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[marc^o^]

This thread is a place to adress the questions we have about MotionPlus and WiiSpeak.

Why isn't Wii Sports Resort a Q4 title? The game seemed almost finished.
Do they delay it to compete against RE5 in March, like they had WiiFit against GTA4? Are they delaying it to ensure enough games use MotionPlus? What about games that will be launched few weeks before MotionPlus: will they offer a compatibility? It seems to me it would be a good way to extend their sales.

About WiiSpeak: will Nintendo support it extensively besides Animal Crossing? What are the odds to see it used in WiiSports Resort, assuming it is offers online play? Being on wii, WiiSpeak has the potential to make the voicechat market explode. But is it a goal Nintendo will pursuie? Will this device offer a better voice recognition than the DS microphone? Will it be bundled with Animal Crossing?

These are the 1st questions I have in mind, please add yours.

 

[sykoex]

Doesn't the PSEye use that same Wii Speak tech and it blows?

 

[Gabyskra]

This thread is a place to adress the questions we have about MotionPlus and WiiSpeak.

Why isn't Wii Sports Resort a Q4 title? The game seemed almost finished.
Do they delay it to compete against RE5 in March, like they had WiiFit against GTA4? Are they delaying it to ensure enough games use MotionPlus? What about games that will be launched few weeks before MotionPlus: will they offer a compatibility? It seems to me it would be a good way to extend their sales.

They showed 3 games, the lead says he wants about 10 in the final build.

About WiiSpeak: will Nintendo support it extensively besides Animal Crossing? What are the odds to see it used in WiiSports Resort, assuming it is offers online play? Being on wii, WiiSpeak has the potential to make the voicechat market explode. But is it a goal Nintendo will pursuie? Will this device offer a better voice recognition than the DS microphone? Will it be bundled with Animal Crossing?

Online for Wii Sports Resort is very unlikely, Nintendo likes good old local multiplayer on some titles. I must say, it's how it's supposed to be played...

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

High Voltage looks to be pursuing Wiispeak for The Conduit, so that's a plus.

 

[Zoramon089]

Doesn't the PSEye use that same Wii Speak tech and it blows?

Where did you hear this?

 

[tetrisgrammaton]

Doesn't the PSEye use that same Wii Speak tech and it blows?

:lol nice "question"

 

[M3wThr33]

WiiSpeak recognition should be better as it has a bigger library than what the DS could hold. But I haven't looked into the real specs yet.

 

[sykoex]

Where did you hear this?

On 1UP yours, it was one of the E3 shows. It was brought up when discussing Wii Speak. They were saying that Shane used it on Burnout and it was difficult to hear.

 

[yoopoo]

On 1UP yours, it was one of the E3 shows. It was brought up when discussing Wii Speak. They were saying that Shane used it on Burnout and it was difficult to hear.

I guess you meant to say was that it uses the same concept, not the same tech.

 

[Kazenone]

Do you speak directly to the device Nintendo showed off, or is there a headset or a similar peripheral to attach to the Wii Remote?

 

[Black-Wind]

They showed 3 games, the lead says he wants about 10 in the final build.


Online for Wii Sports Resort is very unlikely, Nintendo likes good old local multiplayer on some titles. I must say, it's how it's supposed to be played...

I remember them saying that they wanted "at least" 10 game in Wii Sports 2.

I wonder which it is. . .either way around 10 seems to be the general theme.

And you don't speck directly into anything.

The device sets on top of your TV/ Wiimote bar and you simply talk from where you set. Everyone in the room can talk into the WiiSpeak device and you can hear everyone in the other person's room.

 

[yoopoo]

I was one of five people in the living-room size, um, room, and could clearly hear and communicate with those on the line. When Martinet said, "Itsa me, Mario!" it sounded just like it had a thousand times before. In short, the newly unveiled device works, and we're thrilled that Wii owners will finally be able to interact with others online like Xbox 360 and PS3 owners have before them.

But unlike headsets, WiiSpeak is the equivalent of a console speaker phone, and lets multiple people in a single room communicate with up to three other systems, all of which could potentially have multiple people in their respective rooms. "It's like you're all in the same room," Nintendo says. And from what we heard, they're right.

http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/wii/games/previews/205423.shtml

 

[sykoex]

http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/wii/games/previews/205423.shtml

:lol I can't help but imagine him hiding in another room holding the device right up to his mouth... But if they say it works then it works. Should be awesome.

