Reggie explains why MotionPlus wasn’t a built-in Wiimote function

The possibilities of what Wii MotionPlus have been desired for a long time. For this reason, most Nintendo fans were more than content when the add-on was announcement. However, some have argued that MotionPlus should have been available in the Wii controller itself, when Nintendo launched the Wii console. Reggie Fils-Aime has explained Nintendo’s decision on the matter: “We were aware of that technology (the gryoscopic chips made by Invensense) at the time we designed the original Wii. But the cost would have been too high for the business model. It would have been unacceptable.”

I can’t believe how expensive it will become to obtain the “full” Wii controller experience. In North America, the Wii controller is $40, the nunchuck is $20, and then there’s Wii MotionPlus. If you ask me, that’s a lot to ask for if you’re interested in just one controller experience. Imagine how expensive it would be if Nintendo invested in the gyroscopic technology when they were creating the Wii initally.