Gizmodo: Wii

Amazing Wii-Like 3-D Controller Interface Built With Foil, Wiring, Resistors and Arduino

John Mahoney — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:17:31 EDT

What you're looking at here is an actual Wii-like 3-D controller interface that can track objects like your hand in real time. It may look a little shoddy, but what's amazing is that this very functional 3-D interface was built by a hobbyist with parts most DIYers can find in their couch cushions—six resistors, aluminum foil, wire, a cardboard box, and an Arduino microprocessor to crunch the numbers. That's it. It couldn't be more simple. But how'd he pull it off?

The rig uses simple RC circuits to sense the distance of an object in relation to a set of capacitive plates (here, the aluminum foil with current running through it). The circuits feed their data to the Arduino, which processes them with builder kylemcdonald's custom Processing code (an open-source graphical programming language), and spits out raw 3-D coordinates that update 10 times per second for each sensor. Just a hint of the amazing things accomplished tinkerers can pull off with hackable microprocessors like the Arduino. [Instructables via Hack-a-Day]

Nintendo's Wii Classic Controller and GameCube GamePad Getting a Temporary Ban on Sales

Jason Chen — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

As a result of Nintendo's loss in court to a Texas-based company called Anascape, the judge ruled that all sales of the Wii Classic Controller and the GameCube controller need to be temporarily halted until funds can be placed into an escrow account. What's the impact on you, Joe or Dan Consumer? Starting today, July 23, all sales of those controllers AND GameCube systems will be placed on hold, meaning that you should really try and find a place to buy these accessories now if you need them soon. On the bright side, Nintendo's Nunchuck controller isn't affected by this ruling about analog sticks, so you're safe if you just want to play Wii games. [1up via Kotaku]

Fornication on the Wii is Great for Parties (NSFW)

Mark Wilson — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:33:00 EDT

We've seen plenty of naked/half-naked/non-naked ladies playing the Wii, but you can't make a night out of just jubblies on the computer screen—not socially, at least. Dark Room Sex Game is an "erotic rhythm game without any visuals, played only by audio and haptic cues." The result is a quasi-sexual experience that's almost just as awkward as the real thing! See for yourself:

There's a lot of moaning in that clip, so heads up on the speakers Mr. Office Worker. Featuring up to 4-player support, the game is free to download in its Java code. But without proper precautions, it could cost you a lot more when the kid reaches college age. [Dark Room Sex via Maxconsole]

Comcast To Offer Wiis To New Subscribers

Jason Chen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EDT

The Consumerist just uncovered a new deal in the works by Comcast to give away Wiis to new subscribers. Whoa. Their deal, which runs on a limited supply basis, is supposedly good from July 28 to August 17 in the Miami, SF, Houston, Denver, Chicago, Philly, Boston and Detroit areas (among others). If you're looking to change over to Comcast, call them up on July 28 and ask about this deal to get a free Wii. There should be actual ads going out about this soon as well, so keep an eye out. Hell, even if you have Comcast now, you might want to cancel your plan and re-up under your wife's name just to get that Wii. [Consumerist]

New Wii Disc Dumper Copies Games to SD Cards

Mark Wilson — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:45:00 EDT

The first Wii Disc Dumper required a PC and 50 hours of backup time. The latest v1.2 by nitrotux requires only a Wii loaded with an SD card to make backups of single and dual layer Wii titles as well as GameCube games. The only catch is that the Wii needs to be rebooted during the process quite a few times (3 for SL DVD, 6 for DL DVD and 1 for a GameCube disc). So while the process won't take 50 hours, it's not exactly an instantaneous, one-step backup, either. [El Otralado via Maxconsole]

Computer Mouse R.I.P. In Five Years, Experts Say

Jack Loftus — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EDT

Is the end of the venerable computer mouse at hand? Analyst firm Gartner seems to think so, and says its case is bolstered by the meteoric rise of technologies found in, and made popular by, Nintendo's Wii controller and the Apple iPhone. Piling on is the slowly maturing field of facial recognition technology, which companies like Panasonic are now testing in the home electronics field. It's a combination that does not bode well for the mouse, said Gartner analyst Steven Prentice, which saw its beginnings at the hands of Douglas Engelbart at the Stanford Research Institute in 1963. One caveat worth noting in all this peripheral doom-and-gloom is that the keyboard is here to stay. PC FPS fans can rejoice at their convenience. [PC Authority]

Famicom Wii Classic Controllers Can't Wash Away Bad E3 Press Conference Memories

Jack Loftus — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Still smarting from Nintendo's half-ass, arm waving train wreck of an E3 press conference? Yeah, these retro Famicom-inspired Classic Controllers for the Wii Virtual Console won't help at all with that, but they're still a pretty cool collector's item. They come in two red and gold Famicom versions, two Wii white versions, and will retail for about $15 apiece when they arrive in Japan on September 10. Import only for now, but that could change drastically in the future, just like Nintendo's marketing strategy. [Amazon Japan via Virtual Console Reviews]

Wii Homebrew Can Now Read Burned DVDs, Play PSP Games?