 

[marc^o^]

http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/wii/games/previews/205423.shtml

Wow. Animal Crossing could then become a great communication hub, whatever the kiddy universe. I will nead to convince my friends to try the experience, but it could be fun

 

[ziran]

Why isn't Wii Sports Resort a Q4 title? The game seemed almost finished.
Do they delay it to compete against RE5 in March, like they had WiiFit against GTA4? Are they delaying it to ensure enough games use MotionPlus? What about games that will be launched few weeks before MotionPlus: will they offer a compatibility? It seems to me it would be a good way to extend their sales.

I think the two main reasons it's not a Q4 title are, it isn't needed, they have a strong enough library for hw sales already, and, Nintendo wants to make it as good as possible because it's the sequel to one of their most important games ever.

There were also some interesting, maybe conflicting, comments from Miyamoto and Eguchi (Wii Sports Resort Producer) about Wii Motion Plus, though it's difficult to say because it might be something lost in translation and reporting.

Miyamoto said:

"There's a lot of potential things we can look at with that," Miyamoto said of MotionPlus. "We haven't finalized anything at this point, but my general assumption is that probably having the Wii MotionPlus coupled with the Wii remote is going to become a much better standard for us to work with."

While Eguchi said:

Eguchi said that the company is considering limiting MotionPlus support to a select number of games. "[It] might be good to keep it as an attachment we only use for certain software."

My take is, I think Nintendo will be limiting the amount of titles coming to Wii using this device to ensure it's an all or nothing scenario, with the majority of internal games being designed for it. Games won't be made giving players an either/or option for Wi Remote/Wii Remote with motion plus. I think this would be a good move because it would be the path of least resistance when it comes to confusing consumers.

 

[Neo C.]

Why isn't Wii Sports Resort a Q4 title? The game seemed almost finished.

Besides the point that it doesn't seem to be finished and could need more games, I would say the Q4 has enough of the so called casual games.

 

[jj984jj]

How about if I don't want it to pick up everyone in the same room? :\

 

[Linkup]

How about if I don't want it to pick up everyone in the same room? :\

Where's my chocolate milk!

 

[Jokeropia]

Judging by constant peripheral shortages, I'm guessing they need some time to build up a decent supply of MotionPlus. I still predict shortages.

 

[Furret]

About WiiSpeak: will Nintendo support it extensively besides Animal Crossing? What are the odds to see it used in WiiSports Resort, assuming it is offers online play? Being on wii, WiiSpeak has the potential to make the voicechat market explode. But is it a goal Nintendo will pursuie? Will this device offer a better voice recognition than the DS microphone? Will it be bundled with Animal Crossing?

Online play is for antisocial computer nerds.

Nintendo see the likes of Wii Sports Resort as the cure to its disease.

 

[Arde5643]

Where's my chocolate milk!

"Hey baby, I got the whip and candle ready."

Think of the hilarious bloopers!

 

[the year 20XX]

Do you speak directly to the device Nintendo showed off, or is there a headset or a similar peripheral to attach to the Wii Remote?

The thing on top of the TV is the mic. You talk toward the TV.

 

[agrajag]

"Hey baby, I got the whip and candle ready."

Think of the hilarious bloopers!

Numerous kids being hardcore will be embarassed by their mothers with messages of supper being ready. Lot's of lulz will be had.

 

[marc^o^]

Judging by constant peripheral shortages, I'm guessing they need some time to build up a decent supply of MotionPlus. I still predict shortages.

You have certainly the right answer to explain this late launch. How many would be needed? At least 50 millions. This will be a huge strstegic move gor Nintendo. They will want to make MotionPlus a standard. They will have a BIG marketing budget/plan. Wii Sports 2 will speak to every people who know the wii, and to the fewer ones who don't yet. 1:1 controls may also apply to the attach rste to expect. They are so many wiimotes sold on top of the one included with the console. Nintendo will have to realize an industrial miracle to fullfill the demand. March doesn't seem that a bad date when all things considered.

 

[Proven]

I really want to know what the hard drive looking box is for. I mean, it's so big, is it really necessary for the extra processing power?

I also wonder if anyone noticed that it was the the piece of hardware in that leaked photo that people thought was a hard drive announcement in the bag the week before E3.

 

[blu]

I really want to know what the hard drive looking box is for. I mean, it's so big, is it really necessary for the extra processing power?

on-board censorship of foul language. takes lots of power.

 

[Teknoman]

I really want to know what the hard drive looking box is for. I mean, it's so big, is it really necessary for the extra processing power?

I also wonder if anyone noticed that it was the the piece of hardware in that leaked photo that people thought was a hard drive announcement in the bag the week before E3.

Can you post that photo, or has it been taken down?

