Can the Wii use precise motion detection when pointed away from the TV?

So we've seen games that use pre-defined motions to engage a pre-defined animation (e.g. Wii Tennis). We've also seen games that use precise detection from pointing at the screen (e.g. Resident Evil 4). However, one thing we haven't seen is the use of precise detection when the wiimote is pointing away from the screen. I'm wondering if this is because of lazy developers or because of the Wii tech.

I'm talking about games where if you are swinging a sword, the wiimote will detect its precise position when the end is pointing away from the TV. The only hope I've seen is the driving games where the end is facing the side, but tilting is still precise.

I think it can but it wont be that good, because when i was playing Wario Ware it was facing backwards and i worked fine, maybe its because the spent time on this issue.

For the exampe you gave, swinging a sword, yes, it can be done without pointing at the screen. The reason you had to point at the screen in RE4 is because you were using the pointer, not motion detection. The pointer (obviously) has to be pointed at the screen. The reason Wii Sports' (and other games') movements were so basic and unprecise was simply a decision by the developers. In order to make the game balanced between different players. I'm sure your grandmother wouldn't have liked the game if every swing she was either too high, too low, or had the Wiimote twisted at an angle so she hit the ball with the side of the racket...

Games should be fully capable of precise movements (such as swords or sports games) at any time. It's just up to the developers to decide it's good for their game.

It should work just fine. The motion detection anyway, it's obvious the pointer system wouldn't. The motion detection has nothing to do with it's position relative to the tv at all. Moving the remote foward or any other direction when facing any direction will cause the appropriate action to happen. For games that don't require pointing a cursor at a screen, such as Marvel:Ultimate Alliance or Sonic, it shouldn't matter where the remote is, wheras games that use the sensor bar, like RE4 and SSX: Blur, depend on the cursor on for accuracy.

Yeah it'd be cool, it'd probably work too, though I know you can get interference with flashlights and stuff. IDK if that has anything to do with it though.

Put very simply - the pointing at the screen system is only a pointer. Small invisible lights (they are UV I think) are emited from the sensor bar and the wiimote uses that to detect where the sensor bar is, and therefore where it is pointing.

The motion detection is done using accelerometers inside the wiimote itself and has absolutely nothing to do with the sensor bar, or where it is pointing.

Put very simply - the pointing at the screen system is only a pointer. Small invisible lights (they are UV I think) are emited from the sensor bar and the wiimote uses that to detect where the sensor bar is, and therefore where it is pointing.

The motion detection is done using accelerometers inside the wiimote itself and has absolutely nothing to do with the sensor bar, or where it is pointing.

mattyftm

Infrared actually. But otherwise correct.

[QUOTE="mattyftm"]

Put very simply - the pointing at the screen system is only a pointer. Small invisible lights (they are UV I think) are emited from the sensor bar and the wiimote uses that to detect where the sensor bar is, and therefore where it is pointing.

The motion detection is done using accelerometers inside the wiimote itself and has absolutely nothing to do with the sensor bar, or where it is pointing.

ThePlothole

Infrared actually. But otherwise correct.

I knew it was something like that.

There's this thing in Wario Ware where you have to striker a pose. Even though the Wii-mote is pointed away from the screen it can still sense if you are striking that pose. So yeah, it can do thathamstergeddon

You know you don't actually have to do the pose right? :|. It's just there, I don't some of the poses, and it still just continues with the game.

To go back to the initial question, the answer is no: you can't have "precise pointing" if you're not pointing at the screen. If the software is employing the pointer, and the Wiimote isn't pointed at the screen, it isn't going to work.

Movement in space will work, as that is based on the accelrometer. But 'precise pointing' is IR based, and requires direct line-of-sight.