Although 'specs don't matter' we all know that no playground argument since the Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC464 squared off isn't complete without the disagreeing geeks being equipped with some numbers to lisp at each other. Nintendo's Wii spec is dwarfed by those boasted in the Microsoft and Sony camps, though its games machine is, by design, better.
Either way, we were graced with a few facts and figures by Nintendo today, so here they are in, we think you'll agree, more detail than we might have expected:
Controls: Intuitive control for anyone using the physical motion of the main Wii Remote, which resembles a television remote control. Up to four Wii Remotes can be connected at once using wireless Bluetooth technology. The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console. Both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers include a three-axis motion sensor. The Wii Remote also includes a speaker, rumble feature and expansion port, and can be used as a pointer within 5 meters of the screen. The Wii Remote has a power switch, plus pad, A, B, Minus, Home, 1 and 2 buttons. The Nunchuk controller includes an analog control stick and C and Z buttons.
The Look: Wii features a compact design that will make it a natural addition to any television setup. It can be displayed either vertically or horizontally.
Media: A single self-loading media bay will play single- or double-layered 12-centimeter optical discs for Wii, as well as 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCube discs.
Communication: Wii can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off. This WiiConnect24 service delivers a new surprise or game update, even if users do not play with Wii. Users can connect wirelessly using IEEE 802.11b/g, or with a USB 2.0 LAN adaptor. Wii also can communicate wirelessly with Nintendo DS.
Virtual Console: Wii will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Virtual Console also will feature a "best of" selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.
The Specs: Wii boasts 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi capability. A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory. Design was optimized with state-of-the-art processing technologies that minimize power consumption, keep the console compact and enable the "sleepless" WiiConnect24 mode.
CPU: PowerPC CPU (code-named "Broadway"). Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, jointly developed with and manufactured by IBM.
Graphics Processing Unit: Being developed with ATI.
Other Features: Four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers. Two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. An AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video.
So the GPU and CPU are not detailed but there are some numbers and tech stuff, which is frankly more than anyone expected.
As soon as the first developer blabs on all things Wii, you'll be informed.
Either way, we were graced with a few facts and figures by Nintendo today, so here they are in, we think you'll agree, more detail than we might have expected:
Controls: Intuitive control for anyone using the physical motion of the main Wii Remote, which resembles a television remote control. Up to four Wii Remotes can be connected at once using wireless Bluetooth technology. The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console. Both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers include a three-axis motion sensor. The Wii Remote also includes a speaker, rumble feature and expansion port, and can be used as a pointer within 5 meters of the screen. The Wii Remote has a power switch, plus pad, A, B, Minus, Home, 1 and 2 buttons. The Nunchuk controller includes an analog control stick and C and Z buttons.
The Look: Wii features a compact design that will make it a natural addition to any television setup. It can be displayed either vertically or horizontally.
Media: A single self-loading media bay will play single- or double-layered 12-centimeter optical discs for Wii, as well as 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCube discs.
Communication: Wii can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off. This WiiConnect24 service delivers a new surprise or game update, even if users do not play with Wii. Users can connect wirelessly using IEEE 802.11b/g, or with a USB 2.0 LAN adaptor. Wii also can communicate wirelessly with Nintendo DS.
Virtual Console: Wii will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Virtual Console also will feature a "best of" selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.
The Specs: Wii boasts 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi capability. A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory. Design was optimized with state-of-the-art processing technologies that minimize power consumption, keep the console compact and enable the "sleepless" WiiConnect24 mode.
CPU: PowerPC CPU (code-named "Broadway"). Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, jointly developed with and manufactured by IBM.
Graphics Processing Unit: Being developed with ATI.
Other Features: Four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers. Two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. An AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video.
So the GPU and CPU are not detailed but there are some numbers and tech stuff, which is frankly more than anyone expected.
As soon as the first developer blabs on all things Wii, you'll be informed.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
jadnice 15 May 2006 19:51
1/6
Just as i thought...they are still working on the Wii GPU.
Joji 16 May 2006 01:38
2/6
All sweet but matters less to me now that I've seen some of the games and how they play. It still has good looking games despite being an extension of GC.
Don't know about you guys but I'm loving it all the wii, I mean way.
Don't know about you guys but I'm loving it all the wii, I mean way.
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BlackSpy 16 May 2006 12:32
3/6
I want to know if it’s going to be region free, and if it’s not, will it be constantly reformatting the built in memory card like a ‘Cube would?
majin dboy 16 May 2006 14:13
4/6
so the GPU and CPU are the important ones?dont understand any of this JARgon. i take it 512 is good?
LUPOS 16 May 2006 14:45
5/6
majin dboy wrote:
so the GPU and CPU are the important ones?dont understand any of this JARgon. i take it 512 is good?
GPU= all fancy graphic effects... lightign texturing and what not.
CPU= everythign else. physics, particles, all the real nuts and bolts stuff.
512 means plenty of fast acces for the cpu and gpu to use so that high quality textures can easily be used.
They way i see it the wii may well end up being a pretty strong system. The game cube came out a full year after the ps2 and because of it's slightly fresher tech and good design it was basically on par with ps2 on poly count but more advanced on graphical effects and costs way less to manufacture. Seeing as the Wii is out a full year after the 360 and doesnt have as many frills as a ps3, it may well end up being a farily good looking system when all is said and done.
Admitedly what was on show so far isnt exactly mind blowing but they still dotn have final cpu-gpu to work with... where as sony's main chups are basically all set and they still arent showign anything better than 360 graphics.
Can't wait till TGS now to see how things really shape up in time for launch.
_____
king skins 16 May 2006 15:58
6/6
LUPOS wrote:
512 means plenty of fast acces for the cpu and gpu to use so that high quality textures can easily be used.
Isn't the 512 for storage? not not the systems actual RAM?
Anyway, no network port is a reall bumper :( can't use wireless in my house as its nearly a 100 years old and has really thick walls.