Wii Motion Plus

Wii MotionPlus: The Future of Gaming is Here

While the Nintendo Wii is a platform that is built around using motion to control aspects of the gaming experience, the Wii MotionPlus takes it to the next level. This expansion device attaches to the Wii Remote, and contains a sensor unit that Nintendo reports is complimentary to the accelerometer used in the basic Wii Remote. This translates into on-screen movements that are closer to mirroring the player’s movements in real time.

The Wii MotionPlus uses a vibrating structure tuning-fork gyroscope; this handy item detects the rate of rotation through resonance and leads to faster turns and an overall tighter level of game play. Additionally, it features a pass-through External Extension Connector that allows one to connect a Nunchuk or other expansion pack to the Wii Remote without removing the MotionPlus.

There aren’t really many accessories that interface with the MotionPlus; in fact, the most notable is the extended Wii Remote Jacket that comes with the unit to accommodate the extra length. The unit is also available in pink and blue. That may disappoint some gamers who always want to have the latest specialized item. However, the Wii MotionPlus doesn’t need flash since it speaks for itself. Whatever the unit lacks in variety, however, is made up in its sheer reliability.

Many video game units have fallen victim to falling on the ground, but the mechanical shock tolerance of the MotionPlus resists a lot of that kind of thing. Nintendo also rated the unit for high temperature and humidity resistance. It should hold up to most normal wear and tear, as well as the occasional crunch. It may not sound like a lot, but that sort of feature becomes extremely valuable at parties.

The MotionPlus has become so popular that Nyko actually premiered a third party replacement for the Wii MotionPlus at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. While this replacement unit does eliminate the need to change out extension items, it is not as durable as the original MotionPlus. Gamers are often wise to stick to genuine Nintendo components when searching for Wii accessories.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is probably the best example of Wii MotionPlus game. Some units actually come bundled with a MotionPlus, and the simulation level afforded by this new device is incredible. The unit is so responsive due to the advanced gyroscope that many players will probably start to almost imagine the weight of the club in their hands. You might even want to go out and get a green master’s jacket for your next round.

Grand Slam Tennis by EA Sports also comes bundled with the MotionPlus in some cases. Some players of earlier Wii tennis games complained of a bit of lag time when moving the Wii Remote. The difference with this game, however, is truly profound. For many players, the racket moves as close to a real one as any system is going to be able to simulate. While the control may seem a bit too responsive at first, players will soon learn to be thankful for the superior level of control.

In the same vein, Sega’s Virtua Tennis 2009 fits the same bill and gives the player an excellent create-a-player mode. The Wii MotionPlus adds an entire new dimension to this sort of play. The fact that the unit gives greater control over a game means that any weaknesses of a created player are going to be that much more glaring. Of course, a tweaked created player will be that much more killer.

Maybe you’re not such a mainstream video game athlete. Are extreme sports more your style? Then try Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage. In a sport that already prides itself on fluid motion and rapid turns and grinds, the Wii MotionPlus finds a new niche to shine in. Executing sick tricks starts to be as effortless as gliding the powder yourself when you begin to master the ins and outs of sports gaming with this add on. Plus, the game also works with the
Wii Balance Board, allowing you to make use of both the new peripheral and one that you may already have.

The Legend of Zelda will ultimately be the game that makes the greatest use of the special features of the MotionPlus. As of this writing the game has not yet seen a release, though it promises to be a crowning achievement both for the new device and for the Zelda franchise.

If the motion-capture system of Wii brought video gaming into the present, then the MotionPlus brings it into the future. Anyone who is willing to learn how to use it will benefit from it, and that learning curve itself isn’t very difficult for someone who is already skilled with the Wii Remote. It would make an excellent accessory for the experienced gamer.