Wii Controllers

The Wii controller / remote, also known as the 'Wiimote', is generally held as the most remarkable aspect of the console. With the aid of a motion sensor bar, it's capable of controlling and manipulating anything on screen, simply by waving and pointing the remote with 3D movements.

The Wii remote had been in development since 2001, but only by 2005 had Nintendo decided upon it's 'wand' or 'tv remote' size dimensions. Unlike with traditional video games controllers, such as for the Xbox and PS3, the Wii remote is controlled with just one hand, and with the aid of a strap attached to the wrist. The Wii remote requires two AA batteries, and also has an inbuilt speaker.

The sensor bar (picture above) allows the Wii to sense accelerated movements from it's remote. The sensor bar is capable of accepting a constant signal and is accurate till five metres away.

While you can play most Wii games with just the remote, there are a few games which require the addition of an 'add-on'. The standard add-on, which comes with the Wii console is the Nunchuk (pictured below left). In the Wii Sports game for example, you can only play boxing with the addition of the Nunchuk, which plugs into the bottom of the remote.

Since the introduction of the Nunchuck, other add-ons have been released. The most popular is probably the Wii Wheel (pictured above middle), which was packaged with Mario Kart. Some third party add-ons include a light gun, light saber (pictured above right) and a sports pack.

But perhaps the most revolutionary Wii controller since the remote, is the pressure / weight sensitive Wii Balance Board (picture below).

Packaged with the Wii Fit game, unlike with other Wii add-ons it's a stand-alone device, just like with the remote. It requires two AA batteries and wirelessly connects to the Wii through the sensor bar. The Balance Board works through the use of multiple pressure sensors, and is capable of withstanding 300 pounds.