Wii Blaster incoming

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 5th 2007 at 1:00AM }

With the announcement of Resident Evil 4 and Umbrella Chronicles for the Wii, coupled with the still unreleased Virtual Console titles Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley, it's time to start asking, "Where's the Wii Zapper?" Gamestop has listed the Wii Blaster for $20 and what we strongly believe to be a placeholder date of May 1. Although, this isn't necessarily the most improbable date with the Resident Evil games expected to have a summer release.

The Gamestop listing has no photo of the what the ~~Zapper~~ Blaster looks like now. The last time we saw her she was behind glass at E3 with a "work in progress" sign. We're really looking forward to having a gun, these first-person shooters just don't feel natural with a Wiimote. Now give us a game that allows for dual wielding Blasters and that's a guaranteed $50 going to that publisher!

Tags: blaster, dual wield, gun, shooting, wii, zapper

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Lewis @ Apr 5th 2007 1:25AM

Wii? What's that?

samfish @ Apr 5th 2007 1:30AM

"Now give us a game that allows for dual wielding Blasters and that's a guaranteed $50 going to that publisher!"

Damn right!
Although I must say, I'm really surprised there haven't been a lot more on-rails shooters like House of the Dead and Virtua cop announced, by now.

mo @ Apr 5th 2007 1:33AM

YAY!!!!!

ive been waiting for this for so long, but i have one thing that would make me not buy it though

they made the cursor considerably lower on the Wii because it would hurt you wrist to point it out level and strait ( try it with yours to see what i mean) but in this thing the cursor better be right on because there would be no wrist strain.

if it it isnt, im not buying it

mrfong @ Apr 5th 2007 1:45AM

@ #3 (mo)

Your cursor is most likely not level because your sensor bar is not flush with the bottom of your tv screen (or top, depending on it's location).

paralipsis @ Apr 5th 2007 1:55AM

Unless there is a firmware update to allow for fine tuning of the pointer functionality, a zapper/blaster add-on is just going to be a big disappointment.

I don't mind that the wiimote cursor doesn't go exactly where you point it, because it still does the job quite well. But if I am aiming down the barrel and it in fact points a different direction, it won't be quite so pleasing.

Rubang B @ Apr 5th 2007 2:24AM

It doesn't require a firmware update, just an in-game calibration tool.

aegies @ Apr 5th 2007 2:35AM

I'm sorry, are we now "excited" about something that pushes the Wii even closer to novelty/lightgun territory? This is what we're pushing developers to do with the Wii? If this is the future of gaming, we're fucked.

http://eat-sleep-game.com/news

Whirlo @ Apr 5th 2007 2:45AM

s'about time I started hearing about the Zapper again. Personally, I'd really love to see some of those great on-rails shooters coming to the Wii, Heck, House of the Dead 4 seems almost designed for it with how shaking the lightgun to get zombies off of you or other various tasks, it just seems right.

dsub @ Apr 5th 2007 3:01AM

I'm still curious how they are going to get this to work with LCD/Plasma TV's. They require a totally different setup than your standard CRT TV.

mo @ Apr 5th 2007 3:02AM

@5

wait really, how did i not know about that, i was told that was the reason at gamestop, and it made sense cuz its perfect left to right its just lower

Terrak @ Apr 5th 2007 3:14AM

" I'm sorry, are we now "excited" about something that pushes the Wii even closer to novelty/lightgun territory? This is what we're pushing developers to do with the Wii? If this is the future of gaming, we're fucked."

I've heard it all now. This clown is pissed off the Wiimote is so versatile? Just because a standard controller can't do this, and the only way you could do this on a 360 or ps3 is to pay for a a completely new controller and now the Wiimote just a novelty? Get a clue sunshine. Don't worry about the future of gaming, your already there.

BPM @ Apr 5th 2007 3:34AM

dsub, um... No, you don't. The Wii Remote isn't a lightgun, even if it can be used like one, it still doesn't work the same way...

Demaar @ Apr 5th 2007 3:43AM

Zapper/Blaster is lame. You lose the motion sense controls of the nunchuk. I'd rather go with the two handed setup, thanks. Unless dual wielding is possible :P

Rubang B @ Apr 5th 2007 5:23AM

It's not a "light gun." It uses IR to point. You could shoot with Wii remote while using the analog on the back of the gun to move, and the nunchuck could be used for camera controls and zooming or something.

I just want to be able to download and play Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, and Barker Bill's Trick Shooting all on one system without switching carts.

