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Nintendo looks to keep you warm, bundled even, with two more 3DS packages
So you've got a few folks on your holiday shopping list that just aren't Zelda fans. You can still spring for some Nintendo hardware with two more bundles due out December 4th. Inside, you'll find a pink Nintendo 3DS paired with your choice of nintendogs + cats: French Bulldog and New Friends or nintendogs + cats: Toy Poodle and New Friends. Both of the aforementioned bundles will set you back $169.99 -- the same cost of a lonely 3DS system purchased solo. If a pink handheld just isn't what you're after, you may opt for one of The Big N's other bundles already on shelves, including the Midnight Blue DSi XL. In need of a quick refresher before hitting the mall? Check out the PR below for a complete list of Nintendo's holiday package offerings.
SUFFER '11 farming robot plays a multitude of roles, takes commands via Wiimote (video)
So much for stereotypes, eh? The future of farming is being painted in a far different light here at NEXT Aarhus, where a team from the University of Southern Denmark brought in the largest Wiimote-controlled robot that we've ever seen. The heretofore unnamed beast (going by SUFFER '11 for the time being) is a farming-centric machine that's designed to take the load off of the landowners (while providing a bit of enjoyment all the while). Put simply, this modular bot can have various apparatuses swapped into its midsection -- one pop-in attachment could pick potatoes, while another could disperse pesticide, for example. There's even a module that'll enable it to detect rows and plow down the obvious routes, making it that much easier for farmers of the next millennium to take time off. Of course, the standout feature from our perspective was the inbuilt Bluetooth and WiFi, which allowed the demonstrator to operate the 'bot with a standard Wii remote. Per usual, the vid's after the break. %Gallery-131985%
Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and golden Wiimote headed for November 20th release
It's hard to believe Link (read: you) has been saving Hyrule and the kidnap-prone Zelda for 25 long years. To commemorate this video gaming milestone, and its upcoming Skyward Sword installment, Nintendo's issuing a limited edition Fabergé egg. Alright, we kid, it's actually the golden Wii Remote Plus we told you about back at E3, except now we've got a release date and pricing. Hitting retailers' shelves on November 20th, gamers can opt for the golden remote bundle at $69.99, or the standalone game for $49.99. Although the swanky controller won't be sold separately, all initial units of both offerings will come with a gratis The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert music CD. You can head past the break to check out the Big N's official presser.
Wii football controller brought to life by CTA Digital
It wasn't too long ago that we were berating Nintendo for its seemingly silly patent application relating to a football-shaped soft appendage for the Wii Remote controllers. As it turns out, we may have underestimated the consumer interest in just such a product. While Ninty's application is still under review, CTA Digital has taken the opportunity to introduce its own "soft, realistic accessory" for the ballers that just can't get their Madden on without the feel of a rubbery pigskin substitute. It's ambidextrous, it comes with a wrist strap, and it has absolutely no right to exist in a society of right-thinking Homo sapiens. But it does. At least price and availability aren't yet public, so hopefully you'll have forgotten about this abomination by the time of release. Update: Turns out these are already available at Amazon for a precious cent short of $17.
Ghostbusters Wii mod sets a new bar, proves that dreams do come true
The Wii has seen its fair share of related modifications, and while our favorite Nintendo mod still has Pixar written all over it, this one just might take the cake for the Big N's freshest console. Created by an obviously obsessed (and über-talented) Ghostbusters fan, the Nintendo Wii Proton Pack is a fully functional device that beautifully complements the Wii version of the Ghostbusters video game. For those doubting the thought that went into this, take a listen: the Blue Power Cell accurately reflects how much power you have left, and the Thrower has been designed to covertly hold both the Wiimote and the Nunchuk. Better still, the Wiimote's internal speaker enables the pack to make true-to-film noises. Hit the source link to get a better look, but we'd recommend suiting up in your best 80s era, ghoul-busting garb before diving in. Update: In-action video is now after the break!
