Nintendo's Peripheral Play

What will essential peripherals do to the Wii's profile and price point?
7/17/2008 8:17 PM | 1 Comments | Page 2 of 2

And then there's the Wii Motion Plus (WMP). This pretty white plastic cube shunts into the end of the Wii remote, purportedly to enhance tracking. With the WMP in place, a greater range of movement can be registered by the system, so on-screen characters likewise have a greater range of movement. You'll get one WMP with each copy of Wii Sports Resort, but a standalone price hasn't been revealed, and there's no hint of a full remote redesign on the horizon (though you know a new remote incorporating the WMP tech is coming).

Thanks, Nintendo. Time to re-tally the price again. A console ($250), balance board ($90), extra remote and Nunchuk ($60), and let's guess $15 per standalone WMP puts a solid two-player Wii setup at just under $450. Not only is the price for a solid two-player console setup 200 bucks higher than the Wii's attractive low list price, the collection of gear is sprawling and unappealing. How did a $399 PS3 and Dual Shock 3 start looking so tasty?

Point/Counterpoint - Steve Steinberg thinks the balance board peripheral is on its way to becoming a Wii essential -- and that it's a good thing. Check out The Wii Balance Board Looks to Shed its "Peripheral" Status.