reasonable to buy one extra standalone motion plus anyway, and using it before getting sports resort with EA grandslam tennis is a nice bonus.

Rohan

I'm going to rip that horrible plastic cover as soon as I get mine. My Wii is a launch Wii and I bought all my controllers before stupid people forced Nintendo to ship them with the horrible looking plastic shit. But I also won't be buying mine without Resort. Red Steel 2 isn't out on the release of the unit itself, is it?

maximumzero

I didn't care much for the original Wii Sports, but the jetski portions of Resort looks fantastic.

ZackSchilling

I plan on buying a motion+ once they hit stores to check out the data output from my laptop to see what kind of hobby projects might be possible.

AJAlkaline40

What exactly are the advantages of the MotionPlus, again?

Whether or not this will be worth a purchase entirely depends on the number of games that will rely upon it. Frankly, I'm a little upset that this thing couldn't have just been part of the Wii as it is, but I guess I can understand if the technology just didn't exist at launch.

elkatas

AJAlkaline40 wrote: »

What exactly are the advantages of the MotionPlus, again?

From programming standpoint, it pretty much turns wiimote in to real object with dimensions, and theoretically allows 1:1 movement.

SAW776

AJAlkaline40 wrote: »

What exactly are the advantages of the MotionPlus, again?

Whether or not this will be worth a purchase entirely depends on the number of games that will rely upon it. Frankly, I'm a little upset that this thing couldn't have just been part of the Wii as it is, but I guess I can understand if the technology just didn't exist at launch.

It's pretty much just much much more accurate in terms of 3d space. Like when it was demoed really early on, they were showing a frisby golf game from Resort, and the lady on stage was just rotating her wrist in a circular motion, and her mii on screen was matching it 1:1, which may seem basic, but compared to current tech it's pretty impressive.

MiserableMirth

Motion plus is a gyroscope that allows the wiimote to detect movement on the yaw axis. That's the main thing that it does. It may not sound like a lot, but teamed up with the other axes of movement pitch and roll (which the remote can already detect), it makes quite a bit of difference.

For example, sword fighting is something that would be very clunky on the regular wiimote. If you pointed the wiimote forward as if you were going to stab someone and turned your shoulders to the right or left, the wiimote could not pick up this movement. With M+, it can detect this movement.

Also, the M+ has comes with software that makes it much easier to program motion controls for developers. Hopefully that will benefit us down the line.

Here is an illustration of pitch, yaw, and roll if you are not familar with it.

Cherrn

I'm hoping Tiger Woods turns out great, as I've been hankering for a proper Wii golf game for a long-ass time now.

Hopefully the European date won't fluctuate.

pslong9

AJAlkaline40 wrote: »

What exactly are the advantages of the MotionPlus, again?

Whether or not this will be worth a purchase entirely depends on the number of games that will rely upon it. Frankly, I'm a little upset that this thing couldn't have just been part of the Wii as it is, but I guess I can understand if the technology just didn't exist at launch.

I believe that the technology existed, but it was a) very expensive and b) not easy to produce a lot of them. So the remotes would have cost a lot more, and there would have been far fewer remotes available (and don't forget that the regular remotes were supply-constrained at the beginning, too!). So while it would have been nice, from a business stand-point, it would have been really bad for Nintendo to put this in from the beginning.

AJAlkaline40

pslong9 wrote: »

AJAlkaline40 wrote: »

What exactly are the advantages of the MotionPlus, again?

Whether or not this will be worth a purchase entirely depends on the number of games that will rely upon it. Frankly, I'm a little upset that this thing couldn't have just been part of the Wii as it is, but I guess I can understand if the technology just didn't exist at launch.

I believe that the technology existed, but it was a) very expensive and b) not easy to produce a lot of them. So the remotes would have cost a lot more, and there would have been far fewer remotes available (and don't forget that the regular remotes were supply-constrained at the beginning, too!). So while it would have been nice, from a business stand-point, it would have been really bad for Nintendo to put this in from the beginning.

Yeah, I suppose it's not like the Wii didn't sell like hotcakes without them.

Dodge Aspen

Tiger Woods seems very promising, but I'll be getting WSR, and then maybe branching out if I'm suitably impressed. I will be buying a standalone one on release so the wife an I can play at the Resort.

cubelover

Dodge Aspen wrote: »

Tiger Woods seems very promising, but I'll be getting WSR, and then maybe branching out if I'm suitably impressed. I will be buying a standalone one on release so the wife an I can play at the Resort.

I'll be doing the same (although if the TW reviews are good, I may just have to snap it up!)

