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| − | [[Image:NintendoRevolution.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Nintendo Wii prototype]]
| + | #REDIRECT [[sega:Wii]] |
| − | '''Wii''' (pronounced "we") is [[Nintendo]]'s [[128-bit era 2|second 128-bit era]] video game console, their fifth home console, and the successor to the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. Until Nintendo announced the console's official name on April 27, 2006, the official codename of Wii was the Nintendo '''Revolution'''.
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| − | Wii is unique in that the console's controller, the [[Wii Remote]], or "Wii-mote", can be used as a handheld pointing device as well as detecting motion in three dimensions. The controller also contains a speaker and a rumbling device to provide sensory feedback. The console is confirmed to have a stand-by feature entitled [[WiiConnect24]], enabling it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while consuming very little electrical power.
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| − | Nintendo unveiled the system under the Wii codename 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. [http://www.irwebcasting.com/050916/03/ff3672f7df/main/index_hi.htm] It was released worldwide in December 2006.
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| − | ==Confirmed hardware and technology==
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| − | Nintendo has announced that IBM has been working with the development of the CPU, codenamed "Broadway." IBM was previously involved with the development of the processor in Nintendo's current system, [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]. Nintendo has also announced that Canadian graphics card maker ATI Technologies is involved with the GPU, which is codenamed "Hollywood". Before the GameCube's release, ATI had bought ArtX, the company responsible for the GameCube's GPU and whose members were made of former Silicon Graphics employees involved with the Nintendo 64. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata also announced that the Wii will be backward compatible with GameCube games and have built-in Wi-Fi for online playing, provided by Broadcom Corporation [http://cube.ign.com/articles/595/595089p1.html]. Nintendo has announced they will provide an optional PC-compatible wireless router for use by consumers that do not already have access to a wireless connection. The accessory is reportedly compatible with both the Nintendo DS and Wii. While no ethernet port is planned, Nintendo has suggested ethernet may be possible for the system with USB via an adaptor. MoSys, whose 1T-SRAM memory technology was used in the GameCube, will again provide the random access memory technology for Wii.
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| − | Nintendo has gone on record as stating that the Wii will use standard DVD/CD size optical discs. Nintendo would not be specific when asked about which format would be used. It will also have the ability to play DVD movies with an undisclosed add-on (most likely a hardware dongle). Presumably this is to avoid paying royalties and lower the cost of the system. While all Nintendo [[video game console|consoles]] to date have expansion serial ports, none have been announced for Wii. Other information states that Wii will be able to hook up to a computer monitor as well as a TV, dating back in May 2003. However, Nintendo has confirmed that at this point in time, they are not supporting HDTV output for the Wii, however, 480p will be standard. [http://cube.ign.com/articles/624/624200p2.html] This may mean that the system will be unable to output HDTV at all, or it may mean that HDTV support will be at the developer's discretion.
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| − | Nintendo also has said the console will be "sleek", approximately the thickness of two DVD cases (pictures are of the prototype, which is three DVD cases large), considerably thinner than the [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStatio
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| − | n 3]]. It will stand both horizontally and vertically. This new industrial design will also address remarks regarding the GameCube's unique look which some have complained does not fit in amongst most home entertainment components. [http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=9594f668-5342-4b38-8eb1-d6bf479c4139&page=home].
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| − | ===Controller===
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| − | The Nintendo Wii controller, unveiled at Tokyo Game Show 2005, is shaped like a simple television remote control and operates like a mouse in three-dimensional real-space.
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| − | The controller is a major departure from the last 20 years of console design. Two sensors near the television allow the controller to sense its position in three-dimensional space; other sensors in the controller itself allow it to sense its tilt and yaw. Players can thus mime actions (and receive "rumble pak" style vibration feedback) instead of simply pushing buttons. An early marketing video [http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html] showed actors miming such actions as fishing, cooking, drumming, conducting an orchestra, shooting a gun, sword fighting, and performing dental surgery. To communicate with the sensors, the Wii's controller uses Bluetooth technology. [http://www.gamesradar.com/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=37344&subsectionid=2504]
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| − | A digital directional pad is positioned at the top of the controller face, with a large [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]-styled A button directly below it and a trigger on the underside acting as the B-button. Below the A button is a row of three small buttons: Start, Home, and Select. Underneath the three buttons is a small speaker. Near the bottom end of the controller are two additional buttons labeled 1 and 2, suggesting that users can turn the controller 90 degrees and use it like a classic [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] or [[Sega Master System|SMS]] controller. Beneath these buttons are four lights which indicate what player number the controller is being used for--at present, up to four players are expected to be able to play on a single Wii console.
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| − | The controller can also slip inside or attach to peripherals through a proprietary port on its bottom end. A tethered peripheral with an analog stick and two shoulder buttons (labeled Z₁ and Z₂) will, according to Satoru Iwata, be bundled with the free-hand controller (letting the user play games "nunchaku-style").
