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Phat Loot Phriday: Petrified Ivy Sprig
Let's do a wand! A really, really hot wand, too -- best in slot for most casters in the game right now.Name: Petrified Ivy Sprig (Wowhead, Thottbot, WoWDB)Type: Epic WandDamage/Speed: 414-719 Nature / 1.80 (328.6 DPS)Attributes: +19 Intellect, +22 Spirit, +26 Stamina. Which is actually less than that other big endgame wand, but wait, there's more: %Gallery-33600%
PS3's motion controller: force feedback, up to four per console
Sony has taken a few of its developers aside and doled out a few new morsels of info about its upcoming PlayStation 3 motion controller. Leaving the Sixaxis as the black sheep of the family, the wand supports force feedback from the get-go, and up to four of the devices can be tracked at one time. The technology can work in conjunction with PlayStation Eye's face / head tracking and built-in mic, but naturally that's gonna tax the Cell processor more. The company's reportedly considering some joint use of the motion remote and standard controller, with the example given of holding the wand as sword and DualShock 3 as shield. We're not sure if that'll somehow count additionally toward the max wand limit -- probably not, at the expense of not using the more accurate color-changing ball tracker -- but it's definitely more cost efficient for the consumer than having to pick up another remote. Tentatively launch window is still Spring 2010, which as it turns out is infinitely more than what we know about Natal's release date at this point. [Via Joystiq]
Phat Loot Phriday: Nurturing Touch
This is a crazy-looking wand from Ulduar that spits out Holy damage like nobody's business.Name: Nurturing Touch (Wowhead, Thottbot, Armory)Type: Epic WandDamage/Speed: 378-702 / 1.80 (300 DPS)Attributes: +29 Stamina, +26 Intellect, and +24 Spirit Improves crit strike rating by 20, and spell power by 39 Pretty straightforward wand -- nothing too special about it. But it is a nice one, and it's likely an upgrade from anything you've gotten in Naxx or the earlier raid instances. %Gallery-33600%
J Allard's 'Magic Wand' patent application for Microsoft puts Nintendo, sorcerers on notice
It's been awhile since we've heard from J Allard; the man who assumed responsibility for Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division (think: Zune and Xbox) in mid 2008 in an effort to unify the experience into a centralized package. Now Microsoft's CTO and CXO (that's, Chief eXperience Office) has co-signed a patent application for a "Magic Wand" first filed in November of 2007 and made public just a few days ago. The patent application reads very much like a Wiimote, hand-held controller,"The architecture can utilize one or more sensor from a collection of sensors to determine an orientation or gesture in connection with the wand, and can further issue an instruction to update a state of an environmental component based upon the orientation." It's worth remembering that Microsoft has been rumored to be working on such a controller since at least August 2007. Something they've apparently scrapped for a camera-based solution that will allow gamers to control the action with their bodies and hand-gestures without requiring a hand-held controller -- you know, if current rumors are true. How many days until Microsoft's June 1st E3 press conference again?[Via TechFlash]
The Queue: Somebody has a case of the Mondays!
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky will be your host today.<Insert witty opening remarks here.> Boltzmann asked..."Has Blizzard ever said anything about the prospect of allowing Bind on Account items to be transferred to different servers? It'd be sweet to be able to level a Death Knight on a friend's server and start out with the good gear."
Sony patent brings Wii-like interface to PS2
Sony is looking into new ways of extending the PS2's life cycle far beyond the promised "ten years." A new patent discovered by the watchdogs at Siliconera points to a new gameplay system that has users waving a wand in front of a camera connected to the PS2.Sounds very much like the Wii to us, but there are apparently other uses in the works. Another patent diagram shows ring controllers, worn around a person's fingers, that transmit light and data. This kind of experience may lead to even more freeform methods of play, as players will no longer have to grasp a controller.Before you get too excited (or digusted), remember this: not all patents come to fruition as actual products. Sony filed another patent last year for a unique break-apart controller that has yet to turn up. To get a further glance into the potential future, check out Siliconera's full report.
