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

• CPU: 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
• 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

• 512 MB built-in NAND flash memory
• SD card memory, up to 2 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 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 through photographs through use of an SD card, and then use various effects to alter the image. Sound files .mp3 and .aac are also compatible with the channel, so the user can play a slideshow accompianed by music. The Photo Channel can be customized with a picture as of a recent update.
• Wii Shop Channel - The Wii Shop Channel is a channel that allows users to purchase games. Games can be purchased on the Virtual Console that have been released in previous generations, from a variety of consoles. WiiWare is custom games that have been released by amatuer developers wanting to get a name, or even large companies releasing games not big enough for a retail release. Wii Points must be purchased to buy any games on this channel.
  

  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. 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 500 Wii Points ($5), although users who downloaded it for free do not have to pay. The browser has keyboard functionality 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 take their Miis and vote in a variety of opinion polls. All questions are submitted by users, and stats based on the users answers can be viewed. A map showing how the specific country votes is also available for users.
• Check Mii Out Channel - The Check Mii Out Channel allows users to upload Miis and share them to users around the world. Users can download others' Miis and can also "favorite" them (causing the Mii's pants to change to orange). Users can submit their Miis into contests designed by Nintendo, and then other users vote based on which Mii is the best.
• Nintendo Channel - The Nintendo Channel is essentially a preview of upcoming Wii and Nintendo DS games. There are a variety of trailers to watch and browser, including ones not relating to a particular game (e.g. promotional videos). Nintendo DS game demos can be downloaded via this channel as well.
  

  The Homebrew Channel

There also have been two channels made available only in Japan: Television Friend Channel and Digicam Print Channel. 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 Wii's DS connectivity. Homebrew is made available through the use of the Wii Channels, and hackers have done this through the Homebrew Channel (which can be uploaded to the Wii through use of an SD card). One retired channel, the Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel, was made available temporarily, but now previews are distributed through the Nintendo Channel.