The aesthetics of Wii
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ May 13th 2006 at 8:30AM }
It's strange how almost every single picture of the Wii fails spectacularly to depict the console's actual size. In reality, the system is ridiculously small with an aesthetic that deftly illustrates how far Nintendo has come in terms of design after they churned out the monstrous looking N64. We're not shallow enough to attach much significance to a console's appearance, but there's something unnervingly attractive about that small white box and its various attachments.
The Zapper--ideal for shooting ducks and faithful dogs.
Hey, it's the Pringles guy! And the motion bar!
The controller meant for use of Virtual Console titles. It turns out that it's not a shell at all.
I have no idea what these things are. They're far too bizarre to be controllers or anything like that.
A twio of colored wiimotes.
Just look at it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peter-Paul @ May 13th 2006 8:46AM
Vewwy pwetty indeed. Are those the three colours it's going to be? Would be too bad. The green revolution (back then, that's what it was called :P) looked awesome! And there was a picture in some pormotional booklet by Nintendo showing Rev. console housings in production. Including a green one. So I was really hoping it would be there at launch. And now it hasn't been show at all :(
Ah, guess I'll have to get the white one, then :P (almost as awesome as the green one, hehehe)
Gamer_Domeni @ May 13th 2006 9:19AM
THANK YOU! That's what I've been wanting to see the past 5 days!
From the looks of it, it would almost fit in the PS3's disk drive!
Bob799 @ May 13th 2006 10:42AM
If the blue slot is around the size of a cd then that is indeed extremely small. I cant wait to see it in person.
Mullet @ May 13th 2006 11:48AM
How does every Wii mote in the twiio have the first controller light on?
Oh, and you don't have a reflection! Vampire!
Garold @ May 13th 2006 12:11PM
Is it just me, or does the virtual console "shell" thing seem pretty pointless? It's basically just a GameCube controller with some stuff rearranged. The only real advantage I see is that it'd be slightly more comfortable for those wishing to play SNES games with the D-pad.
A.J. @ May 13th 2006 12:24PM
http://news.com.com/i/ne/p/2005/0916nintendopic4_500x375.jpg
They're all so pretty... It's like they each have their individual moods. lol
Rinku @ May 13th 2006 12:29PM
@ 4: Not everyone will have GC controllers by then, I for one only have 2, so I like this new controller for classic games, reminds me of the godly Snes.
Ibrahim @ May 13th 2006 12:40PM
I'm getting a black one, that blue on black thing looks badass. I love the stand, it puts it at just the right angle somehow. I can't really explain it, but that angle is really, really good.
Mythmon @ May 13th 2006 12:44PM
@Garold I assume its so they can sell something that is branded with the Wii, as they probably wont be selling many GCN controllers anymore.
Also, about the classic controller, I'm confused about something, I don't know about the rest of humanity, but /I/ only have two hands, and the classic controller looks like it would require three, two to hold and use the classic part, and a third to support the WiiMote. Maybe the classic controller will be standalone? or will it actually end up being a shell? or are the people at Nintendo some sort of mutant freaks with three hands?
Peter S. @ May 13th 2006 1:38PM
"4. Is it just me, or does the virtual console "shell" thing seem pretty pointless? It's basically just a GameCube controller with some stuff rearranged. The only real advantage I see is that it'd be slightly more comfortable for those wishing to play SNES games with the D-pad."
Actually, it's supposed to be a jack of all trades controller. It can do NES and SNES easily. For the N64, I imagine you would use the left analog for primary movement, and the second analog (a la GCN C-stick) to replicate the C-buttons on the N64 pad. In that case, you would be using the D-Pad, L Analog for movement, R Analog for C-buttons, A and B as they were, L and R as they were, and another of the top shoulder buttons for Z (a la GCN) OR X or Y can be Z. In this case, you're ommitting at least two buttons from the virtual console controller, but it's not like you can put more for something that wasn't there! Genesis and TG-16 are already taken care of.
In my mind, the layout is a compromise between those three consoles' controls so you do not have to buy two or three seperate shells/controllers.
wii man @ May 13th 2006 3:17PM
i would prefer to just get the remote and then rely on my cube joystiq. I dun wanna use that 'shell' one. if i use my cube one it will connect to the back of the system....sux..
spil @ May 13th 2006 3:23PM
the bottom 2 buttons say 1 and 2, i dont gwet it . I thought you would turn the controller sideways to play NES games, but you can do that with the other controller, adn those buttons wouldn't be easily accesable when you are holding the wiimote the normal way. i dont get it.
