Filed under: Peripherals

OSX and Balance Board play nice, have fun together

by David Hinkle { 9 months ago }

If you're a Mac user, this video is likely to interest you. An aspiring individual hacked the program Wiiji (which is designed to allow Wiimote integration with Macs) to recognize the Balance Board as a joystick, allowing the use of Nintendo's peripheral with games that allow for joystick control. In the video above, you can see it in use through games Neverball and Extreme Tux Racer. Looks fun, if we may say so.

Enjoy this kind of thing? Then you'll definitely get a kick out of our Revolutionary feature, where the extremely talented Mike Sylvester tinkers around with all kinds of things. Aside from making his own homemade Balance Board, he helped us train with the Wii Wheel and also showed us what is really crappy about our favorite console.

Guitar Hero: Metallica includes extra pedal so you can try to be Lars Ulrich [update]

by David Hinkle { 9 months ago }

A listing for upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica has popped up on GameStop, along with an interesting bonus for pre-ordering the game. According to the site, the game will include a bonus drum pedal, along with a splitter, which will allow would-be rockers to drum with dual pedals if you order early. You know, just like Lars Ulrich.

The listing is for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but it's a safe bet to expect this for Wii. It's a multiplatform game after all and if one version is going to offer dual pedals, we doubt it would be excluded from the other versions and a bonus exclusive to the Xbox.

Update: Added further clarification that this is a pre-order bonus.

[Via Joystiq]

Revolutionary: 3rd Party Control

by Mike Sylvester { 9 months ago }

Last week at CES, Nyko surprise announced their first entry into the 3rd party Wiimote market, the Wand. Though it has been beaten to market by a few other Wiimote clones, this may be the first Wii Remote you'll find encroaching on Nintendo's shelf space in your local game shop. We won't begin to speculate why no one else's products can be readily found in brick 'n' mortars, but we'll be grateful to finally have some choice.

So far, this has been an unusual generation for controller-makers on all platforms. Microsoft doesn't license out its wireless technology, so 3rd party gamepads have to connect via USB. Sony's gyrating, vibrating, rechargeable DUALSHOCK 3 controllers may just be too complex for 3rd parties to replicate in full functionality when the userbase is too small to make a profit from. And the 3rd parties have seemed to be satisfied raking in the dough with non-essential add-ons and shells for Nintendo's own brand of controller. It does indeed come as a surprise that Nyko is now bringing out a Wiimote, and an enhanced one at that. Before we've had a chance to review the Wand, let's examine why its introduction has been long overdue.

Continue reading “Revolutionary: 3rd Party Control”

CES 2009: Zapper crossbow lets you shoot Gorons in style

by Chris Greenhough { 9 months ago }

We were impressed by the "WeeP 5" Zapper mod, but did have one reservation: Link would never use an MP5 to mow down a herd of Stalfoses (Stalfi?). Enter CTA Digital, who were displaying this Zapper crossbow shell at the recently finished CES 2009 (which is strange, because apparently this has been around for a while, but it's the first we've seen of it).

This bad boy comes equipped with a laser sight (we seriously question the historical accuracy of this) and, as you can see, a fetching "woodgrain" finish. It looks way, way nicer than the fugly crossbow peripheral we previously covered, and is roughly the same price: a rather eye-watering $29.99.

Gallery: Link's Crossbow Training

Patent shows Wiimote was originally a GameCube peripheral

by David Hinkle { 10 months ago }

Some new images and details on Nintendo's patent for the Wiimote have surfaced on the net and they show that the original idea was planned for the GameCube. The Wiimote was to attach to the console via an adapter, much like the WaveBird's. But, as you all know, the GameCube ended up going the way of the dodo, and so the Wii was born.

The image to the right shows Mario playing tennis, which is where Nintendo originally got the idea for Wii Sports, we assume, but there's more. Past the break, you can see more diagrams showing how the Wiimote would work with the GameCube, if you're into that kind of thing.

