Wii Resort Uses MotionPlus
The Wii Remote controller was a virtual miracle when first introduced, changing the face of video gaming. Changing the body of video gaming, as it got gamers up off the couch and moving around to mimic the games they’re playing. As the Wii games grow more sophisticated, with gaming packages like the Wii Sports Resort, so do the readings and references we need from our Wii Remotes. Thus, along comes the Wii MotionPlus, an enhancement to the Wii Remote that makes it even more accurate and intricate in its readings, so we can Wii and never miss a beat in our gaming.
Playing Wii Sports Resort with MotionPlus
To play the games in the Wii Sports Resort, you just connect the Wii MotionPlus accessory to your Wii Remote controller to increase accuracy and enhance play control on all the compatible games in the Wii Sports Resort and other Wii packages. Look on the back of Wii Game Disc packaging to see which games are specially designed for MotionPlus.
The intelligence behind the Wii MotionPlus is a result of the additional sensors that make the Wii Remote respond to the slightest movement, motion, or twist of the wrist. This way your Wii can recognize every delicate motion you make during your swordplay or golf game with your Wii Sports Resort package. Wii MotionPlus must be used with a Wii Remote, which is sold separately.
Nintendo Wii Resort with MotionPlus
Just as with Wii Sports, people will love competing against friends and family. As the competition heats up, Wii Sports Resort is as much fun to watch as it is to play. First-time players will find it easy to pick up a Wii Remote with its Wii MotionPlus and jump into the action. A wide range of activities will keep players coming back for one more round. Some sample activities in the Wii Sports Resort include Sword Play, Power Cruising (racing a personal watercraft ) and Disc Dog, which involves accurately tossing a disc to a cute, Mii-like dog.
Other Wii MotionPlus Compatible Titles
Virtua Tennis 2009 – SEGA
The world’s top tennis stars are hitting the courts again this May in SEGA’s Virtua Tennis 2009 for Wii. Now every swing is more precise and the action is more intense, thanks to the Wii MotionPlus. Other updates include brand new courts, a new roll call of tennis stars to compete against and even more court mini-games.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 – EA Sports
From EA Sports, experience a near perfect 1:1 swing with the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 bundle, featuring Wii MotionPlus. Elevate your game with an enhanced, true-to-life golf swing that features precise draw-fade capabilities and authentic sports motion.
Grand Slam Tennis – EA Sports
Can’t get enough tennis? Excitement is in full swing with Grand Slam Tennis from EA Sports. Compatibility with the Wii MotionPlus accessory makes it possible to spin your racket and control your in-game player with superior responsiveness and control.
Wii MotionPlus Reviews
Wow…you don’t know what you are missing until you get to experience this! My honey and I got to experience the Wii Motion Plus when we were part of a fitness segment on the local news here in Austin. (I was in the orange shirt and jeans, Austinites!) We were able to try out new games coming out, the new remote, and fitness dvds and rate them for the show.
One of those games was Grand Slam tennis. On the Grand Slam tennis (and 2 other games for some reviewers) we were allowed to play it with the Wii motion plus and without for comparison. The ones who did the Tiger Woods compatible game thought that made the best difference. We mostly played Grand Slam tennis and Sports Resort for the newscast so I will start there.
WOW! Personally, I went into this segment thinking the addition of “more motion” seemed a little silly. (I was wrong) I originally thought my new wireless Wii remote was all I needed and had no need to for improvement.
Again, I will admit when I am wrong.
There was a huge difference when we played with the Wii Motion Plus (and it was a unanimous decision of all players who got to try out this new addition to the wii remote) that it’s a positive movement in game play controls. Very positive. There are subtle nuances of movement that the original Wii remote simply was unable to pick up…even bends of the wrist and ways of gripping and other movements that aren’t picked up at all until you try this control that completely changes what you can do during gameplay. It also made the tennis racket (ok, the Wii remote) FEEL more like a tennis racket via the length BUT mainly via how it truly pinpointed for my Wii character every movement I did so that I could make the ball do different things that would actually happen on a real tennis court. I can’t imagine how far this will take gameplay on future wii games now that it can pick up so many more movements of the gamer!
