Brando's Wii Multi-Axis Racing System: a few notches above awful

We know, there's only so much you can do to a foam donut to make it, well, more than a foam donut, but Brando's trying its best to one-up the competition by adding in a stand. With Mario Kart Wii launching in under a fortnight (in the US, at least), the Wii Multi-Axis Racing System is vying for those hard-earned dollars by giving racers the ability to grip something stuck to an immobile surface rather than just flailing around with some sort of lightweight Wiimote-engulfing circle. And at just $18, it even gives the first-party Wii Wheel some serious competition. Okay, so maybe "serious" is an overstatement.

[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]

[markwvu @ Apr 18th 2008 8:32AM]

I think this is a cool concept, but could be better.

For me, the drawbacks of just using some foam donut is the fact that there is no resistance like you would find in a real car.

[Raheem @ Apr 18th 2008 8:33AM]

Mario Kart came out last week.

[booticon @ Apr 18th 2008 8:41AM]

I think they're referring to the US release.

[Raheem @ Apr 18th 2008 9:10AM]

Whoa I just checked, sorry I'm not used to games coming out in the UK before the US. Apologies for my comment.

[Doug @ Apr 18th 2008 8:34AM]

ahhhhh... Just turn your effing wii mote without a wheel.. FAIL

[Sam Stone @ Apr 18th 2008 9:04AM]

Whaddya call a guy with a spade on his head? :D

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

[Doug @ Apr 18th 2008 8:50AM]

No, I don't understand your nastiness...

[Mike @ Apr 18th 2008 8:42AM]

i think its funny how the wheel is black.....

i think more people will not buy it for that reason

[Geqxon @ Apr 18th 2008 8:47AM]

Racist!

[brianguy16 @ Apr 20th 2008 5:27PM]

well you can't be mixing black racing wheels with white wii's and periperals.....haha

[Brian @ Apr 18th 2008 4:46PM]

Of course it sucks, it doesn't match the Wii.

[booticon @ Apr 18th 2008 8:46AM]

This actually seems like a neat idea, as long as it's constructed well. And the price is about right for something that's a little more than a holster for your Wiimote.

[Maurik @ Apr 18th 2008 8:57AM]

What makes it crap, is that you have to press A to give gas on Mario Kart.

This by default makes all wii-heels awful.

[Kentaree @ Apr 18th 2008 9:03AM]

Actually, you can press the "2" button to accelerate aswell, which is far more comfortable when the wiimote is in a wheel.

[dervheid @ Apr 18th 2008 9:06AM]

No, You don't have to press A, when you're playing with the WHEEL you press 2. This would suggest that maybe you've not played the game, or are playing a wiimote-nunchuck combo.
This 'fixed' wheel will be totally useless if you want to pull atrick, as you have to flick the wheel/wiimote to achieve this.

P.O.S.

[Maurik @ Apr 18th 2008 9:07AM]

Sorry, yes 2 button. I'm using nunchuck and wiimote, I got confused.

Still with my large hands, it's uncomfortable to use the 2 button.

[gijs @ Apr 18th 2008 9:11AM]

What can sell you should make... (from an engineers point of view)

[dervheid @ Apr 18th 2008 9:33AM]

As an Engineer, I take your comments as a slight... it'd be right if you replaced "engineers" (should be "engineer's" anyway, pardon my pedantry) and replace it with "rip-off merchant's"

It's still a P.O.S!

[Gus @ Apr 18th 2008 12:29PM]

@gijs

I'm pretty sure the word you're looking for is "marketer".

[iofthestorm @ Apr 20th 2008 10:20PM]

I have to agree with the two other posters, engineers don't do stupid things like that.

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 18th 2008 9:41AM]

Last night when me and my girlfriend was playing Mario Kart Wii she hit herself in the face with the official Nintendo wheel while pulling off a trick. Now if we switch to this things can get ugly..

[nxtiak @ Apr 18th 2008 10:04AM]

So she's pulling the wheel towards her so fast and hard that she makes herself in the face? Is she a blonde? Also I hope she's at least good in the sack.

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 18th 2008 10:20AM]

Haha! Nope, she's just really competitive and can get a little aggressive behind the wheel. I guess that applies to the sack as well. Anyways, that's one reason I'm staying away from her car once she gets her license.

[warrrennnnn @ Apr 18th 2008 9:48PM]

Hahahaha, nxtiak totally got owned once dick hero said that his GF doesn't have her license. Unintentional pedophilism?

[Edd @ Apr 18th 2008 10:19AM]

The base is fixed on a table and then this wheel can't works in Mario Kart (because wii remote use the mention sensor for tricks or wheelies)

But "Mario Kart Wii" is playable with a true Racing Wheel (with Pedals & Vibration Feedback) = Thrustmaster "Universal Challenge"
Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyRE3KKVJtk

Mapping here:
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/faqs/eng/thr_eng_00119.pdf

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 18th 2008 10:27AM]

Bah.. That is ok I guess. But if you want real preformance you should check out my own wheel that I designed. They've sold like butter in summertime but there's still a few left for grabs! http://ydsog.deviantart.com/art/Mario-Kart-Wii-wheel-design-81396620

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 18th 2008 12:55PM]

Please tell me, how well does butter really sell?

[Derbeste @ Apr 18th 2008 11:09AM]

I'm just going to tape the Wiimote to my wrist and make believe I have a power glove.

