Nintendo next-gen Wii specs [Archive]

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Doobie

10th May 2006, 17:24

That's right folks, I've got the hardware details to Nintendo's next-gen game system, the Wii. This information comes right from Nintendo:

Media: optical disks (reads at least some CDs)
RAM: unknown
CPU: PowePC (speed, between 1 and 100GHz, probably closer to 1)
Graphics: ATI (with pipelines or something)
Hard drive: fat chance
Controllers: modified lady's vibrator (Nintendo's secret weapon against Sony and MS.)

I bet Nintendo will have to charge at least $100 to make money on each system sold.

Inventive Software

10th May 2006, 17:45

Lol!!! (bah the 5 char minimum!)

Sirber

10th May 2006, 18:21

Media: 12-centimeter optical discs for Wii, as well as 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCube discs.
CPU: IBM "Broadway" 729MHz
RAM: 88MB
Graphics: ATI, said to be able to do 16:9 at 480p
Hard drive: 512MB builtin flash memory, with SD slot
Controllers: remote control with plugable addons

Price: under $300

jggimi

10th May 2006, 18:31

This thread is OT for the forum, but I can't help myself -- I saw this yesterday:http://msnbc.com/comics/comics/ft060509.gif

Eretria-chan

10th May 2006, 18:51

That is a so lame joke. Don't compare "wii" with "wee." Although they sound the same, it's really lame IMO to joke around like that. It may be a silly name, and I'm not claiming I like it, but it seems lame to me to joke around like so.

Rumours about the price tag is ca $250. The system will be released Q4 this year.

spuddog

10th May 2006, 19:03

It may be lame, but I plan to wii, wii, wii all the way home

Sirber

10th May 2006, 19:27

same here. I don't like M$ and Sony is dying...

foxyshadis

10th May 2006, 19:48

Sirber

10th May 2006, 19:50

12cm, not 12" ;)

kurt

10th May 2006, 20:18

the trailers look promising:

http://www.gaming-media.de/E32K6/Trailer/Wii_Mov_01.zip
http://www.gaming-media.de/E32K6/Trailer/Wii_Mov_02.zip

the controller also:

http://nfreaks.de/News/data/upimages/WiiController_sons6.jpg

Chainmax

10th May 2006, 20:24

bla,bla,bla

Hey guys, I have the specs for the OP:

- Troll
- Worthless troll
- Useless troll

If you care so much about specs, go spend U$$800+ on your PS3 + game at launch, dude :rolleyes:.

For all of you guys that want to see true innovation, check out this video from the E3 conference:

http://www.vgpro.com/file/15549_e32006_pc_nintendo_800k.wmv.html

Chainmax

10th May 2006, 20:27

12cm, not 12" ;)

Are we still talking about optical media here? ;):p

Guest

10th May 2006, 21:29

Lol!!! (bah the 5 char minimum!) Please keep in mind rule 11: don't make no-use posts. Thank you.

Guest

10th May 2006, 21:32

Hey guys, I have the specs for the OP: ... This post is a clear rule 4 violation. I'll give you the opportunity to edit it. If you don't, you'll earn a strike.

EDIT: Time's up.

Eretria-chan

10th May 2006, 21:36

You should look at IGN (I think?) with its hands on Metroid Prime 3! It will give you a pretty decent view of the Wii, or Revolution. I'll try to find the link there.
Okay, got it! Here: http://revolution.ign.com/objects/748/748547.html
It looks very promising!

Doobie

11th May 2006, 01:09

Hey guys, I have the specs for the OP:

- Troll
- Worthless troll
- Useless troll

Dillhole, I took the specs from the official Wii website. I was mocking them for lack of detail. Plus, I think most people here have some interest in the console scene, including those of us who are PC-only gamers. Of course, everyone is welcome to add to the thread their views and whatever interesting information they migh have about the Wii.

Chainmax

11th May 2006, 01:52

Dillhole...

Classy :rolleyes:.

I took the specs from the official Wii website. I was mocking them for lack of detail.

Wii specs are readily available and are not hard to find. It's as easy as typing "Wii" on WikiPedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii) (lol, Wii <--> WikiPedia :p)

Plus, I think most people here have some interest in the console scene, including those of us who are PC-only gamers. Of course, everyone is welcome to add to the thread their views and whatever interesting information they migh have about the Wii.

