Skip to Content

Listen to the Joystiq Podcast (because your ears can't read)
AOL Games

nunchuk posts(Subscribe to this feed)

Black Wii, blue controllers on display at World Hobby Fair

During this weekend's World Hobby Fair, both Capcom and Nintendo had booths set up, showing off the new Wii colors and accessories. Capcom's booth had the Monster Hunter 3 bundles as part of its Monster Hunter display, and Nintendo had the blue Wiimote and Nunchuk, of course, to promote Wii Sports Resort -- which, incidentally, was also the inspiration behind a very nice set of giveaway items.

The Nunchuk has always been shiny on top and matte on bottom, but it's much more noticeable, and nice-looking, on the black version. Somehow, the Wiimote jacket also looks cool in matte black, despite being a Wiimote jacket. The Classic Controller Pro, as well, looks like much more of an upgrade in shiny black plastic. Head past the break to see the blue Wii Sports controllers.

Continued →

The Beancat: Nunchuk brings mobility to a bean bag chair


If there is one fault we'd have to say most chairs possess nowadays, it's that they're just too darn stationary. Well, they used to be, anyway, as some ingenious gentlemen have come up with a cool chair mod in what they have affectionately dubbed The Beancat, a labor of love that incorporates the Wii's Nunchuk controller into a device that not only controls Mario on-screen, but also keeps you from having to get up when you want to grab a drink from the fridge.

The chair itself moves a lot faster than we would have imagined, and looks like it isn't the toughest thing in the world to build, though you should know it isn't the cheapest mod in the world should you be on the lookout for some bean bag-infused thrills of your own. Head past the break to check out some video of it in action, and be sure to hit the source link below if you've got the courage to build one of your own.

[Via Engadget]

Continued →

Rolling stones and cymbals: 505 Games announces Rolling Stone: Drum King


Well, it's been quite some time since we last touched on 505 Games' We Rock: Drum King. The game seems to have spent a majority of its time in the shadows working toward a deal with Rolling Stone magazine, as the music mag and 505 Games just dropped press releases into our inbox introducing Rolling Stone: Drum King. Looks like somebody's been staying awake in their Synergy 101 class!

The game is planned for a spring release, and still tasks players with keeping smooth timing by mimicking drumming through use of the Wiimote and Nunchuk. It will also feature local multiplayer support for you and a friend, and has over 30 "top quality cover tracks" inspired by real bands. Head past the break for the full list and a trailer snagged from the Amazon product page for the game.

Continued →

Funchuks: they're more fun than regular Nunchuks because they're colorful

Happy Tiny Wii Controllers Day! We're celebrating the first TWCD by posting ... tiny Wii controllers! Either that or it's a total coincidence that two news items about tiny Wii controllers have shown up today. We prefer the explanation that makes today a holiday.

Logic3's Nunchuk Mini, also called "Funchuks" in the press release, are basically smaller Nunchuks in a bunch of different colors, all with jaunty green analog sticks. Despite the fact that they cost exactly as much as Nintendo's official Nunchuk but lack Nintendo's reputation for quality, we find these things enchanting. They're small, you see. We want to buy all of them and use a different one every day.

[Via Kotaku]

Amazon celebrates new year with savings on accessories

Those of you who still have some spare cash in your wallet at the conclusion of yet another holiday season, know that Amazon wants it. They've put all of their gaming accessories on sale, taking 10% off the price of certain items. If you were looking for that extra Wiimote (and aren't expecting it as a gift), they qualify. Or, you could just grab Wii Play with a Wiimote, if you're into that sort of thing. The Nyko Perfect Shot, the Zapper, WiiSpeak, and even Wii Wheels qualify. There's a lot to check out.

Planning on picking something up? Do it before January 10, 2009. Offer expires then.

Nintendo and Nyko settle Nunchuk dispute peacefully

Nintendo and Nyko have finally come to an agreement over the Kama Wireless Nunchuck. Nintendo filed suit against the peripherals manufacturer back in June, claiming that the Kama imitated Nintendo's own Nunchuk too closely in form and shape.

As part of the settlement agreement, Nyko will be allowed to continue selling the Kama, but in a redesigned form. Even before this announcement, Nyko changed the shape of the Kama to this weird ridged thing. Nyko will show a wired Kama controller and Wing Classic Controller at the 2009 CES.

"We are pleased to have resolved this dispute," NOA's Reggie Fils-Aime said in the very short press release announcing the settlement. "The Nunchuk and Wii brands are familiar to consumers worldwide, and Nintendo is dedicated to vigorous defense of those brands."

Nice idea, terrible value: the Multiplayer Controller Set


A Go Nintendo reader spotted this on the shelves of his local Target: a "Multi-Player Controller Set" containing a Wii Remote, a Nunchuk, and a Wii Wheel. This kind of thing obviously makes sense to Nintendo as Christmas approaches (the season where Wii excels, some would say), and we could really get behind the idea of a good value bundle of second/third/fourth peripherals (still need a fourth Wiimote and Nunchuk at Casa de Greenhough!).

It's just a shame that the price is such a sham: $74.99?! All three of these peripherals are available separately at Amazon for a total of $63.91 (which qualifies for free shipping), but here's the real laugh: you can buy an individual Wiimote, Nunchuk, and Wii Wheel for $74.97 at Target itself. D'oh! Knock at least fifteen bones off this and you've got our attention.


[Thanks, Sonic_13!]

