Hobbies And Interests
Multiple Positions
The Wii Remote features versatility that allows it to be used in multiple ways, for multiple types of game play. The end of the Wii Remote features a sensor that interacts with the Wii sensor bar that is placed on the top of the television. The Wii Remote acts as a pointer, able to drag and drop items, select menu choices and even act as the reticule of a gun during first-person shooters.
Motion sensing allows for the Wii Remote to be used to mimic sword movements, the swing of a baseball bat and even the movement of the player's body, which is useful in exercise games such as EA Sports Active.
Turned on its side, the Wii Remote becomes reminiscent of the classic Nintendo Controller, featuring a directional pad and two main buttons. This layout has been used in the Wii release of Punch Out, harkening back to the game play of the original game.
Plug and Play
The main controller of the Wii is the Wii Remote, but it doesn't function alone. The Nunchuk is attached to the Wii Remote and adds two additional buttons as well as an analog stick. You hold the Wii Remote in your right hand and the Nunchuk in your left hand. This is mainly used in games where characters are being moved around the screen, such as Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3.
The Classic Controller is compatible with many games on the Virtual Console, a service that allows classic Nintendo games to be downloaded onto the Wii. The controller is designed as a hybrid between the Super Nintendo controller and the Nintendo 64 controller. It is particularly useful for fighting games when players rely on a familiar button layout to pull off combos and special moves.
Released in July 2009, Wii Motion Plus is a device that attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and increases the motion-sensing capabilities of the controller. Rather than detecting only quick movements or changes in the angle of the controller, Wii Motion Plus allows for games to detect exactly where the Wii Remote is and its position at any given time. This is used in games such as Wii Sports Resort, where a sword-fighting mini-game closely mimics players' movements.
Avoiding Injury
During the initial few months following the launch of the Wii, several stories were reported on gaming news outlets that people were injured using the Wii Remote, and televisions were damaged or broken from Wii Remotes accidentally being let go during game play. Nintendo responded by releasing stronger wrist straps and including a protective sleeve for all Wii Remotes being sold. However, these devices won't perform their job if they're not used. The wrist strap should be worn at all times, and not just loose on the wrist. Use the tab on the strap to tighten it around your wrist, even in games where the Wii Remote isn't using motion-sensing capabilities or in games where the Wii Remote is passed around. Losing grip on the controller can damage your TV, lights, yourself or other people.
Keep the protective sleeve around your Wii Remote, removing it only when it is time to change batteries. This is a second line of defense if the strap fails. The sleeve will dampen the impact of the Wii Remote, lessening damage.
A general rule when playing games that require movement is to clear the room of anything that can be tripped over and to play far from walls that your Wii Remote may hit during a fast swing. When someone is playing, those watching should stay at least two arm lengths away from the player to avoid getting in the way of a swing and being hit with the Wii Remote. Also, keep pets such as dogs and cats out of the room since they might jump for the Wii Remote or sneak up behind players, leading to injured animals.