In a move that could boost its console sales, Nintendo said today that, starting May 9, it will bundle the Wii MotionPlus accessory and Wii Sports Resort game into its $199 Wii video game console.
The Wii hardware will also be available in black or white for the first time. Those changes are the biggest modification that Nintendo has made to the basic Wii bundle since the launch of the system in 2006. It suggests that Nintendo has cut costs enough to give gamers a better bargain for the price, which remains unchanged; but it may also mean Nintendo needs to make this move in order to keep demand high.
The Wii already comes with a motion-sensing Wii controller and Nunchuk accessory, as well as the Wii Sports game. The Wii MotionPlus snaps onto the bottom of the controller and makes it more accurate, adding gyroscopes that can sense the twist of a wrist. The Wii Sports Resort game takes advantage of that added accuracy, letting you play games such as tossing a frisbee or shooting an arrow.
Overall, Nintendo has sold more than 70 million Wiis worldwide, compared to 40 million Xbox 360s and 34 million PlayStation 3s.