MoProUSA shows off fully integrated Wiimote pistols, tempts investors (video)
As a Nintendo Wii owner, you've certainly got a smattering of options when it comes time to fire up the light gun, but even Nintendo's Wii Zapper can't hold a candle to this. Moishe Levison of MoProUSA has given us an inside look at what he's been working on for the past few years, and while everything is obviously still in prototype form, we can't help but be impressed. In short, he's looking to create a new range of free gaming pistols, including one that requires no additional Wiimote and Nunchuk to operate. His flagship gun, the Duel Pro, is actually modeled from a replica pistol, and it tucks the guts of a Wii controller and Nunchuk entirely inside of its casing. There's also an analog nub on both sides, enabling gamers to switch from one hand to the other should the action get too intense with the simple press of a toggle switch. Moreover, a color-changing LED is positioned on the rear in order to give instant feedback when an input is recognized, and did we mention that this thing looks stupendously realistic?Another option is the Duel Eagle, which does require a separate Wiimote to be inserted in the top (much like Nyko's Perfect Shot), but places the 'C' and 'Z' buttons within grasping range on the gun's handle. The Duel Agent works similarly, but provides a more compact design for those who like to pack their heat in a more lightweight fashion. In both of these, the motion controls are integrated into the grip. The company actually has no plans to manufacture these on its own, but instead hopes to find an investor or two to buy the utility patent and turn the light gun market upside-down. We asked Moishe if this kind of technology could be applied on weaponry for Sony's PS3 or Microsoft's Xbox 360, and while he did confess that it was feasible, he's keeping his focus firmly fixed on the Wii for now. Feel free to poke around in the prototype gallery below, but don't leave this post without tapping that 'Read More' link and seeing the lineup handled on video. Seriously, you'll score +5 macho points just from watching.%Gallery-86504%
Nyko Wii Wands get a dash of color
Just as Nintendo finally decides to bring some of that noir goodness over to the US, Nyko pops up with no less than four new colorways for its Wand Wii remote. We're no anthropologists here, but we reckon one of these new options will do a lot better in sales than the other three. All the same, with Nintendo furnishing Japan with blue and pink Wiimotes, Nyko has played it safe and followed suit. These should be hitting Walmart right about now with an MSRP of $29.99, so look out for them at your next government-sponsored Wii bowl-a-thon. %Gallery-75714%
OpenChord allows actual guitars to play Guitar Hero, sound atrocious
You've heard that saying "so close, yet so far away," right? This, folks, is why that very quote exists. The obviously brilliant team over at OpenChord has designed a system that enables an honest-to-goodness guitar to sync up with Nintendo's Wii in order to play Guitar Hero. You simply plug the Wiimote into the axe and use the bona fide strings and frets in place of those plastic buttons you're so used to using. The only problem? Guitar Hero wasn't designed for use with six strings and 22 to 24 frets, and man, does it show. Hop on past the break to have a listen, and yes, your dreams of actually taking advantage of this will be shattered. Bet on it.[Via Joystiq]
EA announces latest NERF Wii game with new and improved blaster
Thought all your dreams of an all-in-one NERF gun / Wii controller were fulfilled with the original NERF Blaster Controller? Think again. 'Cause EA has now announced its follow-up NERF 2: N-Strike Elite game, which will of course also come bundled with a new and improved NERF Switch Shot EX-3 blaster. As before, this one will house the Wiimote inside to let you use it with the game or let you ditch it to take things outside (or to the office), and it adds a new attachable "NERF decoder scope" that'll let you detect enemy weak spots, decode secret messages, and uncover other hidden gameplay elements. And, well, it's a NERF gun and a Wii controller. Is there anything else you really need to know? No word on a price just yet, but you can look for the bundle to launch sometime this fall.[Thanks, Vincent]
Nintendo Wii Vitality Sensor detects your pulse
And it looks like Nintendo's answer to Microsoft's Project Natal is... a pulse detector. Yep, Ninty's just announced the Wii Vitality Sensor, a finger sensor which attaches to the Wiimote to read your pulse. Details on how the accessory is going to be used in games are pretty vague, but it appears the idea is to check stress, help you relax, and just generally chill out and be groovy. That won't happen for a while yet, though: the Vitality Sensor was described as a "look into the future," so we're guessing we've got a wait in store.Update: Check out the full press release here.
EA bundling Wii MotionPlus add-on with tennis game in Europe?
We'd already heard that Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus controller add-on was at least loosely tied to the launch of EA's Grand Slam Tennis game, but it now looks like the two may be even more closely linked than previously thought. According to a listing on Amazon.de, the add-on will actually be available in a bundle with the game (in Europe, at least), which will set you back €53.99, or just over $70, when it launches on July 2nd. As Joystiq speculates, however, this move could also be just the excuse Nintendo has been looking for to delay its own Wii Sports Resort game, which itself was supposed to come bundled with MotionPlus add-on but has been largely missing in action since its debut at E3 last year.[Via Joystiq]
Nintendo Wii mockup next to very many things
If there's a Nintendo fanboy looking over your shoulder, now might be the time to cover their eyes -- they might just not be able to handle the impending flow of pictures. Sure, they've probably spied that console size comparison chart we threw up last month, or even managed some precious minutes of face time with the Wii at E3, but nothing in their young Zelda-worshipping lives could prepare them for the sheer volume of pictures taken by DocCRP of his purtiful Wii and Wiimote mockups next to nearly every thinkable item known to man. We barely made it to "Wii with Upright Piano pedals" -- it would take a much braver soul to venture further.[Via Joystiq]
Controller showdown: PlayStation 3 vs Wii
You knew the comparisons were going to be inevitable. Now that we've gotten our mitts on both next-gen consoles' motion-sensing input devices, Nintendo's Wii controller and Sony's PlayStation 3 controller have to go head to head. That's just the way of the world; who are we to question these two born adversaries, destined to square off in a no-holds barred peripheral deathmatch. So, what did we think? Well, you should already have a pretty good idea of how we feel about the Wiimote. But what's up with the PlayStation 3 controller? Two controllers enter, one controller leaves.
Hands on with Nintendo's Wii controller
Alright, we briefed y'all on what we knew so far about the Wii controller early this morning, but now that we've gotten our paws on the Wiimote itself, we wanted to let you know how it is in the flesh. Nintendo and millions of fanboys are betting a lot on this concept, and Nintendo itself said that "playing is believing" every other sentence of their keynote, so the real question is: do we believe? The short answer is that we're just not sure yet. The first chance we got with the Wii was for a golfing game (the shortest line we found, go fig) and as soon as we got our hands on the Wiimote we knew it was something special. We slipped the wrist lanyard on so we didn't fling the remote across the room, and held in our hands the light weight, ergonomic, and simply beautiful controller. If this was as far as we'd gotten we would have gone home happy. The controller allows plenty of leverage for the trigger "b" and the large "a" button, and only slipped out of our hand once from a particularly aggressive sword strike in "Red Steel." Click on for the rest.
