Wii

The Wii Remote uses two AA batteries as a power source, which can power a Wii Remote for 60 hours using only the accelerometer functionality and 30 hours using both accelerometer and pointer functionality.An official direct recharging option for the Wii Remote has not yet been revealed, but various third-party manufacturers market charging solutions for the controller (see section on chargers). According to an interview with Nintendo industrial designer Lance Barr, limitations of the Wii Remote’s expansion port make it unlikely that it will be used for internal battery charging.Although Nintendo discourages other rechargeable battery types such as lithium ion (Li-ion) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd), the company’s support website indicates that nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries may be used.A 3300µF capacitor provides a temporary source of power during quick movements of the Wii Remote when connection to the batteries may be temporarily interrupted.

The Wii Remote provides basic audio and rumble functionality. At the 2006 E3 press conference, it was revealed that the Wii Remote has its own independent speaker on the face of the unit. This was demonstrated by a developer as he strung and shot a bow in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The sound from both the Wii Remote and television was altered as the bow shot to give the impression of the arrow traveling away from the player. Another example of its use is in Red Steel’s Killer match, where the players will receive their objective through the Wii Remote. The volume can be changed or muted with the “Home” button and selecting the corresponding controller icon at the bottom of the screen.When the speaker is muted, the sound effects played through it will be rerouted through the television speakers. The rumble feature can also be switched on or off using the Home Menu.

The Wii Remote assumes a one-handed remote control-based design instead of the traditional gamepad controllers of previous gaming consoles. This was done to make motion sensitivity more intuitive, as a remote design is fitted perfectly for pointing, and in part to help the console appeal to a broader audience that includes non-gamers. The body of the Wii Remote measures 148 mm (5.83 in) long, 36.2 mm (1.43 in) wide, and 30.8 mm (1.21 in) thick.The Wii Remote model number is RVL-003, a reference to the project codename “Revolution”. The controller communicates wirelessly with the console via short-range Bluetooth radio, with which it is possible to operate up to four controllers as far as 10 meters (approx. 30ft) away from the console. However, to utilize pointer functionality, the Wii Remote must be used within five meters (approx. 16ft) of the Sensor BarThe controller’s symmetrical design allows it to be used in either hand. The Wii Remote can also be turned horizontally and used like a Famicom/NES controller, or in some cases (like Excite Truck and Sonic and the Secret Rings) a steering wheel. It is also possible to play a single player game with a Wii Remote in each hand, as in the ‘Shooting Range’ game contained in Wii Play.At E3 2006, a few minor changes were made to the controller from the design presented at the Game Developer’s Conference. The controller was made slightly longer, and a speaker was added to the face beneath the center row of buttons. The “B” button became more curved resembling a trigger. The “Start” and “Select” buttons were changed to plus “+” and minus “–”, and the “b” and “a” buttons were changed to 1 and 2 to differentiate them from the “A” and “B” buttons. Also, the symbol on the “Home” button was changed from a blue dot to a shape resembling a home/house, the shape of the power button was circular rather than rectangular, and the blue LEDs indicating player number are now labelled using small Braille-like raised dots instead of Arabic numerals, with “1″ being “•”, “2″ being “••”, “3″ being “•••”, and “4″ being “••••”. The Nintendo logo at the bottom of the controller face was replaced with the Wii logo. Also, the expansion port was redesigned, with expansion plugs featuring a smaller snap-on design.The blue LEDs also show how much battery power remains on the Wii Remote. By pressing any button, besides the power button while the controller is not being used to play games, a certain number of the four blue LEDs will light up, showing the battery life: four of the LEDs flash when it is at, or near, full power. Three lights flash when it is at 75%, two lights when at 50%, and one light flashes when there is 25% or less power remaining.