Wii

Wii Remote

Wii Remote

Using a combination of accelerometers and infrared detection built in to sense its position in a 3 dimensional space when pointed at the Wii's sensor bar, Wii Remote is the primary controller for the console. The controller communicates with the console using Bluetooth technology and features rumble vibration and an internal speaker. The Wii Nunchuck unit also features an accelerometer with an added traditional analog stick with two trigger buttons. By using the Wii Remote, users can control the game using physical movements as well as traditional button presses

The body of the Wii Remote measures 148 mm long, 36.2 mm wide, and 30.8 mm thick (5.83 in x 1.43 in x 1.21 in). It interacts wirelessly with the Wii console through a short-range bluetooth radio.

The Wii Remote has a total of 11 input buttons, counting each direction of the directional pad as one input.

• The "A" button is located on top of the controller, and is a transparent plastic button. It is generally used for selecting things on menus.
• The directional pad is Game Boy style and cross-shaped, with four gray lines on top of the pad going out in each direction
• The 1 and 2 buttons are placed vertically near the bottom of the remote, and are used as a pause button in some games.  In games where you use the remote horizontally, they are often used as "A and B" buttons.
• The plus and minus buttons, located in the middle of the remote, are usually used to bring up menus.
• The home button is located in between the plus and minus buttons, and brings up a menu that allows you to go to the Wii Menu, reset your console, or edit Wii Remote menus.
• A power button is located in the top left corner of the remote.
• The "B" trigger is located on the back of the Wii Remote, and is generally used to return to previous menus, or to fire weapons in shooters.

Technical Specifications

Processors

(None of the clock frequencies have been officially confirmed by either Nintendo, IBM or ATI.)

Broadway CPU

• CPU: IBM PowerPC-based "Broadway" processor, made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, clocked at 729 MHz
• GPU: ATI "Hollywood" GPU, made with a 90 nm CMOS process, clocked at 243 MHz

Memory

• 88 MB main memory (24 MB internal 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package, 64 MB external GDDR3 SDRAM)
• 3 MB embedded GPU texture memory and framebuffer

Ports and Peripherals

• Four possible Wii Remote controllers, connected via Bluetooth

  

  Hollywood GPU

• Four Nintendo GameCube controller ports
• Two Nintendo GameCube Memory Card slots
• SD memory card slot
• Two USB 2.0 slots
• Sensor Bar port
• Accessory port on Wii Remote (used to connect Nunchuk and other peripherals)
• USB keyboard input, compatible with Wii Shop Channel and Internet Channel (versions 3.0 and 3.1)
• Mitsumi DWM-W004 WiFi 802.11b/g wireless module
• Compatible with USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
• MultiAV output for component, composite, and S-Video

Storage

A SanDisk 2 GB SD Card made specifically for Wii

• 512 MB built-in NAND flash memory
• SD card memory (supports SDHC as of System Menu 4.0, up to 32 GB)
• Two Nintendo GameCube Memory Card Slots (for GameCube save states)
• Slot-loading disc drive compatible with 8 cm Nintendo GameCube game discs and 12 cm Wii optical discs
• Mask ROM by Macronix

Video

• 480p (PAL/NTSC), 480i (NTSC), or 576i (PAL/SECAM), standard 4:3 and 16:9 anamorphic widescreen
• MultiAV multi-outport port for component, composite, S-Video, RGB SCART, and VGA

Audio

• Stereo: Dolby Pro Logic II
• Wii Remote built-in speaker

Power

• 18 watts when on
• 9.6 watts in WiiConnect24 standby mode
• 1.3 watts in regular standby mode

Wii Menu

A unique feature of the Nintendo Wii is the Wii Menu system. It is designed to operate with "channels" on a television. Each square is a "channel" that has a different function. Channels have been added since the six available at launch, and periodical updates are available for the Wii Menu. The Wii Menu is navigated via the Wii Remote, and channels can be moved (with the exception of the Disc Channel) by holding down the A and B buttons and then dragging the channel.

Wii Menu Updates

• Wii Menu 4.0
  

Main Wii Channels

Wii Menu

• Disc Channel - The default channel that is used to play games. When a disc is loaded in (either Wii or GameCube), the two discs spin around, eventually stop, and then one falls down as if it is being loaded in a slot. Then, the game's splash screen appears, and the player has the option to either play the game or return to the Wii Menu screen.
• Mii Channel - Another default channel, the Mii Channel is used to design custom avatars known as Miis. Players can customize many aspects of their virtual avatar. The Mii interactivity is one of the frequently advertised parts of the Wii.
• Photo Channel - Players can upload pictures and videos through use of an SD card or from received messages on the Wii message board, and then use various effects to alter the image. Sound files .MP3, .AAC, and .M4A are also compatible with the channel, so the user can play a slideshow accompanied by music. The Photo Channel's icon in the Wii Menu can be customized with a picture.
• Wii Shop Channel - The Wii Shop Channel is a channel that allows users to purchase games. It is divided into three categories: Virtual Console, WiiWare, and Wii Channels. Games can be purchased on the Virtual Console that have been released in previous generations, from a variety of consoles. WiiWare consists of small-budget games that have been released by amatuer developers wanting to get a name, or sometimes larger companies releasing games not big enough for a retail release. Wii Points must be purchased to buy any games on this channel, which can be bought in increments of 1000 ($10.00 USD) on the channel itself, or in various retail stores (Nintendo Points).
  

