Official Wii developer documentation obtained by IGN has revealed some new Wii controller details. Mainly the controller will utilize AA batteries with an expected power lastibility of 30 to 60 hours. Here’s what else is revealed in the article:
- The controller communicates with the Wii console via Bluetooth technology on a 2.4GHz band.
- The Wii-mote features 6KB of “non-volatile” memory, whose exact purpose remains a mystery.
- Recent photos of the Wii console’s front flap showcase a button called SYNCHRO… The SYNCHRO button is, according to documentation, used to identify Wii controllers that can be used with the console. It assigns each controller a wireless ID number. Evidently gamers first press the SYNCHRO button on the console itself and then find and press another SYNCHRO button located inside the battery compartment of the Wii controller. Documentation also suggests that gamers can hold down the 1 and 2 buttons on the Wii-mote to accomplish the same task.
- The Wii-mote’s LEDs serve two roles. The first is to show which player is communicating with the console at a given moment. Player 1 will light up on the far left, Player 2 the next over, and so on. The second purpose is to illustrate battery life.
- The Wii-mote features a built-in rumble motor that can be turned on or off.
- “There are many details that we’ve divulged about the console, but there is also more to learn,” said the subsidiary’s PR manager, Matt Atwood
[Thanks, Giever]
I'm starting to get the feeling that even when I have one of these damn things sitting in my living room, Nintendo will claim there are still secrets that they have yet to reveal about Wii.
I can already hear Duracell, Energizer, and Panasonic happy about this news, since this will help their rechargable and long lasting battery market.I'm ok with it, seeing how the battery life of the Wavebird was pretty good. That and I did want to try out those Oxy Panasonic batteries, but have nothing that uses AA Batteries like that anymore….But I'm sure if enough people suggest(Whine), we'll have a Wii with a built in "can never remove it" Lithium battery by next X-mas.
That IGN article states "Nintendo is currently offering developers no means to interact with the controller's internal speaker". For anyone who was at E3 and played a Wii, what games actually used the speaker in the Remote? The article implies that Twilight Princess was the only one.
I think the speaker will be used as another sound channel, with the sound streamed to the remote. There is not much documentation needed to use such a feature.Also i guess this documentation is old
I'm sad about no analog buttons, but otherwise, awesome news.
30-60 are you F*@king kidding me! Why not lithium ion and a charger. They are pulling our legs. If nintendo talks big about their technology they would know that this would be a HUGE MISTAKE. NINTENDO STOP MAKING THEM. I LOVE the Wii, DONT F*@K UP BY USING AA BATS! PLEASE
Interesting choice.What would be more interesting would be to find out why Nintendo chose AA batteries over a rechargable set. *Scrambles for optimism*Well, at least we won't have to spend money on a charging dock or anything. Really though, it would be much different if AA's only worked for 10 hours or so; and don't forget, Duracell makes an awesome set of rechargable AA batteries for a pretty good price. Still don't understand how/why the DS can support a rechargable, but Wii – Nintendo's newest HOME console – cannot.Perhaps this will change, albeit it is nothing controversial/deterring from anyone's decision to buy a Wii. Certainly not mine, anyway.The article on IGN covers the whole "We don't see why the Wii-mote couldn't serve as a camera" idea; a worthwhile read, in my opinion.Basically the sensor on the Wii-mote itself can identify thousands of pixels, thus IGN states that this could easily produce some sort of image on your TV. Imagine pointing the remote at yourself, and a picture of yourself coming up on the screen.All speculation, of course!Happy Wii-ding!;)
The difference between a permanent battery in the DS and a permanent battery in the Wii controllers is that it's much easier to play the DS while it's plugged in to charge than it would be to play the Wii. Clearly, being able to change out batteries on the fly is far preferable to having to stick your controller in a charger for a few hours, thus not being able to play. And you definitely wouldn't be able to play most games if it was plugged in to charge… look how much people are moving the controller in the videos! I think the advantage of AA batteries (of which there are rechargeable varieties nowadays, I believe) is extremely obvious for this application.
Yeah, I have to agree about that .. I would hate to stop playing a game to let my controllers recharge or keep an extra control around to keep going.My digital camera (Canon) uses AA batteries. I got some rechargeable NiMH batteries and they last longer than standard alkalines with no need to buy them by the 20 pack!
Awesome news. I didn't WANT a rechargeable controller. Why? several reasons:1) Who wants to stop a game to recharge? Just pop in new AAs. They are CHEAP and allow you to keep playing.2) Lithium Ion batteries wear out. They wear out even quicker if you keep it on a charger. Those of you with an iPod know this.3) Lithium Ion are expensive and would increase the cost of the remote.Good job, Nintendo! Woohoo!ps. The "green" people can just buy rechargeable AAs. They are cheap and work well.
It also is more like a remote controller if it used disposable batteries. One of the things they were aiming to achieve.
how long do u think it will take for the clip to break and you have to use tape the keep the AAs in??
How long do I think it will take for the clip to break? A looooooong time. I've got 4 Wavebirds that are several years old. All are perfect–and I have two kids. Heck, all of my other remotes to every damn thing in my house (prolly a dozen total) are fine. If you step on your Wii controller or throw it up against a wall, maybe it'll break. Otherwise, I think we are golden.
ok cool. lets good to hear or read