When Microsoft unveiled its controller-free camera technology dubbed Project Natal during E3 last week, you'd think that gaming peripheral makers might start asking President Obama for a bailout.

But not so. At least not for Nyko. The manufacturer of third-party accessories, whose core business is unlicensed Wii products, doesn't see physical controllers going away anytime soon. In fact, Chris Arbogast, Nyko's director of marketing, has a hard time seeing casual gamers letting go of the Wii remote.

"People in the casual market like feeling something physical to keep your hands aligned," he said. "When you grab the Wiimote and swing it, it feels like you're swinging a baseball bat, versus pantomining swinging a bat. I think that if you take all [the controllers] away and you're just pantomiming everything, there may be some disconnect with realism there."

Obviously, working for Nyko, Arbogast has to stay positive. However, if Project Natal does take off, we wondered if the company has a Plan B. Arbogast said it might force Nyko to "think outside the box." "We'll have to think of other ways we can accessorize and augment the players' experience," he said. "Not with a controller anymore, but with other things to add to that camera functionality. It could be a whole new avenue of business that opens up for us because we'll be forced to challenge ourselves."

Luckily for Nyko, Project Natal is probably a long ways off, with analysts saying it won't trump the Wii just yet. Until then, you can enjoy another innovation in camera technology: the Nyko DSi Zoom Case.

Guys, Nyko just sent over its line-up for E3 and well, unless they're giving us a little E3 humor (and trust us, we'd appreciate it) the entirety of the company is hopped up on goofballs. More than just out of ideas, Nyko seems to have sacrificed other good ideas on some sort of altar.

The Charge Grip Flex for the PSP we get, it's a grip that charges. But the Type Pad Pro, a keyboard addition for the Nyko Wand? Nutty. And please, let's all just bask in the glow of the Zoom Case, a protective case for the DSi with a 8x zoom built in: You know, for all the serious photography you're doing with the DSi.

See what we mean? Lost it.

Are you bored of only using one foot in your music games? Did you decide not to slap down the cash for a Guitar Hero: Metallica pre-order? If you answered yes to both of these question, then this post is for you! Nyko announced today that it has released its Metal Pedal, a replacement bass pedal that's compatible with all Rock Band and Guitar Hero drum kits on all platforms. Sure, the pedal's metal-plated construction should make it attractive to all the leadfoots out there, but there's another addition worth noting. The Metal Pedal comes with a splitter that allows players to hook up two bass pedals to either Rock Band or Guitar Hero drum kits.

A quick note on compatibility: According to Nyko, the Metal Pedal splitter can be used with the standard bass pedal for Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero drum kits. The splitter functionality does not work with Rock Band 1 drum kits. Keep in mind that this only applies to the splitter, the Metal Pedal by itself is still compatible with all existing Rock Band and Guitar Hero drum kits.

The Metal Pedal is shipping now and will retail for $19.99.

The Wand, Nyko's take on the Wiimote, has a feature unique enough to interest us despite the appearance of the thing (seriously, it wasn't just hit with the ugly stick, it is the ugly stick): its "Trans-Port" allows for extension controllers to have real, digital buttons of their own, instead of having to leave space for the Wiimote buttons or use levers to manually push them. The attachments also use their own rumble motors.

Nyko has just announced the details of the Wand's release, revealing that it will be released on its own in April for $34.99, and in two bundles in June: the "Core Pak" and the "Action Pak."

The $49.99 Action Pak contains one Wand and one Pistol Grip attachment, which has its own Trans-Port connector on the bottom for connection of additional Nyko accessories. It also features a hilarious orange cap, so people don't think the Wiimote is a real gun. The Core Pak includes a "Wired Kama with Rumble," a version of the Nunchuk with separate rumble motors. It will also be available for $49.99.

Between the slightly reduced price and the improved functionality, we're starting to think about going all-Nyko with our Wii controllers. That seems ... wrong, somehow.

Last week at CES, Nyko surprise announced their first entry into the 3rd party Wiimote market, the Wand. Though it has been beaten to market by a few other Wiimote clones, this may be the first Wii Remote you'll find encroaching on Nintendo's shelf space in your local game shop. We won't begin to speculate why no one else's products can be readily found in brick 'n' mortars, but we'll be grateful to finally have some choice.

So far, this has been an unusual generation for controller-makers on all platforms. Microsoft doesn't license out its wireless technology, so 3rd party gamepads have to connect via USB. Sony's gyrating, vibrating, rechargeable DUALSHOCK 3 controllers may just be too complex for 3rd parties to replicate in full functionality when the userbase is too small to make a profit from. And the 3rd parties have seemed to be satisfied raking in the dough with non-essential add-ons and shells for Nintendo's own brand of controller. It does indeed come as a surprise that Nyko is now bringing out a Wiimote, and an enhanced one at that. Before we've had a chance to review the Wand, let's examine why its introduction has been long overdue.

We showed off Nyko's big gun at CES, the Wand, already, but we thought you might like to take a look at their other CES offerings. Above, you can see the first of two new charging peripherals, the Charge Station EX. We know some of you aren't exactly burning through Wii batteries at the moment, but to those proud few, you'll want to consider the EX over the original Charge Station. Besides the same price point ($34.99) and a sleeker design, the EX also includes a progressive indicator to le you keep track of how the charge is going.