Nyko reveals price, date, bundles for Wand controller
The Wand, Nyko's take on the Wiimote, has a feature unique enough to interest us despite the appearance of the thing (seriously, it wasn't just hit with the ugly stick, it is the ugly stick): its "Trans-Port" allows for extension controllers to have real, digital buttons of their own, instead of having to leave space for the Wiimote buttons or use levers to manually push them. The attachments also use their own rumble motors.Nyko has just announced the details of the Wand's release, revealing that it will be released on its own in April for $34.99, and in two bundles in June: the "Core Pak" and the "Action Pak." The $49.99 Action Pak contains one Wand and one Pistol Grip attachment, which has its own Trans-Port connector on the bottom for connection of additional Nyko accessories. It also features a hilarious orange cap, so people don't think the Wiimote is a real gun. The Core Pak includes a "Wired Kama with Rumble," a version of the Nunchuk with separate rumble motors. It will also be available for $49.99.Between the slightly reduced price and the improved functionality, we're starting to think about going all-Nyko with our Wii controllers. That seems ... wrong, somehow.%Gallery-41092%
CES 2009: Will Nyko's Wand work with MotionPlus?
We'd like to say one way or another, but when Joystiq stopped by Nyko's booth at CES yesterday to try out the Wiimote alternative, the rep couldn't commit. Nyko hopes the Wand will be compatible, but they're not ready to say one way or the other.On top of that, Joystiq offered up some general observations while testing out the Wand at Nyko's booth. You can check out the hands-on piece right here.%Gallery-41092%
CES 2009: Nyko's Wiimote imitator is lawsuit-proof
It's genius, really -- Nintendo sued Nyko for making the Kama Wireless Nunchuck too similar in design to Nintendo's own. But there is no way Nintendo would ever even suggest that Nyko's "Wand" looks at all like the Wiimote, out of respect for the Wiimote. Nyko has replaced the clean lines and muted color scheme of the Wiimote with an odd-shaped body, weird, jagged D-pad, and brightly-colored, square buttons. In addition to the garishness feature, the Wand has one rather cool ability: when connected to compatible extensions, Wiimote functions can be transferred to the extension. For example, their pistol grip for the Wand rumbles and has a real B button on the trigger, rather than a mechanical lever that pushes the Wiimote's B button -- not to mention that there's an A button on the back.They also introduced the Charge Station EX, a revision of the popular Charge Station that adds battery level indicators, and a Kama Charge Kit that includes a rechargeable Kama Wireless Nunchuck and a rechargeable battery pack for the Wiimote. Pictures of all of these new accessories are in our gallery! All are expected to be in US stores this April.%Gallery-41092%[Via press release]
Nyko brings Wand Wii remote, Charge Station EX and Kama Charge kit to CES
What would CES be without a little video gaming, huh? Thanks to Nyko, we won't ever have to find out (at least in 2009), as it's bringing a smattering of new Nintendo Wii accessories to the desert. Kicking things off right is the simply titled Wand, which is said to be the "world's most advanced alternative to the Wii remote." Aside from doing everything the Wiimote does, the April-bound device also features the firm's Trans-Port technology, which "enables control and vibration feedback to be electrically replicated on a compatible attachment accessory." Up next is the Charge Station EX ($34.99 this April), which improves upon its successor by adding a LED battery indicator and a "new sleek look." Finally, the Kama Charge Kit is an all-in-one charging solution while simultaneously stores and charges both the Wiimote and Kama controllers in one unit. All the fine print is hosted just after the break.
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World of WarCrafts: Flash Wand
Every Wednesday Maureen Carter brings you World of WarCrafts, which features a recipe or craft that teaches you how to make your own real life version of in-game recipes and items. Let me begin by warning you that this week's WarCraft is a bit tacky, corny and even a little silly. So, if you have issues with any of those things coming into play here then STOP READING NOW! If you don't have problems with it and could use a WoW related giggle in your day please, join me as I create today's IRL item the Flash Wand. I feel I must say that none of my characters have this wand so I'm hoping very much that the screen shot I am basing my whole project off of is correct. If not then, oh well, its still fun.
