E308: Nintendo exec alludes to Wiimote refresh with built-in MotionPlus

by David Hinkle { Jul 18th 2008 at 10:30PM }

Your Wiimotes might be outdated pretty soon, that is if Nintendo's Katsuya Eguchi is to be trusted. During a developer roundtable, he alluded to the possibility of a hardware refresh on the Wii's motion-sensitive controller, one that would include the new MotionPlus functionality, commenting "as to looking at whether or not it will be an attachment or built in - we're always looking at how hardware should evolve and where we should take it." He also added that "it's something we'll be looking at."

Of course, there are several things to consider. For one, how much would it drive up the cost of the Wiimote? Secondly, how crappy would it be to have to (eventually) buy all new Wiimotes? Thirdly, until Nintendo shows off a killer app for the thing (as okay as Wii Sports Resort looks, it's definitely not a killer app), does anyone even care?

[Via Engadget]

Tags: accessories, controls, e3-2008, e308, motionplus, wii-remote, wii-sports-resort, wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ben! @ Jul 18th 2008 10:38PM

I honestly think it's a really good idea. Unless it's built-in, no third party developers are going to utilize it. If they did, it'd be more like the way they utilize the balance board right now: as an optional component. If it's built in, it's more likely to be used as an integral part of games, which is really the only way it should be used.

The only thing that bothers me is that this is essentially what the Wii should have been from the very beginning.

Backslash @ Jul 18th 2008 11:52PM

I don't own a Playstation 3, so I wouldn't know about this (which is why I'm asking)--do third-party developers often use the motion-sensing capabilities of the Sixaxis?

Lord Bowser @ Jul 19th 2008 8:25AM

No, Backslash.

beaus27 @ Jul 18th 2008 10:45PM

In order to introduce a new Wiimote/attachment , Nintendo needs to use some common sense.

Marketing and killer app aside, Nintendo needs to:

1. stop producing the current Wiimotes.
2.Begin selling new Wiimotes with built in MotionPlus
3. Sell the already revealed MotionPlus attachments to Wii owners with current Wiimotes at a RESEAONABLE price.

This strategy only makes sense.

nekocat @ Jul 18th 2008 11:38PM

Nintendo; 'uh, we forgot to tell you there's a new thing you got to get if you want to keep playing the games,' *grin*.

Sonic_13 @ Jul 19th 2008 12:46AM

I'm sure they will eventually start adding MotionPlus built in. It only makes sense and I doubt that there would be any price increase due to lowering production costs.

But one thing that certainly won't happen is that we'll need to buy all new Wii Remotes. Older Wii Remotes can simply be upgraded with the attachment, while all new remotes will simply have it built in.

Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Jul 19th 2008 1:04AM

Way to fragment your user base, Nintendo. I wish they'd just hold off until Wii 2 or whatever it's gonna be called (once wii sales start to slow down in a few years). This is gonna cause confusion amongst a big portion of the 20 million wii owners.

Knoxximus @ Jul 19th 2008 2:29AM

The funny thing is, this is exactly the situation they avoided by NOT releasing the Wiimote for the Gamecube like they originally planned too. Seems like they have gotten cocky and threw all that conventional wisdom out the window.

Knoxximus @ Jul 19th 2008 2:30AM

Daaaaaaamit!

Joey @ Jul 19th 2008 10:20AM

What sucks is the larger size won't be compatible with the Wii Wheel and Zapper.

Sisyphus @ Jul 19th 2008 11:34AM

Until Nintendo releases the WiiWheel+ and Zapper+.

SegaPleaseMakePanzerDragoonWii! @ Jul 19th 2008 1:32PM

I posted the following on WiiFanboy on Jul 14th 2008 4:13PM:
"Crazy. I think something like this may work, if done and priced properly.
WiiMotionPlus: $10
New Wiimote 2.0 (with WiiMotionPlus built in): $50
New Wiimote jackets: free from Nintendo

Then people who already own Wiimotes won't feel like they got ripped off, as they'll be paying the same price as buying the Wiimote 2.0 in the end. Eventually they could phase out both the original wiimote and this add-on. Start by shipping WiiMotionPlus as a pack in with a big first party title just to get it out there.

