Rumor: MadCatz Wii-mote

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 14th 2007 at 12:30PM }

A poster on the GameTrailers message board uploaded images of what he says is a Mad Catz Wii-mote. He writes, "I'm an employee of the Wal-Mart electronics department, just recently we got a shipment of Wii accessories from Mad Catz and on the back of one of the product boxes it shows off their version of the Wii remote. I took some pics with my camera phone to show you guys." You can see the uploaded images after the break.

This wouldn't be the first time a Mad Catz product accidentally leaked to the public without an announcement. There is no mention of this Wii-mote on Mad Catz's website or in press releases. We've gone ahead and contacted our Mad Catz rep to find out any information regarding existence, release date and price -- but it is Sunday of a long weekend in the U.S. (Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday). A contoured alternative to the Nintendo Wii-mote would be nice, especially if the internal speaker is less tinny. Also, at this point, we'd give anything to end this Wii-chuk and Wii-mote shortage, which still continues months after launch. We understand that getting a Wii is tough right now, but getting peripherals shouldn't be this difficult.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Agent MOO @ Jan 14th 2007 12:43PM

Good idea IF they can match the sensitivity on the OEM sensors. An alternative is needed right now with all the stock supply issues for remotes.

Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 14th 2007 12:44PM

Ugh, I do not like the look of that remote. It looks like a white turd.

Author X @ Jan 14th 2007 12:51PM

I can see their R&D department now...
"So, the Wii Remote is just shaped like a regular remote, but a little more phallic? How can we improve on that?"
"Well, it's not nearly as phallic as it could be..."

Samurai P @ Jan 14th 2007 12:54PM

Actually, this is just a drawing thats on the back of the Nintendo Wii system stacker made by Mad Catz. The one for PS3 has a drawing of an ugly ps3 controller with the mad catz logo on it.

Im not saying that theyre not making a controller for it, but that picture is from the Wii system stacker box

Kesh @ Jan 14th 2007 12:55PM

@3 Funniest comment today.

Maybe they'll release a ribbed version soon.

Dopple Boppler @ Jan 14th 2007 1:00PM

I'm definitely not digging either the Wiimote or the nunchuk, especially the apparent shape of the + and - buttons. Then again I avoid all third party peripherals like the plague, so I'll just rough it out until more first party controllers are available, and that's assuming these Mad Catz ones are even out before then.

ryan @ Jan 14th 2007 1:12PM

i was feeling the wiimote shortage pretty bad when i got my system a little over a week ago. after considering paying ebay prices, I ended up ordering through the Nintendo.com online store. Payed face value for 2 remotes and a nunchuck and had em in two days. You can get 'em folks. Nintendo's got supply, but they keep it hidden pretty well.

Hoffy @ Jan 14th 2007 1:23PM

It looks like a dildo

Darkness @ Jan 14th 2007 1:33PM

This is one of those cases where it's best to keep the original design intact for the Wii remote. Adding all of those curves changes something and not for the better... Heh, heh.

SteveZ @ Jan 14th 2007 1:48PM

Maybe the vibrate will be a little stronger?

Anonymous @ Jan 14th 2007 2:01PM

But if it's wireless, how will it break a controller port?

mo @ Jan 14th 2007 2:02PM

ribbed for your pleasure

i cant wait till they come out with strawberry flavored and glow in the dark

but ethier way im sick of having multiplayer games and no wiimotes

Bob @ Jan 14th 2007 2:09PM

"Maybe they'll release a ribbed version soon."

No... the controller won't be ribbed, but the latex remote protector accessory will be.

ummm... yeah. @ Jan 14th 2007 2:36PM

My take on the R&D process for this one:

"So, how could we possibly make the Wii remote more ergonomic?"

"Well, how about we shape it like something that most gamers are already used to gripping tightly for long 'play sessions'. That might keep them from throwing the remotes into their TVs and suing us."

"Brilliant!"

Carlos @ Jan 14th 2007 2:58PM

now they just have to release the battery charger with a 2 sphere-like base hahaha

Dann @ Jan 14th 2007 3:37PM

Way to make it look like an actual vibrator...

Nodnetni @ Jan 14th 2007 4:15PM

That is fine dildo, but it is no Wiimote. I dont think nintendo isnt supplying enough wiimotes i think they get bought up as fast as they hit the stores. People that dont even have systems are buying them, so that they can bring their Mii's to friends and us them any where.

Chintz @ Jan 14th 2007 4:36PM

Almost everything MadCatz makes sucks. They can barely make a regular controller that is useable, I shudder to think of what they'll make of a motion sensing one. I'd rather go without a second Wiimote for several months than buy something from that company.

Ryan @ Jan 14th 2007 4:46PM

Maybe now I can finally get my wife to play video games with me.

Sly @ Jan 14th 2007 5:09PM

All those anime perverts will be loving this.

David004 @ Jan 14th 2007 5:16PM

Why would people be spending $40 to $60 on a controler for a system they don't have? That doesn't even make sense.

