The Wii (pronounced as the pronoun we, IPA: [wiː]) is the
fifth video game console released by Nintendo. The console was previously known
by its project code name of Revolution, and is the successor to the Nintendo
GameCube. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than
that of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3,[7] but it competes with
both as part of the seventh generation of gaming systems.
A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii
Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion
and rotation in three dimensions. Another is WiiConnect24, which enables it to
receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.[8]
Nintendo first mentioned the console at the 2004 E3 press conference and later
unveiled the system at the 2005 E3. Satoru Iwata revealed a prototype of the
controller at the September 2005 Tokyo Game Show.[9] In the 2006 E3, the console
won the first of several awards.[10] By December 8, 2006, it completed its
launch in four key markets.
History
The console was originally conceived in 2001, as the Nintendo GameCube was first
seeing release. According to an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, the concept
involved focusing on a new form of player interaction. "The consensus was that
power isn't everything for a console. Too many powerful consoles can't coexist.
It's like having only ferocious dinosaurs. They might fight and hasten their own
extinction."[11]
Two years later, engineers and designers were brought together to further
develop the concept. By 2005, the controller interface had taken form, but a
public showing at that year's E3 was withdrawn. Miyamoto stated that "we had
some troubleshooting to do. So we decided not to reveal the controller and
instead we displayed just the console."[11] Satoru Iwata would later unveil and
demonstrate the controller at the September Tokyo Game Show.[9]
The Nintendo DS is stated to have influenced the Wii design. Designer Ken'ichiro
Ashida noted "We had the DS on our minds as we worked on the Wii. We thought
about copying the DS's touch-panel interface and even came up with a prototype."
The idea was eventually rejected, with the notion that the two gaming systems
would be identical. Miyamoto also expressed that "if the DS had flopped, we
might have taken the Wii back to the drawing board."[11]
Name
The console was known by the codename of "Revolution" until April 27, 2006,
immediately prior to E3.[12] According to the Nintendo Style Guide, the name "is
simply Wii, not Nintendo Wii." This means it is the first home console Nintendo
has marketed outside of Japan without the company name featured in its
trademark. While "Wiis" is a commonly used pluralization of the console,
Nintendo has stated that the official plural form is "Wii Systems" or "Wii
Consoles."[13] Nintendo spells "Wii" with two lower-case "i" characters meant to
resemble two people standing side by side, representing players gathering
together, as well as to represent the console's controllers. The company has
given many reasons for this choice of name since the announcement; however, the
most well known is:
“ Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii
can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language
they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.[14] ”
Despite Nintendo's justification for the name, some game developers and members
of the press initially reacted negatively towards the change. They preferred
"Revolution" over "Wii"[15] and expressed fear "that the name would convey a
continued sense of 'kidiness' [sic] to the console."[16] The BBC reported the
day after the name was announced that "a long list of puerile jokes, based on
the name," had appeared on the Internet.[17] Reggie Fils-Aime acknowledged the
initial reaction and further explained the change:
“ Revolution as a name is not ideal; it's long, and in some cultures, it's hard
to pronounce. So we wanted something that was short, to the point, easy to
pronounce, and distinctive. That's how 'Wii,' as a console name, was
created.[18] ”
Nintendo defended its choice of "Wii" over "Revolution" and responded to critics
of the name by stating: "live with it, sleep with it, eat with it, move along
with it."[19]
Launch
Main article: Wii launch
Starting September 14, 2006, Nintendo announced release information for Japan,
North and South America, Australasia (Oceania), Asia, and Europe, including
dates, prices, and distribution. At an earlier policy briefing, Nintendo
revealed plans to release 6 million console units and 17 million software units
during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.[20] This included the 4 million or
more console units they expected to ship by the end of the 2006 calendar
year.[21] It was announced that the majority of the 2006 shipments would be
allotted to the Americas[22] and that 33 titles would be available in the 2006
launch window.[23] The United Kingdom suffered a large shortage of console units
as many high-street and online stores were unable to fulfill all preorders.[24]
Nintendo announced that they would release their console in South Korea by the
end of 2007.[25]
Demographic
Nintendo hopes to target a wider demographic with its console than that of
others in the seventh generation.[7] At a press conference for Dragon Quest IX,
Satoru Iwata iterated "We're not thinking about fighting Sony, but about how
many people we can get to play games. The thing we're thinking about most is not
portable systems, consoles, and so-forth, but that we want to get new people
playing games."[26]
This is reflected in Nintendo's series of television advertisements in North
America, directed by Academy Award-winner Stephen Gaghan, as well as Internet
ads. The ad slogans are "Wii would like to play" and "Experience a new way to
play." These ads ran starting November 15, 2006 and had a total budget of over
US$200 million throughout the year.[27] The productions are Nintendo's first
broad-based advertising strategy and include a two-minute video clip showing a
varied assortment of people enjoying the Wii system, such as urban
apartment-dwellers, country ranchers, grandparents and parents with their
children. The music in the ads is from the song "Kodo (Inside the Sun Remix)" by
the Yoshida Brothers.[28]
Hardware
Wii retail display boxesThe Wii console is Nintendo's smallest home unit yet; it
measures 44 mm (1.73 in.) wide, 157 mm (6.18 in.) tall, and 215.4 mm (8.48 in.)