I agree with you, but even so, this kind of discussion is out of the purposes of this subforum.

[edit] Since when OP stopped meaning Original Post and started meaning Original Poster?

Sirber

11th May 2006, 04:07

Dillhole, I took the specs from the official Wii website.I took mine there too :p

wmansir

11th May 2006, 07:02

the controller also:

http://nfreaks.de/News/data/upimages/WiiController_sons6.jpg

I imagine I must have the same look on my face when I look at that picture as Sly Stallone did when he saw the three shells in Demolition Man.

Inventive Software

11th May 2006, 09:33

@Neuron: Sorry man! Forgot about that one!

That controller looks like it's gonna cause controversy. There's no way that you can reach all the buttons and have the analogue stick as well. Unless it's small enough for the Japs to get their little hands around!

Eretria-chan

11th May 2006, 09:36

Who says the games are going to use all the buttons? Different games use the controller differently. You can also tilt the remote and it can function like a NES controller.

Inventive Software

11th May 2006, 11:29

I loved the NES controller. So simple. Meant you had pains in your thumbs after holding the B button down in Mario mind...

Gamecube support is gonna win quite a lot of people. Provided it can play my original GameBoy PAKs as well, I may just purchase it.

Eretria-chan

11th May 2006, 12:10

I don't know about that. To my knowledge, it will play NES, SNES, N64, GC, Sega & another system. Turbo something I think? The GBA can still play the good ol' GB games.

Sirber

11th May 2006, 12:18

Pics of the "Virtual console"

http://www.gamersreports.com/media/561/

[edit]

Shots from E3:

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/10/nintendos-e3-booth-tour/

kurt

11th May 2006, 12:39

there is also this pistol called "The Zapper" (according to the old NES precursor version), wich combines the two parts of the controler. So either of your hands are free to shot :)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/131/e32006trafficjamatnintendoboot.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sirber

11th May 2006, 12:42

That console will so kick ass

now to be OTF safe, will it playback MPEG4? ;)

Eretria-chan

11th May 2006, 12:44

If such would be the case, then I would guess it could play MPEG2. On DVDs.

Guest

11th May 2006, 13:39

Coincidentally, my employer makes the 3D accelerometer chip that is used in the Wii controller. :)

Chainmax

11th May 2006, 15:02

Really? Wow, that's impressive :eek:. What do you do and who do you work for?

Guest

11th May 2006, 16:01

I'm an engineer for STMicroelectronics. We make the MEMS 3D accelerometer chip used in Wii. I can post our press release about it if you are interested.

Zarxrax

11th May 2006, 16:35

If such would be the case, then I would guess it could play MPEG2. On DVDs.

I believe I read somewhere a short while back that the Wii will indeed be able to play DVDs after the purchase of some additional item. I'm not sure if this was confirmed information though.

Shinigami-Sama

11th May 2006, 17:00

intersting, if it can play all the old games I"m sold
if not, well good by nintendo and all console systems from now on

but what if any, media player does it have?
plain CDDA?
dvd?
more?

Chainmax

11th May 2006, 17:10

I'm an engineer for STMicroelectronics. We make the MEMS 3D accelerometer chip used in Wii. I can post our press release about it if you are interested.

Please do :).

Guest

11th May 2006, 17:26

Please do :). http://neuron2.net/guest/fi563-e.pdf

Inventive Software

11th May 2006, 17:39

Very interesting! 3 axis controllers have been touted before, mostly on now-redundant consoles, but never before on such a high-profile machine. Well done there! I still can't see how you can reach all the buttons with just 2 hands. There's gonna be a few games in future that will require the use of all the buttons.

foxyshadis

11th May 2006, 18:16

A friend of mine who did the E3 thing reported that Wii's controller lagged badly (by about a half a second) on all the games, so hopefully that's a driver issue they'll take care of before release. Or perhaps a problem with the units, it's hard to tell. Also that holding it wasn't as comfortable and long-range as it should be, and too sensitive, but that might've just been his opinion.

On the other hand, he says PS3 controller handled a lot better, probably mostly the lack of any lag and identical ergonomics of PS2's dual shock, but still too sensitive. Just that the framerates of PS3's games were barely slideshow quality. :p Obviously both consoles have a ways to go before they hit release quality.

