Wii remote

The Wii remote is a wireless game controller designed by Nintendo to make the game less cumbersome to play. This handy device resembles a regular television remote control. Almost all of the game functionalities can be controlled by the Wii remote. Thus, it can serve as a gun in fighting games and as a steering wheel in car racing games. The Wii remote, also known as the Wiimote, has an intrinsic motion sensing facility that allows smooth manipulation of on-screen elements when the user points and moves the Wii remote.

Since its launch in September 2005, the Wii remote has garnered a loyal fan following due to its easy operation and ergonomic contours and, most importantly, offering an interface that is familiar even with non-gaming novices. The remote can be used by either hand. Using a Bluetooth radio mode of signal transmission, this device has a range of around 10 metres. This gadget is powered by two AA batteries, which when fully charged offer a running time of around 60 hours when only the accelerometer is used and approximately 30 hours when the pointer function is also used. Usage of rechargeable batteries is dependent on the manufacturer’s intimation as the Wii manual does not advocate their usage.

The Wii remote comes in a variety of colours like blue, black, white and others, with some having a glossy finish on the front and a matt finish at the rear. A wrist strap minimizes the chances of the device slipping off the hand. The Wii remote has an inbuilt speaker, a rumble feature as well as an expansion slot for secondary input devices like the Nintendo Nunchuk.