Keep your Wii classy with replacement top panel

by Christopher Grant { Dec 19th 2007 at 6:00PM }

The Wii's Apple-inspired design gets almost everything right ... but we'd be lying if we didn't tell you that some of its design elements bother us. We won't even get started on the SD flap mucking up the front of the box (seriously Nintendo, what were you thinking?) so we'll concentrate on the top flap hiding the console's legacy GameCube bits: it's awful. 'Nuff said.

That's why Cyber Gadget's ¥980 ($8.66) "CYBER lid" is so appealing: the flip up lid is gone, replaced with a series of elegant sliding covers and some rugged rubber ones for those Memory Card slots. Now we wait for the import shops to bring salvation to our side of the globe.

[Via NWF]

Read – Cyber Gadget product page
Read – Game Watch writeup, with pics!

Tags: Cyber-Gadget, Mods

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 19th 2007 6:06PM

It would be awesome if Nintendo had included built in Wavebird receivers and Gamecube saves in the Wii memory.

And bluetooth nunchuck and bluetooth classic controller.

gonk @ Dec 19th 2007 6:23PM

and ponies

fugori @ Dec 19th 2007 6:27PM

There's already a wireless nunchuk. Not Nintendo-made, but it exists. Stupid idea, though. Now a wireless classic controller sounds good. Not necessary, but convenient. I agree that those Wavebird receivers are a bit bulky when you have them in... screws with the flap. I do hate the flap. I might invest in this doohickey.

gonk @ Dec 19th 2007 6:45PM

my roommate just took the flap off of his, and keeps the wavebirds plugged in all the time

ill trooper @ Dec 19th 2007 6:47PM

I agree, but we can all assume that would have put costs beyond what Nintendo wanted to spend when they built the Wii. I think it should be HD and play DVDs too, but they did what they did. Upside, of course, is that the Wii is affordable and at a 'don't-even-stop-to-think-just-buy-one" price point, kicking ass.

Corbo @ Dec 19th 2007 6:47PM

I'd agree about in-built Wavebird receivers being useful (though they'd also need to include four separate tuning dials on the console somewhere) but if it had only in-built Gamecube memory cards, then you couldn't use any previous saves or take your saves with you anywhere.

It's a not a bad idea in theory but I don't think it'd work too well in practice (this was also presumably what Nintendo thought).

eldee @ Dec 19th 2007 7:39PM

yeah, might as well spruce up your console while you're waiting for games to come out that don't suck :)

why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 19th 2007 8:43PM

It should have come with 1 or 2 Wavebird receivers in it. You could always still attach more if you wanted to play games with more than 2 players in it.

As to the other controllers not coming with it, I'm just used to be being reamed hard by N and MS over controllers, so it kinda washed over me.

A nunchuk is like $30. What a joke.

gonk @ Dec 19th 2007 9:36PM

sony's controllers are pricey too

Questworld @ Dec 20th 2007 1:57AM

Built-in Wavebird receivers would've been nice but they don't seem to be selling any more wavebirds so it would've been rather pointless... unless they start selling them again, which they should.

Yoshi Likes Boys @ Dec 19th 2007 6:14PM

Fernando's right, I hope that stuff comes around eventually.

However, in the meantime....DO WANT

nintendomaniac64 @ Dec 19th 2007 6:16PM

If anyone that read the translated Game Watch write-up is wondering, the "word" MEMORIKADOSUROTTO is just "Memory Card Slot" when written in katakana.

nintendomaniac64 @ Dec 19th 2007 6:17PM

well, that is, written in katakana on the original source page. But then the translator can't actually translate it so it spits it out in romanji.

Gavin @ Dec 19th 2007 6:16PM

That top flap isn't as awful as the game library.

'Nuff said.

CloudANDTidus @ Dec 19th 2007 6:25PM

Ahahahahahahahaaaa...

Funny.

fugori @ Dec 19th 2007 6:25PM

Not quite 'nuff, I'm afraid.

Mr Khan @ Dec 19th 2007 6:29PM

The Wii bashers seem to be all over the place today...

someone must've left the cage door open

Jhongerkong @ Dec 19th 2007 8:23PM

Id watch what you say if I were you; friend of mine said the exact same thing and you know what happened?

Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 came, beat him up, stole his lunch money and then gang-banged him.

jamma @ Dec 19th 2007 8:31PM

@ Jhongerkong:

Your friend got gang banged by a fat plumber and a woman in a gimp suit? embarrassing

Jhongerkong @ Dec 19th 2007 11:49PM

@jamma

Not even. Im talking about two 7 foot Wii game cases with huge biceps.

mr nimblewick @ Dec 19th 2007 6:26PM

So instead of having the Wii look stupid when gamecube controllers are attached, it'll look stupid all the time with those holes in the top.

Mr Khan @ Dec 19th 2007 6:28PM

The holes slide shut

fugori @ Dec 19th 2007 6:28PM

I don't think they look that bad.

mr nimblewick @ Dec 19th 2007 6:41PM

They slide shut, but they are still there. They don't disappear.

Grant @ Dec 19th 2007 9:48PM

i think it's less noticeable than having a black panel there when that flaps open.

Van Faulk @ Dec 19th 2007 6:38PM

What I cannot understand is why someone doens't take it furhther. Create an addon similar to this but containing 4 wavebird receivers and as much memory as a memory card 1019.

Instant money.

Obie @ Dec 19th 2007 6:49PM

Nice! But I dunno about those rubber thingeys.

umm....hello??? @ Dec 19th 2007 6:51PM

who cares about the flaps? the Wii is fine. what a waste of money.

Mr Khan @ Dec 19th 2007 7:09PM

It's for the same kind of people that love 360 faceplates, although this simply makes the design less bad, while Faceplates are awesome in their own little (and frivolous) way

navstar @ Dec 19th 2007 6:55PM

Uhhh... what about Wavebird receivers? They want to sit flush to the game port. I don't think this gizmo would work with them.

GoldenS1104 @ Dec 19th 2007 7:23PM

You beat me to it. I was about to say the same thing.

required @ Dec 19th 2007 7:38PM

Apple-inspired? No it is not.

It is tawdry white plastic (the kind that will yellow).

That is all, end of story.

Jhongerkong @ Dec 19th 2007 8:26PM

If it was apple inspired, then they wouldve charged you extra for each gamecube hole and memory card slot.

itouchmyself @ Dec 19th 2007 10:43PM

Nothing can cover wii's gimmick appearance..... I kid I kid LOL.

Dictatorship @ Dec 19th 2007 11:43PM

I'm still wondering what will happen if one of the flaps that slide each port breaks. As long as the plastic isn't cheap Vii plastic, I might as well buy it on the Web... if I have the money to afford the shipment payment.

But still, it looks pretty nice.