John Mahoney — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:30:52 EDT

Couple of news tidbits from the shadowy Wii homebrew scene today. First is what is supposedly the first custom Wii firmware that its author, Waninkoko, claims will allow the Wii to read burned DVDs without any hardware modification. And from the "just for the hell of it" department is a separate announcement of a PSP emulator running successfully on the Wii—albeit at a blazingly unplayable four to eight frames per second. The PSP emulator smells a bit more of fish than the DVD-R enabling firmware, but neither have been tested officially. [Waninkoko, DCEmu via Slashdot]

Nintendo Says They May Limit Number of Wii MotionPlus Games to Control Costs

John Mahoney — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:33:41 EDT

As we pointed out this week, the Wii's MotionPlus gyroscope add-on could tip the total 4-player price of the system above or equal to the 360 and PS3. Speaking to that point, Nintendo's Katsuya Eguchi told PC Mag that an embedded MotionPlus in future Wiimotes is "something we'll be looking at," which is unfortunately a non-answer. More interesting is that they may instead decide to limit the number of games that can use the accessory. As Mark found out in his hands-on, the 1:1 motion detecting is fantastic, so the plan to embed the tiny gyroscope into the Wiimote itself (at no additional cost to us, right?) seems to be the best scenario for the future rather than put a cap on the games that can take advantage of it. Let's hope. [PC Mag]

Wii is Now the Number One Console in the U.S.

John Mahoney — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EDT

After outselling the Xbox 360 3:1 in June (660,000 vs 219,800), the Wii eeked ahead in the total U.S. sales race by 500,000 consoles, despite the 360's one-year head start. NPD is also reporting a 53% increase in game and hardware sales across the industry compared to this time last year. [Information Week]

E3 Coverage Roundup: It's In the Posts

Jason Chen — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:10:12 EDT

E3's over, but that doesn't mean you've seen every bit of information that came out of the event. Oh no. Here's every single thing that came out of E3, starting with the liveblogs of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. What did Penny Arcade think of the event? Well, they weren't all too impressed with the big three's offerings. That might be a little harsh, but yeah, we could see that. Make the jump to decide for yourself.

Microsoft
Nintendo
Sony

Microsoft
How your current themes will look on the Xbox 360
Why Microsoft made a new Xbox Experience
Netflix on Xbox 360!
You can play games directly off the Xbox's hard drive
Xbox 360 is getting Avatars
Newly colored Xbox 360 controllers

Sony
Sony knows what went wrong with the PS3's development
How Sony being cheap hurts the PS3
The PlayStation video store is open
The PS3 80GB model gets a $399 price tag in September
PSN gets a simple sign-on
PS2 gets a LEGO Batman bundle

Nintendo
Hands-on With the Wii MotionPlus
Wii Sports Resort gets a price
The Wii ain't so cheap
The Wii finally gets a mic

Elsewhere
Rock Band 2's Instruments look great
EA upgrades its iPhone games
The DS is not as strong as the iPhone
The Dreamcast IS as strong as the iPhone
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on iPhone
The official Rock Band 2 track list

The Nintendo Wii's New Real Price

Jason Chen — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EDT

The Wii's $249 base price always allowed it to be known as both the cheapest console and the best deal in town for next-gen gaming. Even at a price of $60 a pop for the WiiMote and Nunchuk, the cumulative price of the system and four controllers would still be under the cumulative price for the Xbox 360 and PS3. This all changes with the Wii MotionPlus.

Part of the reason why we're comparing four players is because of the way Nintendo sets up its games. While it's very rare for Xbox 360 and PS3 owners to have four controllers—partially because their online connectivity is so good—it's very common for Wii owners to have four. You need four controllers to play four-player Wii Sports Tennis. You need four controllers to play Super Smash Bros. Brawl. You need four controllers to play Mario Kart Wii. It's very much a living room system, something that's emphasized by Nintendo themselves in their own advertising.

And what do we find when we compare the Wii with four controllers to the other systems with four controllers? That the Wii is $20 more expensive than the Xbox 360, and only $10 cheaper than the PS3. That's definitely NOT the cheapest console.

In the interest of fairness, we compared all of Nintendo's accessories (the Wheel, the Zapper, Retro Controller, Nunchuck and Balance Board), and grabbed the cheapest one's price point—the wheel at $14. We priced the MotionPlus at the same price. So far Nintendo has only said that their Wii Sports Resort will cost $49, with one MotionPlus accessory, but nothing about how much the accessory will cost on its own.