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| − | A "shell" peripheral is also slated to release for the Wii that will be ''"very similar in style and form to the [[Wavebird]]"'' [http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000297061506/]. The official name for this is the "Classic-Style Expansion Controller". According to Iwata, it is meant for playing ''"the existing games, virtual console games, and multi-platform games"''
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| − | The controller was first unveiled at E3 2006. [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6149763.html]
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| − | Nintendo promises a wide variety of peripherals ranging from dance mats to analog game controllers. Peripherals may be cheap enough to be bundled with games much like the rumble pack, expansion pack, and microphone for Star Fox 64, Donkey Kong 64, and Mario Party 6, respectively.
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| − | ===Known specifications===
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| − | Due to the relatively early stages of development, specifications may change before the console's final release.
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| − | * Processors:
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| − | ** IBM PowerPC CPU "Broadway":
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| − | ***No further details.
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| − | ** ATI GPU "Hollywood":
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| − | *** The GPU is believed to be being developed by the same team formerly known as the Californian firm ArtX which developed the graphics chip of both the [[Gamecube]] and its predecessor, the Nintendo 64, before being purchased by ATI.
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| − | ** Nintendo has stated several times that t
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| − | he Wii's focus is not power, but innovation. While this may lead some to say that the Wii will be graphically inferior, nothing is officially confirmed.
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| − | * Memory:
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| − | ** 1T-SRAM by MoSys
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| − | ***No further details.
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| − | ** 512 MiB built-in flash memory
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| − | *** Replaces the function of an internal hard drive.
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| − | *** Will be used to store:
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| − | **** Wii game save data
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| − | **** Downloaded games
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| − | **** Game demos
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| − | **** Patches or upgrades
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| − | * Ports and peripherals:
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| − | ** Two USB 2.0 ports.
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| − | ** No proprietary serial ports announced.
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| − | *** All Nintendo consoles to date have a serial port.
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| − | ** Wireless controllers.
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| − | ** A single proprietary output for video and audio.
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| − | ** A dongle enabling DVD playback.
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| − | ** 4 × [[Nintendo GameCube]] controller ports and 2 × Nintendo GameCube memory card ports (for compatibility).
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| − | ** Optional USB PC-compatible 802.11b wireless router.
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| − | * Media:
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| − | ** Slot loading optical disc drive compatible with both 12 cm and 8 cm proprietary optical discs (again, for GameCube compatibility) as well as standard DVD discs.
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| − | ** 2 × front loading SD memory card slots.
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| − | * Networking:
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| − | ** Wi-Fi by the Broadcom Corporation]]:
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| − | *** Built-in 802.11b & 802.11g support.
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| − | ** No Ethernet port.
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| − | *Final version could be smaller than the presented E³ prototype, "about the size of three stacked standard DVD cases" (as quoted from the conference).
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| − | ==Features==
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| − | Online arguments commenced when Nintendo of America's Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Perrin Kaplan, announced there would be no HD support for their upcoming system. Kaplan stated beautiful graphics and innovative gameplay could be achieved without HD and that abstaining from the technology would help keep the cost of games down. In reaction, major Internet based magazines like IGN.com organized letter writing campaigns to protest against Nintendo regarding the decision and urging consumers to take action [http://cube.ign.com/articles/625/625423p1.html]. A website called 1080up.org was also formed specifically for lobbying Nintendo to include the feature but so far nothing clear has come from it.
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| − | ===Backward compatibility===
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| − | The Nintendo Wii is designed to be compatible with Nintendo GameCube software and most peripherals. Standing vertically, the top of Wii has four GameCube controller ports that will allow the system to be compatible with ordinary GameCube controllers, Nintendo's wireless [[Wavebird]] controller, the DK Bongos, the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable, and the ''Dance Dance Wii Mario Mix'' dance pads. It also features two [[memory card]] slots that should be fully compatible with all generations of GameCube memory cards ("Memory Card 59", "Memory Card 251", and "Memory Card 1019") and the Nintendo GameCube Microphone. The Nintendo Wii is designed to accept the tiny Nintendo GameCube discs through the same slot-loading disc drive that will accept standard-sized Wii game discs and DVD movies; this is a first for slot-loading disc drives, which typically only accept discs of one standard size. However, it is unclear if it will have the high-speed port required for use with the Game Boy Player accessory, but is unlikely because of the difference in the Wii's and the GameCube's size (a rectangle against an almost quadratic footprint with different measures).
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| − | ===Virtual console===
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| − | Nintendo has announced that Wii will have the ability to play all the Nintendo-produced Nintendo 64, [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]/Super Famicom, and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]/Famicom games; the software may be recompiled or [[Emulator|emulated]] but will be offered via the Nintendo online download service. Satoru Iwata refers to this feature as the "Virtual Console". According to a Japanese press release, "all downloaded games will be stored on the 512 flash memory built into the system."[http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1118165596] To prevent illegal copying, downloaded games will feature a proprietary DRM system. Games from the [[Sega Genesis]] and [[TurboGrafx-16]] will also be included.