I will buy Wiispeak since its probably going to be the only voice comm method availible. Also i'll probably end up getting Wii sports resort. Sword fighting, Jetski game trying to be better than Waverace, and who knows what else.

 

[marc^o^]

How will we access buttons 1 and 2 when holdibg the wiimote horizontaly with MotionPlus attached? It seems impossible.

 

[Death_Born]

Online play is for antisocial computer nerds.

As opposed to Local play with...social computer nerds?

 

[DDayton]

I'm a bit puzzled as to whether there is anything "special" about the Wii Speak box, or if the system sees it as a USB mic.

 

[marc^o^]

WiiSpeak could be used outside of its initial goal: ie during an online game, people could decide to watch a TV show together, and keep the mic opened while watching a TV channel. Nothing that can't be done already with a computer, but having the mic on the TV set will make things easier.

 

[Linkup]

I kind of wonder how well online play would even work with something like the fencing game in wiisports resort. Not that split second timing is needed, but there is already a bit of lag and online play is only going to add to it. Are there going to be problems with 1:1 and online play?

 

[jrricky]

How will we access buttons 1 and 2 when holdibg the wiimote horizontaly with MotionPlus attached? It seems impossible.

the only way around that is to not make a game with motionplus and the controller in the horizontal position, or make the game with that and not allow for button 1 and 2 pressing.

I kind of wonder how well online play would even work with something like the fencing game in wiisports resort. Not that split second timing is needed, but there is already a bit of lag and online play is only going to add to it. Are there going to be problems with 1:1 and online play?

there is lag playing Wii sports Resort with the Motionplus? If there is lag, that wont be 1:1 detection and I wouldnt buy it.

 

[marc^o^]

the only way around that is to not make a game with motionplus and the controller in the horizontal position, or make the game with that and not allow for button 1 and 2 pressing.

Exactly, which is quite limitating.

 

[jrricky]

Exactly, which is quite limitating.

this seems to be what they are planning, just like every other accessory...

Sure, all of the people who already own a Wii (and in case you haven't noticed, there's a lot of them) will still have to buy the add-on for any games that support it, but at least building it into the controller would help Nintendo keep its user base from getting too splintered. But Eguchi said that the company is considering limiting MotionPlus support to a select number of games. "[It] might be good to keep it as an attachment we only use for certain software."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20080718/tc_zd/229976

 

[wazoo]

I want to keep my motion plus plugged all the time.

It would be completely non Nintendo to ask the public to know whether they need motion plus or not for each coming game.

 

[acidviper]

Do you think we get a wii bundle SKU with wii sports/wii sports resort/wii motion plus built-in controller 2009xmas/2010?

 

[Linkup]

there is lag playing Wii sports Resort with the Motionplus? If there is lag, that wont be 1:1 detection and I wouldnt buy it.

It's very small.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/37144.html

 

[wazoo]

Do you think we get a wii bundle SKU with wii sports/wii sports resort/wii motion plus built-in controller 2009xmas/2010?

maybe. it will help nintendo to keep the price of the console "high". We could also have a Wii play 2 with wiimote 2.0 included.

I think people are downplaying motion plus too much. The biggest news from a "motion gaming" perspective is that this tech can improve. It is obvious for 3D and we know from the ps1/ps2/ps3/... history what to expect for the next gen. For motion, it was not clear at Wii launch if things could be better, we got comments from MS "we tried ten years ago with the sidewinder, it does not work" or Sony "we were hard at work and we got the (bad) sixaxis", so it is great news that improvments are on the way. Wiimote 2.0 will improve on Wiimote and the next Wii 2.0 will surely improve on this. That the best news from wii motion, imo.

 

[vareon]

The only thing worrying me now is the battery consumption

 

[Dalthien]

My take is, I think Nintendo will be limiting the amount of titles coming to Wii using this device to ensure it's an all or nothing scenario, with the majority of internal games being designed for it. Games won't be made giving players an either/or option for Wii Remote/Wii Remote with motion plus. I think this would be a good move because it would be the path of least resistance when it comes to confusing consumers.

I suspect games will come with a special MotionPlus symbol on the box for games that take advantage of the new controller. It would be very difficult to design a game to be used with both the standard remote and the MotionPlus. Any game designed to take advantage of the MotionPlus for primary controls would need to be completely redesigned in order to maintain its balance and difficulty level and overall polish if it were to be used with a standard Wiimote. Of course, some titles might just include a handful of mini-games or side-modes that use the MotionPlus, whereas the main game mode only uses the standard Wiimote. And people who don't have the MotionPlus wouldn't be able to access those special modes. But games built primarily around the MotionPlus controls would almost have to be limited to players with a MotionPlus controller.