It's also necessary to note that if you buy your first MotionPlus the smart way, with Wii Sports Resort, you'll have to pay $35 more than the price we calculated with buying only the accessories. This pushes the Wii into the "most expensive console" territory at $525—which is above even the PS3.

We also didn't include those other accessories like the wheel or the zapper as a "necessary purchase" because they're not necessary to play all games, and are only directed toward a certain title niche. The MotionPlus, on the other hand, is a necessary purchase to play a big chunk of upcoming Wii games, since many games starting from the next year on will require the MotionPlus as a necessary accessory to enable accurate motion detection. As Mark said in his hands-on impressions, the MotionPlus is so good that gameplay without it feels incomplete. Nintendo has gone back and retroactively made your current experience (in relative comparison) worse by introducing this new accessory. Do we think Nintendo is right in releasing this accessory? Of course. But by doing so, they push themselves out of the cheapest console throne.

Wii MotionPlus Hands-On (Verdict: Melancholy Bliss)

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EDT

The Nintendo Wii broke my heart. It wooed me with cute, clever marketing and the promise of unbelievable technology. But it was a scam, a hoax, a hoodwink. The Wii's main revolutionary component, the Wiimote, did not work nearly as well as a many of us expected (like when swinging a golf club in WiiSports or a sword in Red Steel). And that was a real blow, because there was no one more excited about the system than me.

So after trying out Wii MotionPlus today, an add-on that brings the Wiimote "more comprehensive tracking" and 1:1 response, I was left with mixed feelings. On one hand, Nintendo finally delivered everything I ever wanted in the Wiimote. On the other, it was two years late, and as Jason pointed out, not making the system any cheaper.

I tried Wii MotionPlus with Wii Sports Resort, the only game that currently supports (and requires) the add-on. Right away it was undeniable—MotionPlus does add true 1:1 movement support. But what's that actually mean though?

When playing the Frisbee minigame, the Wiimote essentially acts as the Frisbee. The slightest turn of the wrist is represented instantly on screen by one's avatar. That's neat...but how 1:1 was this really? I moved the Wiimote in odd positions, wrapping my arm around my body and over my head. And it captured every gesture. Any time I was able to fool the program—a trick that took some effort—it could probably just be blamed on lack of proper model animations, not the hardware itself.

The thrill I got from just watching my avatar hold the Frisbee like I did was greater than...maybe any experience I've had on the Wii aside from Super Mario Galaxy.

Sword fighting was much the same. Where the Wiimote alone has incredible difficulty registering something like a forward thrust, the MotionPlus Wiimote recognized the move with ease. And like a bad Conan impression, I swung the Wiimote with all my might to destroy Jason Chen. It was great, even though I lost.

The ironic thing is, with a motion controller that actually works, you quickly realize the limitations in a real motion controller. For instance, during a sword dual, there is nothing stopping my real remote in real life when my virtual sword is blocked in the virtual world. But these issues are small and, in most cases, technically unavoidable.

The important point is this: The Nintendo Wii can finally be the absolutely amazing machine that many of us thought would never materialize—its tacit promises delivered at last.

Yet I still can't celebrate. And maybe you shouldn't, either.

New titles designed for MotionPlus will not be playable with standard Wiimotes. While Nintendo isn't technically stopping third parties from making dual-compatible games, the fact that Nintendo's WiiSports Resort lacks such an option is a potential harbinger of a bad trend.

If developers support MotionPlus in mass, the peripheral will become a mandatory upgrade to Wii owners who just want to play new Wii games. And in the console market, that's an unprecedented requirement (update: yes, the PlayStation analog stick upgrade on the Dual Analog wasn't great, but Nintendo's upgrade may be a requirement so intrinsic to the system that it affects an overwhelming majority of titles.)

I respect Nintendo for fixing the shortcomings of their Wiimote. They didn't have to do so to win the console war and make boatloads of money. But I really wish it worked better in the first place and, even more so, that I didn't need to explain to my in-laws why their brand new console is already obsolete.

Exclusive: Wii Sports Resort With MotionPlus Is $49 In Spring

Jason Chen — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:23:34 EDT

A Nintendo exec told us that the Wii Sports Resort will be $49.99 when it's released next Spring. This next version of Wii Sports comes with the MotionPlus accessory, which gives people a true 1:1 motion mirroring on their WiiMotes. The price of the MotionPlus accessory on its own is undetermined, but it seems like Wii Sports Resort is the new Wii Play in that people will buy it because they want the accessory it comes with.