Lunker

This makes me wonder if something happened to get delayed with Wii Sports Resort. It's very un-Nintendo to launch the peripheral without a game of its own to announce/demo/sell it. Still tweaking it? Actually, we still don't know all of the games on it, do we? I remember fencing, Frisbees and jet-skis, but was anything else unveiled?

I would have been a shoo-in for Tiger Woo 10, but I picked up the 360 version of 09 to play with friends just last month and it's kind of silly to juggle two versions simultaneously.

Captain Eleven

The Wii remote "jackets" make it impossible for me to use left and right on the d-pad. I used them like... twice, maybe.

Back on topic... I'll probably pick up one M+ in June and then get WSR.

MiserableMirth

Lunker wrote: »

This makes me wonder if something happened to get delayed with Wii Sports Resort. It's very un-Nintendo to launch the peripheral without a game of its own to announce/demo/sell it. Still tweaking it? Actually, we still don't know all of the games on it, do we? I remember fencing, Frisbees and jet-skis, but was anything else unveiled?

I would have been a shoo-in for Tiger Woo 10, but I picked up the 360 version of 09 to play with friends just last month and it's kind of silly to juggle two versions simultaneously.

No other games were shown, it was just those three.

If I had to guess, I think they might be having more problems with design than hardware. Motion plus is quite a step over the regular wiimote. I can play Wii tennis just fine by punching myself in the face with the wiimote. It might be hard to take advantage of motion plus while still making the games as accessible as Wii Sports.

tsmvengy

I will probably wait to see if more games support this.

Also, I think I read somewhere that there will be a Grand Slam Tennis bundle with Motion+ in the package.

Rohan

maximumzero wrote: »

I didn't care much for the original Wii Sports, but the jetski portions of Resort looks fantastic.

I'm more looking forward to the Kendo game.

Lunker

tsmvengy wrote: »

I will probably wait to see if more games support this.

Also, I think I read somewhere that there will be a Grand Slam Tennis bundle with Motion+ in the package.

That was mentioned for Europe (though not confirmed by NoE), but I haven't heard anything about it in the U.S. yet. I'd be more interested in that right away.

wunderbar

yea, considering that you'll need 1 of these for each wiimote if you really want to do local multiplayer, I'll buy one at launch for Virtual Tennis and Tiger Woods, and then get the second with Wii Sports Resort.

I'm actually really excited for Wii Motion Plus, although kind of afraid by the people who have had hands on and say that it's almost *too* sensitive.

UncleSporky

wunderbar wrote: »

yea, considering that you'll need 1 of these for each wiimote if you really want to do local multiplayer, I'll buy one at launch for Virtual Tennis and Tiger Woods, and then get the second with Wii Sports Resort.

I'm actually really excited for Wii Motion Plus, although kind of afraid by the people who have had hands on and say that it's almost *too* sensitive.

I thought that was just devs who said it is too sensitive to program for at first but they've mostly ironed it out by programming it to react more softly.

Lunker

Sites and Twitters are also reporting that Virtua Tennis (which launches May 19) will also support MotionPlus. Two different tennis games ... I'll be curious to hear how both games handle.

slash000

I'll be doing what Lunker's doing, because he's a man of class and taste.

Lunker

slash000 wrote: »

I'll be doing what Lunker's doing, because he's a man of class and taste.

Yes, quite.

The concept is great in theory, except realizing that Grand Slam Tennis will effectively cost $70 makes me a little gunshy. I'll have to see how my funds/GameStop credit roll when June rolls around, but I might also just wait until WSR launches and get both that and Grand Slam.

slash000

I don't see it as $70 for Grand Slam. I see it as my buying 2 M+s which I expect to use in multiplayer games such as Grand Slam and WSR and many other games that use it down the line. I'm goign to have 2 M+'s one way or the other. I might as well get one from the get-go for Grand Slam, and the second one when I get WSR. I'll want at least 2 for multiplayer for these two games and future games that use it. I"m also very much looking forward to Tiger Woods 10.

elkatas

Lunker wrote: »

The concept is great in theory, except realizing that Grand Slam Tennis will effectively cost $70 makes me a little gunshy.

European retailer lists have listed for a while Grand Slam Tennis bundle, which costs 50 euros.

Lunker

elkatas wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

The concept is great in theory, except realizing that Grand Slam Tennis will effectively cost $70 makes me a little gunshy.

European retailer lists have listed for a while Grand Slam Tennis bundle, which costs 50 euros.

