SPOnG’s favourite virtual orchestra conductor and all round videogames maestro Shigeru Miyamoto has finally spilled some of the magic beans on the link between the DS handheld and the Wii home console. Plus, the Wii is looking likely to cost something in the region of $249 at launch - full details below.
Miyamoto has gone on record to state that the technology for interconnectivity is already in place. Speaking to the guys over at Kotaku, he stated that the option for consumers to connect the two 'disruptive technology' platforms has already been applied in the Wii - but that Nintendo has yet to announce concrete plans about how they plan to make use of the feature.
Miyamoto spoke of various ideas, which are fairly common-sensical and obvious – such as using the the DS touch-screen and microphone input to affect Wii gameplay, downloading content from Wii to be used and edited on the move, and then uploaded back to the console from the DS and so on.
The connectivity functions should be ready at launch or very soon after. SPOnG hopes they are here in time for the Xmas holiday season, as this is going to be a key selling point for the console.
Miyamoto also spoke of the idea of offering a personal attachment to your Wii controller – in effect an extension of the Xbox gamertag concept, but one in which your Wii (You! Stop laughing at the back - Ed.) will recognise your preferences when it sees which controller is being used to turn it on and play.
To SPOnG this seems like a very astute strategy. The non-traditional and casual gamers that Nintendo is so keen to court are no doubt far more likely to pick up on the idea of having a physical thing in their hands which correlates to their personalised gaming profile on their Wii.
In other news, 4 Colour Rebellion reports that the latest EGM has the following information on the Wii’s price and specs:
As ever with interweb rumours, take this with a small pinch of salt, but it all seems about right to SPOnG.
It basically means that the Wii is going to sell like hotcakes this Xmas, whilst those poor early adopters willing to shell out over twice the price on a PS3 will be crying into their empty stockings.
Miyamoto has gone on record to state that the technology for interconnectivity is already in place. Speaking to the guys over at Kotaku, he stated that the option for consumers to connect the two 'disruptive technology' platforms has already been applied in the Wii - but that Nintendo has yet to announce concrete plans about how they plan to make use of the feature.
Miyamoto spoke of various ideas, which are fairly common-sensical and obvious – such as using the the DS touch-screen and microphone input to affect Wii gameplay, downloading content from Wii to be used and edited on the move, and then uploaded back to the console from the DS and so on.
The connectivity functions should be ready at launch or very soon after. SPOnG hopes they are here in time for the Xmas holiday season, as this is going to be a key selling point for the console.
Miyamoto also spoke of the idea of offering a personal attachment to your Wii controller – in effect an extension of the Xbox gamertag concept, but one in which your Wii (You! Stop laughing at the back - Ed.) will recognise your preferences when it sees which controller is being used to turn it on and play.
To SPOnG this seems like a very astute strategy. The non-traditional and casual gamers that Nintendo is so keen to court are no doubt far more likely to pick up on the idea of having a physical thing in their hands which correlates to their personalised gaming profile on their Wii.
In other news, 4 Colour Rebellion reports that the latest EGM has the following information on the Wii’s price and specs:
- $249 Price tag
- Virtual Console (we knew this)
- 3d Controller (we knew this)
- ALWAYS online (console is always online, even when OFF)
- Built in speaker on the controller
- No improved graphics on Virtual Console (as in, they aren’t redoing the models, doesn’t talk about framerates and such).
- TG16 will have it’s 1st party games out at launch, 3rd party will come later as demand increases.
- Estimated prices for the VC are “a few dollars for NES, $5 for SNES and $10 for N64″
- VC games are pro-scan enabled.
- $250 “seems appropriate”
- More 3rd party exclusives than the Cube
Zelda information:
- Zelda is 80% complete, delay was for graphic tweaks, wii functions and because they want the game to be measured on a scale of 1 to 120 instead of 1 to 100.
- NO SWINGING THE CONTROLLER for the sword, you just press a button. There are some cases where you will swing though. Reason = you’ll get tired too fast
- Controller does sound effects
- Widescreen on the REV only!
- Navi is only when you play on the REV.
- Something with online is planned but no battle mode.
- More dungeons than OOT already
- More items too
- Virtual Console (we knew this)
- 3d Controller (we knew this)
- ALWAYS online (console is always online, even when OFF)
- Built in speaker on the controller
- No improved graphics on Virtual Console (as in, they aren’t redoing the models, doesn’t talk about framerates and such).
- TG16 will have it’s 1st party games out at launch, 3rd party will come later as demand increases.
