What the Wii looked like in 2005 (Accessories)

[bluaki]

When Gamecube was the newest Nintendo gaming console, the only accessories that it really could use were memory cards and the GBA-GCN cables, along with that LAN adapter that nobody had.

I thought then that the next game system would probably need like no accessories at all. Built-in data storage, wireless communications with the DS, and Wi-Fi. The controller extension cable which I used for GBA wasn't going to be needed either. Sounded awesome at the time. Even having wireless receivers for the controllers built-in the system and controllers that could be recharged like the DS (which we didn't end up getting) looked like they would be great. Simplifying what parts of the console you have to worry about. I thought all that would be left is up to four normal controllers.

Instead, now, we have... Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, additional grips/straps/batteries for remotes, all GCN accessories, Classic Controllers, MotionPlus, Wii Speak, Balance Board, Vitality Sensor, instruments, and remind me if I missed anything. Though I personally never use anything after Classic Controller in the list.

They never even directly improved upon the Wavebird to make it use Bluetooth and rechargeable batteries or whatever (because using bluetooth during GCN play would require actually updating the Wii's firmware in a useful way, something Nintendo never even considers). They didn't even implement any use of the internal data storage for GCN games, instead still requiring memory cards.

Before the Wii was released, I expected Wii-DS connectivity to be used very heavily. The main reason that GCN-GBA connection didn't go all that far was because of needing cables that most people wouldn't have, while anybody with a DS can simply connect it to the Wii. How many games and other things use that feature, now? The only examples I can think of now are Pokemon Battle Revolution, Pokemon Ranch, and Nintendo Channel's demos.