Gallery: Wii remote peripheral diagrams

Continue reading “Patent shows Wiimote was originally a GameCube peripheral”

CES 2009: Will Nyko's Wand work with MotionPlus?

by David Hinkle { 10 months ago }

We'd like to say one way or another, but when Joystiq stopped by Nyko's booth at CES yesterday to try out the Wiimote alternative, the rep couldn't commit. Nyko hopes the Wand will be compatible, but they're not ready to say one way or the other.

On top of that, Joystiq offered up some general observations while testing out the Wand at Nyko's booth. You can check out the hands-on piece right here.

Gallery: Nyko CES 2009 accessories

CES 2009: ezGear showcases 'most advanced music game controller'

by Chris Greenhough { 10 months ago }

Even though it has been thoroughly thrashed with the ugly stick, ezGear's "You Rock Guitar" is actually a nifty bit of kit. Labeled "the world's most advanced video game and music controller" by its maker, the guitar is compatible with all current music games on the Wii, and swaps out the traditional strum bar and colored fretboard buttons for real strings and a multi-touch pad respectively (despite how it looks, there are no strings on the fretboard).

There's a bunch of non-Wii functionality in the You Rock. It can hook up to your PC or Mac (where it works with programs such as Garage Band, Sonar, and Finale), and can additonally link to your iPod, iPhone, or MP3 player, allowing you to "jam along" with your favorite Showaddywaddy tracks (yes, we know). You can even connect it to a guitar amp or mixer!

Alas, the peripheral's many functions mean it will launch in Q2 or Q3 with a price tag of $149.99. If you think you could get some use out of this besides playing on the Wii, that might make this worth it. While you wait, make the jump for the cheesiest trailer we've seen in forever.

Gallery: ezGear You Rock Guitar

Continue reading “CES 2009: ezGear showcases 'most advanced music game controller'”

CES 2009: Nyko's Wiimote imitator is lawsuit-proof

by JC Fletcher { 10 months ago }

It's genius, really -- Nintendo sued Nyko for making the Kama Wireless Nunchuck too similar in design to Nintendo's own. But there is no way Nintendo would ever even suggest that Nyko's "Wand" looks at all like the Wiimote, out of respect for the Wiimote. Nyko has replaced the clean lines and muted color scheme of the Wiimote with an odd-shaped body, weird, jagged D-pad, and brightly-colored, square buttons.

In addition to the garishness feature, the Wand has one rather cool ability: when connected to compatible extensions, Wiimote functions can be transferred to the extension. For example, their pistol grip for the Wand rumbles and has a real B button on the trigger, rather than a mechanical lever that pushes the Wiimote's B button -- not to mention that there's an A button on the back.

They also introduced the Charge Station EX, a revision of the popular Charge Station that adds battery level indicators, and a Kama Charge Kit that includes a rechargeable Kama Wireless Nunchuck and a rechargeable battery pack for the Wiimote. Pictures of all of these new accessories are in our gallery! All are expected to be in US stores this April.

Gallery: Nyko CES 2009 accessories

[Via press release]

CES 2009: SanDisk brings the power of the Rock Band 2 logo to a new SD card

by JC Fletcher { 10 months ago }

SanDisk's new 2GB Rock Band 2 SD card is sure to nab some confused gamers and parents when it comes out this spring. It's got the Rock Band 2 logo on it, you see, and that means it works with Rock Band 2. Also, it's white, so you can tell it's a Wii accessory! And it's only about twice as much as you could pay for a 2GB SD card from reputable brands like ... SanDisk!

Compared to some other Wii accessories, this one's not so bad. It actually is a working SD card that is just as usable as any other for Rock Band 2, copying VC and WiiWare games, and saving photos and stuff. It's just that you lose a lot of money when you buy an SD card from the video game aisle -- like, for example, SanDisk's Gaming SD card --instead of the camera accessories aisle.