deep in its vertical orientation. The included stand measures 55.4 mm (2.18 in.)
wide, 44 mm (1.73 in.) tall, and 225.6 mm (8.88 in.) deep. The system weighs 1.2
kg (2.7 lbs),[29] which makes it the lightest of the three major seventh
generation consoles. The console can be placed either horizontally or
vertically. The prefix for the numbering scheme of the system and its parts and
accessories is "RVL-" after its project code name of "Revolution".[30]
The front of the console features an illuminated slot-loading optical media
drive that accepts both 12cm Wii Optical Discs and Nintendo GameCube Game Discs.
The blue light in the disc slot illuminates briefly when the console is turned
on, and pulsates when new data is received through WiiConnect24. When there is
no WiiConnect24 information, the light is off. The disc slot light remains off
during game play or when using other features. Two USB ports are located at its
rear, and an SD card slot hides behind the cover on the front of the console.
The SD card can be used for uploading photos as well as backing up saved game
data and downloaded Virtual Console games. As a presently impenetrable system of
digital rights management, Virtual Console data cannot be restored to any system
except the unit of origin.[31] To use the SD slot, a software update must be
downloaded, so game saves cannot be transferred to or from a system that has not
been connected to the Internet.
Nintendo has shown the console and the Wii Remote in white, black, silver, lime
green, and red,[32][33] but has initially been available only in white. At E3
2006, the Wii Remote was shown in light blue. Shigeru Miyamoto stated that other
colors would be available after the easing of supply limitations, which were
stated to continue until Spring.[34] Numerous minor changes were made to the
design between its original unveiling and launch, including the Nintendo
branding used and button placements.
The Wii launch package includes the console, a stand to allow the console to be
placed vertically, a circular clear stabilizer for the main stand, one Wii
Remote, one Nunchuk attachment, one Sensor Bar, a removable stand for the sensor
bar, one external main power adapter, two AA batteries, one composite AV cable
with RCA connectors (component video and other types of cables are available
separately), operation documentation, and (in all regions excluding Japan) a
copy of Wii Sports.
A Nintendo spokesperson has announced that the company plans to release a
version of the console with DVD-Video playback capabilities in 2007.[35] This
corroborates an earlier press release by digital media company Sonic Solutions,
stating that Nintendo had chosen their CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator software
engine to provide this functionality. Even though software will be used to
enable DVD-Video functionality, it apparently "requires more than a firmware
upgrade" and cannot therefore be implemented through the WiiConnect24
network.[35]
Wii Remote
From left to right: Nintendo DS Lite, Nunchuk, Wii Remote, and strapMain
article: Wii Remote
The Wii Remote is a one-handed controller that uses a combination of
accelerometers and infrared detection (from an array of LEDs inside the Sensor
Bar) to sense its position in 3D space. This design allows users to control the
game using physical gestures as well as traditional button presses. The
controller connects to the console using Bluetooth, and features force feedback,
4KB non-volatile memory[36] and an internal speaker. The Wii Remote can connect
to other devices through a proprietary port at the base of the controller. The
device bundled with the Wii retail package is the Nunchuk unit, which features
an accelerometer and a traditional analog stick with two trigger buttons. In
addition, an attachable wrist strap can be used to prevent the player from
unintentionally dropping or throwing the Wii Remote. In response to incidences
of strap failures, Nintendo is offering a stronger replacement for all
straps.[37]
Technical specifications
Nintendo itself has released few technical details regarding the Wii system, but
some key facts have leaked from the press.[1][36] Though none of these reports
have been officially confirmed, most point to the Wii as being an extension or
advancement of the previous Nintendo GameCube architecture.