How the Wii MotionPlus Makes the Wiimote More Accurate

matt buchanan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:52:49 EDT

When Nintendo revealed the Wii MotionPlus dongle, they talked about how the snappier response time and 1:1 motion accuracy it provided would let you do crazy stuff like swing swords (or lightsabers) and ride a jet ski—demoed live at E3. But they didn't tell us how it worked. Turns out, it's got a multi-axis gyroscope inside, made by InvenSense.

Combining readings from it, the sensor bar and the Wiimote's accelerometer, the Wii can track the remote a lot more precisely, so it can read more complicated gestures, like for throwing a frisbee. Supposedly InvenSense's silicon-based MEMS rate gyroscope use a lot less power than a standard MEMS one, but you can bet your batteries are going to die even faster now.

InvenSense™ IDG-600 Motion Sensing Solution Showcased in Nintendo’S New Wii MotionPlus Accessory

World’s Leading Multi-axis MEMS Rate Gyroscope Enhances Performance of Latest “Wii MotionPlus” Accessory

SUNNYVALE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—InvenSense Inc., a leading provider of MEMS-based motion sensing solutions for image stabilization, dead reckoning navigation, 3D remote control, and gaming devices, today announced that its IDG-600 multi-axis MEMS rate gyroscope has started shipping in mass production quantities to Nintendo for its Wii MotionPlus accessory. Gesture based interfaces are quickly becoming the standard for many feature-rich consumer electronic products. Utilizing InvenSense’s unique motion sensing capabilities, customers of the new generation of Wii MotionPlus controllers will enjoy an immersive gaming experience with motion control never before possible in a video game. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player's arm position and orientation. In the new Wii Sports Resort product from Nintendo, for example, the ability to throw a disc through the air and control the angle of flight is now possible.

Conventional MEMS gyroscopes, which are the key enabling technology that can sense absolute rotational motion inputs, are typically used in commercial automotive electronic stability control and GPS applications, where their larger size, high power consumption and costs are accommodated. InvenSense has introduced an entirely new class of high performance silicon-based MEMS rate gyroscopes that offers smaller package sizes, lower power consumption, and lower price points suitable for consumer markets. The addition of InvenSense’s multi-axis rate gyroscope solution to the Wii MotionPlus accessory allows high precision 3D tracking of rapid gaming gestures.

“The popularity of Wii in large part is based on its popular motion sensing interface and InvenSense’s MEMS rate gyroscope represents a truly disruptive technology that possesses inherent manufacturing and high performance advantages that drives the need for a new generation of Wii Remote,” said Genyo Takeda, General Manager of Nintendo’s Integrated Research and Development Division. “Nintendo selected the IDG-600 for its ability to measure large dynamic motions, high shock resistance, and accuracy for sensing the fast moving arm and hand motions required to support exciting new game titles.”

MEMS offers miniaturized sensing solutions to meet the ideal performance, size and cost requirements of consumer applications. A key advantage of MEMS technology, as compared to its quartz and piezo-ceramic counterparts, is its ability to incorporate 3D mechanical features directly into single crystal silicon substrates while easily and cost effectively integrating it with CMOS electronics. InvenSense pioneered its patented manufacturing platform, known as Nasiri-Fabrication, which enabled the company to bring the world’s first and smallest integrated multi-axis gyroscopes to consumer products. Using Nasiri-Fabrication allows for the integration of MEMS and CMOS structures at the wafer level with a proprietary bonding technology resulting in several thousand gyroscopes simultaneously produced on a single wafer.

“We are honored to be selected as a strategic supplier by Nintendo, the leader in consumer gaming, and provide them with the solution that met their needs,” said Steven Nasiri, founder and CEO of InvenSense. “This accomplishment is credited to our highly innovative team here at InvenSense. We will continue our development efforts to bring about leading edge motion sensing solutions with an even higher level of integration, improved cost and performance, and added functionality to address the huge demand for motion-enabled gesture recognition.”

For more information on InvenSense motion sensing solutions, visit http://www.invensense.com

About InvenSense

InvenSense is the leading provider of motion sensing solutions for mobile applications, with proven technology and millions of units shipped to major OEMs worldwide. The company’s patented motion sensing technology and it novel Nasiri-Fabrication addresses many emerging mass-market applications such as gaming, image stabilization, and smart user interfaces that use hand motion and gesture-based commands for mobile applications, such as, smart phones, digital cameras, 3D remote control devices and more. InvenSense’s corporate offices are located in Sunnyvale, Calif. More information can be found at http://www.invensense.com

InvenSense, IDG-600 and the InvenSense logo are trademarks of InvenSense

Wii and Wii Remote are trademarks of Nintendo

[BusinessWire]

Nintendo Announces Wii Music: Look Out, Beamz!

