Wiicade develops Wiimote API for Flash [update 1]
by JC Fletcher 
{ Feb 28th 2007 at 10:00AM }
We get the feeling that the Wii browser game scene is about to get awesome, thanks to Wiicade, who were already agents of Wii browser awesomeness. Their new Application Programmer Interface allows Flash developers to easily make use of every button on the Wiimote in their Flash games, even allowing multiple simultaneous button presses while the pointer is in use.
In addition, Wiimote buttons can be mapped to keyboard keys, for PC-based testing and play. We're a little bit interested in the possible Flash-based applications that a simple API will encourage, but we're about the games!
What existing Flash games would you like to see ported to the Wii? What new homebrew opportunities do you see opening up here? Either tell us in the comments or get started!
[Update 1: the Wiicade API folks updated their example image for proper button placement, and we have updated accordingly.]
[Via press release]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Graham @ Feb 28th 2007 10:12AM
Am I wrong, or did they decide to map the + key to the - button and vice versa?
Steve @ Feb 28th 2007 11:04AM
This is the key to homebrew on the Wii. Forget about hacking the Wii to play games on burned discs. Flash games can be made by nearly anyone, and now that you can map all of the remote's buttons to keyboard keys, there are tons of games that can be developed and distributed for free. This is great news.
Adam @ Feb 28th 2007 11:47AM
Check out wiioptimized.com if you want an address bar for your wii browser, it also has a bookmark for wiicade.
Dan S @ Feb 28th 2007 11:47AM
Alien Hominid
hvnlysoldr @ Feb 28th 2007 2:06PM
I agree with Steve. Why go to the trouble of hacking the Wii anymore? How many more people know how to build Flash games? Just build with Flash and host it on a site. It would also be seemingly more legitimate than hacking and modding. It's relatively hard to open up the machine and mess around with it without permanent damage not covered by the warranty. And it would still need fiddling around to get the settings right. While it's relatively simple to open an address and start playing a Flash game.
Quetzalcoatl @ Feb 28th 2007 2:24PM
What nintendo needs to do is to open the flash spec to make custom channels, that way you won't have to get online to play flash games. you can save them on your sd cards and play them from there...
WhatIsThatThing @ Feb 28th 2007 3:42PM
If Stinkoman 20X6 were a Wii game...that would just be awesome. And it's possible too, since it was made by the fine Brothers Chaps, creator of Homestar Runner, and as you may remember, the "Viidelectrix" games.
WhatIsThatThing @ Feb 28th 2007 3:42PM
And by Wii game, I mean "Wii-optimized game".
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Feb 28th 2007 4:10PM
Definitely. I will second this guy.
dville @ Mar 1st 2007 2:50AM
free wii points via amazon.com http://sternclips.blogspot.com/2007/02/free-wii-points-via-amazon.html
Ed @ Mar 1st 2007 12:23PM
They don't have access to some of the advanced features yet, like x y z accellerometers, vibrate, Wiimote sound, and lights. There are some hacks floating around for accesing these, so eventually things could be really sweet. The other problem is the crappy Opera browser with a navigation bar that takes up too much room, that must be removed!
smart @ Mar 1st 2007 3:48AM
Thank you..for this info
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Adam 13 @ Mar 1st 2007 7:39AM
This is excellent, though in reply to the person who asked why anyone would carry on following the other path to homebrew, Flash games written with this API can use the pointing/button-pressing functionality but not the motion-sensing or other additional hardware features of the Wii - if I understand correctly!
Adam @ Mar 1st 2007 9:15AM
If you want to use the Wiimote motion sensor etc in Flash *on your desktop* (i.e. no Wii required) take a look the work going on @ www.fwiidom.org