Wii

The Wii (IPA: /ËˆwiË/) is Nintendo's fifth home video game console and the successor to the Nintendo GameCube. Until its official name was announced on April 27, 2006, it was previously known by the codename Nintendo Revolution.

The system is unique in that the console's controller, or "Wii Remote", can detect its relative orientation in three-dimensional space; the controller also contains a speaker and a rumbling device for additional feedback. The console is confirmed to have a stand-by mode so that it can receive messages and updates when it is not in use.

The system was unveiled at Nintendo's 2005 EÂ³ press conference and the system's game controller was revealed at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata during his keynote speech in September.[2] In an interview with Sankei Shimbun, Iwata confirmed that the Wii will be released in North America no later than Thanksgiving 2006 (November 23).[1] Internationally, Nintendo is considering attempting a launch with no more than 14 weeks of difference between the first and last launching regions.[3]

Name Wikinews has news related to: Nintendo Revolution Name RevealedOn April 27, 2006, Nintendo changed the Revolution section of their official website, http://revolution.nintendo.com, to announce the official name of the system. Nintendo explained that:

"Wii sounds like 'we,' which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii."

Nintendo spells "Wii" with two "i"s to create an image of players gathering together. The spelling also is intended to invoke the controllers the Wii uses.[4]

'Wii' is also a seldom-used Japanese kanji, roughly translated as "constant change", or "if you don't like the fate that god has set out for you, you do this", or just "revolution".

Wii sounds similar to "yes" in French (oui), "good" in Japanese (ã„ã„, ii?) and "top" in Korean. In German-speaking countries the console's name will be pronounced /ËˆviË/, similar to the German word for "how" (wie). After announcing the name, some criticism was received from English speaking countries because Wii sounds like the English word "wee," a euphemism for both urine and penis. [5] However, "wee" can also denote a meaning of "small", and Wii is the smallest console of the seventh generation. It can also be considered a homonym of a word suggesting a noise made when having fun (whee!).

Design Wii is the smallest stationary console Nintendo has ever manufactured, described by Nintendo as being "about the thickness of three standard DVD cases and only slightly longer". The console will have the ability to stand either horizontally or vertically. The front of the console features a self loading media drive which is illuminated by a blue light and will accept 12 cm Wii game discs, DVDs, and 8 cm GameCube game discs.[6]

When the console was unveiled at E3 2005 the console was colored black. However, at the Tokyo Game Show 2005 when the controller was revealed, promotional material depicted a white console. Nintendo has since revealed three additional colors (platinum, lime green, and red).

Controller The Wii controller sets aside the traditional controller seen in other mainstream consoles in an attempt to appeal to a larger audience. Referred to as the "Wii Remote", the controller is shaped like a television remote control and is held with one hand. The Wii Remote communicates wirelessly with the console via short-range Bluetooth radio, with which it is possible to operate up to 4 Remotes as far as 10 meters from the console.[7][8] Due to its symmetrical nature, the Wii Remote is able to be used by either hand, unlike other controllers. The controller can also be rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise and used like an NES Control Pad.

Wii controller from various angles. The "nunchaku-style" analog stick peripheral (left) attached to the main controllerThe Wii Remote is also able to sense motion; a sensor placed near the television allows the computer to sense the Remote's position in space up to 5 meters away from the screen[8]. Other sensors in the Wii Remote itself allow it to sense rotational and translational movement along all three axes, providing a full six degrees of freedom with just the Remote[7].

This allows players to mimic actual game actions, such as swinging a sword or using a flashlight, instead of simply pushing buttons. An early marketing video showed actors miming such actions as fishing, cooking, drumming, conducting an orchestra, shooting a gun, sword fighting, performing dental surgery, and what seems to be, a game of Super Mario Bros. with one handed play.[9]

The Wii Remote also features an expansion port at the bottom which will allow various attachments to be added to the controller. Nintendo has revealed one of these attachments to be a unit which features an analog stick and 2 trigger buttons. It will connect to the main Wii Remote via a short cord, and its appearance while connected to the main controller has led it to become dubbed the "Nunchuk" controller. Nintendo has stated the aforementioned Nunchuk controller may be bundled with the Wii console. Like the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk controller also provides motion-sensing along three axes[8].

The classic controller can be used to control GameCube, SNES and N64 gamesNintendo had previously announced a controller "shell" which will resemble a traditional game controller, often referred to as a "classic-style expansion controller"[10]. The Wii Remote would slot inside this shell which will allow gamers to play games using a traditional controller while retaining the controllerâ€™s motion sensitivity. According to Satoru Iwata, it would be meant for playing "the existing games, virtual console games, and multi-platform games"[2]. At Nintendo's EÂ³ 2006 press conference, no mention was made of a "shell" expansion, but information posted at Nintendo's main (Japanese) website describes a similar "classic controller", with a cord that plugs into the Wii Remote for communication with the console[7]. Whether this is the same accessory as previously described is uncertain.

