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| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Seventh generation era |
| Lifespan |  Q4 2006 |
| Media | 12cm DVD 8cm GameCube Optical Disc |
| CPU | IBM PowerPC-based "Broadway" (codename) |
| Storage | Internal Flash memory, GameCube Memory Card, Secure Digital card, USB Mass Storage |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 × USB 2.0 |
| Online services | Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection WiiConnect24 Virtual Console |
| Backward compatibility | Nintendo GameCube |
| Predecessor | Nintendo GameCube |
Wii (pronounced as the word "we", IPA: /wiː/) is Nintendo's seventh-generation video game console, and is the company's fifth home console. Its official project code name was Revolution.
A major feature of the Wii is the console's wireless controller, the Wii Remote (or "Wii-mote"), which may be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion and rotation in three dimensions. The controller also contains a speaker and a rumbling device to provide sensory feedback. The console has a stand-by feature entitled WiiConnect24, enabling it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while consuming very little electrical power.
Nintendo unveiled the system under the Revolution code name in 2005 at its E3 press conference. Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's President, revealed a prototype of the system's game controller at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show during his keynote speech in September 2005. For E3 2006, the Wii won the Game Critics Awards for Best of Show and Best Hardware. The console is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2006 with no more than four months difference between the first and last launching regions.
Launch
Release date and price
As of August 2006, an exact release date has not been confirmed. However, Nintendo's most recent statements confirm that the company plans to release the Wii in the fourth quarter of 2006. Internationally, the company hopes to launch with no more than four months difference between the first and last launching regions. A previous statement by Satoru Iwata indicated Nintendo's intentions to launch in North America before Thanksgiving. Nintendo has stated that a precise release date and price will be announced by September. Although no official information has been given other than this, possible launch times mentioned by the gaming press include directly after the Tokyo Game Show (which ends September 24), October 2, November 2, November 6, and November 12.
While Nintendo has yet to announce an exact price for the console as of August 2006, Nintendo has stated that the Wii will cost no more than JP¥25,000 (approx. US$222, c.2006) in Japan, and no more than US$250 in America. A Nintendo spokesman said that the price in the UK "will be in line with Japanese and U.S. prices announced" (approx. GB£139 and GB£157 respectively, including VAT, c.2006). On August 23, 2006, Reuters reported that Nintendo Germany's general manager Bernd Fakesch mentioned at Leipzig 2006 Games Convention that the European price for the console had not been decided yet, but is expected to be less than €250 (approx. US$270 excluding VAT, c.2006).
On August 15, 2006, Nikko Citigroup issued a report giving an estimated price of JP¥19,800 (approx. US$170, c.2006) for the Wii based on the estimated hardware costs.
At a June 7, 2006 policy briefing, Nintendo revealed that it intends to release 6 million console units and 17 million software units during the fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2007; and 4 million or more console units by the end of the 2006 calendar year. IGN reports that Nintendo has bumped production to more than 5 million units by the end of 2006. Despite the price point of US$60 quoted for many next-generation games, Satoru Iwata said that it is unlikely that first-party games would cost more than US$50.
On August 22, 2006, it was revealed that select members of the press had been invited by Nintendo of America to a six-hour event on September 14, 2006 to experience the company's upcoming lineup with president Reggie Fils-Aime. It is rumored that details of the Wii launch will be revealed at the event, which is being held in New York.
Expected launch titles
While 18 titles have been officially confirmed for launch, many other titles, as of August 2006, reported to be available at launch. Nintendo has stated that about 27 titles will be available in the launch window:
* Will also be released for the Nintendo GameCube
** Will also be released for the Game Boy Advance and/or the Nintendo DS
Hardware
Design
Wii is Nintendo's smallest home game console yet, being approximately the size of three standard DVD cases stacked together. The console has been confirmed to have the ability to stand either horizontally or vertically. The front of the console features a self-loading media drive illuminated by a blue light and accepts both 12 cm DVDs and 8 cm optical discs from Nintendo's prior console, the Nintendo GameCube. Nintendo has stated that a small attachment can be purchased separately to play DVD-Video discs. The ability to load different sized discs is uncommon in slot-loading media drives, which typically only accept discs of a single size.
Nintendo has shown the Wii and Wii Remote in various colors including silver, lime green, white, black, blue and red. IGN sources have suggested that Wii will be available in both black and white colors. The final colors of the console are still to be announced.
The systems shown at E3 2006 and in various trailers appear to have several small changes from the original design. Not only had the Nintendo branding on the case been replaced with a 'Wii' logo, but the disc loading slot had been enlarged slightly, the reset button had been moved from next to the eject button to the power button, and the power indicator light had been moved from next to the power button to inside the button.
