Hello? Can you hear Wii?

Posted by T3 Online on Thu 25 May 2006

Nintendo's patents show a microphone hiding inside the console's clever remote.

The list of features crammed into Nintendo's Wii remote seems never ending. Now a patent from the games giant points towards a stealthily installed microphone, opening up VoIP and sing-along titles.

The idea isn't too far fetched - the Wiimote already packs a speaker, and the games firm has bundled microphones with titles in the past.

Warbling along to your favourite hits would also suit Nintendo's group gaming theme, and could challenge PlayStation's party-based gaming titles, Buzz and SingStar.

Wii's techy patents show two sound sources for the new console, one from the game disc, and another positioned close to a speaker, which is left mysteriously vague.

Seems Nintendo's console still has some tricks up its sleeve, despite being thoroughly manhandled by our team at the E3 show earlier this month.