 |
| Nintendo Wii Controller http://us.wii.com/hardware/ |
 |
| Nintendo Wii nunchuk http://us.wii.com/hardware/ |
The Holidays are coming and the Wii is on our list! I started thinking about the controller for the Wii and how it really has changed the face of gaming. The designers of the controller not only came up with the idea of a motion sensor controller, but they have upgraded and adjusted the controller according to user needs, comfort, safety, ease of use, performance, and aesthetics. This video is a very enlightening instruction on how to use the controller, but with it came some insights about safety and ease of use. The Wii controller is long and narrow like a remote control for a TV. It has similarities to the controllers of old, but is simpler and held at a different angle. The controller has a directional key and a few different buttons, but what makes it so different is the sensor in the end of the controller. The user points the controller at the screen and can use it like a mouse for a computer. The controller also has motion sensors that can take the physical motion of the user and translate it to action. Meaning you can turn the controller on it's side and hold it with two hands, then by tilting the controller one way or another you can control the way a car (for example) will turn. The controller also has an accessory called a nunchuck. The nunchuck attaches by a cord to the Wii controller and is held in the opposite hand. It has an analog stick that is used to easily move a character within a game, and has additional buttons.
The comfort of the Wii controller is easy to see. The size fits nicely in the hand, and the nunchuk is ergonomically shaped to fit perfectly with your hand. The length of the connecting cord is not too long or too short and does not interfere with game play.
The controller is fairly easy to use. A few moments of playing with it and a little background knowledge of computers or video games and one is already an expert. Part of the fun of the Wii is that you have to move. Normal video games are fairly immobile. The user sits in front of the TV and moves only their thumbs and eyes, but the Wii requires full range of motion from arms and even sometimes the whole body. Many people stand while they play. So it is easy to use, but not stagnant which may cause some to say that it is more difficult because they have to use their body. This is a good thing for the next generation of kids as they develop and stay active even as they play their video games!
As far as performance, the Wii does what it should. Anything can be faulty over time, so I will reserve complete judgement until I actually have the Wii for a little while. The Wii responds to the controller effectively and allows the user to play their games in an animated and exciting new way.
Aesthetically the Wii controllers are perfect for what they intend. Their design does not state itself. One focuses more on the use of the object rather than what it looks like which is what a product should do. It should speak to what it does. While functionality is the focus, the design is very smooth, shiny, simple, and indicates its purpose. All of its edges are rounded. Even though the controller is a rectangle there are no hard edges. The nunchuck is curvilinear and small, highlighting it's usability. The white color is very popular for a very contemporary feel as can be seen in things like the iMac, Eve from Wall-E, and IKEA products. Nintendo does offer additional colors, allowing their users to personalize their products to their own tastes. The Nintendo designers are doing a wonderful job. They are coming up with new ways to think about gaming and they listen to the needs of their users, changing and improving their products in a constant design conversation.
 |
| Eve from Disney|Pixar's Wall-E http://myonlinereviewer.com/movies/animated/wall-e-deeper-than-you-think.html |
No comments:
Post a Comment