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Party Station Watch 2013: Nyko Wii U peripherals at CES
CES is a huge show for hardware manufacturers and accessory producers alike, and Nyko has brought a whole lineup of Wii U peripherals to this year's show. The Charge Station U (above, right) offers a $34.99 alternative to Nintendo's dock, adding two charging slots for standard Wiimotes on the back along with rechargeable battery packs for each.The Pro Commander (left) is Nyko's spin on the Pro Controller – the biggest change over Nintendo's optional game pad changing the analog stick configuration to mirror the Xbox 360 controller. The Pro Commander fetches $34.99 price tag, $15 cheaper than the official Nintendo peripheral.Nyko has also brought with it previously announced Wii U accessories to CES, including UBoost – a clip-on battery pack for extra Wiipad juice – and the Charge Base Pro, which can charge up to two Pro Controllers at once. The Power Stand for the WiiPad is also on the show floor, another cradle alternative for the tablet-like controller.Finally, there's the matter of the Party Station, Nyko's killed Wii peripheral marketed to people who both play Wii and entertain company. With Nyko announcing a lineup of new Wii U goodies, we hoped that maybe a new and improved Party Station would be unveiled for Wii U, though it appears to be more wishful thinking on our part than a real possibility. Yeah, we know – we're right there with you, just miserable about it.
Nyko unveils Charge Station U, Pro Commander Wii U peripherals at CES 2013
In the past few years, Nyko's transformed from a third-party peripheral manufacturer of poor repute to one many gamers depend on for quality products. Devices like the Nintendo Wii Charge Station and the 3DS Power Pak+ went a long way in earning good will, and the latest slew of add-ons continues the company's recent tradition. Nyko's Charge Station U ($34.99) bolsters the standard Wii U GamePad charge stand with space for two plain Wii controllers (and includes rechargeable batteries for said Wii controllers), and its Pro Commander ($34.99) takes Nintendo's Pro Controller and swaps the awkward analog stick placement for a more traditional feel (read: like an Xbox 360 controller). While the former adds a $15 premium to Nintendo's first-party charging stand, it also adds the ability to charge your Wii controllers at the same time (as well as giving them rechargeable batteries); the Pro Commander is not only a perfectly capable controller, it also shaves $15 off of Nintendo's $50 asking price for the first-party Pro Controller. In so many words, if you buy both of these items, you'll be spending roughly the same amount as if you had bought Nintendo's first-party equivalents, only you get more functionality. We'll have our first chance to get hands-on with both devices, as well as the previously announced UBoost, Charge Base Pro, and Power Stand, this week as CES 2013 rages on. You'll be able to get your hands-on with all five starting this February when they arrive at retailers nationwide.