Special_K @ May 13th 2006 4:25PM
I sized up the Wii in a little home experiment: I stacked 3 DVD cases on top of each-other. Wow. That thing is S-M-A-L-L small!
Andreas @ May 13th 2006 5:35PM
I take it the Wii has a slot loading drive? What size are the media? CD-size? And how does it slot load a game cube sized disc?
snoopaloop @ May 13th 2006 8:36PM
Just to answer your question Andreas, Wii will use standard DVD size disc's. Gamecube and wii games will use the same front loading slot on the wii.
matt @ May 14th 2006 12:32AM
Why dont we get to see the front little door on the wii open its to the left of the cd drive, im guessing thats where the sd card slot is but what else is in there??? its too big just to cover up one tiny sd card slot
fuzz @ May 14th 2006 2:52AM
Mythmon, you dont need 3 hands, i beieve the cable from the controller to the wiimote is long enough that it can just hang down on to your lap.
reefdog @ May 14th 2006 5:33AM
@ Andreas: Nintendo magicians figured out how to use a single slot-loading drive for both large (12cm) and small (8cm) discs. You can read about it at Wikipedia, or in articles old enough to address it.
@ matt: Currently, it covers two GameCube memory card slots and four GC controller ports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nintendo-revolution5.jpg). I believe in the current design, the SD slots are behind a flap on the front (beneath the disc slot).
Fort Max @ May 14th 2006 6:50AM
I love their idea of completely replacing a lightgun with just a frame to hold the existing controllers in a new configuration, genius touch there.
The machine itself does indead look gorgeous but the design hasn't changed much (if at all). Am I the only one who recalls their statement a while back that the finalized design would be even smaller?
Jeffrey @ May 14th 2006 12:49PM
you guys really don't follow all the info to closly do you? If anyone was paying attention you would of seen the back of the "shell". It has two holes that something can attach to. If you think about it that's were the wiimote will attach vertically. So that will your holding the shell the wiimote points in the direction of the tv.
TheFinalJustice @ May 14th 2006 5:43PM
Looks like Nintendo is gaining steam. Once other developers start thinking about how to take advantage of the controller it's truly all over for the other systems.
MegaMatt @ May 14th 2006 6:17PM
I just don't like how the "Wii" written on the front looks. It sort of detracts from the console for me. I don't really know why.
John @ May 15th 2006 4:10PM
On the fivth picture controller to the left is for air sims
Loban @ May 15th 2006 4:13PM
I hate to bring this up. But did you honestly think "fifth" was spelled with a 'v' when you typed that?
Prof-KOS @ May 15th 2006 4:16PM
Those are great pics. The 'shell' worries me a bit. Why is it wired and not an actual shell. It seems awkward to me to have to deal with both while playing VC games.
It's desing is great for it's purpose. Except for the Sony-esque analog placement that may make N64 games a little awkward. I'll reserve judgement until I try it though.
Pikachelsea @ May 16th 2006 2:32AM
"Hey, it's the Pringles guy!"
Haha, I LOL'd.
And just LOOK AT IT is right! Man that is one sexy Wii.
fraxyl @ May 17th 2006 7:47AM
When I first saw the classic controller (It's not a shell people.) and I saw the wire hanging down, I thought, "Bummer, it's gunna have to plug in somewhere." But seeing it there in the stand connected to the remote, it hit me how genius that is. It's like a wireless controller... sure you plug it into the remote, but you sit the remote on something and it has enough cord that you can still play... y'know? So, instead of yanking and the cord comes flying out of the Wii, it is instead anywhere the hell you want it to be!
If you want to sit back further, there's no connection point other than the remote. So rather than plugging in a reciever to the box, the remote acts as the reciever... at least, that's my theory... it'll be a bummer if that's not the case.
fraxyl @ May 18th 2006 9:50PM
I was interested to discover that according to IGN, the classic controller has clips in the back to attach the remote to it, so that's an intriguing idea. I still stand by the fact it's not a shell though, as the remote doesn't actually augment it in the same way as the zapper shell does.
If Nintendo includes the remote, nunchuk and classic controller as all standard with the system, developers have a huge range of controller options available to them!
mendoza @ May 28th 2006 12:57PM
What is that long black thing with the wire coming out of it that looks like the pringles guy? Its probably really obvious but I've been staring at it for ages and I can't figure it out..