Nyko's Wireless Nunchuck makes you that much less coordinated

Well, this was inevitable. And we suppose it's not a terrible thing in itself, some people really loathe that cord tying the Wiimote and Nunchuck together, especially in light of how minimalistic the Wii is in most other regards. We, on the other hand, appreciate the defence the tether provides against injuring our house guests any more than necessary with our crazed arm flailings. Who knows if Nintendo will ever get around to releasing a wireless version of the Nunchuck, but Nyko's going to make a buck here either way with its Wireless Nunchuck setup, which is headed for CES next month. There's a 2.4GHz receiver module that has to be plugged into the Wiimote, but the Nunchuck itself is pretty much a virtual clone of Nintendo's -- which is appreciated. No word on price or a release date just yet.

[nxtiak @ Dec 7th 2007 9:21AM]

The nunchuck part also has accelerometers in it. Hopefully it's just as good as the original.

[Andre @ Dec 7th 2007 9:22AM]

I really don't know why Nintendo did not think of this in the first place...or maybe the did but cost factor maid them change there mind. Nyko will get filthy rich with this.

[Niraj Sanghvi @ Dec 7th 2007 11:16AM]

I've got one guess...it's annoying to have even more batteries to replace.

[Frank @ Dec 7th 2007 9:25AM]

Notice the dark spot on the back of the Wiimote. This would probably kill the Wiimote's battery blazing fast, and would necessitate the use of Nyko's charging system. How convenient.

This is a good idea, but why couldn't they make it the same color as the Wiimote, just looks off not being the same shade of white.

[Adam @ Dec 7th 2007 10:48AM]

Yeah, I was thinking about how great it would be until I realized the battery drain.

I'll stick with my cords and rechargeable AA's...

[Alexander @ Dec 7th 2007 5:02PM]

The Nyko Recharging station is the BEST INVESTMENT for your Wii. Period.

You always know where your remotes are, you always have full batteries, and it adds weight--which I like.

The $30 bucks for it is more than worth it. pickup some extra batteries for your 3-4 player controllers for $10 bucks. much cheaper than batteries.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 7th 2007 9:27AM]

I assume that Nyko is also working on a cooling fan for their nunchuk?

[Jonyah @ Dec 7th 2007 9:36AM]

What I want to know, is when will the Wii get real controller? The wii-mote is cute and all, but you can't do any real gaming with it. Make a nice white classic controller (not the crappy one you have to use for the download games) and bring out some games that are more than gimicky. Until then, the kids can goof off on the wii, while I continue to enjoy my PS3.

[Chuckles McGee @ Dec 7th 2007 9:42AM]

There's always the Gamecube controller.

[Jonyah @ Dec 7th 2007 9:47AM]

The gamecube controller doesn't work with Wii games.

[Curtis McHenry @ Dec 7th 2007 10:01AM]

The systems where put out for different kinds of people.
The Wii was released more for the immersion gamer.

[lonecow12 @ Dec 7th 2007 10:00AM]

I really don't consider myself a fanboy, but comments like this are just laughable now. No one is listening to you man, and you just make Sony look worse with these desperate comments.

I'm glad you love you PS3, really I am, but you don't have to be snarky about it.

[DWells55 @ Dec 7th 2007 10:04AM]

Using a normal controller pretty much defeats the entire purpose of the Wii. The reason they can get away with the mediocre and 480p graphics is because the gameplay becomes far more important when the controller is properly used by developers. I enjoy my 360 and it's HD visuals and online play with the standard controller and it's what I game on most of the time, but the Wii is a nice break because it's refreshingly different and just simple fun to pick up and play, especially with friends.

Remove the controller and you're left with a system that's just like all the rest but without the fancy graphics. No thanks, I'll stick to the way it is now.

[Kamokazi @ Dec 7th 2007 10:49AM]

Wow, you're so right. I'm so blinded by the shiny PS3 that I can't see all the 3rd party gamepads for the Wii. I'm going to waste $400 on something without any decent games available with inferior graphic quality compared to my PC. Thanks for showing me the light.

[Prokanda @ Dec 7th 2007 11:08AM]

yeah... because manhunt 2, resident evil 4: wii edition, resident evil: umbrella chronicles, guitar hero III, medal of honor 2, metroid prime 3: corruption are all games that only kids can enjoy, right?

I'm in a household of all 23+ year olds and we have just about as much fun on Wii games as we do with the 360 games (and probably just as much fun as we'll have after we get our PS3).

Not cool to knock something when your argument is pointless.

[chris fredette @ Dec 7th 2007 11:36AM]

I think the classic controller is better than the cube one, but it isn't wireless. Where is the wireless version Nintendo????? When the wavebird came out I thought Nintendo was the king or wireless; why did they go backwards?
As far as battery the wiimote sucks AA like the ship in spaceballs. If you don't have rechargeables yet, you soon will.
And while I'm on the subject why are their no LiIon batteries for the wii or the 360?

