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Wii

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Wii
Nintendo Wii logo
Nintendo Wii logo
E3 2006 version of console and controller
ManufacturerNintendo
TypeVideo game console
GenerationSeventh generation era
LifespanQ4 2006 (before November 23, 2006[1])
MediaDVD-ROM
GameCube Optical Disc
Secure Digital card (SD Flash Media)
CPUIBM PowerPC-based [2] "Broadway" (codename)
Online servicesNintendo Wi-Fi Connection
PredecessorNintendo GameCube

Wii (pronounced "we", IPA: /wiː/, see name) is Nintendo's 7th generation video game console, Nintendo's fifth home console and the successor to the Nintendo GameCube. Until its official name was announced on April 27, 2006, it was known by the codename Nintendo Revolution.

The system is unique in that the console's controller, or "Wii Remote" (sometimes called a "Wii-mote" for short), can detect its position and orientation in three-dimensional space; the controller also contains a speaker and a rumbling device for additional feedback. The console is confirmed to have a stand-by mode in which it can receive messages and updates from the internet.

The system was unveiled at Nintendo's 2005 E3 press conference and a prototype of the system's game controller was revealed at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata during his keynote speech in September.[3] The console is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2006. Internationally, Nintendo is considering attempting a launch with no more than 14 weeks of difference between the first and last launching regions.[4]

Name

Wikinews has related news:

On April 272006, Nintendo changed the Revolution section of their official website, http://wii.nintendo.com, to announce the official name of the system. Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime explained that:

"Wii sounds like 'we,' which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii."

Nintendo spells "Wii" with two "i"s to create an image of players gathering together. The spelling also is intended to evoke the controllers the Wii uses.[5]

Shortly after announcing the name, Nintendo received a large response—a mixture of criticism, disbelief and sometimes confusion—from English speaking countries because Wii sounds like the slang word "wee" which children use for urine. [6]

Hardware

Design

File:Nintendo-revolution6.jpg
Various color designs from E3 2005.

Wii is the smallest stationary console Nintendo has ever manufactured, described by Nintendo as being "about the thickness of three standard DVD cases and only slightly longer". The console will have the ability to stand either horizontally or vertically. The front of the console features a self loading media drive which is illuminated by a blue light and will accept 12 cm Wii game discs, DVDs, and 8 cm GameCube game discs.

When the console was unveiled at E3 2005 the console was colored black. However, at the Tokyo Game Show 2005 and E3 2006 a white console was shown. Nintendo has shown hardware in various colours (platinum, lime green, white, black, blue and red). The most recent press releases state the colors of the console as "TBA".

Controller

Main article: Wii Remote
File:Nunchuk2.JPG
The "nunchuk-style" analog stick peripheral (left) attached to the main controller

The primary controller for Wii uses a one-handed remote control-based design, which, when turned on its side, can be used like a gamepad. The controller communicates wirelessly with the console via Bluetooth, with which it is possible to operate up to 4 Remotes as far as 10 meters from the console.[2] Using internal sensors and an external sensor bar placed near the display screen, the movement, position and orientation of the Wii Remote can be sensed in 3D. The controller also contains an internal speaker and a rumble motor for audio and force feedback functionality.

The Wii Remote features an expansion port, with which it is possible to augment the controller, with various shells and add-ons. Nintendo has announced several such expansions, including a "nunchuck" controller with an analog stick, a "classic controller" for playing games that require more traditional gamepad functionality (such as Virtual Console games), and a "zapper shell" for traditional shooting gameplay.

Connectivity

Wii will have built-in Wi-Fi, allowing certain games to be played online via a wireless link. An optional USB adapter will permit the use of a wired connection to the Internet as well. [2] Nintendo has stated that Wii will not have a standard interface for Wi-Fi; just like the Nintendo DS, it will both vary by game and require the input of friend codes to play specific users.[7] Wii has a flip lid which can be opened to reveal 4 ports for GameCube controllers and 2 GameCube memory card slots. Additionally, two USB ports and one SD card slot are provided. Wii will have connectivity with the Nintendo DS via WiFi.

