Nintendo, Nyko settle lawsuit over wireless nunchuks, Nyko agrees to stop hitting itself with ugly stick

After six months of what we can only imagine were pained, laborious negotiations, Nintendo and Nyko announced today that they've settled that lawsuit over Nyko's Kama wireless nunchuk controllers. No mention of how much Nyko had to pay up to make this all go away, but apparently the company's agreed to tweak the Kama's design to make it looks less like Ninty's original -- we'd say a good beginning exercise would be to try and figure out why anyone actually needs an off-color wireless nunchuk, and then going on from there.

[Via Joystiq]

[Flashpoint @ Dec 17th 2008 12:05PM]

It'll be really funny when Chinese companies start crying foul play over their intellectual property being infringed upon.

[Freakin Ijit @ Dec 17th 2008 12:08PM]

> ...we'd say a good beginning exercise would be to try and figure out why anyone
> actually needs an off-color wireless nunchuck...

At 6'2" with roughly equal fingertip to fingertip reach, I could use a wireless nunchuck.

-----------

BTW - did you know the Wii connects to the internet even when "off" and transfers sufficient information one way or the other - or both - that it can congest the local network and stop streaming feeds dead in their tracks?

And does it every day?

What data IS being passed? To whom!?

[Boarderwoot @ Dec 17th 2008 12:15PM]

"What data IS being passed? To whom!?" Your BMI/Wii Fit age...to your girlfriend's computer. She is now longer your girlfriend.

[Phoenix @ Dec 17th 2008 12:31PM]

You can turn that off in settings, or hold down the power button till it turns red.

It TELLS YOU in the instructions that "orange" is WiiConnect24 and that red is off. So no, it doesn't send anything when it's off.

[Freakin Ijit @ Dec 17th 2008 12:58PM]

The question remains what data is actually being transferred from Wii to remote site.

I have an internet radio station playing on a PC that actually drops off the air when the Wii automatically connects and starts its daily transfer - must be one heck of a lot of data - and it certainly isn't a daily INCOMING update.

[btw - I "powerdown" the Wii with a remote, not the console's power button - never get that red light that way]

[Derbeste @ Dec 17th 2008 1:40PM]

"[btw - I "powerdown" the Wii with a remote, not the console's power button - never get that red light that way]"

Then are you either incredibly stupid or this doesn't bother you nearly as much as you let on....

Come to think of it, the two are not really mutually exclusive are they?

[Freakin Ijit @ Dec 17th 2008 1:45PM]

The question remains what data is actually being transferred from Wii to remote site.

I have an internet radio station playing on a PC that actually drops off the air when the Wii automatically connects and starts its daily transfer - must be one heck of a lot of data - and it certainly isn't a daily INCOMING update.

[do you get it yet?...]

[Othello @ Dec 17th 2008 1:59PM]

It's a special function introduced by Nintendo. Basically, it's gauge of how much tinfoil you need to purchase.

[Derbeste @ Dec 17th 2008 2:35PM]

"[do you get it yet?...]"

No....no one else in the world gets it. Only you do.

[Vidikron @ Dec 17th 2008 3:20PM]

"[btw - I "powerdown" the Wii with a remote, not the console's power button - never get that red light that way]"

Umm... you have to go into the console settings and turn off WiiConnect 24. And you have something wrong with your network if WiiConnect 24 is killing your internet radio station (or you're on dial-up).

[iofthestorm @ Dec 17th 2008 3:25PM]

Err... either you're making this up, your username is completely accurate, or both. WiiConnect24 just checks for new messages every 15 minutes, nothing more, nothing less. You must be the only person who has these problems with the Wii, it definitely does not send that much information out normally.

[Freakin Ijit @ Dec 17th 2008 5:05PM]

I didn't mention WiiConnect, someone else did.

However, your post reminds me that I need to unplug the Wii as a final test. The coincidence of the router log entries across many days suggest the Wii (Wii connects to internet, 30-ish seconds later streaming radio discos and attempts reconnect, only once per day though the Wii accesses the Internet multiple times per day.

BTW - it is not on a 15 minute repeat - I have entries in my router log this afternoon showing the Wii going "out there" at: 16:57:34 16:55:35 16:53:34 16:51:34 16:49:34 etc etc etc.

[El Taco @ Dec 17th 2008 5:18PM]

I think you're being extremely ignorant, but I do feel sorry for you that nobody has answered your question yet, so I'll be straight with you. WiiConnect24 connects to Nintendo's servers so that it can receive updates while it's off (or in standby, if that's how you want to put it). It also recieves other things while in standby, such as weather channel updates, shop channel updates, and messages from friends.

You may want to read this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiiconnect24

[Joseph @ Dec 17th 2008 7:59PM]

Step 1: Put on Tinfoil Hat
Step 2: Sniff The Wii's Packets
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit!!!

[ChillyCat @ Dec 17th 2008 12:09PM]

whoopie-da-do

[Boarderwoot @ Dec 17th 2008 12:17PM]

A wireless knumbchunk would be a fantastic idea off color or not unless im not meant to extend my arms that much during boxing.

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 17th 2008 12:28PM]

I find it incredibly sad that a gadget blog fails to understand why wireless controllers are better than wired controllers.

[Johnny @ Dec 17th 2008 12:37PM]

I think the emphasis was on 'off color'. Otherwise, of course wireless is better (when it works right).

[Ted @ Dec 17th 2008 12:43PM]

I can definitly see the need for a wireless nunchuk. I will probably lose my damn nun chuck now, but I appreciate the value in wireless. I do not care about the color at all though.

[Verythrax @ Dec 17th 2008 12:59PM]

That's bad, I was digging the "as original" design - the new one REALLY looks like a chinese no-brand controller.

Must try to find the older one NOW!

[z3razerviper @ Dec 17th 2008 1:32PM]

If you find and older one it may not work with some games like mario cart but the newer older ones do so be careful. Nyko will replace your unit quickly (mine took a week) if yours has problems. Also mine were NOT OFF COLOR they matched perfectly.

[Boarderwoot @ Dec 17th 2008 3:34PM]

@therazorviper,

Um, you may have a valid complain about compatability but a knumbchunk with mario kart? What version are you playing?

[reisa @ Dec 17th 2008 1:44PM]

Nyko has had the fugly new ones out for a couple of weeks now. Luckily, I got 4 of the early ones that look dead-on to the numchuck. They're NOT off-white as the picture and story indicate, and yes: WIRELESS FTW!

[Joseph @ Dec 17th 2008 8:01PM]

speaking of lawsuits. Can't wait to get one of these and sue them myself for not including a strap.