What is the Wii Remote?
The Wii Remote is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console, nicknamed the Wiimote. It uses an accelerometer and an optical sensor to track motion, gestures, and pointing, and its model number is RVL-003.
Questions about Wii Remote
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was the Wii Remote first revealed?
The Wii Remote was first shown at the Tokyo Game Show on the 14th of September 2005, though it had no name yet. Nintendo announced the name Wii Remote on the 27th of April 2006, and the finalized design appeared at E3 2006.
Who helped design the Wii Remote?
Nintendo licensed motion-sensing patents from Gyration Inc in 2001 and later brought in the design firm Bridge Design to help shape the concept. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto also contributed prototypes inspired by mobile phones and automotive navigation controllers during development.
Why did counterfeit Wii Remotes become a problem?
Counterfeit Wii Remotes entered circulation as the Wii grew in popularity, offering similar functionality but inferior build quality. Components such as the rumble motor and speaker were noticeably different from official units, and it was unclear whether official accessories worked correctly with them.
How does the Wii Remote's Sensor Bar work?
The Sensor Bar is about 24 centimeters long with ten infrared LEDs, and it lets the Wii Remote's optical sensor calculate distance and rotation through triangulation. It provides accurate pointing up to 5 meters, or about 16 feet, away from the Wii Remote.
What lawsuits targeted the Wii Remote?
The Wii Remote faced patent lawsuits from Interlink Electronics in December 2006, Hillcrest Laboratories in 2008, ThinkOptics in September 2011, and iLife Technologies in December 2013. iLife won a $144 million jury verdict in August 2017, though a federal court overturned it in January 2020.