Sushi316 @ Jan 14th 2007 5:17PM

Yeah, Ive seen it... Its smaller than the normal remote, and has/had these weird round edges, and like kind of grips, just to give it that something different than the normal squared off remote... Looks neat though, but not as simple as the Wiimote

Raz 4 life @ Jan 14th 2007 5:21PM

"It looks like a dildo"

Thanks, Ted, that was the joke.

OTAM @ Jan 14th 2007 5:57PM

It makes absolutely no sense that there arent any Wii Remotes or Nunchucks ANYWHERE. Does everyone REALLY buy 4 of the goddamn things? If so,then apparently the Wii isnt as "cheap" as we're all supposed to believe.

Miharu @ Jan 14th 2007 6:40PM

I don't understand why companies bother to make third party controllers. So far I've yet to see none that are actually better than the official ones. And that isn't going to change with this one.

Marc @ Jan 14th 2007 6:47PM

You know, the Wii and peripherals wouldn't be so hard to find if Nintendo finally took some pride in their new found success and discontinued the Gamecube.

C'mon lets admit it. If Ninty discontinues the GCN, they'll be able to fill stores with the Wii, thus transmitting to more sales (and less crap third party offerings like this).

imokurok @ Jan 14th 2007 6:53PM

"Does everyone REALLY buy 4 of the goddamn things? If so,then apparently the Wii isnt as "cheap" as we're all supposed to believe."

Or rather it is so people have money to buy controllers and accessories. PS3 controllers are $10 cheaper than a Wiimote and nunchuck pair but I don't hear of people buying those up. Then again people aren't buying up the PS3s either. LOL

NoHitHair @ Jan 14th 2007 7:00PM

Oh good, a new product by MadCatz. I wonder if this one employs their new technology involving an upgrade from sun-baked mud to toothpicks and paper mache'.

I'm surprised they haven't been hit with a class-action lawsuit yet.

FSK405K @ Jan 14th 2007 7:37PM

I'll have to check this out. The original nunchuk is way too small, so much so that I have to wrap my fingers around it in such an uncomfortable way that after about 4-5 hours of playing (Zelda) my fingers start to hurt, not like a regular controller where your fingers are relaxed. If this thing's nunchuks are a little bigger, I can save my left some pain on these long sessions.

Subcon @ Jan 14th 2007 7:58PM

Why do madcatz peripherals always look so cheap and crappy?

XXclandestinexXX @ Jan 14th 2007 8:30PM

These were shown to my company at a big vendor show months ago. That is exacty what they look like. They are actualy smaller than the real Wiimotes. I remeber being extremely suprised that Nintendo would license that technology out.

Art Guy @ Jan 14th 2007 8:42PM

While aesthetically the Madcatz remote is completely debatable, I bet it will feel more comfortable and be easier to hold onto than Nintendos. The Nintendo wiimote is just too square, it's easier to hold onto something with curves.

wiifan @ Jan 14th 2007 8:51PM

I fond an interview done by ign.com did last year with mad catz http://wii.ign.com/articles/678/678646p1.html

James @ Jan 14th 2007 8:59PM

Improving the speaker won't change the quality of the sounds coming out much, i'd sayd it's more to do with the sounds being overly compressed than the the actual speaker.

JAC @ Jan 14th 2007 9:38PM

@ #25. I used to agree with you BUT the logitech wireless PS2 action controller is actually better than the original Dual shock 2. I bought one and my DS2 is never used unless I have friends over.

Awol @ Jan 14th 2007 9:42PM

Friends don't let friends buy Madcatz

Kevin @ Jan 14th 2007 10:32PM

Anyone else think it looks like a woman's toy?

Capt. Castellanos @ Jan 14th 2007 11:47PM

actually, alot of people are buying them even if they don't have wii's.

mainly for the wii/bluetooth/computer hacks and stuffs.
i'd buy a few wiimotes myself if i could actually find them.

i have three wiimotes.
and i made a virtual drumset for my wii.
two sticks, one bass pedal (i'm not creative enough so i just rubberband the 3rd wiimote to my foot.)

i can also use it as a wireless controller for my TG-16 and NES emulators.

the wii remotes are quite fun to play with (no pun intended.) even without a wii! (no pun intended once again...)

Capt. Castellanos @ Jan 14th 2007 11:48PM

correction:
a virtual drumest for my computer.
not my wii.

Revo @ Jan 15th 2007 4:14AM

"25. I don't understand why companies bother to make third party controllers. So far I've yet to see none that are actually better than the official ones. And that isn't going to change with this one."

You really think that's why third parties make controllers? To improve on the original design? I get the feeling it's to make a profit off of suckers who don't know any better. They're lured in by the lower price and poorly conceived extra features, not realizing that they're buying what is usually a grossly inferior product.

Almack64 @ Jan 15th 2007 12:00PM

@ 21 David004
I actually still don't have a wii but I did already pick up an extra wiimote/nunchuck and I bought Zelda. My wife got me a Best Buy gift card with funds to get a wii however my best buy hasn't had any in stock since the 1st. With everything but the games so rare I guess people are just getting what they can when they can. Also you have all those people using the wiimote for controling other things. (Pc, mac, rc cars etc)