History
The Wii was going to be a Revolution for Nintendo, so much so that it was its codename.
From a Failure to a Sucess
The Nintendo GameCube was Nintendo’s first foray into CD-Stored games. Learning its mistakes from the previous generation’s cartridge-based system. However, despite bestsellers such as Mariokart Double-Dash, Luigi’s Mansion, and Animal Crossing. The Gamecube had struggled to match sales with the PlayStation 2 and the Original Xbox. It sold only 21 Million Units during its lifetime.
Realising that competing with more powerful hardware is futile, Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s President at the time, decided to take a different approach to the next-generation console. His goal was to make gaming accessible to those off all ages and to “break with the past” of Nintendo’s past consoles. The centerpiece was a motion-sensitive controller: similar in design to TV remotes, and it was able to be modular with plenty of accessories.
E3 2005
Nintendo showcases both a prototype of the Wii, still known as the Nintendo Revolution at the Time, as well as the controller for the first time. The design is both unusual and intriguing,
The Next Year, During E3 2006…
The official name for the console is revealed to be the Nintendo Wii. The first Nintendo console with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.
However, all was not settled as of yet. Reggie Fils-Aimé came into the launch planning of the Wii as Nintendo of America’s new president. He began negotiating with Iwata about firstly launching the Wii in the Americas prior to the usual Japan-first approach the company has taken before. He had a difficult conversation with Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto. Debating whether or not to include it as a pack-in title for the Wii. Reggie argued that Wii Sports is a great jumping-off point for showcasing the remote’s controls. Iwata was hesitent to pack in a game for free. Miyamoto instead argued for Wii Play as a pack-in title.
Reggie instead took a different approach. Pitching Wii Play should be packed with a Wii Remote to promote sales, and Wii Sports would remain the pack-in title. The men eventually agreed, and Reggie’s commitment is partially what lead to the Wii’s global sucess.
The Controllers
The Wii Remote
The Nunchuck
The Classic Controller
The GameCube Controller
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