Things you may not know about Wii remotes
At E3 next week, Nintendo will be showcasing some new features of the Wii Remote, including the new Wii MotionPlus attachment. In preparation for that, here’s a list of questions and answers about Wiimotes that you may not already know. This way your Wii-knowledge will be ready for any new announcement!
Which is the correct term – Wii Remote or Wiimote?
Well, Denise Kaigler, VP of Corporate Affairs for Nintendo, says the official term is Wii Remote. Apparently Wiimote is simply a nickname that caught on and is now quite popular.
How do I check the battery strength?
Pick up a sleeping Wii Remote and press the large A button. You’ll see flashing blue LEDs near the base. The more LEDs that you see flashing, the stronger your batteries are. Hint: by using a Wii Charge Station you’ll never have to worry about dead batteries again!
Does keeping the Nunchuk plugged in drain the batteries faster?
Yes indeed! The Nunckuk draws power from the Wii Remote. In order to maximize your battery life, you should keep the Nunchuk unplugged when it’s not being used.
How many Wii Remotes can be detected by a single Wii console?
Four.
If I have multiple Wii consoles in the same room, how do they know to keep the remotes coordinated?
Each Wii console is continually searching for new controllers. All you need to do is press a button to get them to communicate with one another. Hopefully you’ll see one of the blue LEDs light up, and stay lit. If so, you’re laughin’ all the way to the bank. But if the lights continue to blink, you will likely need to re-sync your Wii Remote.
How do I sync a Wii Remote?
There’s a red button located on the Wii console, behind the door on the front. There’s another button inside the battery compartment of your Wiimotes. Press the two red buttons within a few seconds of one another. If the light on the Wiimote stays on, you’re all good. To resync at any time, another trick is to press the 1 and 2 buttons on the Wii remote at the same time.
Is it true that incandescent light sources can confuse the controls?
Officially Nintendo says “Our testing thus far shows there is not a great risk of light interference when playing a game that relies on the pointer and sensor”. But from our experience this can sometime be incorrect. If you notice any problems with bright lights, direct sunshine, or even Xmas tree lights, the solution is simply to close the window shades or turn off the lights 
What’s this “Wii MotionPlus” that everyone’s been talking about?
Wii MotionPlus is a small attachment that snaps into the bottom of the Wiimotes and increases its ability to sense motion. Apparently the stock “motion sensor” in the Wii remotes just aint very good! This new attachment contains a rate gyroscope which can instantaneously measure the angular velocity of your hard/arm. This makes throwing games like football or frisbee much more accurate and lifelike. Wow – that sounds pretty sweet! They’ll likely only cost ~ $20 too.
