Electronic Arts recently allowed a few gamers to preview Nintendo’s MotionPlus features - MotionPlus is supposed to provide one-to-one game response with Nintendo’s Wii.  It’s been nearly a year since Nintendo announced MotionPlus, and I know a lot of us are pretty excited to see it.

From the article at IGN:

EA is developing two titles making use of the new tech, Tiger Woods Golf 10 and Grand Slam Tennis. Grand Slam Tennis is the mega publisher’s very first foray into the world of tennis games and has been made especially for the Wii — although 360 and PS3 versions will be coming in November. Tiger Woods Golf 10 is, of course, releasing on every single gaming platform known to man (with the exception of the DS). Grand Slam Tennis is due to launch on June 19, with Tiger trailing not far behind on July 3. So, can we expect to see MotionPlus hitting stores before then? EA wouldn’t be drawn to steal Nintendo’s thunder with an official date on the dongle, but notes - knowingly - that it would certainly make sense.

Thanks, IGN!

Game maker Electronic Arts (EA) is releasing two games using the MotionPlus technology, which is the technology that Nintendo is adding that gives the Wiimote even more detailed control.

Does it?  I haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t say for sure.

From Nintendo’s website:

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

Sounds pretty interesting, right?

EA’s two games - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and and unnamed EA tennis game, will both employ the MotionPlus technology.  Exciting!

Thanks, Kotaku!

Nintendo unveiled its MotionPlus device at E3 this year, and there are apparently some companies that aren’t too pleased that they weren’t notified in advance.  Nintendo.com has this to say about their new accessory:

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

Okay - well, yes, that sounds cool.  The company in particluar is THQ, the producers of Wii’s de Blob, which was released on September 23.  MTV Multiplayer had this to report from Nick Hagger, the producer of de Blob:

“I think if we had the MotionPlus to start out with, maybe the control scheme would have worked out a little bit differently,” said Hagger in a phone interview late last week. “I think the temptation with having Wii MotionPlus would have been to push it more in a gestural control scheme. While it’s definitely intellectually stimulating from a development perspective to play with those ideas — and I think it does appeal to a set of gamers out there — I think the majority of people that play on the Wii want something very simple that they can just immediately get their heads around.”

We hear you, Nick.  I wonder how MotionPlus will affect future control.