At the 2006 EÂ³ press conference, it was revealed that the Wii Remote has its own independent speaker on the face of the unit. This was demonstrated by a developer as he strung and fired a bow in Zelda: Twilight Princess. The sound from both the Wii Remote and television was altered as the bow fired to give the impression of the arrow travelling away from the gamer. Rumble functionality for the Remote was also confirmed at the press conference.[11]

Despite the Wii Remote's seeming similarity to lightguns, which are only compatible with standard-definition cathode ray tube televisions, the technologies are unrelated. Nintendo has stated the Wii and the Remote will be compatible with all televisions including digital projectors.

Connectivity Main article: WiiConnect24 The Wii will have built-in Wi-Fi, allowing certain games to be played online via a wireless link, as well as a web browser, based on Opera. An optional USB adapter will permit the use of a wired connection to the Internet as well. [8]

The Wii has a flip lid which can be opened to reveal 4 ports for GameCube controllers and 2 memory card slots. Additionally two USB ports and two SD card slots are provided.

Wii will have connectivity with the Nintendo DS.[12][13] Additionally at E3 2005, Nintendo revealed that a small internal attachment (most likely a dongle) to be sold separately from the console will allow the Wii to playback DVD movies.

At E3 2006, Nintendo announced WiiConnect24. The console can be connected 24/7, but will not consume more power than a small lightbulb, allowing developers to download updates onto consoles even "while you are sleeping." GameSpot

Technical specifications GameCube connectivity at the top of the Wii console, underneath a cover.Nintendo has released a little more information concerning the technical specifications of the Wii console at E3 2006:

Processors: IBM PowerPC Processor Codenamed "Broadway" CPU Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process ATI "Hollywood" GPU Memory: Unknown amount of RAM 512 MB built-in flash memory.[14] Ports and Peripherals: Two USB 2.0 ports. Support for wireless controllers. 4 Nintendo GameCube controller ports and 2 Nintendo GameCube memory card ports (for backward compatibility). Optional USB PC-compatible 802.11b (Wi-Fi) wireless attachment. (see Connectivity) Media: Slot-loading optical disc drive compatible with both 12 cm Wii optical discs and 8.0 cm GameCube optical discs (1.5 GB) as well as standard DVD discs. 2 Front-loading SD memory card slots. Built-in content ratings system: PEGI 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+ ESRB EC, E, E10+, T, M, and AO. CERO All Ages, 12+, 15+ 18+. OFLC G, PG, M, MA15+ Networking Wi-Fi by Broadcom Video: up to 480p[15] and will work with a computer monitor as well as any TV or projector.[16] Audio: Unknown [edit] Features [edit] Backward compatibility Nintendo has stated that Wii will be backward compatible with all GameCube software and most peripherals. The top of the console (or on the side if laid horizontally) is the GameCube docking station, featuring four controller ports and two memory card slots compatible with GameCube Memory Cards and the Nintendo GameCube Microphone. The Wii's slot-loading media drive accepts 8 cm GameCube discs as well as the standard 12 cm discs such as Wii games, DVDs, and CDs. This is uncommon in slot-loading media drives, which typically only accept discs of a single size.

Virtual Console Main article: Virtual Console (Wii) The Virtual Console will be used to play games originally released for the NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, TurboGrafx, and Sega Genesis systems.One of the most anticipated features of Wii is its game download service, dubbed the "Virtual Console." Despite other rumors, Nintendo of America expects "Virtual Console" to be the final name of the service.[17] Using this Virtual Console service, users will have the ability to download and play many or all Nintendo-produced NES/Famicom, SNES/Super Famicom, and N64 games for a small fee.[18] More notably, some games may offer free retro downloads as a bonus for the purchase.[19] Nintendo has also announced that games developed for the Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16 consoles will be offered via the Virtual Console download service. While not all of the Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx games will be offered, the "best of them" will be.[20] This gives the companies a pool of over 1000 Sega Genesis games to choose from. [21] While the gameplay will be the same for all of the retro titles offered via the Virtual Console, Nintendo has stated that some of the games may be improved with sharper graphics or better framerates.[22] In addition, gamers may be able to download games that were not originally released in their region, and some multiplayer games may be playable online, if it is technically possible.[23] The Virtual Console service will not be used exclusively for retro games, however. Nintendo has stated that they are interested in using the service to distribute new, original content.

According to a Japanese press release, "all downloaded games will be stored on the 512 [MB] flash memory built into the system". To prevent illegal copying, downloaded games will feature a proprietary DRM system.[24]

Parental controls The Wii will feature parental controls, prohibiting young viewers from viewing inappropriate content. This allows parents to set the age level of the system, and 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 age level setting, the game will not load unless the user correctly enters a password to override the setting. For instance, a game carrying an ESRB rating of M for Mature, which is intended for those age 17 and older, will not play on a system that is set to only allow games rated E for Everyone (ages six and older) and EC for Early Childhood (ages three and under).

This will be found in all systems released around the world; it is confirmed that the European units will use the PEGI rating system[25], North American units will use the ESRB rating system[26], units for the Japanese market will presumably use the CERO rating system, German units will use the USK system, and Australian units will use the OFLC system.