Wiimote

The Nintendo Wii Remote is the controller for the Nintendo Wii console. Used by its self or with many other attachments (i.e. the Wii Nunchuk) it lets players control the games like never before.

The Technology

The Wiimote is able to recognise were it is in 3-D space, this is achieved by the use of accelerometers to tell when the remote is being moved and IR sensors, not unlike a common television remote, which are picked up by the LEDs in the Wii sensor bar. The remote is connected to the console via Bluetooth and features vibration feedback in the form of rumble and a inbuilt speaker to bring the action closer to the player.
Up to four controllers can be connected to the console with the controller being distinguished by how many of the four blue LEDs light up at the base of the remote. These LEDs also function as a battery meter for the remote. By pressing any button, besides the power button while the controller is not being used, the four blue LEDs will light up, showing the battery life, four of the LEDs flash when it is at full power, three lights flash when it is at 75%, two lights when at 50% and one light flashes when there is 25% or less power remaining.

The remote also contains 16Kib of flash memory which can be used to bring up to ten of your Miis to another console or save your controller configurations in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Colours

During E3 06, Nintendo showed white, black and blue Wiimotes. The white remote ships with all consoles in all territories, the black remote and jacket will come with a new black console when it ships on 1st August in Japan along with black Nunchaku and Classic Controller Pro. The blue controller is to released as part of a competition on Club Nintendo Japan. To be in with a chance of winning one, you need to register your copy of Wii Sports Resort. There are 5000 being given away and it remains to be seen if they will be release for normal sale.

Trivia

• The Wii Remote model number is RVL-003, a reference to the project codename "Revolution".