Adam Frucci — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:04:07 EDT

Nintendo just announced Wii Music, a new music game that lets you use the Wiimote, Nunchuk and Balance Board to create music. Unlike Rock Band or Guitar Hero, this one isn't based on precise timing. Rather, it lets you basically hit buttons and swing the remote around to create original tunes. The Wii interprets your motions and button presses to make music for you. Essentially, this is like Beamz but instead of lasers, you use the Wiimote and Balance Board. Awesome?

Different people can play different instruments, and you have the option of playing a wide number of them, from guitar and drums to the saxophone and violin. You'll be able to create music videos of the music you create, too. There will also be an orchestra conducting game included. It'll record your performance, but it won't rate or grade you. We don't want another story like the Wii Fit calling kids fat, now do we? You're all brilliant, children!

It'll be coming out this holiday season. [Gizmodo's Nintendo E3 Liveblog]

WiiSpeak Community Mic: Online Group Chatting Comes to the Wii

matt buchanan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:28:17 EDT

The second new Wii accessory out of E3, the WiiSpeak community mic and speaker finally lets you chat with other people online. Unlike an Xbox 360 headset, it's more about group chatting and is placed on top of your TV, like a conference call mic (how does it filter out game sounds?). It's bundled with Animal Crossing City Folk, which is kind of like the Sims, but more Animal Crossing-like. It'll be out later this year.

Logitech Announces Wireless Keyboard for the Wii

Adam Frucci — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:32:58 EDT

If you use your Wii to surf the web because you really miss your WebTV and want to relive the frustrations of using the internet on your television, this new Logitech Cordless Keyboard for Wii was designed with you in mind. It broadcasts using 2.4 GHz wireless technology and works from up to 30 feet away. Designed with the Wii in mind, it comes with dedicated buttons for Zoom In/Out, Forward/Back, Quit and OK. If it was really designed with the Wii in mind, you'd be able to move forward and back by swinging the entire keyboard around, but alas, that feature isn't included. No word on a release date, but it'll set you back $50 when it drops. [Product Page via CrunchGear]

Mysterious Wireless Guitar Hero Controller For Wii Surfaces

Matt Hickey — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:38:36 EDT

A reader in Michigan sent in this image he snapped at his local Wal-Mart of a hither-to unknown controller for Guitar Hero for the Wii called the Rage. None of us have heard of it, a Google search turned up nothing, and there's nothing on Wal-Mart's website about it, so it's a mystery. But it's a sweet looking one, with the box stating it's got the most realistic action yet, light-up LEDs on the fretboard, and a realistic looking wood-toned neck. Pretty sweet, though with the $54.78 price tag, you pay for the good looks. Thanks, James!

Official Rock Band 2 Track List (Plus Carry Over "Most" of Rock Band's Disc Tracks!)

matt buchanan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:55:01 EDT

Harmonix has officially unveiled the track list for Rock Band 2. Besides being packed with rock gods like AC/DC exclusively, GNR's Chinese Democracy's official debut, Alice in Chains and Rage Against the Machine (I'm a child of the 90's), and full backwards compatibility with all DLC songs, you can "export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay," giving real teeth to EA's claim that it's the "largest music catalogue" of any music game ever. One disc, all your songs, truly amazing—thanks for not screwing gamers, Harmonix. Every track and all the details below.

HARMONIX AND MTV GAMES UNVEIL SETLIST FOR ROCK BANDTM2 - THE ULTIMATE MUSIC GAME

Game to Feature Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and New Artists

Rock Band Platform to Encompass More Than 500 Songs by End of 2008

Los Angeles, Calif. – July 14, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed at the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit the song set list for Rock Band™ 2, the next evolution of the groundbreaking Rock Band music platform. The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall. This builds upon the unparalleled depth and diversity of Rock Band’s original set list and its ever-expanding library of downloadable tracks. Comprised entirely of master recordings from some of rock’s most prolific and untouchable artists, including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Pearl Jam and more, Rock Band 2 will deliver the most impressive and largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame ever.

• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track “Shackler's Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy.

• Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, "Let There Be Rock.”

• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue.”

• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.

• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history! [1]

• With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year’s end!

“With Rock Band, Harmonix and MTV Games set out to create a powerful music platform for music fans, their friends and families to discover music in a way unlike ever before,” said Paul DeGooyer, SVP Electronic Games and Music, MTV. “We are honored that such legendary artists as AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan and more have chosen Rock Band 2 as a new platform for fans to experience their music. As our catalog of disc and downloadable songs continues to grow, we are determined to continue to provide the Rock Band community an unmatched ability to customize their musical experience with the artists and songs they love.”

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List:
Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Gone Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s
Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s

** The Rock Band 2 on-disc track list is comprised entirely of master recordings.

More news about music on the Rock Band platform will be announced during the coming months.

Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PLAYSTATION® 3 and PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ later this year.

The Rock Band online Music Store recently surpassed 16 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007.With more than 200 tracks available to date on disc and via download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

[Kotaku]

Wii MotionPlus Brings More Accurate Motion-Sensing to the Wii

Adam Frucci — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:59:03 EDT

Nintendo just announced the Wii MotionPlus, a small peripheral that plugs on to the bottom of the Wiimote to give greatly improved motion sensing, allowing for games to truly use your motion on screen for, say, a lightsaber game.

Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

Now let's watch and see how Nintendo tries to spin a fix to underwhelming motion sensing as a new feature. Adventures in marketing, ahoy! [Nintendo]

NSFW Video: Topless Wii Fit Lets You Exercise In Front Of Your Computer

Jason Chen — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Remember Topless Wii and Topless Wii: The Revengening? Well this is different. This is Topless Wii Fit, as inspired by that one underpants video of the Wii Fit girl gyrating around. Like we said, different. Zoo Today has a really NSFW video and a slightly NSFW video. The slightly NSFW video after the jump. Head over to Zoo to see the jiggly jubblies. If you can play Wii Fit looking like this, let us know.

[Zoo Today]

His And Hers Wiimote Dildo Attachments Launch September 9th, Are You Ready?

Matt Hickey — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:40:09 EDT

Today we've got proof that the Wii isn't just for kids with this pair of Wiimote sex toys. We're not sure what game they're made to accompany but if anyone can create a realistic Mii while properly using one of these, we'll give them a prize. They come from a site that's mysterious for two reasons: It's not from Japan and has only the launch date, an email address, and the phrase "we search man and woman for a commercial." We hope they find them. [Slashdong]

Wii Nunchuk Hacked for 3D Animation

Mark Wilson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

We've seem more than our fair share of fascinating Wiimote mods, but few involve the Wiimote's faithful, platonic sidekick, the Nunchuk. So one modder took the Nunchuk, hooked it up to his computer, converted the MIDI signal and piped the information into 3D Studio Max. The result is realtime, 3D motion capture of a quasi-phallic CG object. And when it's all said and done, who can really ask for anything more than that? [via Hack-a-Day]

Logic 3 Wireless Wii Keyboard Activates Couch Typing Mode

Jason Chen — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Why be tethered to your Wii when the rest of your controllers are free to swing about and fly around your living room? Logic 3's 32-key wireless keyboard lets you enter in names, messages and Wii Friend Codes like an expert, not a spastic ten-year-old swatting at invisible flies. It's £13.99 ($27) when it's released July 18 in the UK. [Twenga]

Wii Wheel Mount Plays Mario Kart in Stereo(types)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EDT

For those who don't like the floating steering wheel of Mario Kart Wii (because it lacks the realism of driving around a banana-spewing bulletmobile), this wheel mount by JTT isn't a bad solution. Using a suction cup to attach the wheel to any flat surface, the top tilts 120-degrees so you can compete old-lady or bus-driver-style. But for $28, we really wish it had the famous Chinese-girl-driving-wrong-on-one-way setting. Oh well. I guess good old fashioned psychotic "don't-cut-me-off"-motherfucker-Caucasian will still serve me as well as it always has. [JTT via GoNintendo]

PCs Get Wiimote-esque Motion Controller: The Stix

Kit Eaton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:46:00 EDT

Motion-controller fans who don't want to get into Wiimote modding now have a way of playing interactive internet games on their PCs with the Stix. No, not the '70s band...it's a new and very Wiimote-esque controller from GoLive2, touch sensitive and launched with a companion website that has hundreds of "free Web-based games," whatever they may be like. The Stix 200 works with these games, while the 400 version looks like it also works with normal PC games. Available in August, press release below.

GoLive2 Unveils Stix, a New Line of Wireless, Motion-Sensing Controllers Set to Redefine PC Gaming

Compatible with Thousands of Free Online Games, Stix Touch-Screen Controllers Bring Active, Motion-Sensing Gameplay to the PC

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jul. 1, 2008 GoLive2, the independent gaming division of Playhut, Inc., today introduced Stix, a new line of wireless, motion-sensing gaming controllers for the PC and Internet. Redefining the PC and online gaming experience, Stix are wireless, touch-screen controllers that allow users to play thousands of free Web-based games as well as Games For Windows(R) titles with an active, motion-sensing play pattern. For the first time, players can abandon their mouse and keyboard to experience online and PC games in an entirely new way! Available at retailers nationwide in August, Stix are designed for players six years and older.

"Stix will completely change the way people experience online and PC gaming," said Brian Zheng, President, Playhut. "At purchase, Stix will be compatible with thousands of free online and retail games, and we're adding more games to that list daily. The fun is endless with Stix, and the wide-range of free, supported games makes this product perfect for every member of the family."

