Wii Sensor Bar questions

[ninjit]

So, I've read alot about the Wii remote, motion sensing, and sensor bar... and I gather that the sensor bar is only necessary for on screen accuracy, as in targeting reticules, moving a cursor about etc.
In games where just the motion is relevant for a trigger, the sensor bar isn't necessary - the only example I could think of is maybe sword-swiping in zelda: it shouldn't matter where you're pointing, it's just the swipe that counts.
Where as with something like the hook-shot it most certainly would matter where you are pointing.

Is the above true?

And my next question is how the Sensor bar works. To me it would seem you need to specify at least the size of your TV screen and the relative location of the Sensor bar somewhere in the Wii setup to get it to work.

Imagine sitting at the same distance away from a 27" TV vs a 54" tv, with the Sensor bar placed symmetrically in front.
Pointing at the upper left corner of the 27" tv should move the cursor to the upper left corner, right? But on the 54" TV that same motion/angle would only point half-way to the corner.
So how does the Sensor bar tell the difference?

Is there some kinda calibration step at the beginning? I was hoping someone who just got one could chime in, because I've thought about this since I heard about the Sensor bar, but googling still hasn't turned anything up

 

[FP]

From what I have read the sensor bar sends out a signal which is processed by the nunchuk thing. The nunchuk then sends info to the Wii.

This was tested by a couple guys who accidentally left the sensor bar plugged into a Wii that wasn't being used. Everything still worked perfectly.

Pretty cool technology.

 

[igowerf]

The wiimote isn't a light gun. It's more like a mouse so the cursor doesn't correspond to where you point.

The sensor bar has infrared sensors in it. That's why it's affected by direct sun light.

 

[dxkj]

Most of the people Ive seen trying to use these things have appeared awkward, is there a large learning curve?

 

[ninjit]

Originally posted by: igowerf
The wiimote isn't a light gun. It's more like a mouse so the cursor doesn't correspond to where you point.

The sensor bar has infrared sensors in it. That's why it's affected by direct sun light.

I was wondering about that, some reviews say that the bar emits an IR field, and that Wii-mote has an IR camera in the end - it's responsible for picking up the signal and then sending coordinate data back to the system via Bluetooth, but then why would direct sun light on the bar effect the performance??

Yeh, it isn't a light gun, because new-tech TV's can't work with that method, it only works with CRTs - which is the whole need for the Sensor bar.

But I'm pretty sure it' supposed to be much more accurate, because Nintendo has shown a trigger attachment for the Wii-mote that lets you use it as a gun.

I bet if I used one it would be pretty obvious how it works, I just need to walk into a store with a full demo setup.

 

[ninjit]

I found a manual scanned online:
http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=86488

it seems to indicate that the Remote IS the sensor, and the bar emits the IR field. Strong sunlight is a problem because it REFLECTS off the TV or the bar, it's also a problem if there's a window behind the TV.

There's also a section that describes how you can point DIRECTLY at what you want on the TV, but there still no mention of calibration and such - so I'm still confused as to how the pointing works.

 

[Andyb23]

Originally posted by: dxkj
Most of the people Ive seen trying to use these things have appeared awkward, is there a large learning curve?

Yea its a pain, I don't know what they mean by " easy to use"

I really don't understand how that system sold so well.

Zelda looks like an upgraded Gamecube game.

 

[Journer]

its not as hard as people think...its pretty simple to learn...however...with games like redsteel it can be flakey and that causes a lot of stress. redsteel is crap though, zelda doesnt use it the same way and it totally rocks.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Andyb23

Originally posted by: dxkj
Most of the people Ive seen trying to use these things have appeared awkward, is there a large learning curve?

Yea its a pain, I don't know what they mean by " easy to use"

I really don't understand how that system sold so well.

Zelda looks like an upgraded Gamecube game.

well the wii is just a gamecube where they turned up the boost so what did you expect?

i think its pretty nifty how the IR bar and remote works

from what i've heard i dont think the IR is necessary for all movements...one guy on DT said the remote seemed to work brilliantly in games, but when it came to navigating what was in his opinion the worst UI ever, the remote just made things worse as he couldnt get it to move the cursor where he wanted to be.

so maybe it uses IR or works like standard tv remote for naving the UI, but the motion sensors and gyro's simply send out info via BT when you swipe or jab or serve or whatever

he also complained of not being able to sit anywhere other than directly infront of his TV.

 

[iamwiz82]

For swiping, the wii uses accelerometers and a gyrometer, so you don't need to aim at the sensor bar. Otherwise, in bowling or golf you wouldn't see your swing go back as the remote is raised behind you.

 

[sohcrates]

it used accelerometers in the remote made from MEMS devices. some good write ups at slashdot / engadget the other day i believe about how it works.