Nintendo kept the Wii MotionPlus a secret from everybody for as long as possible, a move that resulted in grumbling from certain third-party developers.
That hasn't diminshed enthusiasm for the tiny add-on, however. During an interview with Gamasutra, Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat couldn't praise the MotionPlus enough (even though he admitted having some doubts at first), enthusing about how the peripheral would make gaming feel "seamless," and arguing that it could only lead to a more immersive experience. "It's one thing to have your brain interpolating what you're doing," gushed Mallat, "[but ] it's another thing to not need that interpolation work."
Elsewhere in the interview, Mallat expressed his view that Shaun White Snowboarding was a "must-try" and described developing Dogzas "psychologically very exciting." Hmm.
Iwata's interview yesterday definitely sparked some debate within our little community here, but it would seem a lot of you didn't exactly chime in with your own thoughts on 'very affordable.' So, what price point would you like to see Wii MotionPlus set at? Is $20 a sweet spot? Would you mind paying as much as $30? Weigh in!
We mucky commoners have known about the Wii MotionPlus add-on for just over a week now, but don't go thinking it's any different for third-party developers. At E3, Game Informer approached several third-parties about the peripheral, and were repeatedly told that the accessory was news to them -- as they understood it, Nintendo simply hadn't told anybody about the MotionPlus, prior to it being revealed last Monday.
In other words, we can safely not expect a flood of third-party releases supporting the peripheral. On top of that, the developers doubt they'll be able to implement Wii MotionPlus into upcoming projects, such was the secrecy that surrounded the project. Not clever, Nintendo.
Concerned that motion controls aren't quite precise enough to get the job done? No worries -- Nintendo's on it. While we expect more details at tomorrow's E3 press briefing, a press release has surfaced for the Wii MotionPlus, an add-on for the Wii remote that "allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player's arm position and orientation." That opens up nearly as many questions as it answers, so we'll be watching tomorrow's conference even more excitedly. If things get more any more intense around here, well, we just might explode.
Just when you think accessory manufacturers have hit rock bottom with the dozens of inaneproducts already on store shelves, they take a step to the side and reveal a previously hidden trapdoor that peers into an untapped abyss of bad ideas.
We laughed nervously when Dragon Electronics described its sensor bar stand as perfect for automobile use, letting it pass as an off-color joke, but the same company is now advertising a Wii Car Lighter Adapter. You know, so you can play Wii Sports while driving.
We're not going to stop you from "pimping your ride" or whatever it is that kids are doing nowadays to waste their parents' money; just don't be surprised when your mangled body is laid out on asphalt, covered in broken glass and blood, and we're sorting through the wreckage to grab whatever's left of your console.
So what's next on the suicidal accessory list? A mini-float to keep your Wii and its wires above water while you take a bath? Or a convenient, automatic device that twists the cord of your nunchuck into a noose, tightening its length around your neck as the tips of your toes struggle to grip the unsteady surface of a wobbly chair?
Look past the post break for the Car Lighter Adapter's fact sheet, but be careful not to let yourself slip.
Fire Bird's rechargeable grip combines the functions of a Wii remote charging dock and a controller frame accessory. The product seemed silly to us at first, but we suppose that something like this could be useful when we're playing Virtual Console releases or games that require us to hold the remote sideways like Excite Truck. Having a convenient way to recharge the battery via USB will also come in handy for future marathon sessions with Fire Emblem: Goddess of Dawn when Nintendo brings the time-consuming SRPG stateside.
SuccessHK no longer has the rechargeable controller grip in stock, but there are still a few listed on eBay for about $9.99 ($8.00 shipping). One strange thing to note about the packaging is its Wii Sports branding. Having your remote locked into the plastic frame would make playing any of the Wii Sports' games awkward. Check out that Wii logo too! The last two letters look more like a u-umlaut than lowercase i's. Head past the post break for a larger shot of the grip!
The Retractable Wii Sports Cuff replaces the subtlety and elegance of the Wii remote's wrist strap with a bulky band that we wouldn't be caught dead wearing. We don't doubt that the adjustable neoprene cuff has an agreeable fit, but did anyone ever find the original straps uncomfortable, if even noticeable at all?
And what sort of human does the retractable thirteen inches of slack benefit? Are there people whose hands extend that far away from their wrist? Or are these cuffs marketed towards some sort of video-game-playing race of long-fingered mutants? Creepy!