Yeah, I saw that and was hopeful, but I haven't heard anything here in 'Murrica yet. How much is the standalone Grand Slam listed for?

elkatas

Lunker wrote: »

Yeah, I saw that and was hopeful, but I haven't heard anything here in 'Murrica yet. How much is the standalone Grand Slam listed for?

40 euros.

Scrublet

I see nothing cool enough about this that makes me want to buy it before waiting and seeing if it's good. I figure if I hear good things, I'll get Resort and if it's cool I'll pick up the second one. Definitely not going with this one out the gate...I'm still glad I never joined the WiiFit craze (obviously not the same thing, but still).

DHS Odium

I don't like that this essentially makes a "complete" Wii controller now cost $80 ($40 remote, $20 nunchuck, $20 M+).

UncleSporky

DHS Odium wrote: »

I don't like that this essentially makes a "complete" Wii controller now cost $80 ($40 remote, $20 nunchuck, $20 M+).

Plus more if you consider downloadable games that require the classic controller, or the GC controller, or games like Guitar Hero...

It only makes a "complete" controller more expensive based on the number of games that require it, and at launch it will be as necessary to the full system library as a Guitar Hero guitar.

I mean also consider that a "complete" DS now constitutes having two cameras, storage space and increased specs. It too is irrelevant until there are a bunch of games that support it.

Scrublet

DHS Odium wrote: »

I don't like that this essentially makes a "complete" Wii controller now cost $80 ($40 remote, $20 nunchuck, $20 M+).

http://i.gizmodo.com/5211540/the-true-cost-of-console-ownership-in-2009

I disagree with some of the things in the article: forcing the inclusion of a PS3 charging station, the Wii SD card, the fact that the 360 isn't penalized for not having WiFi. Still it's interesting to see how they shake out, especially since it's assuming you don't buy any Wii Classic Controllers or Mario Kart Wheels.

Lunker

UncleSporky wrote: »

DHS Odium wrote: »

I don't like that this essentially makes a "complete" Wii controller now cost $80 ($40 remote, $20 nunchuck, $20 M+).

Plus more if you consider downloadable games that require the classic controller, or the GC controller, or games like Guitar Hero...

It only makes a "complete" controller more expensive based on the number of games that require it, and at launch it will be as necessary to the full system library as a Guitar Hero guitar.

I mean also consider that a "complete" DS now constitutes having two cameras, storage space and increased specs. It too is irrelevant until there are a bunch of games that support it.

Also, this gen has seen a big explosion of limited-usage add-ons—the realm of $100 Guitar Heroes, $180 Rock Bands and $80 Wii Fits. I think the main gaming populace is becoming more accepting of peripherals, and they're becoming more commonly supported too. Not every single Wii game will use MotionPlus, so you won't have to go out and spend $80 on four sets of MotionPluses as soon as they launch.

I feel like Nintendo should heavily push bundled games with MotionPlus, like how the European market listings are suggesting: Something like $20 standalone but $10 extra with a game like Grand Slam or Tiger Woods. It would make it easy for people to collect a few of them, and you'd generally have the option of still buying the game by itself at no extra cost.

Xaquin

ugh

80$ to upgrade my controllers =/

heh

If I'd saved the money I spent on Wii controllers I could have an PS3.

not saying I regret buying the Wii controllers, it just seems high

Ampix

Well like that Gizmodo article said, it's more about personal preference than price really, and I would never buy four of each, I've got more than enough friends who own a Wii and can just bring theirs.

maximumzero

Scrublet wrote: »

DHS Odium wrote: »

I don't like that this essentially makes a "complete" Wii controller now cost $80 ($40 remote, $20 nunchuck, $20 M+).

http://i.gizmodo.com/5211540/the-true-cost-of-console-ownership-in-2009

I disagree with some of the things in the article: forcing the inclusion of a PS3 charging station, the Wii SD card, the fact that the 360 isn't penalized for not having WiFi. Still it's interesting to see how they shake out, especially since it's assuming you don't buy any Wii Classic Controllers or Mario Kart Wheels.

Nobody is forced to buy Motion Plus, either.

maximumzero

Nintendo would be smart to release a demo on the Wii Shop channel that shows exactly what the Motion Plus.

Nothing fancy, just a little tech demo showing what exactly the damn thing does for people that are confuzzled.

earthwormadam

I think I'll probably just be buying one Motion+ not counting the one I'm assuming comes with Resort. Having two seems like it will be good enough to covering my needs since we hardly ever play 4 player games at my house. Also, a lot of games like Wii bowling can cover everybody with one controller anyway.