Nintendo announces Wii Motion Plus

Nintendo just announced a new device that enhances your Wii remote control's accuracy in 3D space by using a dongle that attaches to the bottom of your Wiimote. Here's the press release in full below (from Kotaku.com).

NINTENDO INTRODUCES THE WII™ MOTIONPLUS

July 14, 2008

Nintendo's upcoming Wii™ MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote™ controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player's arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo's commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

The only thing I wonder is, why didn't they have it in there in the first place? Will new versions of Wii-motes be coming out with the tech already built in? And how much will it cost?

Expect many more details and live demos out of Nintendo's press conference tomorrow.