Joytech to put cheap plastic crap on your Wii remote
by Kyle Orland 
{ Nov 17th 2006 at 5:25PM }
OK, so you know how you swing the Wii remote like a tennis racquet or a golf club in Wii Sports? Wouldn't that be a little easier if the remote actually looked like a tennis racquet or golf club? No? Not even a little? Well too bad, Joytech is releasing a set of cheap-looking plastic Wii remote attachments to fulfill such a purpose anyway.
In addition to the sports pack pictured above, Joytech also plans on releasing a rounded controller grip for the remote (perfect for playing NES Virtual Console games), a set of silicon gloves to protect the remote and nunchuck and, most exciting of all, a rechargeable battery pack and docking station to keep your remotes nice and energized. No price has been set for the units, which are due in stores this winter.
[Thanks Jake]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DiahrreaMan @ Nov 17th 2006 5:36PM
Why do those attachments resemble that "wii-killer" toy that was shown before? Oh well. The rechargeable batteries sound good, I'd get that. The rest looks like junk, unless the battery life of the battery sucks as well, then the whole thing suks.
STILL WAITING FOR GOLDEN SUN 3 DAMMIT!
nambit @ Nov 17th 2006 5:37PM
I actually think it's great. The racket will feel more top heavy, for example, which a tennis racket should. Dunno about the steering wheel, but the charger station and such also is welcome.
I don't think it's crap at all. It's certainly a whole lot better than some of those attachments for the old GBA SP and such that came out years ago. The colours match too.
pete @ Nov 17th 2006 5:38PM
a rechargeable battery pack and docking station to keep your remotes nice and energized.
yeah baby my battery buying days are over! uber cool whats up with the silicon gloves to protect the remote its not like youll look silly enough gesticulation everywhere with the wiimote but now you look like michael jackson glove in hand boucing around playing smooth moves
BPM? @ Nov 17th 2006 5:38PM
I'd like to see Tecmo/Ntreev release some PangYa-themed Wii Remote attachments. Would be pretty cool if I could make the Wii Remote look like the Afterburner clubset or something. :D
pete @ Nov 17th 2006 5:45PM
oops i meant gesticulatING on post#3 dispensa
xeaxes @ Nov 17th 2006 5:50PM
The tennis racket looks like a vibrator...
Aprime @ Nov 17th 2006 6:05PM
You must have a sick and twisted vision of things, then.
(or are a horny woman)
Cosmos @ Nov 17th 2006 6:14PM
I already bought rechargeable batteries for my Wiimotes. I'm not an expert, but I'd bet that rechargeable AA's are cheaper than any proprietary packs could be and, assuming they're 2500 NiMH, they'll last longer.
Oh, and, rechargeable AA's will work with Wavebirds.
Matt Smylie @ Nov 17th 2006 6:16PM
That docking station looks sweeeeeeeeet. Sign me up!
Jackson Pritt @ Nov 17th 2006 6:28PM
The only one of these that looks remotely useful is the steering wheel.
You'd have to be functionally challenged to need/want the tennis one...
Terence @ Nov 17th 2006 6:18PM
I saw the photo before I read the headline or article, and I swear I thought this post was about some new sex toys.
Dnc @ Nov 17th 2006 6:22PM
I can guaranty you that thousands of parent will fall for it. They will not understand that it is a worthless plastic and will imagine that it really ads something to the remote and so they will spend their hard earned cash on it to make the kid happy - sad.
Brandon @ Nov 17th 2006 6:25PM
Hey, I won't buy them, but you know your product is popular when your product generates cheap accessories. Just search for iPod accessories on eBay and you'll see what I mean.
s256 @ Nov 17th 2006 6:41PM
Two words: BATTERY PACKS
GoPodular @ Nov 17th 2006 7:15PM
LOL. These can't be any worse than a Guitar...
yuutokun @ Nov 17th 2006 7:45PM
Nice biased title there. Really made me want to read the rest of the article (which I didn't). I just wanted to note that.
Ryan @ Nov 17th 2006 7:47PM
Now all we need is a gun and sword for Red Steel.
wAyNe @ Nov 17th 2006 7:58PM
I commented on GS about this over a year ago and got bashed for it. The "Revolution" was supposed to be all about simplicity. I commented that it would actually be the opposite because of all the attachments. It's supposed to appeal to the casual gamer. Someone can just walk up and play.
However. One game uses the standard Wiimote. One game uses the nunchuka. Another game uses the standard Wiimote, but you have to hold it sideways. Yet another game uses the "shell" attachment. And so on and so forth.
So the casual gamer walks up the the Wii, looks at a milk crate full of attachments...
I'm still excited about the new console. I'll buy one as soon as they start showing up on the shelves. I just wish they could have pulled off the motion sensing without having to have a different attachment for every other game. :(
~wAyNe
Cabcru @ Nov 17th 2006 8:03PM
Ah, Joytech. Always trying to make a quick buck by selling gamers tatty junk.
typoink @ Nov 17th 2006 10:38PM
Wayne, these attachments AREN'T necessary, man. They're just goofy, for aesthetic purposes. They might help the weighting or grip for some games, but they're not necessary.
The only things you'll need to play the vast majority of Wii games (in the foreseeable future) is the remote and nunchuck. And it's not a big puzzling mystery -- most Wii games I've seen have little imagery that shows how to hold the computer if it's non-standard.
Volcan @ Nov 17th 2006 9:37PM
@18
Turning the remote sideways isn't an attachment. The only attachment required for the Wii is the Nunchuk, or the Classic Controller if you want to play certain VC games. That's only two attachments.
The attachments being released by Joytech are entirely unnecessary and in no way at all do they add to the game. Also, keep in mind that these are 3rd Party attachments made by a company trying to make a quick profit. The Wii does not "have to have a different attachment for every other game".
mietha CAG @ Nov 17th 2006 9:57PM
The tennis racket attachment looks vaguely naughty...
Mabui @ Nov 17th 2006 10:57PM
Anything that doesn't hook into the wiimote isn't needed.
Much like the Ubisoft wheel where it's just a clip for your wiimote so you can "Sorta feel like you are holding a steering wheel" instead of holding the controller sideways.
I think they are pretty lame, but at the same time it's cool that they have them, since there will probably be a market for it, especially if the Wii takes off like they want it too.
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Nov 17th 2006 11:25PM
I just want to know why that steering wheel is holding the Revmote rather than the Wiimote.
Sean Murphy @ Nov 18th 2006 12:46AM
The battery packs are rechargeable AA's wrapped in plastic with metal contacts, that's about it :)
The rest look flakey though.
- D
wAyNe @ Nov 18th 2006 3:21PM
Still in denial I see. "Only" two attachments you say. Two too many I say. So if I only have three games and each game requires a different controller configuration...this is simplicity how? Listen, I still defend the Gamecube to this day. I'm not a hater. But I am a realist. My point is that the whole attachment thing is against the entire thesis of the system. This thing was supposed to appeal to casual gamers. You just pick it up and go. Oooo only one button, so simple. Oh by the way certain games need this other attachment. And some other games need this other attachment.
I for one don't want to have to have attachments sitting around cluttering up my space. Or have to dig in my entertainment center to get an attachment to play a game. Even assuming no other attachments come out that are necessary (yeah right) you're still looking at four controller configurations to play different games. Three if you don't count holding the controller sideways as a separate configuration. At least when a casual gamer picks up a ps3 or 360 controller, they know what they're dealing with. Simplicity can also be acheived through good game design. Don't sell me on minimalism and deliver with a pile of cables and shells.