Additionally, at E3 2005, Nintendo revealed that a small internal attachment to be sold as an add-on to the console will allow Wii to playback DVD movies.

Technical specifications

File:Nintendo-revolution5.jpg
GameCube connectivity at the top of the Wii console, underneath a cover.

Nintendo has released very little detailed information at present concerning the technical specifications of the Wii console. Some details have however been released by Nintendo and other third parties involved with the console:

  • Processors:
  • Memory:
    • Amount of RAM has not been confirmed.
    • 512 MB built-in flash memory.
  • Ports and Peripherals:
    • Two USB 2.0 ports.
    • Support for up to 4 wireless controllers.
    • 4 Nintendo GameCube controller ports and 2 Nintendo GameCube memory card ports (for backward compatibility).
    • Optional USB 2.0 Ethernet LAN adaptor
  • Media:
  • Built-in content ratings system:
    • PEGI 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+
    • ESRB EC, E, E10+, T, M, and AO.
    • CERO All Ages, 12+, 15+ 18+.
    • OFLC G, PG, M, MA15+
  • Networking
  • Video:
    • up to 480p[8] and will work with a computer monitor as well as any TV or projector.[9]
    • Component (Including Progressive Scan Mode), composite or S-video output
  • Audio:
    • Unknown

Features

Backward compatibility

Nintendo has stated that Wii will be backward compatible with all GameCube software and most peripherals. The top of the console (or on the side if laid horizontally) is the GameCube docking station, featuring four controller ports and two memory card slots compatible with GameCube Memory Cards and the Nintendo GameCube Microphone. One notable component that seems incompatible is the Game Boy Player, which attaches to the bottom of the GameCube, and allowed every type of Game Boy game, except for DS games, to be played on the user's television. The Wii's slot-loading media drive accepts 8 cm GameCube discs as well as the standard 12 cm discs such as Wii games, DVDs, and CDs. This is uncommon in slot-loading media drives, which typically only accept discs of a single size.

Virtual Console

Main article: Virtual Console (Wii)
File:VirtualConsole E3Preview.jpg
A variety of classic games will be available (design subject to change)

One of the most anticipated features of Wii is its game download service, dubbed the "Virtual Console." Using this Virtual Console service, users will have the ability to download and play many or all Nintendo-produced games.

Games from the NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64, as well as Mega Drive/Genesis and TurboGrafx 16 will be offered via the Virtual Console download service. While the entire catalogue of games for these machines will not be offered, a "best of" selection will be available.

While the gameplay will be the same for all of the retro titles offered via the Virtual Console, Nintendo has stated that some of the games may be improved with sharper graphics or better framerates, with a possibility for Wii remote adaptation. The Virtual Console service will not be used exclusively for retro games, however. Nintendo has stated that they are interested in using the service to distribute new, original content.

WiiConnect24

Main article: WiiConnect24

At E3 2006 Nintendo announced its Wii specific internet service entitled WiiConnect24, the service allows the user to remain connected to the internet even in standby mode. Additionally, Nintendo has partnered with Opera Software to release the Opera web browser for the system. [10]

Parental controls

Wii will feature parental controls, prohibiting young viewers from viewing inappropriate content. This allows parents to set the age level of the system, and when a disc is inserted, it will read the content rating encoded on the game discs; if this rating is greater than the system's age level setting, the game will not load unless the user correctly enters a password to override the setting. For instance, a game carrying an ESRB rating of M for Mature, which is intended for those age 17 and older, will not play on a system that is set to only allow games rated E for Everyone (ages six and older) and EC for Early Childhood (ages three and under).

It is confirmed that the European units will use the PEGI rating system[11], North American units will use the ESRB rating system[12], units for the Japanese market will presumably use the CERO rating system, German units will use the USK system, and Australian units will use the OFLC system.

