More Wii "Rumors" (Deleted @ Nintendo forums)

[Javert]

I got this from another forum and felt the desire to share. Some of it can be easily implied, others seem interesting. You've been warned: The source is unsubstantiated.
I've made bold the part that REALLY got me pumped (in perhaps more ways than...nvrmind).

-First off let me say that the full scope of the Wii controller details has yet to be revealed by PixArt and Nintendo. Although I cannot elaborate any further let me say that the Nintendo should show that the movement in 3D space will allow experiences outside of just the TV screen. And its not 3D projection related.

-The official launch date has yet to be set in stone but will indeed launch before Sony’s PS3.

-Ironically enough, the first game that will be shown to the public that demonstrates the full scope of Wii controller potential will be Dragonball Z Budokai 4.

-When Nintendo first showed the controller at Tokyo Game Show late 2005 they were very hesitant to show it full usage. I will allow one more clue to my finding that the Wii controller can function exactly as we all have seen demonstrated WITHOUT the sensor bar. So ask yourselves, why need a sensor bar?

-The sensor bar was in all actuality in no use at E3 2006. What is will allow hasn’t been shown yet.

-According to people who are working close to everyday events at Nintendo R&D, Nintendo Wii specifications were far and away developed solely for that machine.

-IBM and ATI have been working on Broadway and Hollywood for quite some time now. And according to many people Wii’s specs could go up or down at this point in the CPU/VPU departments. Apparently Nintendo has spent quite a lot of money having IBM and ATI fabricate many iterations of Broadway and Hollywood. Which range from a 3.4GHz-730MHz Broadway CPUs, and 1.2GHz-553MHz custom ATI/Nintendo Hollywood VPU. From what we hear Hollywood is key to the Wii’s power. The architecture is all about eliminating bottlenecks and maximizing performance, upgrade of the CPU with the slight downgrade of the graphics processor compliments this philosophy, striking a great balance for Wii. However, it was also indicated that since Hollywood is a truly extreme “Flipper II” and Broadway is a massively upgraded “Gekko II” at least in architecture. That early on Nintendo R&D took a good look at what GameCube did good and what it could have done better. It was mentioned that GameCube’s Flipper was an extremely powerful chip far more capable than even the Xbox’s. The Gekko design meant for balance, though was not able to support but about 50% of the ArtX’s Flipper’s power. This particular bottleneck has been ironed out allowing Broadway to fully complement Hollywood to its maximum potential and vise-versa. The initial estimates we got concerning final hardware spec was Broadway at around 1.5GHz and Hollywood at 555MHz.

-There is also word that Nintendo in private sessions has big plans for the Wii headset. Talk is, that Nintendo wants to lean away from having the headset only for online capability. They are wanting to go further. Having the headset of course include a microphone for use in games is a given. But there was also talk of a late to launch release of this “gyroscopic headset” that would be supported by the sensor bar as well. To sum up the theory we were privy to. The headset would be somewhat sensitive to movement that could be translated into the game. Such as if you get up and move to the right of your television something might correspond for that in the game. Such as dodging things, looking around corners etc. It was also mentioned that it might have a unique look and non-obstructive lightweight design.

-Our latest discovery concerning Wii software is that developer Nibris (Raid Over the River, Sadness) has received Wii development kits and has partnered with publisher Majesco.

Whoa.

Edit: 555 GHz? This is the Wii not the flux capacitor, sorry. ^^ Fixed.

 

[Solaris]

Wow, Can't ****ing wait.

 

[-Psy-]

So does that mean the Wii might be more powerfull then originally planned?

Oh, and the headset idea is very interesting.

<3

 

[theotherguy]

I hope that headset thing is true. headset+wiimote=best FPS ever.

 

[The Brick]

And it doesn't support HD tv right? I doubt these rumours are true. I don't want to believe them and finding out they're false later.

 

[Axyon]

And it doesn't support HD tv right? I doubt these rumours are true. I don't want to believe them and finding out they're false later.

It doesn't output HD, but it will work on HDTVs.

 

[KagePrototype]

That headset thing sounds awesome. Hope it's true.

 

[destrukt]

I'm pretty annoyed about no HD games, but meh.

 

[Asuka]

Sounding very nice.

 

[Dekstar]

The initial estimates we got concerning final hardware spec was Broadway at around 1.5GHz and Hollywood at 555GHz.

Fecking hell, this Hollywood's going to be a bitch of a powerhouse at 555GHz!

Only thing about this headset is that turning your head to look round a corner? Wouldn't that mean you would have to look at the screen out of the corner of your eye? Or is it a tiltometer, as in moving it left slightly starts the screen moving left with speed depending on ho much you've tilted it.

 

[oldagerocker]

I dont like the headset idea, getting out of my seat to play a game is stupid and when people walk in the room, you always turn your head to talk to them or flip the headphones off to listen. Its stupid. Way too much.

 

[Gargantou]

I dont like the headset idea, getting out of my seat to play a game is stupid and when people walk in the room, you always turn your head to talk to them or flip the headphones off to listen. Its stupid. Way too much.

That summed up my opinion nicely.

 

[KagePrototype]

I dont like the headset idea, getting out of my seat to play a game is stupid and when people walk in the room, you always turn your head to talk to them or flip the headphones off to listen. Its stupid. Way too much.

You could probably just map it to a button so it doesn't always follow your head's movements.

I'm always tilting my head naturally when playing stealthy games and such, it'd be great to actually have it do something.

 

[Vegeta897]

"Such as if you get up and move to the right of your television something might correspond for that in the game."

Why can't the controller do that? The Wii tracks its position in 3D space (as well as its rotation of course) and we're going to assume you are holding in when you "get up and move to the right of your television"

 

[AmishSlayer]

"Such as if you get up and move to the right of your television something might correspond for that in the game."

Why can't the controller do that? The Wii tracks its position in 3D space (as well as its rotation of course) and we're going to assume you are holding in when you "get up and move to the right of your television"

It can. My bet is that the headset could easily be used for peeking, tilting, conversational cues in RPG's maybe (Yes/No), help in aiming for FPS's, etc.

I really doubt that many games will make you get up and move around the room to play properly (besides games like Warioware and whatnot - but that's the whole point of the game).

All this info is really interesting. Can't wait for some official word.

 

[JNightshade]

Yeah, same

 

[Llyranor]

Hmm, if they actually make a gyroscopic headset (eg. check here for an example on the PC http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/ ), that would allow for independant aiming via the wiimote, while being able to turn with your head.

I'd be surprised if Nintendo actually does this (check out how expensive TrackIR is), but that'd really bring the ultimate FPS experience for me.

 

[oldagerocker]

I highly doubt it'll be included on launch anyway, and probably really expensive to get.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Sounds awesome in theory, but I'll remain skeptical until I see it in action (and that it actually exists). I really like the idea of using it in FPSs for looking around independant of aiming, since that's the one thing that looked a bit sketchy with the wiimote. It'd be a bit of a learning curve operating both though, and as has been said already it'd be a bit odd to operate sitting down.

It does back up two of my theories about the Wii though. First, that while the console is cheap initially, Nintendo are probably gonna make that up in controller/accesory costs. And second, that they're gonna need to make their hardware very sturdy to survive gamers pulling a Star Wars kid in their living room while playing

 

[VictimOfScience]

Hmm, sounds interesting in theory. Whether the reality can cut the mustard remains to be seen. Could be great...could be awful.