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Posted by ashtonstory on December 8, 2008
After a few years of release, it’s common practice for platform holders to modify their hardware with cheaper, more efficient components. The Wii may not have the most advanced processor and graphical capabilities, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas in Nintendo’s console where they can cut costs, too. Nikkei Tech-On! reports (via WiiFanboy) that various manufacturers of accelerometer chips (the component in the Wii remote that gives it its motion-sensing capabilities) are soliciting Nintendo with potentially cheaper chips to become their new supplier.
Nintendo hasn’t made any decisions yet, as apparently a supplier must satisfy strict specification requirements to receive a contract. One supplier that was reported to be a strong contender was U.S.-based firm Kionix Inc., whose chip is slightly thicker than those the Wii currently uses. As such, it would be “easier to enhance sensitivity,” according to engineers familiar with the technology.
Note that unlike the Wii MotionPlus add-on that Nintendo plans to ship soon, any change in accelerometer chips would not likely change the Wii’s capabilities in significant ways. Rather, it would simply be more of a financial decision to cut manufacturing costs.
But that then raises the obvious question: If Nintendo does eventually cut costs with cheaper accelerometer chips, does that mean we’ll finally see the Wii receive a price cut? Conventional wisdom would tell us yes, but really, who knows at this point — the Wii has been out for two years now, the price of an Xbox 360 Arcade unit is actually lower now, and yet Nintendo still can’t meet demands. Until they actually have to do it, it’s hard to see why Nintendo would make their console any cheaper.
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