Nintendo shows the world more about the upcoming Wii Music

First revealed at Tokyo Game Show back in 2005, Wii Music has always been a strong bet from Nintendo and now we know more about it.

The game features over 50 different instruments, with two shown so far, a sax, played my Miyamoto, and the drums with two Wii Remotes as drumsticks, and the Balance Board as the pedals. The piano, violin, guitar and a variety of percussion instruments are also playable, as well as the option to conduct orchestras and choirs.

The biggest surprise is that it doesn't require the Wii Motion Plus, which means it will be released by the end of this year. A lesson mode is included, to prevent everyone from flailing around hopelessly. It is not necessary to follow specific notes however, making the title easily playable by everyone.

You'll be able to record performances you've made to piece together, and a 4-player co-op band mode was also shown, including an option to record music videos of the band playing.

The full press release follows:

It's easy to play improv jams. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart's content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music. There are no mistakes�just playing for the pure joy of playing.

Wii controls immerse you in the music. You can play most of the 60-plus instruments in Wii Music using simple motions with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Strum to play guitar, banjo and sitar. Drum to play jazz drums, congas and marching drums. Hammer away to play piano, vibraphone and marimba. Unlike most music games, Wii Music doesn't make you use complex buttons. You only need to imitate playing the instrument.

Wii Music offers virtually endless ways to make music. You choose the song and instruments and decide whether to blaze through a rock take on classical songs, put a jazzy spin on folk tunes or transform Nintendo classics like the Super Mario Bros. theme into Latin-flavored numbers. The song list is only a takeoff point�it's how you improvise with the songs that matters.

Send your band-jam recordings to Wii Friends who have Wii Music. They'll see your Mii band members, your players' improv styles and your instrument selections. They can watch your recordings, or play over parts of your song, then send their modified recording back to you. Improv jams can be sent back and forth over WiiConnect24 and changed again and again. Beyond the Jam:

Wii Music includes many other modes besides the main band jams, including several musical games and an enhanced video playback mode for recorded jams.

� Play it again: Use the playback mode to see your jam recordings brought to life with dramatic camera angles.
� Pick up the baton: Command an orchestra in the conducting game where you'll wave the Wii Remote controller like a conductor's baton to lead a Mii orchestra through orchestrated music. Make them play quickly, slowly, strongly or gently.
� Ring a bell? Play a handbells game where you'll swing your Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to play your two handbells as part of a larger ensemble. Everyone on the team has a job to do: Play one of your notes only when the tune demands it.
� An ear for music: Take a tone quiz that tests your musical ear by giving you challenges, like putting note-playing Miis in order from lowest to highest pitch.
� Bang the drum: Play a virtual drum set in the drumming mode, the one mode in Wii Music that also uses the Wii Balance Board accessory (sold with Wii Fit). You'll use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as drumsticks, and place both feet on the Wii Balance Board�which work as virtual pedals for the bass drum and hi-hat cymbal.

For screens, click here!