The
Wii Remote, also known
colloquially as the
Wiimote, is the primary
game controller for
Nintendo's
Wii home video game console. An essential capability of the Wii Remote is its
motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via motion sensing,
gesture recognition, and
pointing which is used for the console,using
accelerometer and
optical sensor technology. It is expandable by adding attachments. The attachment bundled with the Wii console is the
Nunchuk, which complements the Wii Remote by providing functions similar to those in gamepad controller. Some other attachments include the
Classic Controller,
Wii Zapper, and the
Wii Wheel, which has originally been used for the racing game. The Wii Remote assumes a one-handed remote control-based design instead of the traditional gamepad controllers of previous gaming consoles. This was done to make motion sensitivity more intuitive, as a remote design is fitted perfectly for pointing, and in part to help the console appeal to a broader audience that includes non-gamers. The body of the Wii Remote is 148 mm (5.8 in) long, 36.2 mm (1.43 in) wide, and 30.8 mm (1.21 in) thick. The Wii Remote model number is RVL-003, a reference to the project code-name "Revolution". The controller communicates wirelessly with the console via short-range Bluetooth radio, with which it is possible to operate up to four controllers at a distance of up to 10 metres (30 ft) from the console. The Wii Remote communicates with the Sensor Bar by infrared, providing pointing functionality over a distance of up to five metres (16 ft) from Wii Remote to Sensor Bar. The controller can be used in either hand; it can also be turned horizontally and used like a Famicom/NES controller, or in some cases (including Excite Truck, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Mario Kart Wii, and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing) a steering wheel. It is also possible to play a single-player game with a Wii Remote in each hand, as in the Shooting Range game contained in Wii Play.