Revolutionary: The Perfect Controller, part 2

Game controllers have come a long way since we were holding a box with a protruding stick and tapping a single button. Now they're so packed full of cutting edge (yet inexpensive) tech, I'd half expect to see a Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the cockpit of the space shuttle* as a cost-cutting measure. As advanced as the Wiimote is, a lot of us have found a thing or two that could be revised about its design. I've gone to the most extreme reaches of my imagination, and come up with a design concept that I believe is about as radical a step beyond our current Wiimote, as that controller is beyond every console controller that came before it. And just like Nintendo's own design, my perfect controller would be based around technology that is already being used today in different applications.

*Warning: The Wii Remote and Nunchuk's accelerometers will not work in space. NASA engineers, be advised to wait for the MotionPlus.

Continued →

Quantum of Solace has Zapper support, online multiplayer


For those of you who've been tracking Quantum of Solace over at The Stiq, you know that most of the worthwhile things to discuss about the game have come from the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. Well, it would appear that Activision isn't leaving Wii owners out to dry, as some cool features are being utilized in the Wii version of the title.

For one, there will be multiple control schemes. Gamers can use the tried-and-true Wiimote and Nunchuk setup, or they can bust out their Zapper and play with that. On top of that, Activision has also confirmed the game will feature online multiplayer, as well as 4-player split-screen local multiplayer, which is exclusive to the Wii installment.

Activision is also hard at work to make sure the game is no graphical slouch. Seeing as how the engine behind the game is the same used in Call of Duty 4, we're sure Quantum of Solace will have some lovely visuals.

Cord-free Wireless Adapter is almost cost-free


How much do you hate the cord tethering your Wiimote to your Nunchuk? Do you have about ten dollars' worth of hate within you? If so, you're in luck: Amazon and GameStop (that we've found so far) have cut the price of Nyko's Cord-Free Wireless Adapter in half, to a mere $9.99. That's not a lot to pay for something that makes your Nunchuk both cord-free and wireless.

When we tested this device, we found it to be exactly what is advertised: a way to make your Nunchuk wireless. The only issues at the time were with the price and the battery consumption. Now half of one problem has been taken care of!

We've spent some time with other Nyko gadgetry before. For a more holistic approach to unwiring the Nunchuk, check out the Kama Wireless Nunchuck, and for more things to stick to your Wiimote, have a look at the Perfect Shot and the Frontman guitar. And take a minute to remember the dearly de-partied Party Station.

Start bulking up your Wiimote early

Are you desperate for some extra length? Do you yearn for that extra inch that could give you the edge over others? Do you want increased size right now?

Well, good news: you don't have to wait for Wii MotionPlus's Spring 2009 launch for a chance to elongate your Wii Remote. The makers (it's not specified who) of this new wireless Nunchuk are happy for you to get adding to Nintendo's wand right now. Available from today at China-based outlet Divineo, this 'chuk comes with a tiny wireless receiver that plugs into the bottom of your Wiimote -- very much like the Nyko Kama model which we reviewed earlier this year.

At $24.95, this is ten bucks cheaper than Nyko's effort, or you could buy five for $21 apiece and, um, give us the spare? We're just floating ideas here!

[Via DCEmu]

Revolutionary: Synaesthetic

This week I wanted to take on scripting for an indie game, and one that came in high regard was Synaesthete. I didn't know much about it when I first tried it out, except that it was a cross-breed of rhythm games and action shooters, and I was hopeful that it would lend itself to the Wii experience as well as the last rhythm hybrid I tried out. One level was all it took to start the script-writing cogs turning in my head, and after much experimentation, I wound up with a script that dynamically changes what makes this brilliant game so fun to play.

At first, nothing about Synaesthete makes it scream out that it was born for Wii, but ultimately, the addition of Wii controls has made this game my new addiction. I truly believe that a Wii port of this title would be hailed as the "next big thing."

Continued →

Spore Creature Creator spawns Wiimote and nunchuk


Click for super-huge image

Much like the creature that resembles an Xbox 360 controller, someone has gone ahead and created the Wiimote and nunchuk-like combo you see above. While we haven't played any Spore Creature Creator ourselves, we do hear it's fun. Heck, if you can make the thing above there, it can't be all bad.

Any other gaming controllers or characters you've seen done up in the game?

[Thanks, Amiculi!]

Fanswag: Death JR. and the Nyko Kama nunchuk go to ...


Well, with every dawn, there must be a sunset. And, with that, we bring our latest giveaway to an end. The two winners have been crowned via random drawing, and are as follows:
Thank you all for entering and better luck next time!

Fanswag reminder: Today is your last day to enter


Yup folks, today is the last and final day you can enter in our giveaway. We're unloading prizes onto two lucky readers, which include copies of Death Jr. for the Wii, as well as a Nyko Kama wireless nunchuk. How can you pass on free stuff?

So, head on over to the original contest post today and check out the official rules.

Joystiq Features




Featured Galleries

DiRT 2

DiRT 2

Let's Catch

Let's Catch

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Crystal Defenders R2

Crystal Defenders R2

Silver Star Chess

Silver Star Chess

Art Style: PICTOBiTS

Art Style: PICTOBiTS

Majora's Mask

Majora's Mask

Punch-Out!! Head-to-Head mode

Punch-Out!! Head-to-Head mode

Real Heroes: Firefighters

Real Heroes: Firefighters

 


Autoblog

BloggingStocks

Download Squad

Engadget

Massively

Asylum

Wow.com

Engadget HD

Big Download