That is why WiiSports Resort is being used to sell the device. I doubt that WiiSports Resort was the impetus for the MotionPlus. I feel confident that Nintendo has another game or two which are the real basis for the MotionPlus controls, but they know that WiiSports is the best vehicle for getting the controller into the hands of as many people as possible. So they are using WiiSports Resort as the delivery device, in order to ensure that there is a sizable audience that is able to play the games that are being built from the ground up with the MotionPlus in mind. I expect WiiSports Resort to be very much like WiiPlay in that Nintendo will use it as a tool to help introduce people to the new controller and how it can be used within the context of a game.

But I'm fairly sure that some other title or two was the real reason for the introduction of the MotionPlus. Something like an entirely new fighting system for the new Wii Zelda - or a control setup for a new Punch-Out which is much more responsive than the controls in Wii Boxing, or some other high profile title that Nintendo felt really needed the improved accuracy that the MotionPlus provides.

Nintendo could have made a WiiSports sequel with the standard Wiimote and still sold a gazillion copies, so I really doubt that WiiSports Resort is the reason for the MotionPlus controller. But it does provide the opportunity to get the MotionPlus into as many hands as possible. Meanwhile, the real game (or games) being built around the MotionPlus controller just aren't ready to be shown or discussed yet, especially since they won't be released until summer 2009 at the earliest, and probably not until XMas 2009.

 

[jrricky]

I want to keep my motion plus plugged all the time.

It would be completely non Nintendo to ask the public to know whether they need motion plus or not for each coming game.

:lol there is nothing stopping you from keeping it plugged in all the time. it just wont work for games that havent been implemented with motionplus in mind.

 

[Furret]

As opposed to Local play with...social computer nerds?

Yes.

Isn't that at least 50% better?

And that's not taking into account the non-gamers that do play Wii Sports, et al.

 

[Neomoto]

Do they delay it to compete against RE5 in March, like they had WiiFit against GTA4?

Why would Nintendo care about RE 5? Wii Sports Resort is the sequal to fucking Wii Sports. It'll shit on every game the month it'll be released. Nintendo will likely do a enormous marketing campaign like with Wii Fit (and the mainstream media will eat. it. up.)

About WiiSpeak: will Nintendo support it extensively besides Animal Crossing?

I don't know about "extensively" but the producer of Animal Crossing: City Folk had this to say:

KE: "Well, we’ve developed WiiSpeak with Animal Crossing in mind, and that’ll be a large element of the game — but we’re also planning other software to support the WiiSpeak peripheral."

Note how he says we're planning, so that means first/2nd party.

And The Conduit will support Wii Speak too (alongside 16 player online), the first 3rd party game that confirmed support

Will it be bundled with Animal Crossing?

No. Wii Speak costs $ 29.95 and will be sold seperately (not bundled with Animal Crossing)

http://wii.ign.com/articles/889/889633p1.html

Online play is for antisocial computer nerds.

Nintendo see the likes of Wii Sports Resort as the cure to its disease.

Or you know, Wii Sports was a launch game and online gaming on Wii wasn't ready then so even if they did want to include it they couldn't. And Wii Fit isn't the type of software you would take online I think. Wii Music uses WiiConnect24 for sharing your own created ingame recorded videos online with friends I think. Animal Crossing uses it heavily. That's the casual line-up (Big Brain Academy Wii awhile back also used WiiConnect24). They use online for their core games as well so I don't know what you're saying.

 

[Wildstar75]

Is there anybody else that thinks this could hurt their short term sales? If I was a 3rd party Id be pissed!! I for one, as a consumer, dont want to buy even a single game for the wii (other than wii balance board games like sk8 or snowboarding) until this thing ships. Instead of no live no buy, it will be like no motion plus, no buy. If Im overreacting, then the thing isnt that good in the first place, and they shouldnt have released it. Im all for more accurate controls, and 1:1 gameplay, this thing better deliver on that now. Because thats what I bought with the wii in the first place. And yes , it is annoying that Im paying extra in 09 for what I thought I was getting when the wii launched.

Also wii speak? cmon, who cares? Any mic, with a brick attached like that better be revolutionary. It wont be.

 

[ziran]

Judging by constant peripheral shortages, I'm guessing they need some time to build up a decent supply of MotionPlus. I still predict shortages.

Good point. This is sure to be a significant part of the release date decision.