A second flap cover is located on the front of the machine, which opens to disclose an SD card slot in the middle and a "SYNCHRO" button, used to link the controllers to the console.
The port for the sensor bar, a device used for the Wii Remote's three-dimensional sensing, is found at the rear of the console. This port did not appear in any of the former Wii hardware images, including the images in Nintendo's E3 media press kit.
Controller
Main article: Wii RemoteThe primary controller for the Wii uses a one-handed, remote control-based design. The controller communicates wirelessly with the console via Bluetooth. It features an integrated accelerometer, which allows it to sense linear motion along three axes, as well as tilt. The controller also contains a tracking image sensor, which, in tandem with a sensor bar, gives the controller light gun-like pointer capabilities within 5 meters (approx. 16.5 ft.) of the screen. Up to four controllers can be connected at once and operated as far as ten meters from the console. The remote has force-feedback capabilities and can be utilized like an NES gamepad when rotated. An internal audio speaker can be used to play sound effects and provides an enhanced depth of sound field. The Wii-mote features 6KB of non-volatile memory. It can run up to 60 hours using only the accelerometer function with two alkaline AA batteries and up to 30 hours when using the precision aim. The buttons on the controller are digital and include a D-pad, A, B, 1, 2, -, +, Home and Power buttons as well as a SYNCHRO button located underneath the battery cover.
The Wii Remote can be augmented by various add-ons. Announced expansions include: the included Nunchuk controller (which also has accelerometer capabilities, but no pointer ability) featuring an analog stick and two additional digital buttons (C and Z), a Classic Controller for playing Virtual Console and GameCube games, and may have a "Zapper Style" shell, displayed as a concept at E3 2006, for first-person shooter gameplay which also includes a control stick on the top.
In an interview, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that Nintendo hopes to allow Wii controllers to be personalized for each gamer. Applications would include different game settings determined by the preferences of the controller that turned on the console. Mr. Miyamoto has also discussed the possibility of further changes to the controller before launch, stating that the design team is, "still debating the number of buttons to use."
Sensor bar
The sensor bar is an attachment placed either directly above or below the display screen, which is required for games and applications that use the remote as an on-screen pointer. With the sensor bar it is possible to accurately pinpoint where on screen a Remote is pointing, regardless of the size or type of display used. The sensor bar is around 20 centimeters (approximately 8 inches) long.
The sensor bar contains two sensors, one in each end, however it is not as of yet known if they are used for the on-screen pointer or for other uses such as triangulating the controller's position in 3D space.
Connectivity
Wii will have built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity allowing communication over the Internet and with the Nintendo DS. Nintendo has stated that the Wii will implement standard Wi-Fi protocols. An optional USB adapter planned for release will provide network connectivity via wired Ethernet. Wii also can communicate and connect with other Wii systems by wireless LAN, enabling local wireless multiplayer on different television sets. Battalion Wars 2 first demonstrated this feature, for non-split screen multiplayer between two or more televisions.
Wii has a flip lid that can be opened to reveal four ports for GameCube controllers and two GameCube memory card slots. Two USB ports (at the rear) and one SD card slot (behind a flap cover at the front of the console) are provided. Additionally, a small internal attachment — a "dongle," to be sold separately — will allow the Wii to play DVD-Video.
Technical specifications
Nintendo has, at present, released very little technical specifics regarding the Wii console. The known details include:
Processor:
GPU
Memory:
Ports and peripheral capabilities:
- Up to four Wii Remote controllers (connected wirelessly via Bluetooth)
- One SD memory card slot
- Two USB 2.0 ports
- One Sensor Bar port
- Four Nintendo GameCube controller ports
- Two Nintendo GameCube memory card ports
- Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
Storage:
- 512 MB built-in flash memory
- Expansion available via SD card memory and USB mass storage
- Slot-loading disc drive compatible with:
- Mask ROM by Macronix
Built-in content ratings systems:
Video:
- Up to 480p and will work with a computer monitor as well as any TV or projector
- Component (including Progressive scan), S-Video, or composite output
- 16:9 widescreen support
Audio:
- Main: Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable
- Controller: Built-in speaker
Online connectivity
Main article: Nintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionWii will be able to connect to the Internet through its built-in Wi-Fi and through a USB-to-Ethernet adaptor, with both methods allowing players to access the established Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. Just as for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo will not charge fees for playing via the service. The service will have several unique features for the Wii, such as the Virtual Console, WiiConnect24 and the Wii Browser. At LGC 2006 in Leipzig, Germany, Nintendo announced two new titles: Mario Strikers Charged, and Battalion Wars 2. These are the first two titles that are confirmed WiFi titles.
Virtual Console
The Virtual Console is an online service, similar to Xbox Live Arcade, that allows users to download games not only for the NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64, but also Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive and NEC's TurboGrafx-16 systems. It will not include every released title. Nintendo has also stated that this service "...will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets."
