Wii MotionPlus Hands-On

We got to try out the final version of the Wii MotionPlus on a few new EA sports titles.


Nintendo announced the Wii MotionPlus at the 2008 Electronic Entertainment Expo, and now we have a final version of the product in our hands. The MotionPlus add-on plugs in to the bottom of the Wii Remote and works with the Remote's sensors to make controls even more precise. Expect to find the MotionPlus in stores for $20 on June 8. We got to try out the MotionPlus with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and Grand Slam Tennis, both from EA. Both games will launch on June 8 for $49.99 and will later come bundled with the MotionPlus for $59.99.

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Wii MotionPlus All by itself It's tiny

At E3 2008, InvenSense's Joe Virginia, VP of wireless business, was kind enough to explain that the Wii MotionPlus uses multiaxis gyroscopes to sense rotational movement, and combining the MotionPlus' rotation sensing with the Wii Remote's other built-in sensors brings new gaming capabilities to the Wii. The Wii MotionPlus has three gyroscopes to track rotational movement across all three axes in 3D space.

The Wii MotionPlus attachment plugs in to the bottom of the Wii Remote. It adds about an inch and a half to the length of the controller and includes a pass-though port for the Nunchuk. The MotionPlus' port cover folds into the Nunchuk's connector to stay out of the way when the Nunchuk is connected. The MotionPlus has a lock that keeps the add-on attached to the Remote. Plugging the whole affair together doesn't take too long. The connector for the MotionPlus has a lot of play, making it easy to connect to the Wii Remote while in the included rubber sleeve. Connecting a Nunchuk to the bottom of the MotionPlus is equally trivial.

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All of it Underside Close up

The version of the MotionPlus we saw at E3 2008 looks quite similar to the final version aside from a few color changes.

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E3 2008 Wii MotionPlus 1 E3 2008 Wii MotionPlus 2 E3 2008 Wii MotionPlus 3

Our first experiences with the MotionPlus were at E3 2008 with Wii Sports Resort. When you're throwing the Frisbee in the Disc Dog game, the MotionPlus' sensor detects how you're holding the disc in your hand. Rotating your wrists causes the Frisbee to rotate up or down onscreen in response. The Wii Remote, MotionPlus, and Nunchuk become handle bars in the Power Cruising Jet Ski racing game. Rotating the Wii Remote with the MotionPlus attached activates the throttle just like on a motorcycle or personal water scooter.

Grand Slam Tennis incorporates many new controls to better simulate an actual tennis match. The MotionPlus accurately represents both forehand and backhand shots. The added sensitivity gives gamers better ball placement on the court, and rotational controller movement adds spin to shots. Opinions varied from editor to editor, but most liked the added control schemes. Lazy gamers might have trouble though. The small movements you could get away with in Wii Sports Tennis definitely won't cut it in Grand Slam Tennis with the MotionPlus attached.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 makes use of the MotionPlus by giving you the ability to more precisely hit the ball. The game brings a new HUD element specifically for the MotionPlus that incorporates draw and fade capabilities. Twisting the controller either clockwise or counterclockwise determines which way the golf club head rotates in real time. While our golf skills aren't necessarily up to par, it wasn't difficult to take advantage of the new control scheme. Simple onscreen controls gave feedback on what we were doing (and more likely what we were doing wrong).

Those eager to get their hands on the Wii MotionPlus won't have to wait too much longer because the accessory is scheduled to ship in a scant few weeks.


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Avatar image for tyco_ex

You guys are dumb if you don't think the technology existed when the wii came out. Then how does the Sixaxis have a similar function? Mobile phones have had accelerometers for a long time as well, this kind of capability should have been included in the wii from the start. The wii said it was a new way to play with realistic motions, then we all found out, after buying one, that all we have to do is lightly flick our wrist and the remote thinks we made a full arm swing. The wii started with less than it promised, and now it's finally upgrading to the original standards.

Avatar image for legendarycather

i want to buy it so i can play my wii sports resort that is given by my cuz... but it's so expensive thinking that it's worth 1,799.00 pesos i need to conserve money to buy one....

Avatar image for OmegaOneDragon


Avatar image for Magic_Panda92

Ok. So it will cost abit extra on top of the price of buying the Wii or a controller etc. Nintendo made an accidental mistake by not making the controller as sensitive as they have hoped. Yes this is bad but its down to game developers as well. They made games that pushed the boundaries of what the controller was made for so now this is Nintendo's answer. The positive of this as well is that Nintendo are now getting it bundled within games so you aren't actually paying the extra cost for it.

Avatar image for footballking23

with the wii motion plus they should make a knight game, or something like it, the nunchuck could be a sheild nad the wii mote the sword. that would be sweet

Avatar image for DKfan08

I dont have wii motion plus, but have played with it on my cousins Wii, and it's uber sensitive...its great that your character does the exact same hand movements as you. I recently got word of Ubisoft remaking Red Steel with Wii motion plus capabilities, and improved graphics.....Here's hoping for the best :)

Avatar image for Jak_Napier

a really cool addition to the Wii mote

Avatar image for gamepunk86

this won't change anything. half the casual gamers that bought the wii have no idea this exists.

Avatar image for SuperLuigi65

Hopefully it will greatly improve how wii games are made and played.

Avatar image for ljaygadz


Avatar image for ljaygadz


Avatar image for MrWhite325

so, if when the New Zelda game for the Wii comes out, would there be minimal to no button hitting when it comes to sword fighting? It would be fun to actually stab the enemy, by just, doing a stab motion with the remote, and a finishing motion to finish them that'd be awesome!