[Matt @ Dec 7th 2007 4:57PM]

Exactly what kind of "real gaming" can you not do with the remote and nunchuck?

[nakedgremlin @ Dec 7th 2007 4:48PM]

I got one of the Wii Classic Controller Grip attachments and have been surprised by how nice it is -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PHX4KQ

[Lemmiwinks @ Dec 7th 2007 5:24PM]

"The gamecube controller doesn't work with Wii games."

Perhaps you should do some research before running your ill-informed mouth.

[james @ Dec 7th 2007 9:42AM]

Without a wire, it's not longer a nunchuck.

[Justin @ Dec 7th 2007 10:31AM]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[StrangeBum @ Dec 7th 2007 10:35AM]

It's a great idea in theory. I'm not sure how well it should work, I would like to think it's not that bad. But, it is Nyko.

And in relation to your comment, yeah, what is a non-tethered nunchuk called. An un-nunchuck?

[chris fredette @ Dec 7th 2007 11:41AM]

They should call it the "Throwing star" and make it look like one. Kind of like brass knuckles buy with pointy things between your fingers.
Then you would have two things to chuck at your TV, like a modern day Ninja!

[John @ Dec 7th 2007 11:51AM]

the Unchuck

[Bliss @ Dec 7th 2007 1:21PM]

Chuck Norris has already decreed that the rest of humanity is The UnChuck.

[Holger @ Dec 7th 2007 9:45AM]

Oooh now that is something that would be great to have... except for the battery part... I guess I need to get some rechargers etc.

[Volite @ Dec 7th 2007 9:49AM]

This *NEEDED* to happen. While the wired version of the Wiimote/Nunchuk may serve as a 'tether' to some, it is waaay to easy to get tangled up with your own hands (when doing 'running' type moves with both the 'mote and 'chuk connected). While playing Rayman RR, my wife got the wire tangled up and yanked it out of the Wiimote. Broke it. We're divorced now. See what happens?

Thanks, Nyko.

[Brodie @ Dec 7th 2007 10:04AM]

I for one welcome this as I whip myself in the face regularly with the Nunchuck's tether playing Madden... That's right... I'm special.

But seriously, there better be a wrist strap with this thing or I'm going to have a few (more) broken things in the living room.

[Jhongerkong @ Dec 8th 2007 12:25AM]

The ign preview clearly shows a wrist strap

[DWells55 @ Dec 7th 2007 10:08AM]

Seems like a decent idea, but personally I'd rather the normal wire than that attachment on the Wiimote. The one wire doesn't bother me, the end result is still a wireless controller. Kinda like the wireless headsets for 360 - I don't really see a need for eliminating the wire from the controller to your headset when the controller is wireless anyways. I've had no trouble setting up game lobbies on the 360 to do voice chat and then bringing my controller upstairs to play PC games and chat with the people in that 360 game lobby - makes for a great alternative to TeamSpeak or whatever if other people don't have it/want to learn to use it.

[theregoesdave @ Dec 7th 2007 11:03AM]

I'll bite.

So, this could theoretically expand gameplay if it were universal and developers could plan for it. Otherwise you're just trading a cable for another wrist strap and more batteries.

It sounds like a good idea, but I'm reserving judgment.

[dizzy @ Dec 7th 2007 11:25AM]

added weight from batteries will be nice in the thing I suppose.

Still awaiting a sword-chuck attachment...

[decadeofevil @ Dec 7th 2007 11:29AM]

wheres the wireless classic controller....

[Tavis Veighey @ Dec 7th 2007 12:13PM]

Exactly!!! That would make MUTCH more sense than a wireless Nunchuck.

[Jhongerkong @ Dec 8th 2007 12:23AM]

Its called a wavebird.

[Garst @ Dec 7th 2007 1:38PM]

Is it me, or is there no wrist strap on this thing? If there isn't, Nyko better be putting a big warning label in multiple languages to not let go of this thing, otherwise there's going to be another slew of people frauduantly sueing them after they deliberatly throw it at their TVs.

[Mike Cohen @ Dec 7th 2007 1:41PM]

I hope it comes with a wrist strap so it won't go flying into TV screens.

[Carl M @ Dec 7th 2007 1:49PM]

I wonder if the additional RF signals flying around will cause interference with the rest of the system?

How many 2.4 Ghz devices can you put in a small area and expect everything to work fine?

Perhaps this may work fine for single-player games, but start to show trouble if you try 4-player action.

[computer.dude.28 @ Dec 7th 2007 5:25PM]

I agree. These nunchuks better have (at LEAST) 4 different channels.

[engadget @ Dec 7th 2007 5:15PM]

One little problem... no strap. Nyko just made a new plasma destroying projectile, this one in a nice neat, more bullet-like package.

[joe @ Dec 7th 2007 9:48PM]

i agree.. I thought "cool" at first, then realized the cable helps tie it down... Now I gotta attach 2 wrist straps every time I switch bowlers? I'll end up spending more time adjusting the strap than actually playing.