You would think that the shop would take advantage of all the "faulty Wii Strap" controversy and emphasize the durability of the cuff's cord, but the product description makes no mention of any improved toughness. What's there to reassure us that we won't end up with a Wii remote sticking out of our television after a heated game of Wii Tennis? Even at a sale price of $5.99, you'll probably want to stay clear from this accessory.
Gametech is concerned about the finish of your Wiimote. Perhaps you've been playing too much Wario Ware while wearing your fabulous jewelry? Perhaps you've been putting the Wiimote in your pocket while you answer the phone? Or maybe you've put the controller through too manytelevisions?
Whatever the reason, your pristine, shiny surface is in danger of being scratched. And Gametech wants to sell you this plastic decal, called the Subera na Sheet Wii ("Slip Sheet Wii") to help prevent that from happening. They're also including a grip-enhancing decal for the battery cover of the remote. They promise right there on the package that it is difficult for you to lose grip of it!
What better way to wrap up the weekend than with those efforts that stood out in our recent contest? While these entries didn't snag their creators the Wii Sports Pack from Brando, they did make us giggle ... even though some of them didn't quite fit the contest criteria. Check out these selected entries after the jump.
Considering the nature of the Brando Wii Sports Pack contest, we couldn't help but choose this image as a fitting trophy for the winner. Congratulations -- you've demotivated us, and we don't want these attachments any longer. We bestow them onto the following pair (yes, pair) of posters from a reader with the interesting interweb moniker FlamingSquirrelofDeath.
The winning entries are presented after the jump. Check back later and we'll put up some of the near winners. Thanks to everyone who entered!
If you're like us, you've essentially forestalled any and all social responsibilities as of November 19th, 2006. That also means that, if you're like us, you've spent an additional bazillion dollars on those accursed double-A alkaline batteries. Where, Nintendo, are our rechargeables?
Well, it seems as if Nintendo won't man up and get the job done, another company is gonna step up to the plate. Joytech, perpetual manufacturer of all things accessory, will release a recharging/docking station for two Wiimotes sometime early next year. Just insert the included rechargeable pack into the Wiimote, and place them into the vertical dock ... we prefer to think of them as thrones of power ... and you'll be ready for another 25ish hours of gaming.
As with any new console, third parties have begun their attempt to flood the market with silly accessories and "conveniences" for proud new Wii owners. Accessories are probably the single most profitable category (in terms of return on investment) in the video game industry, and big names like Pelican and MadCatz always come to the forefront.
JoyTech, however, are the culprits of the latest accessorization, and most of it is absolute crap. Though we believe the particular accessory shown above, the Wii Controller Grip, will make any horizontal style games a bit more comfortable, some of the nonsense like Wii Sports Pack is the lowest of the low. Follow the link at your own risk ... cheap third-party crap resides therein.
EB Games/Gamestop/EB Gamestop or whatever they're called these days occasionally gets some inside information before the press. (I say occasionally; please hold off on the "my local EB Games employee told you the Wii was coming out December 17th" tips.) A quick search of Gamestop's online store in the accessories section yields some interesting results, shows as follows:
Wii Controller Glove 9.99 Wii G-Pak Travel Case 29.99 Wii Game Wallet 9.99 Wii HD Premium Component Cable 59.99 Wii Memory SD 1.0GB 59.99 Wii Memory SD 512MB 39.99 Wii S-Video Premium AV Cable 39.99 Wii Sling Bag 29.99 Wii Storage & Protection 1.0GB Kit 69.99
We knew about the Power Glove, but the SD cards just seem like a convenient excuse for Gamestop to take people's money; the prices are quite high. The premium component cable is insanely expensive, but hey, it's premium. Other than that, your classic game-toting sling-bag take-it-anywhere-but-not-really-because-no-one-ever-does-that accessories are on the list. With the immediate need for extra controllers, memory, and games at launch, is anyone going to pick up any of these other things?
[Thanks, Randy!]
[Update 1: Clarified that the SD cards are not officially from Nintendo, and realized that you can in fact get SD cards for far cheaper.]
Nintendo kept the Wii MotionPlus a secret from everybody for as long as possible, a move that resulted in grumbling from certain third-party developers.
What better way to wrap up the weekend than with those efforts that stood out in our recent 
Considering the nature of the 
