Wii
 | |
| E3 2006 version of console and controller | |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Seventh generation era |
| Lifespan | Q4 2006 (before November 23, 2006[1]) |
| Media | Wii Optical Disk GameCube Optical Disk DVD (Optional) Secure Digital card (SD Flash Media) |
| CPU | IBM PowerPC-based [2] "Broadway" (codename) |
| Online services | Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection WiiConnect24 |
| Predecessor | Nintendo GameCube |
We (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 is connected to the Internet and can receive messages and updates while not consuming much power.
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 4 months of difference between the first and last launching regions.[4]
Hardware
Design
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 disks, 8 cm GameCube game disks and if the user purchases an internal attachment necessary to play the disks the console will play DVDs. Being able to load different sized disks is uncommon in slot-loading media drives, which typically only accept disks of a single size.
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
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 controllers 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 "nunchuk" 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. Also at E3, it was announced that the "nunchuk" attachment will have an accelerometer, enabling it to also have motion-sensing capabilities.
Connectivity
Wii will have built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing communication over the Internet via wireless networking. Connectivity with Nintendo DS utilizes the Wi-Fi capability. Nintendo has stated that Wii will have a standard interface for Wi-Fi where you can download content. An optional USB adapter will permit network connectivity via wired Ethernet as well.
In addition, the console incorporates Bluetooth wireless communication, with which it communicates with the wireless Wii Remote controller. Connectivity with other Bluetooth devices has not been mentioned.
Wii has a flip lid which can be opened to reveal 4 ports for GameCube controllers and 2 GameCube memory card slots. Two USB ports (at the rear) and one SD card slot (likely at the front of the console) are provided. 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 play DVD-Video.
Technical specifications
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:
- Ports and Peripherals:
- Two USB 2.0 ports
- Support for up to 4 wireless Wii remote controllers
- 4 Nintendo GameCube controller ports
- 2 Nintendo GameCube memory card ports (for backward compatibility)
- Optional USB 2.0 Ethernet LAN adaptor
- Wii Sensor Bar port
- Media:
- Slot-loading disk drive compatible with:
- 12 cm Wii optical disk (single or dual layer)
- 8.0 cm GameCube optical disks
- DVD Video (additional dongle required)
- 1 SD memory card slot
- Slot-loading disk drive compatible with:
- Built-in content ratings system:
- Networking
- Wi-Fi by Broadcom
- Video:
- up to 480p[5] and will work with a computer monitor as well as any TV or projector.[6]
- Component (Including Progressive Scan Mode), composite or S-video output
- Audio:
- Main audio output unknown
- Single additional speaker located on each Wii Remote
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 GameCube 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 allows every type of Game Boy game except Game Boy Video cartriges to be played on the user's television. A way to play Game Boy games through the Wii console has yet to be mentioned by Nintendo.
Virtual Console
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 at a price.
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 "it also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets."[2]
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 provide the Opera web browser for the system.[7]
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 disk is inserted, it will read the content rating encoded on the game disks; 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 older).
It is confirmed that the European units will use the PEGI rating system[8], North American units will use the ESRB rating system[9], 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
Launch titles
The list of confirmed titles includes:
- Dragon Quest Swords
- Elebits
- Excite Truck
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
- Rayman Raving Rabbids
- Red Steel
- Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
- Trauma Center: Second Opinion
- Wii Sports
Possible Success
Recently, many people in forums and websites have stated that they are getting a Wii. One reason that the Wii is so popular is the low price. Nintendo confirmed that it will be cheaper than the competing Xbox 360, and the expensive PS3. Also, the new motion sensing technology appeals to many people, and the quality games is another reason.
Developer support
- Many companies, from Activision and EA to Square Enix and Ubisoft, have announced or are currently in development of games for the Wii. A more complete list of confirmed developers can be found on Revolution Report.[10]
- The development kits for the Wii cost $2000 US. By comparison, the PlayStation 2 development kits cost $20,000 US at the console's launch, with the original PlayStation's SDK costing $4000-$5000 US at launch.[11]
- There is also going to be the opportunity for homebrew-style independent development via the Virtual Console feature.
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.[12] 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.[13] As for the price of the games, Satoru Iwata said in an interview that no first party game would cost more than $50. [14]
Miscellaneous
Name
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 is also intended to evoke the console's remote controllers.[15]
The company's decision has not been universally accepted; according to Forbes magazine, message boards at Nintendo's website have ranged from attempts at toilet humor to complaints against the name's "kiddiness".[16]
Absence of "true" high-definition support
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.
Gallery
See also
- List of Wii games
- Nintendo GameCube
- Nintendo DS
- List of video games published by Nintendo
- History of video game consoles (seventh generation)
- Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
References
- ^ Anoop Gantayat (January 18, 2006). "Iwata Discusses Revolution Launch". IGN.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Satoru Iwata. "TOKYO GAME SHOW 2005 : TGS FORUM Keynote Speech". Retrieved 2006-03-15.
- ^ Ellie Gibson (November 1, 2005). "Rev specs may not be released". Eurogamer.
- ^ Interview with Jim Merrick (2005-10-20). "Poetry in Motion". CUBE Issue 51. Highbury Entertainment. pp. 12–17.
- ^ "IGNcube's Nintendo "Revolution" FAQ". Retrieved 2006-03-17.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|org=ignored (help) - ^ "A Web Revolution in the Living room: Opera partners with Nintendo to put browser on the Wii™ game console". opera. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
- ^ "Revolution To Feature Parental Controls". Planet Gamecube. November 16, 2005.
- ^ John Scalzo (November 16, 2005). "Revolution ponies up parental controls". Gaming Target.
- ^ "Q: Which developers have pledged support for Revolution?". Retrieved 2006-03-17.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|org=ignored (help) - ^ "Reggie: More than 1,000 Kits Shipped". IGN. February 22, 2006.
- ^ "Nintendo Revolution Report: What We know". Gamespot.
{{cite news}}: Text "Author: Sarju Shah" ignored (help); Unknown parameter|Date=ignored (|date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Q & A: Wii controller could swing interest its way". seattlepi.com. 11 may 2006.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Nintendo president vows cheap games". CNNMoney.
{{cite news}}: Text "Auther: Chris Morris" ignored (help); Unknown parameter|Date=ignored (|date=suggested) (help) - ^ Nintendo "Wii has a distinctive "ii" spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play."
- ^ Forbes.com Iwata's Nintendo Lampooned For 'Wii'
External links
- Nintendo.com - Official Wii page
- IGN.com - IGN coverage of the Wii
- Gamespot.com - GameSpot coverage of the Wii
- TheWiire.com - The Wiire formerly Revolution Report
- Nintendo Wii - Official Press Kit Photos
- E3 Nintendo video - pre E3 2006 Nintendo conference briefing video.
- Nintendo of Japan - Media Briefing Speech