Wii MotionPlus Has Me in Motion

I've been a Wii fan since the system was first announced, and a player and owner since nearly day one. I've written extensively on the machine for other sites, and at times some tidbit of news or big game release has had me fairly excited. The news at this years E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2008 convention back in May had me all cranked up again, however, and this time even more than usual.

Nintendo took the time at that Los Angeles event to announce the Wii MotionPlus, an attachment which plugs into the Wii controller's base and improves the range of movement and the controller's sensitivity, allowing for true 1:1 motion support. In layman's terms, things are about to get wild and fun.

MotionPlus support means the Wii controller will truly interpret your movements - no more jerky reactions onscreen to your smoother motions in real life. The device will accurately measure your exact movements and translate them in game. This all means an unprecedented level of motion support and interactivity that has me positively giddy (and, apparently, positively dorky in my enthusiasm). One example of the motion-based shenanigans to come is Wii Sports Resort, the sequel to the original Wii Sports. A specific mini-game contained therein that comes to mind is a sword fighting game which is sure to put the original Wii Sport's boxing game to shame. Unlike that one's jerky and unreliable controls, players will smoothly swordfight the computer or a human opponent. Accurate virtual swordfights? Yes, please. I may end up looking like the ridiculous Star Wars kid of YouTube fame, but hey, sacrifices must be made in the name of fun.

And fun is what's coming our way with this new device, and that's why I'm so stoked. The MotionPlus already has me in motion with anticipation, and the day it releases you better believe I'll be motioning-on-down to the local games store. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement or some kind of mole for Nintendo infiltrating AC, let me suggest you do the same if you at all have any inclination toward gaming or have ever considered picking the hobby up. Future sold-separately Wii remotes should* come packaged with the new MotionPlus technology, but a quick fix will be to purchase Wii Sports Resort, which will come packaged with the controller add-on at a tasty all-in-one-price. And hey, if you do have the Wii and end up acquiring the MotionPlus support, I hope to see you online. A "friendly", full 1:1 motion game of, say, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 sounds enticing, no?

Nintendo, I salute you. Keep the innovations coming.