While no pricing info has been announced for the Virtual Console feature, at the June 2006 Nintendo briefing, Satoru Iwata suggested that new, original, low-scale games could be sold via the Virtual Console at a price of between JP¥500 and JP¥1000 (approx. US$4 to US$9, approx. €4 to €8 including VAT, c.2006). In a presentation in Spain, it was mentioned that Nintendo of Spain was considering a pre-paid card option for its Virtual Console purchases.
WiiConnect24
Main article: WiiConnect24At E3 2006, Nintendo announced WiiConnect24, a feature that will allow the Wii to remain connected to the Internet in standby mode. Some possible uses of WiiConnect24 that were mentioned at E3 2006 include allowing friends to visit a player's village in Animal Crossing and downloading updates for games without having to be actively using the system. It has also been said that it would be possible to download Nintendo DS promotional demos using WiiConnect24 and later transfer it to one's Nintendo DS, similar to a DS Download Station (see Nintendo DS connectivity).
Wii Browser
Main article: Wii BrowserSimilar to its use as the Nintendo DS Browser, the Opera web browser will be included with the Wii to serve as the Wii Browser. The web browser will be saved in Wii's Flash ROM (allowing access within seconds), and will support JavaScript. In addition to functioning as a web browser, Opera on Wii will serve as a layout engine to be used for web-based applications.
Features
Backward compatibility
Nintendo has stated that the Wii will be backward compatible with all GameCube software and most peripherals. This backwards compatibility is achieved with the help of the slot-loading drive being able to accept GameCube discs, and a set of GameCube controller ports on top of the console concealed by a panel. There are four GCN controller ports and two GCN memory card slots as there were on the GameCube itself, so the GameCube microphone should be compatible, as well as the DK Bongos and the GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable. There is no indication that the Wii has the high-speed and serial ports present on the original GameCube, which means that unless otherwise indicated, the Game Boy Player and the Nintendo Gamecube broadband and modem adapters (which required those ports) will not be compatible with the Wii.
Nintendo DS connectivity
Wii will support wireless connectivity with the Nintendo DS. Shigeru Miyamoto said Nintendo was still working out when features using this connectivity would be available, but that it would be soon after the launch of the system, due to the popularity of the Nintendo DS. At Nintendo's corporate policy meeting in June 2006, Satoru Iwata explained that the DS uses its wireless connectivity to communicate with the Wii, and that no further accessories will be needed.
The connectivity will allow the player to use functions like the Nintendo DS's microphone and touchscreen as inputs for Wii games. The first example Nintendo has given of a game using Nintendo DS-Wii connectivity is that of Pokémon Battle Revolution. Players with either Pokémon Diamond or Pearl will be able to play battles using their Diamond or Pearl Pokémon on Wii with the Nintendo DS as a controller.
It has also been confirmed that the Nintendo DS will be able to play game demos downloaded from Wii which they would receive from Nintendo, similar to a DS Download Station. The Wii will also be able to update and expand Nintendo DS games.
Player caricatures and profiles
In an interview between Wired News and Katsuya Eguchi (producer of Animal Crossing and Wii Sports), Eguchi confirmed that the custom player face feature shown in Nintendo's E3 Media Briefing is built into the hardware, and is part of a "Profile" system that contains the caricature and other information that is yet to be determined. The tool being constructed for this caricature creation also includes the option to use several pre-made images for the less "artistically inclined".
Parental controls
Wii will feature parental controls, prohibiting younger users from playing games with content unsuitable for their age level. When a disc is inserted, it will read the content rating encoded on the game discs; if this rating is greater than the system's set age level the game will not load without a correct override password.
It is confirmed that the European units will use the PEGI rating system, and North American units will use the ESRB rating system. While Nintendo has stated that parental control will be included in all Wii consoles worldwide, it has not yet clarified whether that means Wii will support the native rating systems of other territories, such as that of CERO in Japan, the USK in Germany, the BBFC in the United Kingdom (although most video games in the United Kingdom do carry a PEGI rating), or the OFLC in Australia.
Software library
Main article: List of Wii gamesNotable new titles
There will also be new, original titles released for the Wii, including:
Popular franchises
The following are some of the most popular franchises with games currently being developed for the Wii:
First party
Second party
Third partyDeveloper support
NameThe console was known by the codename of "Revolution" until immediately prior to E3 2006. The suitability of the final name has been a subject of debate among some consumers and industry members. Nintendo spells "Wii" with two "i"s to imply an image of players gathering together, as well as to represent the console's controllers. Nintendo has given many reasons for its choice of name since its announcement; however, the most well known is:
See alsoReferences
External linksOfficial
Unofficial coverage
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