Introducing an unprecedented level of active gameplay to PC gaming, the motion-sensitive Stix are compatible with thousands of existing, free online games. GoLive2 will unveil two versions of the Stix available at launch: Stix 200 and Stix 400. Designed for casual gamers, Stix 200 adds active gameplay to 2D online gaming. Stix 400 is compatible with both 2D and 3D environments for the ultimate online and Games for Windows gaming experience.

As a compliment to the Stix product line, GoLive2 has also launched a free, online game portal called Sphere (http://Sphere.GoLive2.com) that provides hundreds of free games to play with Stix controllers. Sphere consists of both internally-developed games designed exclusively for the Stix as well as hosted games from online game developers that support Stix. Sphere also features a search engine that connects users to thousands of compatible, third-party free online games. In addition, users can configure their favorite PC games to preferred Stix settings. Finally, developers of all skill levels have the ability to create new games that harness the unique Stix gameplay pattern.

Stix will be available at retailers nationwide in August 2008, along with the Sphere companion site (http://Sphere.GoLive2.com).

For more information on the Stix line, visit http://www.GoLive2.com.

[Kotaku]

Man Uses Wii Balance Board to Move A Robot, Plans to Move People Too

John Herrman — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Juan González has hacked together a simple setup that lets his Wii Balance board move a small, irritating robot in any direction. This looks like the first robotic pairing for the board, which has to date has only been interfaced with computers as a control device to awkwardly navigate games and mapping applications. It's pretty clear that González is excited about this hack (watch the end of the video), but he isn't done yet- next up is is a Balance Board-based "robo-surfboard."

How he plans on doing this is unclear, but the idea that the Wii Fit peripheral could help people be even lazier is fantastic. According to the man himself:

There are a lot of interesting things that can be done. But first it is important to perform some testing... The next stage will be the controlling of faster-and-wireless robots.

We have called this idea "Robosurfing". Instead of using the Wii-board to "surf" in virtual environments or controlling virtual vehicles in the games, Why not use it to "surf" real mobile robots in a real scenario? It would be very, very funny.

It's doubtful that anything like this could be very usable as a mode of transportation, but I have to agree with the "very, very funny" part. See you in the skate park, Señor G. [Balance Board Blog]

An Easy Guide to Wii Homebrew

Jason Chen — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:20:00 EDT

The will she/won't she back and forth of the Wii Homebrew scene lately probably has a bunch of you, even if you're a veteran, confused. WiiHD has a good walkthrough teaching you how to get Homebrew onto your Wii, if only for the privilege of playing Quake and various other games. Piracy, on the other hand, isn't covered by this guide, so you'll have to look elsewhere. [WiiHD]

Conceptual "Wiimote in 2010" Mixes Fantasy with More Fantasy

Kit Eaton — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:33:00 EDT

This concept for a Wiimote of the future is showing over at T3, and yes... I know what you're thinking. I do. Honest. But my real problem with the design is that it's for just two years away, and do we really think Nintendo is going to redevelop things so radically by then? I'm sure fans would approve... but PS2 controllers haven't evolved much over the years, in comparison. And I know it's supposed to interact with that brainwave headset control, and that's groovy. But I'm sure it'd kill Wii Fit stone dead, unless you're talking mental agility. Still... with that cyberbabe to demonstrate the gizmos, I can't complain too much. [T3 via Yanko]

Wii Wheel and Wii Fit Board Combined to Make Racing Simulator

Jason Chen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EDT

If you've already got a Wii Wheel and a Wii fit but are too cheap to buy an actual racing wheel with pedals, Nintendo Wii Fanboy has a good way to combine the two to accomplish kinda the same thing. All you need is a PC, a couple apps and the ability to follow written instructions, and you too can be the proud owner of that thing you see in the video above. The only thing we suggest is that there's some short of wheel block type things to prop up the balance board so it doesn't feel like you're flooring it all the time. [Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

Nintendo's Homebrew-Killing Patch Already Hacked

John Herrman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:25:14 EDT

This week Nintendo sealed up the Twilight Princess hack which had previously allowed homebrew enthusiasts to work their brewy magic. Well, the patch has been circumvented after only a few days, and the fix should be available for download soon. [Wii Fanboy]

Nintendo's Working on Improved Wii Storage? Maybe?