[Eric @ Apr 18th 2008 11:23AM]

The reason I never used my Nintendo 64 or PlayStation racing wheels is because they were attached to a table, and I never had a table in front of me when I was playing.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 18th 2008 11:27AM]

Am I honestly the only one who used the wheel once, thought it was usless and a gimmick, and happily switched to the far more accurate nunchuck/wiimote configuration?

[Derbeste @ Apr 18th 2008 11:44AM]

Yeah....cuz driving a car like a car is such a gimmick.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 18th 2008 11:49AM]

MY friend, if you think that using the wii wheel is like driving a car, then tell me where you live so that i can avoid driving in the area in case I come across you.

I mean, have you even played it yet, do you have personal experience playing with it?

FIne, it's more responsive than I thought, but it still doesn't have any where NEAR the accuracy and control of using a joystiq. The fact that you can't tell when the wheel is fully lockied is another problem.

I'm all for hearing people's opinions, even if they are different to mine as they are perfectly entitled to it.

But you Sir just replied to my comment with a pointless ill-thought out comment and quite frankly you failed.

Go get a real relevant arguement then we'll talk.

Good day.

[Derbeste @ Apr 18th 2008 12:37PM]

Holy shite get over yourself, you pompous, self absorbed, elitist prick.

I can't stand people like you that turn having fun into an excercise in tedium.

You're like the Simon Cowells of gaming convinced that your opinions are superior simply because you're harder to please.

"I didn't get it. The fantasy just didn't feel real to me. It must be a gimmick"

Even if the Wiimote in Mario Kart isn't EXACTLY like driving a car (I can't remember the last time I threw a banana peel out my window or slid around a haunted mansion anyway), it's one hell of a closer than a using a thumb stick and buttons. That's not a gimmick....unless car wheels are gimmicks. That was my point, Professor. I made NO statements on it's accuracy or even if it accomplished in any way it's intended purpous of mimicking a wheel (though based on excite truck, I can't believe it could fail completely).

I, however, couldn't care less. I was merely taking objections at the completely tired addage of calling anything that didn't suit your fancy a "gimmick". The word "gimmick" is a gimmick!

A true gimmick would be completely extrannious, seem out of context, or do nothing to enchance the experience. I fail to see how applying a more car-like control scheme in a car driving game could fit that catagory.

If you don't like it, fine. But saying why would be more beneficial then the lazy "it's a gimmick" tag line.

Lastly, if you don't desire to drive anywhere near me, that's just peachy. A little less traffic would, in fact, help my day be good.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 18th 2008 1:34PM]

I apologise for reading into your comment wrong. It's hard to judge the tone of someone's comments via text.

You make a fair point, and although I don't appreciate being called an elitist prick, I wasn't exactly nice to you either, so fair enough.

As to the wheel, I didn't mean that I wanted it to be realistic otherwise I would play forza on my 360. I hate realistic driving games.

I also however hate a gaming peripheral which makes me play like im driving on ice with glass wheels. If I want to be frustrated I'll use the wheel. If however I'm online and I want to win I will use the joystick. It's a fact that a joystick is more accurate than the wheel and thats all there is to it.

I do however believe that the wheel is more fun, and seeing as I've only used it for about 30mins in total I may give it another shot to see if I improve, but the fact that I don't need to do that with the joystick probably wins me over.

[Derbeste @ Apr 18th 2008 5:04PM]

Fair enough.

Sorry for the overreaction.

It takes quite a bit of maturity to reply to negativity with such poise. I gained quite a bit of respect.

/Salute

As for the rest of your points, I'll reserve judgment or a response until I have had some hands on time with the game myself.

Until then, tyvm for the insight.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 18th 2008 5:06PM]

No worries :)

See people, the interwebs can hold mature conversations too!

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 18th 2008 11:43AM]

You know I'm just going to tape the Wii remote to my PS2 wheel and play that way.

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 18th 2008 11:45AM]

*no comment* *silent laughter*

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 18th 2008 11:46AM]

@ swinging dick hero

[Drew @ Apr 18th 2008 12:00PM]

It's got what plants crave.


(I know it's not EXACTLY the same spelling, but the pronunciation is close enough!)

[ddub @ Apr 18th 2008 2:11PM]

Because its got elecrolytes?

[BrokenMonkey @ Apr 18th 2008 12:11PM]

Isn't it out in 9 days? A fortnight is 2 weeks.

[Derbeste @ Apr 18th 2008 12:58PM]

Hence the phrase "IN UNDER a fortnight".

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 18th 2008 1:02PM]

And you're calling him pompous?


Please go take your Valium.

[Derbeste @ Apr 18th 2008 1:05PM]

You know, I actually wish I had one.

I've been having trouble sleeping for 2 weeks. :(

[JnlAl @ Apr 18th 2008 2:48PM]

I love this one:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lyRE3KKVJtk

[Blaktornado @ Apr 18th 2008 3:38PM]

Oh yeah, I forgot you guys (Americans) didn't have Mario Kart Wii yet...


... so that's why I keep winning Wifi matches... *sniff*

[SFO Kevin @ Apr 18th 2008 3:55PM]

It looks as though there is a center slot designed to hold a Fleshlight!!! :>...

[JDiff @ May 11th 2008 11:14PM]

interesting...(although immature... i would have made the same comment,,,)