Games and developer support

Main article: List of Wii games

Launch titles

The list of confirmed launch titles are as follows:

Developer support

Price

Nintendo has stated that the Wii will be cheaper than the PS3 and Xbox 360, with the basic Xbox 360 at $299 USD and the basic PS3 at $499.[15] Additionally, Satoru Iwata has said "the price won't be significantly higher than Nintendo's prices have been historically" ($199 for all previous consoles) and that more details can be expected in the summer of 2006.[16]

As for the price of the games, Satoru Iwata said in a interview that no first party game would cost more than $50. [17] Games that will be purchased for the Virtual Console are expected to cost significantly less.[citation needed]

Absence of "true" high-definition support

Online arguments commenced when Nintendo of America's Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Perrin Kaplan, announced there would be no HD support for their upcoming system. Kaplan stated beautiful graphics and innovative game play could be achieved without HD and that abstaining from the technology would help keep the cost of games down.

It has been confirmed that the Wii will support 480p (a.k.a. EDTV), as did the GameCube (only on units made during or before May 2004), and will not support 720p, 1080i or 1080p. Regardless, the support of 480p will still mean an improvement in graphics quality when properly hooked up to and viewed on an HDTV set (or any enhanced-definition-capable set), when compared to viewing on standard 480i-only television sets.

Shigeru Miyamoto has commented that the reason Wii does not support HD is because Nintendo felt that HDTVs are not the most common TVs owned. He has also commented that Nintendo's next system will most likely feature HDTV support. [1]

Miscellaneous

  • A book possibly intended for university graduate recruitment entitled "The Nintendo Book" contains images of the Wii controller in various stages of development as well as photographs of Wii case mouldings. It is a free publication possibly used for company recruitment containing amongst other things an introduction of Nintendo and its president (Satoru Iwata) and financial and sales figures for the preceding year.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Anoop Gantayat (January 18, 2006). "Iwata Discusses Revolution Launch". IGN.
  2. ^ a b c "Nintendo Wii - Hardware Information". Nintendo. Retrieved 2006-05-09. Cite error: The named reference "hard_inf" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ Satoru Iwata. "TOKYO GAME SHOW 2005 : TGS FORUM Keynote Speech". Retrieved 2006-03-15.
  4. ^ Ellie Gibson (November 1, 2005). "Rev specs may not be released". Eurogamer.
  5. ^ Nintendo "Wii has a distinctive "ii" spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play."
  6. ^ Forbes.com Iwata's Nintendo Lampooned For 'Wii'
  7. ^ "Wii Wi-Fi Just Like DS". IGN. Retrieved 2006-05-11.
  8. ^ Interview with Jim Merrick (2005-10-20). "Poetry in Motion". CUBE Issue 51. Highbury Entertainment. pp. 12–17.
  9. ^ "IGNcube's Nintendo "Revolution" FAQ". Retrieved 2006-03-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Katz, Leslie; "Nintendo Wii will come with Opera browser", News.com, May 10, 2006
  11. ^ "Revolution To Feature Parental Controls". Planet Gamecube. November 16, 2005.
  12. ^ John Scalzo (November 16, 2005). "Revolution ponies up parental controls". Gaming Target.
  13. ^ "Q: Which developers have pledged support for Revolution?". Retrieved 2006-03-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Nintendo Revolution SDK Near Finalized, Costs $2000". February 22, 2006.
  15. ^ "Nintendo Revolution Report: What We know". Gamespot. {{cite news}}: Text "Auther: Sarju Shah" ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Date= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Q & A: Wii controller could swing interest its way". seattlepi.com. 11 may 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Nintendo president vows cheap games". CNNMoney. {{cite news}}: Text "Auther: Chris Morris" ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Date= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Nintendo of Japan marketing report pictures". gamesarefun.com. Retrieved 2006-02-10.

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