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| − | Nintendo announced that the downloadable games may be redesigned. It was also sa
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| − | id that although the gameplay would stay the same, it would be possible "that with Wii, we may be able to see the old games with new looks." Some 3D games may "look sharper when played on Wii." [http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3141582] If the technical aspects of Wii also go well, "[Nintendo is] discussing the possibility of having older games like ''Mario Party'' playable online."
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| − | Although no specifics have yet been released, there will be fees associated with the "virtual console" feature. Nintendo has suggested that they may give some of the downloadable games away with Nintendo products or through other special offers.[http://www.cnet.com.au/games/hardware/0,39029706,40055184,00.htm] It is also unknown what specific titles will be available or whether other [[third-party developer]]s may release their older games for the Wii, although it has been said that Nintendo is in talks with these developers for this purpose. [[Yuji Naka]], the designer of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' at [[Sega]], said in an interview with Famitsu, "It's also great that we'll be able to play Famicom and other games via download. I hope Sega games will be playable as well." He also said similar in a recent interview with Nintendo Power. It has been announced that Sega games '''will''' be available on the Virtual Console. Among the Sega titles now available is the first Mega Drive Sonic. Currently, Nintendo could release more than 200 potential titles (and if, like it has been rumoured, the Wii is indeed compatible with the Game Boy Player accessory, then Nintendo's entire back catalogue could be playable on the system, barring the DS).
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| − | Some see Nintendo trying to pattern the most successful strategy used by the music industry against illegal music downloads. Since computers have been powerful enough to emulate past-generation home consoles and the Internet provided an easy, fast, and widely accessible distribution path for [[ROM|ROM image]]s (a file which contains the data for a game which can then be played via an [[emulator]]), illegal ROM downloading has been common among a segment of fans of old games. The music industry's most successful method of reducing illegal music downloading has apparently been to offer consumers a way to download music legally for a small cost. If Nintendo is successful at utilizing this model, they may be able to reduce illegal ROM downloading and open up a new revenue stream. This backward-compatibility feature also stands as a new unique selling point against the Wii's competitors.
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| − | The unveiling of the new controller has also shed some light on the functionality of the backwards compatibility; specifically, when held sideways, the controller resembles the NES controller.
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| − | === List of Sonic Games for the Wii ===
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| − | *[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]
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| − | *[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)]] (Virtual Console)
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| − | *[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]] (Virtual Console) - not yet released
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[Nintendo GameCube]]
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| − | *[[Nintendo DS]]
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * [http://www.nwizard.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1 Information on Nintendo's Wireless Router]
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| − | * [http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1119809021 Information about system titles in development]
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| − | * [http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1118165596 Nintendojo news update] Press release with post-E³ information about Wii.
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| − | * [http://www.n-sider.com/articleview.php?articleid=344 N-Sider], October 2004 in-depth FAQ
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| − | * [http://www.gyration.com/intl/uk/pr-nintendo_uk.htm Gyration], September 24, 2001 Press release involving Nintendo investment
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| − | * [http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p1.html?fromint=1 IGN GameCube FAQ]
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| − | * [http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200503/N05.0310.107.55454.htm Game Informer interview with Reggie Fils-Aime]
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| − | * [http://cube.ign.com/articles/618/618832p1.html IGN: Wii Technical Specs] - May 25, 2005
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| − | * [http://cube.ign.com/articles/617/617295p1.html IGN - E³ 2005: Wii Not Final Name]
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| − | * [http://cube.ign.com/articles/22/522559p2.html "IGNcube's Nintendo 'Wii' FAQ"]
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| − | * [http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1122302454 EGM interview transcript provided by Nintendojo]
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| − | * [http://www.revogaming.net/html/modules/news/article.php?storyid=73 Interview giving high hopes for controller in the crowded gaming industry] August 20, 2005
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * [http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-15143-2567-x-x-x GameSpot: T
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| − | he Wii Revealed]
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| − | * [http://cube.ign.com/articles/651/651224p1.html IGN: Wii Controller - The Possibilities]
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| − | * [http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651334/vids_1.html Video of controller usage]
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| − | * [http://www.gamerwithin.com/?view=article&article=529 Gamer Within's Impressions of the Wii Controller]
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| − | * [http://lostgarden.com/2005/09/nintendos-genre-innovation-strategy.html Nintendo Genre Innovation Strategy]
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| − | * [http://www.gamingsteve.com/archives/2005/09/why_is_the_revo.php#more Slides from the TGS Keynote announcing the Wii controller]
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| − | * [http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050928/hong_01.shtml Responses from developers]
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| − | * [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3144666 1up: The Wii Begins Now]
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| − | * [http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-15143-2025-4-6-x Namco/Bandai]
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| − | * [http://www.Wiireport.com/articles/read/106 Koei]
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| − | [[Category:Hardware]]
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| − | [[Category:Nintendo]]
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