Wiimote used in XNA dev presentation [update]

by Ross Miller { Aug 6th 2007 at 1:55PM }

Microsoft's XNA development kit is showing some love to the competition, revealing at the Assembly summer event support for Nintendo's Wii remote. Microsoft's Chad Hower gave a demonstration of the support by playing a very basic tech demo with the wand. The picture contained in the slideshow also showed the nunchuk attachment~~, though we're not sure if that's also supported or if Microsoft simply went with the first stock photo they could find~~.

Even though XNA is technically a platform for both PC and Xbox 360 support, it should be noted that the Wii remote support is only for the PC, care of the .NET framework, and those looking to truly bastardize the console wars by using Nintendo input with Microsoft's consoles can only shrug their shoulders, snap their fingers and go, "Aw, shucks." However, it now looks like homebrew enthusiasts can create games using the Wii remote while pushing PC hardware so far that the software couldn't possibly be played on the Wii itself.

Update: As noted by Brian Peek of Coding4Fun, the Wii remote support is actually a facet of the .NET library (not inherent, but you can download the library made by Peek or others). And since XNA supports .NET, so too does it support the Wii remote. Here are some examples of applications made using Peek's Wii remote library. Peek also pointed to a post by Hower discussing the Wii remote and XNA. Thanks for the information, Brian!

[Via GamersReports]

Tags: microsoft, nintendo, wiimote, wiiremote, xna

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Daran @ Aug 6th 2007 2:01PM

Crysis for Wii confirmed.

bender @ Aug 6th 2007 2:04PM

How is it that we thought the exact same thing.

dsub @ Aug 6th 2007 3:10PM

how do you figure?

Daran @ Aug 6th 2007 3:23PM

The article explains that Crysis can now be ported to the Wii cause the only thing that was stopping Crytek from preforming the port was the fact that they couldn't get the controls running.

Now that they can add the motion, we'll see it running in HD on the big screen! OH HELL YEAH

Jake @ Aug 6th 2007 2:05PM

So you could build a Wii game for PC using XNA and have far more resources to use. Interesting. Crysis for Wii confirmed indeed.

samfish @ Aug 6th 2007 2:09PM

Finally! Motion controlled H-games!

Zertoss @ Aug 6th 2007 2:13PM

How is it that we thought the exact same thing?

samfish @ Aug 6th 2007 2:23PM

Great minds think alike, clearly.

Now, if you were also thinking "Battle Raper ThWii", then one of us'll have to get a sex change operation and have the other one's baby.

Zertoss @ Aug 6th 2007 2:51PM

Kinda glad for once that I couldn't get my mind off of naked Peach.

3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Aug 6th 2007 2:10PM

Poor PS3 is left out again.
The PS3 is like that one girl no one talks to. Her older sister was really hot and popular and for some reason, she didn't become popular and no one knows why. She isn't ugly, just a bit shy. But you don't care what anyone else thinks, so you go and talk to her. Turns out, she isn't all that bad. Sure compared to the other girls, she doesn't bring much to the table, but you know that, given some time, she'll turn around and amaze you. Now its ten years later and you go back to your high school reunion. Looking at the other two girls you think WTF!!? they used to be the hottest thing back then. And then PS3 walks into the room, and just like you had guessed ten years ago, she could still hold her own against all the hot new comers, just like her sister.

Martin @ Aug 6th 2007 2:12PM

... freaky.

The truth @ Aug 6th 2007 2:16PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFoyp71xw3w

Kaemon @ Aug 6th 2007 2:19PM

Too bad the PS3 WON'T be able to hold up in 10 years... because we have no clue what will happen in 10 years :-/
It was stupid of them to say that.

3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Aug 6th 2007 2:28PM

Meh, I was just typing out of my ass.
In other news: Yao Ming got married!

Jake @ Aug 6th 2007 2:52PM

Oooh. I love analogies.

All consoles are choices at the local brothel.

The PS3 is the hottest most expensive one there. She's got a couple of moves, but pretty much just lays there most of the time. Some guys like that, though. The nice thing is she'll watch a movie with you free of charge.

The Wii is a really ugly cheap chick. She doesn't do lays or BJ's, but rather has all kinds of weird kinky stuff. You'll have fun and definately experience something new, but you'll soon long for a chick with more traditional moves.

The 360 is a bit older and still pretty sexy chick. Though not particularly inventive, she has all the best classic moves and will keep you entertained for hours. Once you've had all three at least twice, you will practically ignore the other ones. One problem, she has a red ring around her power button. Use extra protection with this one.

