“This kid is using ancient technology with modern technology.”

When the Nintendo Wii got here out in 2006, the little black bar that sat on high of your TV didn’t seem like a lot.

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But with out it, the Wii Remote’s movement controls didn’t work correctly, which meant no bowling strikes or Mario Kart shortcuts.

Turns out, although, the bar is rather a lot easier than individuals assume—and one TikTok exhibits you don’t even want it.

TikTok creator James Elliot (@jamescastiglione) posted a clip of his son discovering {that a} pair of candles works simply in addition to the true sensor bar. The video has been seen over 2.4 million instances.

Kid discovers means to make use of candles as Wii sensor bar

“Explain to me what you just made,” James asks his son initially of the video.

“Okay, so on the Wii, they usually have a sensor bar that… all it does is it radiates infrared light,” the boy explains. “And the Wii Remote detects infrared light. Candles also let out infrared light. So what we did is we set two candles perfectly away from each other, basically emulating what a sensor bar… official 1 would do.”

He factors his Wii Remote on the TV to exhibit. “Because it’s radiating infrared light, I can point it, I can select which character. Mario, go here.”

“You made your own sensor bar,” James says.

@jamescastiglione #iwastodayyearsold #infraredlight #scienceexperiments #scienceiscool #wiiremote #wiihacker #dolphin #wii #mariocartwii #nintendo ♬ authentic sound – JamesElliot

“Basically made my own sensor bar,” the boy confirms. “Yep. Out of candles.”

By the top of the clip, he’s clicking via menus with none drawback. “So now I can play,” he says, clearly happy. His dad laughs: “That is so awesome.”

This has been round some time

While the video looks like a brand-new hack, longtime Nintendo followers know this trick has been floating round for years. A Reddit publish from 9 years in the past describes the very same candle technique, noting that the Wii Remote solely wants infrared gentle to lock on.

In the feedback, individuals had been each impressed and amused.

“This kid is using ancient technology with modern technology,” one individual wrote.

Another joked, “So they’ve been selling us a fancy set of candles.”

Others admitted they had been blown away by the simplicity: “I don’t think I’m smart enough to comprehend how smart this is.”

But a number of referred to as it outdated information: “Like, ancient news. People were doing this when the Wii came out.”

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