  Browsing the Wii Shop Channel
• Forecast Channel - Users navigate a large 3D world to find weather forecasts for their area. By merely clicking on the channel, however, users can see a quick forecast if WiiConnect24 is on. Some games use the information from the Forecast Channel to change the ingame weather (such as Madden NFL 07 and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams).
• News Channel - The News Channel allows uses to view headlines from various current events. The news articles are from the Associated Press, and are available in a variety of languages. The news headlines are available in many different categories, and they are automatically updated as news comes in.
• Internet Channel - The Internet Channel is a browser for the Wii based on the Opera browser. Originally, it was free, but it is now available for a one time payment of 500 Wii Points ($5.00 USD), although users who downloaded it for free do not have to pay. The browser has USB keyboard compatibility and supports many of the same standards as the Opera browser available for computers.
• Everybody Votes Channel - The Everybody Votes Channel is a channel where users vote in a variety of opinion polls. All questions are created by Nintendo, based off of submitted user questions. You can track your stats, such as your "distance from popular opinion", and good you are at predicting the popular answer. A map showing how ones specific country votes is also available to users.
• Check Mii Out Channel - The Check Mii Out Channel allows users to upload and download others' Miis and share them to users around the world. There are also themed contests designed by Nintendo, where each user can submit a Mii and vote on their favorites from all the entries.
• Nintendo Channel - The Nintendo Channel is essentially a preview of upcoming and recently released Wii and Nintendo DS games. There are a variety of trailers to watch and browse, including videos of core gameplay and promotional videos. Nintendo DS game demos can be downloaded via this channel as well, turning your Wii into something similar to a DS-download station.

There also have been a few channels made available only in Japan: Television Friend Channel (Terebi no Tomo Channel), Digicam Print Channel, Fortune Telling Channel (Kyou to Ashita no Uranai Lucky Channel), and Wii no Ma (see below). Some games add a channel when the game is booted up for the first time, and a few channels are made available by using the DS connectivity feature. One retired channel, the Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel, was made available temporarily, but now previews are distributed through the Nintendo Channel.

Other Channels

•  Horoscope Wii Channel
  

A channel that gives horoscopes.

• TV Guide Channel

There is also a TV Guide Channel released in Japan where it very intuitively shows the different times for TV programming by using well organized charts. It even allows you to actually use the Wii remote as a TV remote, changing channels and increasing volume.

• Wii no Ma Channel (video download service)

Nintendo has given an official notice about its upcoming video download service. The new Video service will be called Wii no Ma Channel. This channel will be free in spring but only for Japan. This channel is a joint project between Nintendo and Dentsu. This channel does not have a certain group or genre it is trying to provide. This channel will offer paid and free video content. The free content will be paid by advertizers. Nintendo is also thought of sending this channel overseas but have said the timing is not right.

• Food Delivery Channel

Spring 2009 Nintendo will introduce a new Wii channel called "Food Delivery Channel" only for Japan. It allows you to order food using the Demae-can.com online food ordering service. The food that can be ordered are pizza, sushi, Chinese food, Japanese food, Western food, curry, etc. When you select a food a song that matches the food's mood will play on the Channel. If you can decide what to eat there is a roulette mode that picks your meal at random. The quickest delivery order will arrive is 30 minutes.

• Wii Fit Channel

Wii Fit allows the Wii Fit Channel to be installed. This channel lets users view and compare their results, as well as their progress in the game, without requiring the game disc.

• Mario Kart Channel

Mario Kart Wii allows the Mario Kart Channel to be installed. This channel allows players to see their best Time Trial scores for each track and compare with other players' results. Players can also manage their friends list and see if any of them are online. Players can also check their tournament standings. All without requiring the game disc.

• Wii Speak Channel

Users that have bought the Wii Speak peripheral will be able to download the Wii Speak Channel through the Wii Shop Channel via a download-ticket that comes with the microphone. In the Wii Speak Channel, users can join one of four rooms (no limit to how many people in each room) to chat with others online, with each person represented by their Mii, which lip-syncs to their words. Also, users can send audio message to others via the Wii Message Board. Photo sharing is also available in each room.