Slaziman @ Apr 5th 2007 5:40AM

There should be a calibration tool indeed, you press the B button to hold the cursor down, move till you think it's calibrated, and then let go so the cursor can move again!

Nicolas Redfern @ Apr 5th 2007 5:46AM

If dual wielding is possible on a game with these I'd definitely buy it. Imagine using the left analogue stick to move, the right one to look, and independent aiming on each gun! It solves Red Steel's control problem of turning.

Currently imagining what it would be like if they made a Matrix game for this and it was actually good!

DrXym @ Apr 5th 2007 5:54AM

Considering the wii-mote is pretty poor at figuring where you are pointing at and certainly not line of sight, I predict this thing to be a great success. I expect that any game that does use it will first have to calibrate itself to all corners of the screen otherwise it will be completely hopeless.

Rubang B @ Apr 5th 2007 6:30AM

Since when was an analog stick line of sight? The Wii can get there with some calibration.

accidental @ Apr 5th 2007 7:10AM

Yeah, Nintendo should stick the calibration in the home menu with the Wii Remote settings. Just a quick "aim line-of-sight at this spot and press A" thing that calibrates the cursor to your line of sight. You could kinda of do it in Zelda but only to a small extent.

Ian Von Porter @ Apr 5th 2007 7:19AM

Think of this as a Nunchuck attachment that takes the shape of a gun handle. It uses the analog stick, button, and trigger protocols from the nunchuck.. its more than a dumb shell.

Anyways, what if you're gunning then using a knife.. that would be weird.

deaftly @ Apr 5th 2007 7:25AM

$20 for this?? add it to the list of overpriced wii bullshit

Seedy @ Apr 5th 2007 7:25AM

Awh brill! I can't wait for the attachment! Authentic Duck Hunt experience, yay!

Tiremfej @ Apr 5th 2007 7:38AM

I don't know, maybe other's have missed this...it's a piece of plastic you slide the remote into. How is that awesome? I mean...it's about as cool as the "stearing wheel" you got with Excite Truck. How is this even remotely cool? Yes, it's much better than anything the 360 or PS3 will put out...are the Wii owners seriously all 12 years old?

Seedy @ Apr 5th 2007 8:01AM

Yes, at heart.

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 5th 2007 8:13AM

Whoopie!!!!! Too bad there are no good shooting games to use it on.

snorkel @ Apr 5th 2007 8:26AM

@24: First, it is more than just a hunk of plastic to slide the wiimote into. It uses the wiimote's expansion port (the nunchuck port) which is how the trigger works. Other features may be included.. Hard to tell until it actually shows up.

Second, ExciteTruck does not include that lame plastic steering wheel thingy. That comes with the two Ubisoft racing games. Perhaps you should learn what the hell you are talking about before you go bashing stuff. Fool.

Seedy @ Apr 5th 2007 8:25AM

Not yet anyway. There'll be loads though.

ConstyXIV @ Apr 5th 2007 8:41AM

@9 dsub:
Luckily, Nintendo already thought of that. You know that "sensor bar" gizmo? That handles the whole LCD issues. The pointer on the Wiimote is a "reverse lightgun", with the sensor bar firing IR lights, and the sensor in the tip of the Wiimote using the location of the IR lights to figure out where you are pointing. Technically, you could use the pointer without the TV.
All the blaster addon does is add a stick and trigger on a pistol grip thingy attached to the expansion slot on the Wiimote. It still uses the pointer stuff on the Wiimote

Kizzle @ Apr 5th 2007 8:42AM

Feh. I'd rather we get more than two or three decent Wii games with the controller proper before they start trucking out all these overpriced gimmicky add-ons.

Calling it the "Blaster" is stupid. When I see "Blaster" I think of the fat bald guy in Over The Top, not some bastardized grandson of the Zapper.

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 5th 2007 8:46AM

I really feel sorry for you guys. You get one somewhat good game every year. You have a last generation powered console. You have crazy low standards.

....But a least you have these fancy add-ons to go with your super cool controller.....

McHoffa @ Apr 5th 2007 8:49AM

I really think the Wii needs a calibration tool to align to the 4 corners of the screen... anyone using a projector like I do knows that it is horrible trying to aim... I made my own "sensor" bar and spaced them further apart which helped horizontal motion A LOT, but I still either have to point above or below the screen (depending on where i put the bar) to get the vertical placement...

also if you look at this gun, it looks very similar to a nunchuck attachment itself... a trigger in place of the Z button, analog stick on the back... i think this would be cool except that those of us accustomed to using the nunchuck (or any analog stick) in our left hand will now be holding the analog stick in our right hand and the remote end in our left hand... also, this seems less like a pistol and more like a sawed off shotgun to me...