- Estimated prices for the VC are “a few dollars for NES, $5 for SNES and $10 for N64″
- VC games are pro-scan enabled.
- $250 “seems appropriate”
- More 3rd party exclusives than the Cube
Zelda information:
- Zelda is 80% complete, delay was for graphic tweaks, wii functions and because they want the game to be measured on a scale of 1 to 120 instead of 1 to 100.
- NO SWINGING THE CONTROLLER for the sword, you just press a button. There are some cases where you will swing though. Reason = you’ll get tired too fast
- Controller does sound effects
- Widescreen on the REV only!
- Navi is only when you play on the REV.
- Something with online is planned but no battle mode.
- More dungeons than OOT already
- More items too
As ever with interweb rumours, take this with a small pinch of salt, but it all seems about right to SPOnG.
It basically means that the Wii is going to sell like hotcakes this Xmas, whilst those poor early adopters willing to shell out over twice the price on a PS3 will be crying into their empty stockings.
Companies:
Nintendo
Read More Like This
Comments
OptimusP 13 May 2006 10:05
1/4
So in other words... your Wii-mote functions as a protable gamer identity card of sort and actually has your profile loaded into it... and with Wiiconnect24 (and the inbuilt speaker in the Wiimote) you could actually call someone on his Wii-mote even if he isn't playing or has his Wii active... that is, no doubt a step up from the Xbox Live system in game-community sense.
Now Nintendo, listen very carefully...VOIP, put it in there... disrupt te market even more! Using you're Wii as you would a phone!
Now Nintendo, listen very carefully...VOIP, put it in there... disrupt te market even more! Using you're Wii as you would a phone!
Bentley 14 May 2006 02:38
2/4
Calling it Wii has turned out to be a stroke of utter genius.
You can't escape the fact that the name is a talking point, and now that the system has been shown to be genuinely innovative and not just packed with cheap gimmicks (like PS3's "motion sensing" pad that is obviously there in place of the costly vibrating units), the whole Wii joke thing comes across as light-hearted and playful, rather than people scornfully taking the piss.
With the success of the DS in Japan, it looks to me like Nintendo & Wii will be the surprise winners of the next generation. Sony will have to be careful, because they are starting to come across as arrogant- just like Microsoft don't want to anymore.
It's a strange time to be a gamer.
You can't escape the fact that the name is a talking point, and now that the system has been shown to be genuinely innovative and not just packed with cheap gimmicks (like PS3's "motion sensing" pad that is obviously there in place of the costly vibrating units), the whole Wii joke thing comes across as light-hearted and playful, rather than people scornfully taking the piss.
With the success of the DS in Japan, it looks to me like Nintendo & Wii will be the surprise winners of the next generation. Sony will have to be careful, because they are starting to come across as arrogant- just like Microsoft don't want to anymore.
It's a strange time to be a gamer.
more comments below our sponsor's message
realvictory 14 May 2006 22:00
3/4
Bentley wrote:
Calling it Wii has turned out to be a stroke of utter genius.
You can't escape the fact that the name is a talking point, and now that the system has been shown to be genuinely innovative and not just packed with cheap gimmicks (like PS3's "motion sensing" pad that is obviously there in place of the costly vibrating units), the whole Wii joke thing comes across as light-hearted and playful, rather than people scornfully taking the piss.
With the success of the DS in Japan, it looks to me like Nintendo & Wii will be the surprise winners of the next generation. Sony will have to be careful, because they are starting to come across as arrogant- just like Microsoft don't want to anymore.
It's a strange time to be a gamer.
You can't escape the fact that the name is a talking point, and now that the system has been shown to be genuinely innovative and not just packed with cheap gimmicks (like PS3's "motion sensing" pad that is obviously there in place of the costly vibrating units), the whole Wii joke thing comes across as light-hearted and playful, rather than people scornfully taking the piss.
With the success of the DS in Japan, it looks to me like Nintendo & Wii will be the surprise winners of the next generation. Sony will have to be careful, because they are starting to come across as arrogant- just like Microsoft don't want to anymore.
It's a strange time to be a gamer.
Well, the motion sensing in the PS3 controller seems to have had a negative effect on Sony rather than a positive one.
I think after E3, it's won't even be a surprise if Nintendo sell the most next generation.
And the name "Wii" I've always thought was genius. Having a name that makes you laugh is amazing publicity - who forgets names such as "Delia Smith," "Cilla Black," "Fat Boy Slim," "50 Cent," "Carol Smillie" or "Richard Head!" All genius names.
vault 13 14 May 2006 22:46
4/4
What's so funny about Delia?