Better yet? It offers a 1:1 response rate so you now have better game play via response time as well.
It completely takes you from your living room into the body of your Mii. And, as creepy as that may sound…it totally changes what you thought was the norm for gaming and actually makes it far more interesting.
For those who got to try out the Wii Sports Resort with the MotionPlus, it was a true test to see frisbee and sword fighting with this new remote. It picked up those bends of the wrist as you are about to throw a frisbee that otherwise would have been a mute action with the original remote…changing your wrist and moving the remote above your head or to your waist to throw…all were in total sync with the mii because of this. Swordfighting would have been entirely different if those wrist movements were eliminated that this remote allowed.
As far as realism, this seemed as much like a magic wand as it did a new controller. Things that didn’t show up in game play when we used the “old school” remote with no motion plus attached suddenly came to life when we used the motion plus. It is quite the break-through, and quite the invention for us Wii game lovers who love to get moving with realism!
That said, there is a negative to keep in mind that I couldn’t go without mentioning, as much as I adore this new remote. It works well on the games that we played MADE to go with this remote that we tried but should you not wish to purchase this remote, what happens with future games coming onto the horizon? It is my understanding that many will be produced that can ONLY be used with this remote in future games which may make this a piece you’ll be required to have in order to play your Wii games properly at all….If so, that is a negative for those who don’t want to foot the bill for a new controller. Also, could the extra sensitivity be TOO sensitive in some games? Just a thought…picking up every subtle nuance of movement…could that make some games more frustrating? We’ll have to wait and see the comparison on how it works in comparison during MANY games rather than the handful we got to play with.
Update to this review as of today, June 8th: It looks as though many of the newer wii games compatible with this new attachment will INCLUDE one Wii motionplus when you order it, (good deal there) with the exception of Grand Slam tennis. (not sure why…I guess because of the earlier release date?) Therefore, if you only need one motionplus you may not need to order the attachment at all as it may be included with the compatible games such as Tiger Woods Gold or Sports Resort if you plan to purchase those. However, if you wish to play a partner but only want to purchase one of the compatible games or want the full experience of Grand Slam tennis that doesn’t include the motionplus, THEN you’d need to order the motionplus separately.
CONCLUSION: This remote will bring your gameplay to a new horizon and better realism and response time at wharp speed. However, if you are not a fan or don’t wish to have to purchase this new remote for partner game play or for grand slam, you may be out of luck in the future as new games are developed that may very well not work nearly as accurately without the motionplus. I also doubt it will continually be offered free with some games…So, for those, this is a negative development to be considered if you don’t want your Wii to be “old school”.
Best bet seems to buy one of the newer games being released that come with the wii motionplus, or buy a couple and you instantly get your game AND enough motionpluses to utilize partner play without having to buy one in addition to the games,
p.s. take about 10 minutes to get used to this thing. Just like the first time you used the regular wii or played any sport for the first time, let yourself get used to it and then you’ll see it’s power when you take it off and play a game without it! At first, I was so used to the old control that I really had to “learn” this one. Like going from a bicycle to a motorcyle. Takes a moment, but you sure go faster in the long run!
Wait for Wii Sports Resort…
There is no question this little device makes the existing Wii Remote sensor better. However, support for the MotionPlus in the first 3 games are spotty and minimal at best. The 2 EA games (Tiger Wood 10 and Grand Slam Tennis) have seemless support but only provide minimal enhancement to the games, which played fine without the MotionPlus. Sega Virtua Tennis 2009 is a bit weird and frustrating that it required me to calibrate the MotionPlus before each serve! Virtua Tennis 2009 is arguably better WITHOUT the MotionPlus. If you haven’t bought a MotionPlus (or a 2nd one) just wait and buy it bundled with Nintendo’s own Wii Sports Resort (July/26), which no doubt will take full advantage of the MotionPlus.