Mr Khan @ Aug 6th 2007 3:57PM

It would be possible to make Wiimote applications for PS3 much more easily than the 360 (although less easily than the PC)

Its all bluetooth, its already there, they only need to make an application for the Yellow Dog to allow wiimote controls. Certainly it isn't likely (and it couldn't use all the resources, as we know Yellow Dog cannot interface with the RSX), but i abandoned likelihood a long time ago...

Martin @ Aug 6th 2007 2:10PM

Looks like we also might get a sneak preview of Geometry Wars Galaxies, if they can pump it out quick enough.

Kaemon @ Aug 6th 2007 2:13PM

Interesting... though I doubt it will ever bring anything worthwhile in the end. Probably just something fun to mess around with.

License to ill @ Aug 6th 2007 2:21PM

"Crysis for Wii confirmed."

Running at 5fps....

Daran @ Aug 6th 2007 2:42PM

Better than nothing

Sidepocket @ Aug 6th 2007 2:25PM

If you can put it on PC, you can mostly put it on other consoles as long as you scale down or build within the consoles parameters.

Never underestimate hackers to make something do something it is not suppose to be doing..

Why do I have a feeling that after this that WiiWare is going to spike up tremendously?

megapenguinx @ Aug 6th 2007 2:27PM

PWii anyone?

3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Aug 6th 2007 2:29PM

How is it that we thought the exact same thing?

Brian Peek @ Aug 6th 2007 2:29PM

The article you have regarding XNA supporting the Wiimote is incorrect (as is the original source article). I know this because I'm the author of the library that Chad Hower is using. You can find the article I wrote + source code at Microsoft's Coding4Fun:

http://blogs.msdn.com/coding4fun/archive/2007/03/14/1879033.aspx

This library allows one to use a Wiimote in any .NET application and is not exclusive to XNA in any way. Additionally, it's not supported by Microsoft and really has no affiliation with them other than the fact that I'm an author for their site.

I've been in communication with Chad for the past month or so and knew of this demonstration he'd be giving. And while it is written in XNA, the Wiimote support is provided by my library and has nothing to do with XNA itself.

I can provide more information, email addresses, etc. if required to substantiate the claims. Let me know if that's required.

Thanks,
Brian Peek

alex @ Aug 6th 2007 2:30PM

3cubed minus 3squared plus1: You, my friend, have a sick, sick mind.

pnb @ Aug 6th 2007 3:09PM

Someone has adapted the wiimote for use with the 360. Check out wii-Halo here: http://obsiv.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!948789BF56FAF394!177.entry

bender @ Aug 6th 2007 4:20PM

Was he not able to implement duel-weilding too. I would have liked to see that.

Borat @ Aug 6th 2007 3:12PM

Yeah I remember someone released .NET code for the Wiimote.

There are also C++ libraries out there...I'm hoping to program a 1:1 basic sword-fighting game using OpenGL once I get a bluetooth dongle..since the developers won't do it, I thought I might give it a try.

ssuk @ Aug 6th 2007 3:25PM

OMG A 3RD PARTY ADDED SUPPORT FOR THE WIIMOTE TO XNA! THIS SO MEANS THAT CRYSIS IS COMING TO WII. Did you people think this through... AT ALL?

Also, Wiimote support was added (3RD PARTY) to Visual C++.NET, Visual Basic.NET aaaaages ago. The fact it's taken so long for it to be converted from C++ to C# just goes to show how completly unusable C# is. Then again I think VC++.NET and VB.NET aren't as good as Visual C++ & VB6... So, call my oppinion bias if you like, I wont hate you for it. =P

WiNG @ Aug 6th 2007 4:15PM

okay now we know for a fact, which is the best control scheme

1. Get 3 PCs, install Halo2
2. Use keyboard + mouse on 1
3. Use a 360 controller on another
4. Use a wiimote on another
5. FIGHT!

muahahahhahahhaha of course you should get 3 people with equal skill or 3 people who claim to be the PRO of each control scheme

Crono @ Aug 6th 2007 4:42PM

I've tried. Using Wiimote on halo isn't nearly as good as you'd like it to be due to the fact you have to write a translator script to translate wii motions/movements/pointing to halo's kb/m slash Xbox controller schemes.

The last time i tried, it sucked so bad I couldn't stand it, and pointer lag was pitiful. Not saying the control scheme can't be done, just that the adaptations currently suck harblls.