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Building A Better(?) Controller

Posted by Derrick Sanskrit

If there's any one manufacturer I've come to trust with my Wii accessories, it's Nyko. They seem to be tackling each and every problem I've had with the Wii's unique and ubiquitous controller in order of frustration level to (so far) fantastic results. After the frantic Wii launch, gamers worldwide complained about having to change the remote's AA batteries several times while playing Zelda, so Nyko released their Charge Station and I haven't needed AA batteries since. Gamers began choking themselves on the cord between the remote and nunchuck, so Nyko released their Kama wireless nunchuck. Everybody pretty much hated Nintendo's official Wii Zapper plastic shell, so Nyko released the much more sturdy and comfortable Perfect Shot pistol shell. (They've also released a wireless sensor bar, wireless classic controller, rechargable battery pack for the balance board, and other add-ons)

For their next trick, Nyko decided to redesign the Wii remote itself. Is it more aesthetically pleasing? Lord, no. Is it better? Maybe... it does offer some really sweet new functionality. Introducing the Wand:

The key new feature here being Nyko's "Trans-Port" which will allow attachments to utilize more of the remote's features, including remapped buttons and rumble (and, theoretically, the internal speaker). Whereas current Wiimote gun shells have to connect their trigger somehow to the remote's B button and physically press it to work, gun shells using this new Trans-Port technology would merely tell the remote that the B button has been pressed without need for physical contact. The same goes for all the other buttons on the remote (there are 7 total, more than most people realize).

So someday soon we may be able to play Wii Sports Boxing (or maybe even the upcoming Punch-Out!) where both the remote and nunchuck are wireless, rumble, and make audible sounds of jaw-breaking devastation, or play Super Smash Bros Brawl with one controller that has all the buttons we want, rumbles and makes noise (all of the current control schemes sacrifice at least one of those features). Nyko says that the Wand will support all current Wiimote add-ons, but they're not yet sure about the MotionPlus (presumably because Nintendo isn't sharing many developer packs right now).Still, with Nintendo's MotionPlus bringing us the kind of 1:1 motion control we'd all expected from day one and the new features offered by Nyko's Wand, we may someday soon have the kind of Wii controller we all should have had in the first place.

Related Articles:
Wii MotionPlus A Surprise to Devs
Wii MotionPlus — Say What, Nintendo?
Ain't No Party Like A Motion Control Party

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Posted Jan 09 2009, 02:00 PM

Filed under: derrick sanskrit, wii, super smash bros brawl, punch out, wii sports, wiimote, nyko, wand

Comments

Roto13 said:

I can't imagine having a cord connecting your nunchuck to your WiiMote could ever be an actual problem.

January 9, 2009 2:12 PM

Derrick Sanskrit said:

Clearly, Roto, you've never played THQ's "All-Star Cheer Squad". The cord was all kinds of a hinderance in that game. I remember playing one other game last year where the cord got in my way, but I can't remember what specifically. No More Heroes? de Blob? WiiFit Rhythm Boxing?

January 9, 2009 3:10 PM

Roto13 said:

If it was No More Heroes, you were doing it wrong because I never had a single problem with it.

January 9, 2009 4:59 PM

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