Zarxrax

11th May 2006, 18:39

I still can't see how you can reach all the buttons with just 2 hands. There's gonna be a few games in future that will require the use of all the buttons.

The controller is not designed for you to be able to press all of the buttons. You will use some buttons while holding the controller in one particular configuration, and you can use other buttons while holding it a different way. For instance, in Sonic Wild Fire and Excite Truck, you hold the controller sideways and use it as a steering wheel. The two buttons at the bottom will probably act as gas and brake as you are driving, or whatever. In a game where you hold the controller the other way, you obviously would not be expected to reach around and hit buttons that cant be reached easily. Some games, such as Nintendo Sports, don't even really use any buttons at all--it's entirely controlled by motions.

A friend of mine who did the E3 thing reported that Wii's controller lagged badly (by about a half a second) on all the games, so hopefully that's a driver issue they'll take care of before release. Or perhaps a problem with the units, it's hard to tell. Also that holding it wasn't as comfortable and long-range as it should be, and too sensitive, but that might've just been his opinion.
That's odd, because no other source I've seen (ign, gamespot, 1up, engadget) has commented on any sort of lag with the controller. I don't see how he could go around to different games and experiance a lag on them all, while no one else has :\

Chainmax

11th May 2006, 19:04

http://neuron2.net/guest/fi563-e.pdf

Amazing, did you have any part in the design?

Guest

11th May 2006, 19:12

No. I support our digital audio/video decoder silicon. We work with set-top box makers to get them into production quickly. That's how I know about MPEG.

That press release is interesting, especially the last line that says "Edited by..." You'll note that their editing is a bit deficient. :)

Eretria-chan

11th May 2006, 19:38

intersting, if it can play all the old games I"m sold
if not, well good by nintendo and all console systems from now on

but what if any, media player does it have?
plain CDDA?
dvd?
more?
I think nintendo also said that developers could make games for the old systems and make them available through the virtual console. For corporations with a lower budget.

lexor

12th May 2006, 02:19

Wait didn't some mom in US sue Nintendo a couple of years ago when she caught her daughter using GC controller as a vibrator? Saw it on CNN I think, maybe Fox. This new controller should have that use skyrocketing.

More on topic, I'm disappointed my 720p screen is not gonna get the love from Wii.

foxyshadis

12th May 2006, 07:57

Of course it looks even more like a vibrator now, but as far as I know, it doesn't vibrate. The old PS3 boomerangs would've been better. :p

Zarxrax, he said it was weird no one had said anything too, so I don't know. Maybe they just needed a reboot at the time.

Qjimbo

12th May 2006, 11:35

Yeah the new one does, it uses the rumble to emulate tension and friction from the looks of things.

Doobie

12th May 2006, 17:14

I can't wait to see the warning label on the Wii vib... uh, I Mean controller.

Shinigami-Sama

12th May 2006, 17:16

Warning: May cause blindness and wrist strain, and in rare cases epilpsy

more OT
does it use standard sized disks this time?

Zarxrax

12th May 2006, 17:59

more OT
does it use standard sized disks this time?

Yes. It features a slot loading drive that can also accept the smaller gamecube discs.

Eretria-chan

12th May 2006, 19:34

Although no doubt, still the DVDs they will be using will be heavily protected, like the GC discs. Of course, that's just a speculation as nothing has been confirmed.

GIR

14th May 2006, 11:21

Zarxrax

14th May 2006, 18:47

So does this Wii console have anything to do with the Wii60 I've been hearing about? I'd assume they do since the names are similar but I'm not much of a video gamer so correct me if I'm wrong.

:cool:

Wii60 is nonexistant. It is just a stupid name made up by journalists to make headlines sound good. Microsoft made a statement that people can purchase both an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii for less than the price of a Playstation 3, and then people tried to sound cute by calling this combo "wii60".

GIR

15th May 2006, 01:13

Wii60 is nonexistant. It is just a stupid name made up by journalists to make headlines sound good. Microsoft made a statement that people can purchase both an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii for less than the price of a Playstation 3, and then people tried to sound cute by calling this combo "wii60".
Really? Well thanks for the correction, journalists sure are crazy guys, but hey this Wii60 sounds like a pretty sweet deal considering the PS3's price, I heard it cost more than $400, perhaps I should put this Wii60 on my shopping list as I haven’t purchased a console since the SNES.