Wii Motion Plus Removes Minus
You have to wonder how far Nintendo can push gamers.
The Wii Motion Plus accessory (for the Wii, obviously) is being released soon. June 11th is the official release date for the doodad, which improves the motion-sensing capabilities of the Wiimote via the use of sexy objects like gyroscopes. Footage of the device in action has shown that it will allow the Wii’s controller to act much more like a real object that controls on-game movements. Coming out at the same time as the Motion Plus is a selection of sports titles (Virtual Tennis 2009, Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Wood PGA Tour 10), and in July the anticipated sequel to Wii Sports - creatively titled Wii Sports Resort - will also showcase the device.
More than revolution, the Motion plus provides parity. Remember the first time you heard about the Wii? That moment when you had orgasmic dreams about wielding a samurai sword in your living room, punching out some fools, and casting magical spells with a real life wand? Remember when you first realised actually using the remote was like a gaming version of Chinese Whispers?
Movements on screen roughly corresponded to what you did with your arms - very fucking roughly. Most Wii games can’t really tell the difference between “sweeping slash of remote”, “light waggle” and “sticking remote in the garbage”. Quickly, many people decided they could have saved their Wii money and bought one third of a Playstation 3. Now with the new device, perhaps that will change.
The Motion Plus, then, is a tiny cube that clicks into the bottom port of your Wiimote and makes it do what it bloody well should have done in the first place, for a small purchase fee. Nintendo’s hand in your pants, fondling your wallet, is free of charge.