DARPA eying adaptable, scalable networks to help soldiers communicate
DARPA's latest initiative is far from revolutionary -- we've seen a number of installations aimed at improving communication in times of war -- but the Wireless Adaptive Network Development (WAND) project looks to "exploit commercial radio components, rather than custom ones," to "keep soldiers linked with each other on the battlefield." Essentially, soldiers would be equipped with $500 handheld radios that would form far-reaching ad hoc networks that could "shift frequencies and sidestep interference" to make communications more pervasive and more reliable. Interestingly, WAND is reportedly set to be demonstrated as early as January of next year, but there's no telling how long it'll take for the project to become fully operational. [Via Slashdot, image courtesy of SOCOM]
Order of the Phoenix looking good
Three new videos of the forthcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix have gone up on IGN. The videos demonstrate a few of Harry's spells and give us a look round Hogwarts. We'll be casting the spells with a flick of the Wiimote, and maybe even incanting them through the mic.Like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, the Harry Potter games have been a bit of a mixed bag in the past; Goblet of Fire, for instance, was very much a bogey. This one, however, is looking and sounding very promising. If EA can capture the feel of Hogwarts in the game and get that elusive sandbox gameplay working, then this could be a real treat.
Grand Theft Potter
No, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is not really going to feature murder and robbery. That's just a bit of fun sensationalism from your responsible journalist friends at Wii Fanboy.We're really invoking the GTA name because EA UK's new game is going to feature the sandbox-style gameplay made famous by Rockstar's series. Mission triggers will be hidden all over, and you are free to explore and take on side missions. This means that you'll potentially have more choice to explore Hogwarts and the surrounding areas than Harry Potter ever did, as he seems to get railroaded from situation to situation without any choice at all. Uh, not that we ever read ... or saw ... any Harry Potter stuff. Oh, never mind-- we're all about children's books. That's right.Also, one of the most obvious Wiimote uses ever has been implemented: Wiimote as wand. Wiimote gestures will allow you to cast spells and manipulate levitated objects. No word on any microphone stuff, though.
Warcraft Rookie: Get a Wand ASAP
[This is the first in a regular series of posts dedicated to the new WoW player.]If there is one thing I see over and over again in the sub-20 zones, it is casters beating on a nearly dead mob with their melee weapon. They either ran out of mana or want to conserve their mana supply to eliminate downtime, so they have stopped casting spells and were looking for a mana-free form of DPS. A mage pounding on a mob with his staff is not the best way to deal damage. What would be better? Get a wand. Wands provide casters with better DPS and will allow you to deal with runners more effectively. Mages, warlocks and priests can equip a wand. There are three ways to get a wand early on...1. Take enchanting as a profession. Enchanters can make a low level wand with very little effort, and it will be just fine to get you started until you can afford something better. However, enchanting can be one of the more expensive and confusing professions for a new player, so this might not be the way to go. Finally, if one of your friends is an enchanter, they could hook you up very cheaply.2. Head to the Auction House. If you are a caster, this should be your first auction house purchase,with the possible exception of bags. The low level wands come very cheap, usually no more than a couple silver. The Auction House method is probably the easiest way to aquire your first wand.3. Hope for a drop. This is pretty ineffective, but sometimes you will get lucky. If you do, equip it immediately and start leveling up your wand skill.The moral of the story...get a wand equipped ASAP and use it to finish off mobs or to contribute to DPS in instances when you run low on mana. Good luck on your quest to leave the newbie zone! New Terms For Rookies:DPSMobRunner
Control OS X with a wand
Alright, so there is no wand, but there is a combination of this Gyration mouse and Quicksilver which is magic like. The Gyration is a wireless mouse that has a gyroscope in it, so the mouse knows where it is positioned in space.When you combine this knowledge with a few pieces of software you instantly have a magic wand that you can use to control your Mac. What to know how? Read the directions and get to waving.