Loore @ Apr 5th 2007 9:01AM

Maybe they can do a light gun with 2 or 4 CCDs instead of one.. there would be enough spatial information to have direct line of site.

Jake @ Apr 5th 2007 9:02AM

On-rails gun games are too simplistic for my tastes. Hopefully, they have a way to hook the nunchuk on and use this for traditional games, too.

I suppose when my non-gaming company is over they might get a hoot out of REUC blasting. That is all my Wii really gets used for right now anyways. Some bowling with the neighbors.

Steve @ Apr 5th 2007 9:05AM

The lack of laser-pointer accuracy is going to make a zapper device feel unnatural. You'll aim with the gun and your bullet will hit half a foot below where you aim.

I noticed that the lack of pinpoint accuracy became a nonissue when you have to keep the pointer onscreen permanenty. It's like your brain adapts, but when you have to change back and forth (like when using projectile weapons in Zelda) then it becomes noticable. I think using a gun-like device will also expose this flaw.

jan_halmes @ Apr 5th 2007 9:11AM

Jack- Do you feel bad for your wii owning girlfriend as well?

I do. But not because she owns a Wii.

Seedy @ Apr 5th 2007 9:23AM

You're very considerate Jack of no Trades. But don't worry we're getting loads of good games and we're thrilled with this attachment coming around the corner. Shame you don't really like games.

32_Footsteps @ Apr 5th 2007 9:26AM

If they're really smart, they'll make sure this shell comes with secure sides, so that way when morons hold it sideways, the Wiimote won't fall out.

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 5th 2007 9:38AM

jan_halmes

I like that she owns a Wii. I enjoy playing regular mario with her and she enjoys playing Motorstorm and Crackdown with me. I will buy her Paper Mario. I want to play it too.

Tuesday night I went to Gamestop and bought the Sonic Mega Collection on Xbox for 12.99. We had a blast playing Sonic 2 & 3 for the last couple of nights.

Scotty @ Apr 5th 2007 9:40AM

I can't wait for this to come out so I can use the wii-motes on my MAME cab. I hate having to use the wired guns that I have.

With the gun add-on then the wii-mote will work nicely.

Yoshi Likes Boys @ Apr 5th 2007 9:48AM

I wouldn't be surprised if they build this thing like a true lightgun for an authentically accurate point-and-shoot experience.

Like it or not, wireless Duck Hunt IS an extremely desirable game at this point for a whole lot of people.

RUSKULL @ Apr 5th 2007 10:10AM

Tiremfej:

Can't you read? It says "work in progress". It's funny how little imagination you have. It's like when Bart Simpson tried to fantasize about a better class trip than the box factory. But that's the only thing mentioned, so all he could come up with was "box factory". haha!

kip @ Apr 5th 2007 10:21AM

Well... you can play a two-player game of Duck Hunt in Wii Play by yourself, holding a Wiimote in each hand. It got old after twenty or thirty minutes though..

Also, it's not just a plastic sleeve like the steering wheel, it plugs into the expansion port and has a trigger and analog stick on it, and maybe another button or two.

icicle0424 @ Apr 5th 2007 10:28AM

you can dual wield in 1p mode shooter on Wii Play, figured that out the other day, finally got that blasted gold medal...

Paul C @ Apr 5th 2007 10:29AM

It they made a Star Trek shooter, the Wiimote is perfect. I would feel just like Captain Kirk with a phaser.

Paul C @ Apr 5th 2007 10:29AM

Sorry, I meant "If", not it...

arrrgh @ Apr 5th 2007 11:13AM

I dunno if any of the fuckwads whining about calibration have actually...ya know PLAYED some wii games? ZELDA HAS A CALIBRATION TOOL IN ITS OPTIONS. So what in the name of zeus' butthole makes you think they wouldn't include one in a game using the wii remote as a pseudo-lightgun....

Revo @ Apr 5th 2007 11:41AM

"31. I really feel sorry for you guys. You get one somewhat good game every year. You have a last generation powered console. You have crazy low standards."

We've got Metroid Prime 3, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl coming out this year, and those are just the first party blockbuster titles. Tell me, Jack, which of those is your one allotted "somewhat good" game and which two will be crap?