Nintendo has announced the Wii MotionPlus accessory for the Wii Remote. Now what exactly is this, you say?
To quote Nintendo, “The Wii Motion Plus redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and when combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play.”
Basically this accessory will make it so that any movement you make is reflected instantly in the characters on-screen. No lag, no difference in response whatsoever, you move, they move. It’s basically the Wiimote 2.0.
So why would they announce this now? Well it’s been rumored that both Microsoft and Sony are in works with “waggle” controllers similar to the Wii Remote, so this is likely Nintendo’s response to counter that. It’s also likely that the Wii Remote MotionPlus accessory was created for the new Punch Out Wii, to make it that much more accurate and realistic. Of course, what’s wanted most by fans is the use of the MotionPlus in a Star Wars lightsaber game . . . may it make it’s way into the Wii version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed? Let’s hope so!
We’ll find out more information on this curious device tomorrow when Nintendo has it’s Pre-E3 Press Conference during E3 2008. Stay tuned!