Unity – Mac game engine now authorized for the Wii

wii mac
The Wii console is all about new types of games and new ways to play. Unity embodies that philosophy with an Editor that’s built around creating game play. It’s never been quicker or easier to modify and iterate your game’s functionality.

Live Preview
Press the Play button and play your game exactly as it exists, no matter what state it’s in. Modify any object’s properties and see the results in real-time — pausing not necessary. Experiment and explore uncharted territories without fear. Find your game’s sweet spot and drill down quickly to squeeze out even more fun than you thought possible.

Click To Publish
Ready to run your game on your devkit? It couldn’t be easier. Build it with one click. Run it with another. That’s all! Build supervisor not required.

Scriptable Controllers
A simple, straightforward, fully-featured remote scripting class lets you read data from the Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and Classic Controller effortlessly.

Optimized Character Animation
Create and rig your characters the way you’re used to. No special export, import, or modifications required – just drop your files into Unity and your characters will come to life with full animation on Wii hardware.

Scriptable Shaders
Unity’s ShaderLab system has been expanded to unlock the full power of The Wii console’s graphics chip. Use one of the built-in Wii-optimized shaders or write your own. Script and modify at runtime any shader on any objects in any way you like.

Check out Unity3d.com

View Press Release

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From MacWorld:

Unity Technologies has announced that its eponymous game engine is now an authorized middleware option for Nintendo Wii console game development.

Unity is used to create 3D games that can be deployed on Mac OS X and Windows; it can also be used for Web publishing and Dashboard widgets. The software features an integrated editor, support for DirectX and OpenGL 3D graphics APIs, with support for shaders and physics, asset management, shadow and lighting effects, scriptability and networking.

The Nintendo authorization means that Unity developers can now use the software to develop games for the Wii, Nintendo’s popular casual game console. Features include remote scripting support for the Wii’s Remote, Nunchuck and Classic Controller input devices, a live preview mode, optimized character animation, and scriptable shaders optimized for the Wii’s graphics system.

Users interested in developing for Wii are instructed to contact Unity Technologies for details on licensing.

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A merger/collaborate project between the two companies has been widely speculated for years, is this another nod to the rumors/theory?

Is the iChannel far away?

Coincidence/flaming rumors?

Nintendo/Apple stories around the web:

Nintend/Apple merger? Don’t hold your breath
Apple should buy Nintendo instead of PALM
Nintendo and Apple find common ground
Apple eying Nintendo?
Reggie on the Apple merger



Around The Net:


  • Matt

    Oh look – two companies made a square product…..they must be secretly working together!

  • http://wiinintendo.net/index.php?s=hey_suburbia hey_suburbia

    No one is saying they are secretly working together, this is about publishing software for the Wii that uses the Mac game engine.

    The rumors/theories are just that, speculation.

  • http://forums.wiinintendo.net/ SirVenom

    Never before have I wanted a Mac this bad…. The only thing holding me back is that this dev kit costs an arm, a leg and my firstborn son… I don’t have a son to give :/ Maybe they’ll accept my brother as a substitute?

    Of course, I would probably have to have some special license on top of it all…

  • xero

    If Apple ever buys Nintendo, I’ll eat my hat.

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  • http://www.wiidudes.com kendle

    Looks pretty cool. I’ll have to take a look at the trial.

  • ttam

    Not getting it exactly… do you hook up your wii with the mac and modify the games?

  • http://wiinintendo.net/index.php?s=hattrick hattrick

    Yeah, is this a game editing tool, a game developer tool, or used to record your game? (Or something else?)

  • http://forums.wiinintendo.net/ SirVenom

    My guess is that it is for WiiWare; but you likely have to be licensed… PLUS with all of the upgrades required, it’ll run you about 5k.

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  • mazer4455

    well, to have it released on wiiware you will have to be published by nintnendo..

    but there is the homebrew scene that allows installation of custom wii channels.. so yea… dont be so scared of it just yet… it may prove to be awesome for the homebrew scene.. it could pump out some pretty decent games.. mind you for free.