Processors:
CPU: PowerPC based "Broadway" processor, made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process,
reportedly† clocked at 729 MHz[38]
GPU: ATI "Hollywood" GPU made with a 90 nm CMOS process,[39] reportedly† clocked
at 243 MHz[38]
Memory:
88 MB main memory (24 MB "internal" 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package, 64
MB "external" GDDR3 SDRAM)[40]
3 MB GPU texture memory
Ports and peripheral capabilities:
Up to four Wii Remote controllers (connected wirelessly via Bluetooth)
Nintendo GameCube controller ports (4) (one can be used in conjunction with four
Wii Remote units for five-player multiplayer capability)
Nintendo GameCube Memory Card ports (2)
SD memory card slot
USB 2.0 ports (2)
Sensor Bar port
Accessory port on bottom of Wii Remote
Mitsumi DWM-W004 WiFi 802.11b/g wireless module[41]
Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
Built-in content ratings systems:
BBFC, CERO, ESRB, OFLC, OFLC (NZ), PEGI, USK
Storage:
512 MB built-in NAND flash memory
Expansion available via SD card memory
Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards (for saving GameCube games only)
IBM's Wii "Broadway" CPU
ATI's Wii "Hollywood" GPUSlot-loading disc drive compatible with 8 cm Nintendo
GameCube Game Disc and 12 cm Wii Optical Disc
Mask ROM by Macronix[42]
Video:
Up to 480p (PAL/NTSC) or 576i (PAL/SECAM), standard 4:3 and 16:9 anamorphic
widescreen[43]
Component (including Progressive scan), RGB SCART (PAL only), S-Video (NTSC
only), composite output, or D-Terminal[44]
Audio:
Main: Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable[45]
Controller: Built-in speaker
† None of the clock rates have been confirmed by Nintendo, IBM, or ATI.
Technical issues
The first firmware update via WiiConnect24 reportedly caused a small portion of
units to become unusable. This forced users to either send their units to
Nintendo for repairs (if they wished to retain their saved data), or exchange it
for a free replacement.[46] It has also been reported that during standby mode,
the Wii can overheat to the point of damaging the GPU, causing pixelation
problems, such as random dark or green pixels, to appear. Currently, it is
possible to contact Nintendo and send it for repair.[47]
Legal issues
Interlink Electronics filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Nintendo over
the pointing functionalities of the Wii Remote, claiming, "loss of reasonable
royalties, reduced sales and/or lost profits as a result of the infringing
activities" of Nintendo.[48] Anascape Ltd, a Texas-based firm, also filed a
lawsuit against Nintendo for patent infringements.[49][50] Green Welling LLP
filed a class action lawsuit against Nintendo for their "defective wrist
straps."[51]
Features
The console contains a number of internal features made available from its
hardware and firmware components. The hardware allows for extendability through
expansion ports while the firmware can receive periodic updates via the
WiiConnect24 service.
Wii Channels
Main article: Wii Channels
Wii Channels menuThe operating system interface for the console is designed
around the concept of television channels, with a Wii menu used to access them.
Separate channels are graphically displayed in a 4x3 grid, and are navigated
using the pointer capability of the Wii Remote. There are six primary channels:
the Disc Channel, Mii Channel, Photo Channel, Wii Shop Channel, Forecast
Channel, and News Channel. The Forecast Channel was released on December 19,
2006.[52] The News Channel was released on January 26, 2007.[53] There are a
number of channels for each Virtual Console download, and two additional
downloadable through Wii Ware: the Internet Channel and the Everybody Votes
Channel. A Trial Version of the Internet Channel was released on December 22,
2006 and is available for download on the Wii Shop Channel. The full version is
to be released in March, which will be free if downloaded before June. After
June, a fee of 500 Wii Points will be required for purchase.[54] The Everybody
Votes Channel was released on February 13, 2007.[55]
Backward compatibility
Nintendo GameCube ports on the top of the Wii unitThe Wii console is backward
compatible with all Nintendo GameCube software and most GameCube peripherals.
Compatibility with software is achieved with the slot-loading drive's ability to
accept GameCube discs. Peripherals can be connected via set of four GameCube
controller ports and two Memory Card slots concealed by flip-open panels.[1] A
GameCube controller is required to play GameCube games, as neither the Wii
Remote nor the Classic Controller functions in this capacity. A Nintendo
GameCube Memory Card is also necessary to save, as the Wii internal flash memory
will not save GameCube games. Nintendo has stated that the console is not
compatible with the GameCube modem adapter, broadband adapter, Game Boy Player,
AV cable, or AC adapter.