In addition to the EX, the company's also showing off the Kama Charger, which, true to its name, charges the company's recently-out-of-legal-limbo wireless nunchuk and one Wiimote. If the concept still manages to elude you, you can check out a picture after the jump. There's still no price, but you'll learn it when both of these devices drop in April of this year.

We'd like to say one way or another, but when Joystiq stopped by Nyko's booth at CES yesterday to try out the Wiimote alternative, the rep couldn't commit. Nyko hopes the Wand will be compatible, but they're not ready to say one way or the other.

On top of that, Joystiq offered up some general observations while testing out the Wand at Nyko's booth. You can check out the hands-on piece right here.

It's common knowledge that the Wii's third-party games generally pale in comparison to Nintendo's first-party efforts. But it seems as though that same observation will no longer be true about the system's controllers when Nyko rolls out its Wiimote replacement, The Wand, in April or May of this year. We took the controller for a spin (and a twist and a wave) earlier today at the company's CES booth.

It's genius, really -- Nintendo sued Nyko for making the Kama Wireless Nunchuck too similar in design to Nintendo's own. But there is no way Nintendo would ever even suggest that Nyko's "Wand" looks at all like the Wiimote, out of respect for the Wiimote. Nyko has replaced the clean lines and muted color scheme of the Wiimote with an odd-shaped body, weird, jagged D-pad, and brightly-colored, square buttons.

In addition to the garishness feature, the Wand has one rather cool ability: when connected to compatible extensions, Wiimote functions can be transferred to the extension. For example, their pistol grip for the Wand rumbles and has a real B button on the trigger, rather than a mechanical lever that pushes the Wiimote's B button -- not to mention that there's an A button on the back.

They also introduced the Charge Station EX, a revision of the popular Charge Station that adds battery level indicators, and a Kama Charge Kit that includes a rechargeable Kama Wireless Nunchuck and a rechargeable battery pack for the Wiimote. Pictures of all of these new accessories are in our gallery! All are expected to be in US stores this April.


[Via press release]

Nintendo and Nyko have finally come to an agreement over the Kama Wireless Nunchuck. Nintendo filed suit against the peripherals manufacturer back in June, claiming that the Kama imitated Nintendo's own Nunchuk too closely in form and shape.

As part of the settlement agreement, Nyko will be allowed to continue selling the Kama, but in a redesigned form. Even before this announcement, Nyko changed the shape of the Kama to this weird ridged thing. Nyko will show a wired Kama controller and Wing Classic Controller at the 2009 CES.

"We are pleased to have resolved this dispute," NOA's Reggie Fils-Aime said in the very short press release announcing the settlement. "The Nunchuk and Wii brands are familiar to consumers worldwide, and Nintendo is dedicated to vigorous defense of those brands."

Have you be cursed with the world's heaviest feet? Do you leave footprints in concrete? Do you go through Rock Band or Guitar Hero bass pedals like tissue paper? If you answered yes to the third question, Nyko has your solution, the Metal Pedal. The pedal is compatible with Guitar Hero: World Tour as well as both the original Rock Band and Rock Band 2 and is metal plated to stand up to your torturous kicking. Unfortunately, the Metal Pedal isn't hitting stores until January 2009, so you'll have to wait a bit before you can fork over the $20 price tag. Of course, as Joystiq notes, you could always try the DIY alternative, the Pedal Metal.

Now, if you answered yes to the first two questions, well, you're on the wrong website. Sorry.

[Via Joystiq]

If that incurable case of lead foot has led to more speeding tickets and broken Rock Band (and now, Guitar Hero World Tour) pedals than you care to admit, it may be time to consider a change. Not anything surgical – you're perfect just the way you are – but rather a quick $20 band-aid over the larger issue. Introducing the Metal Pedal, a metal pedal that's compatible "with all standard drum controllers for Rock Band 1 and 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour on all platforms." Unfortunately, if you're in need of just such a fix, you're ess oh ell until January. Or, you could opt for the DIY eBay alternative, the Pedal Metal. Where do they come up with these names?

Nyko is doubling the effectiveness of their previous charging dock, adding two more slots and two more NiMH rechargeable battery packs to the mix. Dubbed the Nyko Quad Charger, the new charging station will be available in North America next month, just in time for the holidays, and will cost you $49.99.

Hit up our gallery below for a closer look at the docking station.


We've spent some time with other Nyko gadgetry before. Just recently, we put the Wing wireless controller through its paces, as well as the Kama Wireless Nunchuck and the Perfect Shot. Don't forget about their Frontman guitar, either. And, please, take a minute to remember the dearly de-partied Party Station.

Nyko's been manufacturing peripherals for awhile now. We've spent time with the Kama wireless Nunchuk, their wireless Nunchuk adapter and even the Perfect Shot. Now their latest peripheral, the Wing, attempts to best Nintendo's Classic Controller through wireless technology. Does it succeed? Read on and find out!