Game console browsers

Nintendo Wii

Runs an Opera 9 browser.

diagram of the Wii controller

Only 1 tab/window can be open at a time.

Pressing 2 linearises the page.

Wii's website is saved as a default bookmark, but it's a really bad experience. Links are tiny and fiddly, horizontal scrolling, slow to load.

When it doesn't like a site, it will start loading it, then go straight back to the home screen without any warning or error message. Google search crashed a few times.

HTML5 Test: 89/500

As of July 2012. Source: html5test.com

CSS3 Test: Test wouldn't run

As of July 2012. Source: css3test.com

Support Details

Operating System unknown
Screen Resolution 800 x 600
Web Browser Opera 9.00
Browser Size 800 x 500
Color Depth 32
Javascript Enabled
Flash Version 7.0.68
Cookies Enabled
User Agent Opera/9.00 (Nintendo Wii; U; ; 1309-9; en)

No rounded corners. Couldn't detect any webgl support

Flash (7.0) enabled/installed (it's a very old version of Flash and you can't update it yourself). On the flash download page, it detected the system as Macintosh. Cookies and Java reported as being enabled

Postition fixed works, but juddery. Jumps while page is scrolling.

Controls

Primary Controller

Wii Remote, the main controller for the Wii. Has motion sensing capabilities, infrared sensors, 8 buttons, a D-pad and a speaker. It also has a slot at the bottom for attachments.

Diagram of the controls on the wii

See big version

Clicking links is fiddly. Doesn't seem to invoke a hover state. Couldn't find a way to do text selection. Drag and drop tests worked (obviously no multitouch).

Remote vibrates when it hovers over a link. Pressing - and + buttons zooms.

Wii Balance Board

Yep, you can surf the web on a Wii balance board.

Other input devices

  • Nunchuck, an analog stick that plugs into the Wii Remote. Also has 2 shoulder buttons (C, top and Z, bottom) and contains a three-axis accelerometer. Comes bundled with the Wii console.
  • Classic Controller, has two analog sticks, a D-pad, a, b, x and y buttons, shoulder buttons (L and R), two digital home buttons and a - and + button.
  • Wii Zapper, a shell for the Wii Remote and Nunchuck intended for shooter games. Has a trigger that presses the B button on the Remote.
  • Wii Wheel, a shell for the Wii Remote intended for driving games.
  • Wii MotionPlus, an expansion pack for the Wii Remote that captures motion more accurately.

Photos

See more on www.flickr.com in the Game console browsers pool tagged with psvita