facebook rss twitter

Wii Music - Simulate playing up to 60 instruments

by Steven Williamson on 16 July 2008, 11:16

Tags: Wii Music, Nintendo (TYO:7974), Wii, Simulation

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaodj

Add to My Vault: x

Nintendo are the music makers

Yesterday at E3 2008, Nintendo revealed Wii Music, an upcoming music video game for the Wii that simulates playing musical instruments using the Wii Remote and the Wii Balance Board.

After the laughter eventually settled in the auditorium, following Nintendo’s hilarious performance of the Mario theme tune ,we've now had time to reflect on the presentation and digest all of the information given.

Wii Music will allow players to mimic many of the instruments that you find in an orchestra, as well as more exotic instruments from across the world. We'll also be able to partake in a number of rhythm based mini-games using the Wii-mote and Nunchuck to wave our arms around in time to the music like a baton to conduct the ensemble or by swinging the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller to mimic hand-bells.

We'll be able to play up to 60 different musical instruments, including the saxophone, trumpet, guitar, piano, banjo, sitar and the drums, which were demonstrated on stage by a ‘professional drummer’ who used the Wii-mote and Nunchuck as drumsticks and the Wii balance board as a pedal.

After watching the performance, I was initially baffled as to how exactly we'll be able to replicate the sounds of these instruments.

Miyamoto explained ""Now most music games require you to press buttons with precise timing to symbols on screen, but we've designed Wii Music to allow everyone, including those who can't read music to enjoy the experience of playing music."



Continued overleaf