Patents from gaming's past

by David Hinkle { 10 months ago }

See that odd diagram above? That's Nintendo's original design for the Zapper. Aside from that, you'll find other gems such as the early prototype for R.O.B., along with some other non-Nintendo patents. It's an excellent gallery of diagrams that Technologizer has put together here, so don't waste any time and dive right in. You won't be disappointed.

Gallery: Wii remote peripheral diagrams

[Via Joystiq]

MiWi2, for when you want something that vaguely looks like a Wii

by David Hinkle { 10 months ago }

London shoppers, beware. The above picture was taken by flickr user abulkasam while out on the town and shows the MiWi2, the latest in the long line of ripoff consoles trying to dupe people who are out shopping for a Wii. With it being the conclusion of the busy holiday season, we just hope some misinformed parent didn't pick one of these up for little Billy or Jane. We can't imagine how horrible one of these would've made some little kid's Christmas morning.

[Via Engadget]

Mirror's Edge meets the Balance Board

by Alisha Karabinus { 10 months ago }

EA's Mirror's Edge is a beautiful game, if a bit flawed, and the highly-physical, parkour-inspired gameplay would suit the Wii's motion controls quite well. The only problem is that it wasn't made for the Wii! What's a gamer to do? Clearly, the answer is this: make a video demonstrating just what Wii controls, with the Balance Board, for Mirror's Edge could look like.

The video is well made, but there's a long lull at the beginning giving everyone their due, and after that, the controls-and-gameplay windows are small, so there's really not a lot of meat to it. But the video, and the notion behind it, is interesting enough for a watch. When you're done there, go back and check out our Mike Sylvester's revolutionary ideas for Mirror's Edge 2D.

Nintendo increases order with MotionPlus component maker

by JC Fletcher { 10 months ago }

While the rest of the world is in the middle of a recession, Nintendo's got more money coming in than ever, and it appears that they don't see that changing any time soon. According to Digitimes, Nintendo has increased the quantity of an order with a company called Invensense, who makes the rate gyroscope used in the upcoming MotionPlus peripheral.

This suggests that Nintendo is increasing their estimate of MotionPlus demand -- and probably increasing their expectations for the sales of Wii Sports Resort. Either that or they are ramping up production of MotionPlus according to an existing plan. Something (let's call it "history") tells us that even their augmented production won't keep up with demand for 2009's big-big-big Nintendo product.

Gallery: Wii Sports Resort

[Via Kotaku]

Realistic Zapper mod is impressive, also sort of scary

by Chris Greenhough { 10 months ago }

Say hello to your new little friend, the "WeeP 5 Advanced Zapper," a mash-up of a toy MP5 gun and Wiimote innards (you can see the painted IR sensor just below the muzzle). The WeeP 5 is the work of Instructables user THeOReos, who was left disappointed by the range of gun shells available for the Wii (WHAAAT?!). It's just the ticket if you want your Zapper-compatible games to feel extra authentic, and we'd rather enjoy using it to drop bad dudes in Ghost Squad (though it may not suit Link's Crossbow Training).

THeOReos is confident this works well, and has posted a full step-by-step of the building process here. We lack the patience or skillz to make our own, but don't let that put you off building one and sending it to us!

Gallery: 5 Great Zapper Mods

[Via Hack A Day]

What do you get when you combine a Wiimote, Balance Board, RC car, and a laptop?

by David Hinkle { 10 months ago }

This video! Witnessing the powers of the Wiimote, the Balance Board, an RC car, and a laptop combine together in the above video reminds us of Saturday mornings with Voltron and our Lucky Charms, for some reason. It's not the most accurate way to steer a toy car around, as you can see, but you have to give these guys credit. It's like their inner child broke its restraints and came forth from their bodies to tinker around. And we love it when grown folks don't act their age.

If you want the video in higher quality, hit up their site here.

Gallery: Peripherals that paved the way for the Balance Board