Wii Hardware Discussion

[DiemetriX]

Thas has to be true Konfucius. Makes sense.

 

Info about the Wii design:

 

Mr.Takamoto is in charge of the structure of Wii console and Wiimote. Wii’s smallness — “the size of three DVD cases†— is one of the great feature of Wii console. Actually, Mr.Iwata was stacking three DVD cases, and said “I want Wii to be small like thisâ€. Mr.Takamoto got bewildered rather than amazed. At first, he couldn’t understand why he have to make Wii such a small machine, but he was getting it gradually. Wii should be “unobtrusive presence†in living room. There are a lot of audio-video equipments around the TV, and Wii have to set near the TV because of the pointing device of Wiimote. Spaces between TV and AV equipments are very limited, so he understood that Wii have to be small. “The size of 2 DVD cases†was impossible, but they achieved “the size of 3 DVD casesâ€.

 

Mr.Takamoto told that The hardest thing was disc drive, which have to be almost the same width of one DVD case. If disc drive became thinner, it became more breakable. There are a lot of earlier age users, so Nintendo have a very strict standard. After a lot of trials and errors, they finally got it by internal reinforcing pad.

 

He also told that they strained at using slot-in drive. If they decided to use GameCube-like disc drive (opening the top to change discs), the width of the drive could be thinner, the cost could be cheaper, and the decay durability be better. But, as he said before, the space near TV is very limited, so they thought that Wii-users feel more comfortable by using slot-in for changeing discs.

 

Mr.Ashida is in charge of the design of the Wii console, the Wiimote, the package and the logo. They don’t want to make it like a mad woman’s breakfast around the TV. Not only the matter of size but also shape. Nintendo64 had a lot of curves in its shape, so it was difficult to find the place to set it. On the other hand, the design of GameCube was “the design of toyâ€. From SNES, the designs of Nintendo’s console was like a toy, and this was intentional attempt. But the average of the ages of users has changed, he feels that the balance between the “toy-like†design and the “AV-equipment-like†design is very important. The keywords are, “the design that nobody hatesâ€. Not a toy, not a AV equipment, they want Wii to be a kind of interior accessories. Mr.Ashida decided to form Wii-design team. The designs of Nintendo console used to pruduced by one designer, but this time, he consulted widely with young designers inside Nintendo.

 

The turing point was the idea of the stand. Young desiner produced the Wii’s stand, and it allows representing new shape by combine Wii with it. A few weeks before E3(2005), Mr.Ashida and his team finishd this design. At the first presentation to Mr. Iwata, they got the go-ahead. Then, the design was made in public at E3, and Mr.Ashida was very, very surprized because he

didn’t know that the design was to be displayed at E3 2005.

[Hellfire]

This came to my mind just now.

Because the Wiimote measures things like tilt movement by itself not over the console this would mean that the Wiimote must also know the sensitivity setting and as long as it isn't permantely transmitted by the console the Wiimote needs a memory of it's own.

Conclusion: the 4kb are essential to save communication and not for player convenience.

 

The 4kb are for 3rd parties to use them as they wish the calibration is most probably stored in the other 2kb.

[christophicus]

That really seems like such a small amount of memory to store such important info on.

[Hellfire]

Size matters not.

[christophicus]

I would have thought if they are going to bother putting memory into the controller that they may as well put a decent amount into it, so that it can be used for fairly snazy things.

[Fresh]

Size matters not.

 

Is that what you tell your girlfriends?

[SpinesN]

That really seems like such a small amount of memory to store such important info on.

Your right. Make it 6GB so it wont run out of room

[Blue_Ninja0]

I would have thought if they are going to bother putting memory into the controller that they may as well put a decent amount into it, so that it can be used for fairly snazy things.

 

Nah, just the needed ammout. I want my Wiimotes as cheap as possible.

[christophicus]

Yeah i suppose your right.

[Hellfire]

Is that what you tell your girlfriends?

*Makes alpha male comment about penis being very big*

[arnold]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/wii-thrustmaster-wheel-revealed-199542.php

 

No sure if its' been posted yet o0 I haven't seen anything about it, But a Thrustmaster Steering whell for the Wii =D

[SpinesN]

Yummy thrustmaster.... mmmmm who approved that name?

[Hellfire]

Trustmaster would be better really.

[demonmike04]

I just noticed, the only way they let us see it with the wii-mote attached to it is on its side, so we can only see the front buttons, any one remember a rumour about a button being added to the side of the controller?

 

Although it kinda points that way of being a button on the side, theres something technically wrong about it. It makes it harder to access depending how long your fingers are and hand placement.

 

But why didnt they show the Wii-mote in the full view of the wheel? Its all very mysterious, but im staring to think there may be a little change instore for the remote... I hope im wrong though, its perfect as it is.

[DCK]

Go Wii stearing wheel. That's awesome.

 

The Wiimote will be on its side because that's the position you hold it in when you don't have a steering wheel like that. It makes it a whole lot easier for the developers that way.

[Dante]

Nintendo jobs list.

 

Shipping Agent - Trainee

 

Description of duties

• Provides labor resources to the North Bend distribution facility

• Performs line functions in assigned area(s)

• Backs up other areas

• Assists with bundle pack projects

• Supports department by labor sharing

• Receiving: Unloads containers; processes and verifies receipts; uses electric pallet jack (requires DMV approval)

• Picking: Prepares product for picking (CAPS); picks product into totes; applies dunnage to cartons; scans product for verification; replenishes pick locations

• Material Move: Transfers product within the distribution center via electric pallet jack and/or stand-up reach truck (requires DMV approval); tracks inventory and product transfer

• Shipping: Prepares product labels and packing lists; labels and places product onto conveyors; loads trailers; processes, verifies and monitors shipments; operates electric pallet jack

• M Designation: In the absence of a Lead, provides training, guidance and task direction to assigned staff. Provides back-up for other areas, assists with special projects and provides labor resources in assigned area(s)

 

Production Agent - Trainee

 

• Operate and maintain production equipment to package products in our state-of-the-art distribution facility

• Utilize specifications, oral, and written instruction to assemble products and subassemblies

• Monitor and evaluate line flow and suggest necessary process or personnel adjustments

• Monitor quality of product produced

• Monitor inventory

• Test products

• Keep work area clean and in compliance with safety guidelines

[christophicus]

Im sorry . i dont see the signifigance of this you are going to have to spell it out for me , please.

[killthenet]

The significance is that people get paid to package the Wii!!!

[DCK]

The significance is that people get paid to package the Wii!!!

Surprise :shock:

 

On a more serious note, I think some people on these forums would do it for free.

[Pestneb]

Good idea, but too good to be true Just admit it, do you really think Nintendo would use something 'complicated' as that?

 

they might do. the user interface can be simple, just keep the complicated stuff in the back ground. as far as the user is concerned the controller stores all that info.

[djamb3]

For those who haven't seen here is this wii interface video

 

http://media.wii.ign.com/articles/732/732718/vids_1.html

 

 

It couldn't be further....mii wants wii fast!!!!

[Dante]

Classic controller video.

lots of new buttons.

[Xenobia]

The 4kb are for 3rd parties to use them as they wish the calibration is most probably stored in the other 2kb.

 

The 4kb in the Wiimote have been confirmed to be used to store the Mii avatar.

[Jamba]

Here's a question: How much info do you think can be stored on the Wiimotes? Surely it's more than just WiiMii right? Save data? Preference (like a Wii menu background or something)?

[triforce_keeper]

Well 6kb isn't alot really is it. So my answer: I don't know.