Nintendo DS connectivity
The Wii system supports wireless connectivity with the Nintendo DS. Shigeru
Miyamoto said Nintendo was still working out when features using this
connectivity would be available, but that it would be soon after the launch of
the system, due to the popularity of the Nintendo DS.[56] At Nintendo's
corporate policy meeting in June 2006, Satoru Iwata explained that the DS uses
its wireless connectivity to communicate with the console and that no further
accessories are needed.[20]
The connectivity allows the player to use functions like the Nintendo DS
microphone and touchscreen as inputs for Wii games. The first example Nintendo
has given of a game using Nintendo DS-Wii connectivity is that of Pokémon Battle
Revolution. Players with either Pokémon Diamond or Pearl are able to play
battles using their Nintendo DS as a controller.[57] It has also been announced
that the Nintendo DS is able to play game demos downloaded from the console,
which they would receive from Nintendo, similar to a DS Download Station.[58]
The console is also able to expand Nintendo DS games.[57]
Online connectivity
Main articles: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, WiiConnect24, Virtual Console, and
Internet Channel
The Wii unit is able to connect to the Internet through its built-in 802.11b/g
Wi-Fi and through a USB-to-Ethernet adaptor, with both methods allowing players
to access the established Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.[1] Nintendo has
stated that the console implements standard Wi-Fi protocols. Wireless encryption
by WEP, WPA (TKIP/RC4) and WPA2 (CCMP/AES) are supported.[59] Just as for the
Nintendo DS, Nintendo does not charge fees for playing via the service[7][60]
and the Friend Code system controls how players connect to one another. It is
reported that only one Wii system code is required.[61][60] This system also
implements console-based software such as the Wii Message Board, for which a
feature is being considered for alerting registered friends for the Wii Message
Board about new games that have been purchased.[62]
The service has several features for the console including the Virtual Console,
WiiConnect24, Internet Channel, Forecast Channel, and the News Channel. The
console can also communicate and connect with other Wii systems through a
self-generated wireless LAN, enabling local wireless multiplayer on different
television sets. Battalion Wars 2 first demonstrated this feature for non-split
screen multiplayer between two or more televisions.[63]
Parental controls
The console features parental controls, prohibiting younger users from playing
games with content considered unsuitable for their age level. When a Wii or
Virtual Console game is attempted to be played, it reads the content rating
encoded in the game data; if this rating is greater than the system's set age
level the game will not load without a correct override password. However, the
parental controls setting does not affect Nintendo GameCube titles.
European units mainly use the PEGI rating system,[64] whereas North American
units use the ESRB rating system.[65] The Wii unit supports the native rating
systems of many countries, including CERO in Japan, the USK in Germany, both the
PEGI and BBFC in the United Kingdom and the OFLC in Australia and New Zealand.
Software library
See also: List of Wii games
Games representing Nintendo's flagship franchises, including the The Legend of
Zelda, Metroid, Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokémon, Super Smash Bros., and Fire
Emblem series have been announced for the console, with only The Legend of
Zelda: Twilight Princess and WarioWare being released to date in all
territories. Likewise, there are original titles for it as well as expected
third party games.[66] Ubisoft announced eight titles for release over the
launch period, and have stated that they have a further six currently in
development while Midway Games has announced six titles.[67] EA has declared
their '100%' support for the system[68] and has since gone on to purchase
long-time partner Headgate Studios, which now develops exclusively for
Nintendo's console.[69]
Though Perrin Kaplan had originally stated that the system would be
region-free,[70] corrections from Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe
concurred that the console does support regional lockout.[71]
Retail copies of Wii games are supplied on DVD-like optical discs and are
packaged in a keep case. On European releases, these retail boxes have a
triangle printed at the bottom corner on the side keep case paper insert sleeve.
This is to identify which languages the particular title contains.
Reception
At E3 2006, Nintendo's console won the Game Critics Awards for Best of Show and
Best Hardware.[10] In the December 2006 issue of Popular Science the console was
awarded with the Grand Award Winner in Home Entertainment.[72] Spike TV's Video
Games Award also granted the console the award in breakthrough technology.[73]
GameSpot chose the console as the Best Hardware on their Best and Worst 2006
awards show.[74] The system was also chosen as one of PC World magazine's 20
Most Innovative Products of the Year.[75]
Criticism of the Wii Remote and the Wii hardware has also surfaced. Jeff
Gerstmann of CNET has stated that the controller's speaker produces low-quality
sound.[76] Factor 5 President Julian Eggebrecht criticized the hardware audio as
being substandard for a console of the seventh generation, saying "It's
essentially GameCube 1.5."[77] Free Radical Design has stated that the Wii
hardware would lack the power needed to run their software set for release on
other seventh generation consoles.[78] An executive for Frontline Studios
expressed that major publishers are wary of releasing exclusive titles for the
console due to the perception that third-party companies are not strongly
supported by consumers.[79] The online connectivity of the Wii was also subject
to criticism, as Matt Casamassina of IGN compared it to the "entirely
unintuitive" service provided for the Nintendo DS.[
|