We'll see what happens, I guess."

So far all of my predictions have come true. I was right about Wiimote 2.0, I was right about it shipping with a big first party title, I was right about Nintendo throwing in a new Wiimote jacket, now I just hope that I'm right about those price points. That way, those of us that already own multiple Wiimotes won't feel too screwed. What's $10 per Wiimote if it helps the thing work twice as good? People buying the Wiimote 2.0 would be paying the same in total as those that already own Wiimotes but have to buy WiiMotionPlus. So far, so good. Now just don't screw up the pricing, Ninty. You can certainly afford to scratch our backs on this one and keep it cheap. Word.

SegaPleaseMakePanzerDragoonWii! @ Jul 19th 2008 1:37PM

"I was right about it shipping with a big first party title"
In this sentence, by "it" I mean WiiMotionPlus, not the Wiimote redesign. I just realized that I worded that unclearly.

J @ Jul 19th 2008 1:55PM

The only way this could work is if Nintendo ships out one free motion plus to everyone with a valid wii serial number, discontinues the current remote and sells one with built in motion plus, and then sold the motionplus adapter for maybe $10 for the rest of the controllers in people's collection. I just don't see it really catching on because not everyone is going to want or maybe even know that they need to upgrade. And because of this games that require the motion plus will be too confusing for most consumers. What will likely happen is games will just be somewhat enhanced when used with motion plus. So you can still play with a regular remote but the controls will suck.

PunchyMcJunk @ Jul 19th 2008 1:58PM

I honestly can't think of a whole lot of games that wouldn't want to use this technology. I just hope that a lot of developers program it both ways, so you can still enjoy a game without the 1:1.

Certain games, like Tiger Woods, Force Unleashed, the speculated new Zelda game, anything based on boxing, etc. would be wise to adopt it. It could turn something that would normally be waggle based into a more precise control scheme that truly could further revolutionize the industry. I, for one, am looking forward to the functionality... perhaps not the upgrade costs, though...

Cyantre @ Jul 19th 2008 2:01PM

I stopped caring about the Wii. All these little attachments and gadgets are getting ridiculous. At this point I'm just waiting to see what Nintendo's next home-console brings. I just hope when that times comes you'll be able to transfer your Virtual Console games to it.

manyquestions @ Jul 19th 2008 4:16PM

Well, you don't NEED any of these add-ons to play any of the games (except the Balance Board in some rare cases), so feel free to ignore those if you want to. I see no reason why they should impact your views on the console. MotionPlus is the first add-on to really stand a chance at being a necessity to games. Just one add-on you might need to buy, hardly a big deal.

If you really don't find any Wii games likeable (which seems almost impossible to me, but I guess it could happen), then that's a different story, but come on, the presence of add-ons is really that big of a problem to you?

Deozaan @ Jul 19th 2008 3:25PM

It's times like these that I begin to regret being a loyal customer and early adopter.

I hate being repaid for my continuous loyalty by having to re-buy hardware to get the cool stuff.

Nintendo seriously needs to come up with a buyback program, so I can sell my old hardware and pay a very reasonable "upgrade fee" to get the latest cool stuff.

Curse you GBA SP and DS Lite and WiiMotionPlus!

Timerider @ Jul 19th 2008 4:58PM

I bought a DS on day one and never bought a DS lite. It doesn't really have new features or anything.

Timerider @ Jul 19th 2008 4:54PM

It should be built in to all new wiimotes and be available as an addon so buying all new controllers is unnecessary.

CJLopez @ Jul 19th 2008 7:36PM

Ya know, if they are truly thinking on releasing a new Wiimote with the motion pluss added, they should do a campain for it, were users get a 60% discount for new wiimote when giving you old ones. I mean wiimote + 40% of the purchase price = new wiimote with motion pluss

That way, Nintendo can recycle old wiimotes and pimp em to the new standars.

But as stated before, leaving em the new ones for a new console would be the best