Avatar image for MrWhite325

well, probably for a light saber duel, you would have to put some sort of telescoping rod on the front end of the remote, you know, so you can actually aim the saber, and, you wouldnt have to look at the screen, what would be on the screen would be the lightsabers, but you could focus on the fight, and the victory condition could be when you hit your opponent (the actual person) 3-5 times

Avatar image for ktseymour

When Is the new controller coming? This thing looks unwieldly.

Avatar image for greyfox198

Not sure about it, but if all future games are going to use it, I better get it.

Avatar image for seanpaul9

i would buy it but like others i want to no if it will work with games that are already out bc it would be awesome if it did i would start a new game on zelda with it and other sword games

Avatar image for RandomMatt

THis is awesome, im really tired of the unsteady typing

Avatar image for trw534

it should not cost 25 dollars but it is a great idea.

Avatar image for nathanRpotter

I think that its to big I mean with the technology we have now, Nintendo should have come up with something smaller, slimmer and lighter because that just adds weight to the already heavy wii controller I also agree with Wolf-5

Avatar image for squaredude44

@Wolf-5 I agree with everything he said

Avatar image for Wolf-5

They need to sell the controllsers from now on with them built in. But continue to sell the add-on for those who have the controllers without it.

Avatar image for rayzobho

"Motionplus shouldn't even exist, nintendo should've made the wii-mote more accurate when they launched the system instead of trying to squeeze another \\$10 out of us" This is a stupid thing to say... it's like saying "PS1 should have had the graphical capability of the PS3 when it was released, what a ripoff!"

Avatar image for eal-zubieri

they will never beat microsoft(360).

Avatar image for vj02

I am looking forward to buy one!

Avatar image for gameguy0697

it looks really good i'm surprised

Avatar image for MiiWiiNumber2

btw, xblade makes an excellent point, use your common sense, everything in life isn't seved on a diamond platter for 69c

Avatar image for MiiWiiNumber2

from the wii sports resort demo, it looks like its going to be awesome

Avatar image for Stange13

Well it looks decent I just hope it delivers on the promises they have made.

Avatar image for xblane

so I just went through and read most of the last 50 or so comments and I have to say, I have no idea what everyone is complaining about. For starters it seems that most of you don't have a Wii, but hey...your opinion is valid too. Nintendo position their products well... they had a product that was cheaper, could do unique things and they could get it out around the same time as the PS3. As a result they made a mint. Now ppl are complaining that they want to offer an upgrade? Don't buy it if you don't want it. All those suggesting that this should be free from Wii owners, or come free with new Wii's... try existing in the real world.

Avatar image for anthonettex

i hope redsteel 2 would become a big success so the big guys can start bringing out awesome titles which support this peripheral, and that arnt just kid friendly! Looks at you Sega.

Avatar image for Mrdashy

When I get Red Steel 2 I'll get it (Of course cause their shipping the game with the M+), now just to wait for a Star Wars game with some nice M+ Lightsaber combat XD

Avatar image for trw534

i might buy it,

Avatar image for McAn666

Also, quit complaining about $20 for the M+ Here in Sweden it will cost $40, the cheap gamestop took ~$45 for mine.

Avatar image for McAn666

I'v reserved M+, Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods 10 @ gamestop. Can't wait to try it out.

Avatar image for cadc

Hmmmm.... will probably end up being a must have for when Conduit Releases, that's the type of games where Accuracy is Key, so i'm definitely considering this

Avatar image for japanesegoth

"I'm confused though.....is the wii motion plus going to work with any game or just with games with support?? Why else would they ship it on its own before any supporting games are released?" just games with support. any game that doesn't say it was made for motion + wasn't programmed to have motion plus...also from what i've heard, they didn't originally include this cause the technology wasn't available at an affordable cost.

Avatar image for gatlingboy

this looks ok, but i probably wont buy it

Avatar image for gghicks

Quit complaining about $20. If you cant afford $20, you dont need to be gaming anyway.

Avatar image for stubuz323

I can forgive that the technology wasn't around when the wii came out, I hope this doesn't spawn a whole new breed of mini game gimmicks, cooking mama doesnt need to get any more realistic!!!

Avatar image for Blazerbop

Ummmm... I'm not sure how I feel about this. It just looks like a way for Nintendo to grab a few extra bucks for something that should've been included in the first place. That's weak, Nintendo.

Avatar image for dr-snowman

dude automattig the technology was not ready when they made the origional wii remote. that's asking too much

Avatar image for automattig

Motionplus shouldn't even exist, nintendo should've made the wii-mote more accurate when they launched the system instead of trying to squeeze another $10 out of us

Avatar image for kent6650

Great article and information (incl. pics) on the wii motionplus. What I really would love to see on the wiimote side of things is an upgraded version. Like better battery and rechargeable without relying on third party. Perhaps they could opt for a li-ion rechargeable wiimote or anything innovative since it's already high tech. Sorry to say this but having to use AA batteries is a hassle unless of course you're using the third party rechargeables for the wiimote out there. So, yeah dunno why they didn't address the power side of the wiimote for a long time now.

Avatar image for aidancarey1

Im surely getting it...too bad ill have to wait until wii sports resort comes out to get it :[

Avatar image for mjhealy

I hope Tiger Woods 10 is gonna work well. The Wii version of 07 is ass.

Avatar image for WillKub92

I really hope it works out some of the small kinks that make movement controls tedious

Avatar image for Da_Mini

there making the next red steel which will exclusively use the motion plus

Avatar image for Darkman691

@Jahooc It will only work with games that have support and it is being released at the same time as certain games that have support, it is not going to work with any previous titles but Tiger Woods sounds pretty interesting with the whole rotation mattering(meaning you gotta have skillz son).

Avatar image for link631


Avatar image for wogboypaul

looking forward to it... it should improve no more heroes, from hurting my hands swinging like crazy.. this is top priority