I suspect games will come with a special MotionPlus symbol on the box for games that take advantage of the new controller. It would be very difficult to design a game to be used with both the standard remote and the MotionPlus. Any game designed to take advantage of the MotionPlus for primary controls would need to be completely redesigned in order to maintain its balance and difficulty level and overall polish if it were to be used with a standard Wiimote. Of course, some titles might just include a handful of mini-games or side-modes that use the MotionPlus, whereas the main game mode only uses the standard Wiimote. And people who don't have the MotionPlus wouldn't be able to access those special modes. But games built primarily around the MotionPlus controls would almost have to be limited to players with a MotionPlus controller.

That is why WiiSports Resort is being used to sell the device. I doubt that WiiSports Resort was the impetus for the MotionPlus. I feel confident that Nintendo has another game or two which are the real basis for the MotionPlus controls, but they know that WiiSports is the best vehicle for getting the controller into the hands of as many people as possible. So they are using WiiSports Resort as the delivery device, in order to ensure that there is a sizable audience that is able to play the games that are being built from the ground up with the MotionPlus in mind. I expect WiiSports Resort to be very much like WiiPlay in that Nintendo will use it as a tool to help introduce people to the new controller and how it can be used within the context of a game.

But I'm fairly sure that some other title or two was the real reason for the introduction of the MotionPlus. Something like an entirely new fighting system for the new Wii Zelda - or a control setup for a new Punch-Out which is much more responsive than the controls in Wii Boxing, or some other high profile title that Nintendo felt really needed the improved accuracy that the MotionPlus provides.

Nintendo could have made a WiiSports sequel with the standard Wiimote and still sold a gazillion copies, so I really doubt that WiiSports Resort is the reason for the MotionPlus controller. But it does provide the opportunity to get the MotionPlus into as many hands as possible. Meanwhile, the real game (or games) being built around the MotionPlus controller just aren't ready to be shown or discussed yet, especially since they won't be released until summer 2009 at the earliest, and probably not until XMas 2009.

I agree, everything you've said certainly is possible.

I think a big part of the lack of announcements from Nintendo is because they're going to be using Wii Motion Plus with a lot of their internal development on Wii, especially the hardcore franchises. Miyamoto's already talked about a more accurate version of boxing in a potential Punch Out title, and Zelda seems likely. What I think is going to be interesting is, will Nintendo bundle it with games other than Wii Sports Resort? Could we see it bundled with the next Zelda?

There's definitely a certain awkwardness in having a peripheral that would seem to benefit so many games when the system will have sold ~50 million units. Wii Sports Resort is the ideal pack in, and is sure to get the device into a big percentage of Wii homes, but there will still be an amount of people who won't have it.

 

[kottila]

Is there anybody else that thinks this could hurt their short term sales? If I was a 3rd party Id be pissed!! I for one, as a consumer, dont want to buy even a single game for the wii (other than wii balance board games like sk8 or snowboarding) until this thing ships. Instead of no live no buy, it will be like no motion plus, no buy. If Im overreacting, then the thing isnt that good in the first place, and they shouldnt have released it. Im all for more accurate controls, and 1:1 gameplay, this thing better deliver on that now. Because thats what I bought with the wii in the first place. And yes , it is annoying that Im paying extra in 09 for what I thought I was getting when the wii launched.

Also wii speak? cmon, who cares? Any mic, with a brick attached like that better be revolutionary. It wont be.

Do you expect every Wii game to be a sword fighting game from 09?
Not every game benefits from it. Samba is said to work perfectly as it is. SkateIt and RRR2 uses the balance board, GHWT, King Story, de Blob and Deadly Creatures doesn't need it. Madworld uses the NMH style, which worked great. I won't be buying any of the Star Wars games, but I don't think I'd buy them anyway.

 

[CTLance]

(...)Also wii speak? cmon, who cares? Any mic, with a brick attached like that better be revolutionary. It wont be.

I'm still highly curious why they need that brick. There's easily enough space in the mic itself. Heck, the average USB flashdrive plug gives enough leeway for comfortably housing the all-in-one soundchip as well as audio in and out connectors.

On a side note, your Avatar is not only highly distracting (in an admittedly utterly delicious way), but also waaaaaay over the size and resolution limit. Refer to the FAQ, please.
225 x 382 pixels animated in 76 frames @ 4.1 MB (4197708 bytes) != 90 x 120 pixels @ 150KB

 

[marc^o^]

Will the mic include a speaker, or will the sound come out of the TV only?

 

[Wrestlemania]

I'm still highly curious why they need that brick. There's easily enough space in the mic itself. Heck, the average USB flashdrive plug gives enough leeway for comfortably housing the all-in-one soundchip as well as audio in and out connectors.

Noise cancellation would be my guess.