Jason Chen — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:59:00 EDT

Nintendo's Laurent Fischer recently got in trouble when he said only "geeks" and "otaku" want more space on their Wii to store stuff. Now he has to not only apologize, but say that Nintendo knows "there is an issue in this," and that they're working on something. Maybe. Laurent follows up that with a quote saying they have "no plan to issue hardware," which kinda makes knowing that there's an issue a useless point. [Games Industry via Kotaku - Image Credit]

Nintendo Has Plugged the Wii Twilight Hack

Mark Wilson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EDT

A long-known exploit of Twilight Princess has allowed software enthusiasts to take control of the Nintendo Wii and launch their own homebrew. Not anymore! Because Nintendo's latest Wii Menu Update (version 3.3) not only brings the ability to move a Mii from the Mii Plaza into the Mii Parade directly—OMG—it also happens to patch the Twilight Hack. The good news is that those of you who've already installed the Homebrew Channel will not lose it...yet. [Wiifanboy]

Rumor: Trioxide Gadget Lets You Play Xbox 360, PS3, Wii on Your PC

Jason Chen — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:40:00 EDT

This rumor comes from the same leaky survey site that provided the Xbox 360 Avatar rumor and the WiiFit-like balance board rumor, so it may or may not be legit. Supposedly there's a company working on a device called Trioxide which, according to Kotaku, allows "the ability to play the latest console games (ie Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, etc) on your PC." The only way we can see this as working is on a really powerful PC with really optimized emulation software, which takes years and years to develop. In other words, it seems really unlikely, and could be something someone cooked up for a survey. [Kotaku]

Hacked Wii Fit Board Lets You Stumble Around Azeroth

Elaine Chow — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

The Germans who hacked a Wii Balance Board from Wii Fit to surf Google Earth have found a much more fun use for the peripheral – running around World of Warcraft. In this follow up video, Simon and Mattieu control a low level gnome exploring Ironforge, avoiding wolves and slamming into tree trunks. Now all they need to do is hack the Wiimote and Nunchuck to understand macros and I will be the fittest WoW player EVER. [Technabob]

Virtual Maestro is Like Guitar Hero, Just Without the Guitars and Rock Music

Adam Frucci — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:50:00 EDT

You might think you're pretty awesome playing One on expert in Guitar Hero 3, but could you conduct an entire orchestra? My guess: probably. And you'll be able to test my hypothesis with Virtual Maestro, a Wii game created by a couple of professors.

Unfortunately, the game doesn't let you play any of the instruments in an orchestra, which would be pretty cool and allow for nice, 50-person online games. Instead, it uses the Wiimote as a baton, letting you conduct the orchestra. Yep, it's a game that's totally controlled by you waving your hands to the music. Sound boring? Yes, I agree, but hey, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there are explosions when you really get the tempo right or when you lead that soloist to perfection. Classical music explosions, that is. The future is now!

Unfortunately for you, it's not for sale. Instead, it'll be set up before London Symphony Orchestra shows to give people a chance to try their hand at conducting before seeing the real maestros at work. You'll have to settle for my incredible box art Photoshop. [Reuters]

Nintendo Wii to Score "USB Devices"

Mark Wilson — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:37:00 EDT

While we've heard rumors of Nintendo manufacturing a USB hard drive to compliment the Wii, a new job advertisement adds even more credence to the speculation. Posted three days ago, the ad calls for a "Software/Hardware Tester" who can implement a "test plan for Wii's USB devices." So a hard drive is probably on its way, but could Nintendo be cooking up something else? Oooh, maybe corded Wiimote! At long last!! [PCWorld]

Wii Spray Wiimote Hack Breaks Up The Family Fun With a Little Virtual Vandalism

Jack Loftus — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EDT

Check out this Wii controller prototype from Bauhaus-University design student Martin Lihs. The spray paint can-styled casing contains a hacked up Wii controller that's used to manipulate virtual graffiti on a monitor. And since this is an art project, you can bet there are a wide variety of colors, spray caps, and tagging techniques built into the thing. Eventually, Lihs plans to integrate the device into a communal wall as part of his final thesis. It will be a sort of social media/public tagging spectacle that will enable users from around the globe to work on the same piece of art. Best of all, there are no Friend Codes. [Wii Spray via Core 77]

Wiimote Wheelchair Helps Disabled People Paint (Roughly Speaking)

Benny Goldman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:30:55 EDT

Digital Wheel Art, a wheelchair painting program to help disabled people make art, was on display at the Maker Faire event in NYC tonight. Creator YoungHyun Chung was inspired to create the device after seeing children with cerebral palsy whose limited movement stifled their artistic expression. Here's how it works, plus a video of the system in action.

The system works by sending data from a Wiimote attached to a wheelchair over Bluetooth to a painting program displayed on the screen. The program draws lines based on the path of the wheelchair, and the user can change colors by tilting his or her head on a ball on the right side of the chair, which cycles through the different options. The finished product may not look like a masterpiece to some, but for people who couldn't show off their artistic chops before, it's a great first step. [Digital Wheel Art, Maker Faire—Picture at top from Digital Wheel Art site]