CES 2010 – NYKO Gives Us The Wand+ Controller for the Wii Michael Kwan January 11, 2010 While over at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we had the opportunity to meet up with the good people at Nyko, makers of all sorts of video game accessories for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. One of the biggest highlights in the suite had to be the new Nyko Wand+. As you may recall, the original Nyko Wand was meant to be a direct replacement for the official Nintendo Wii Remote. As a third-party controller, it offers the same functionality as its first-party counterpart, but it also comes with some extra stuff too. For instance, it has Trans-Port technology that allows for the relocation of key buttons and vibration to specially designed accessories. What adds the “plus” to the Nyko Wand+ is that this controller effectively comes with an integrated Wii MotionPlus. The Wii MotionPlus attachment is required for certain games, like Wii Sports Resort, and it sells for about $20 to $25 on its own. It also makes the Wii Remote longer by a couple of inches. By contrast, the Nyko Wand+ is physically no bigger than the Nyko Wand and it gives the same Full-Motion technology. For trademark reasons, I believe Nyko can’t use the term “Wii MotionPlus,” but I can say that “Full-Motion technology” works the same way. I was able to play the Swordplay mini-game in Wii Sports Resort without a hitch. Aesthetically, the Wand+ also has a slightly rubberized texture for its backside. This would normally provide a little bit more grip than the plain plastic, but I’m thinking that most gamers will make use of the provided silicone sleeve anyway. If you don’t need the Wii MotionPlus-like functionality, you can stick with the original Nyko Wand wireless controller if you prefer. Winner of a CNET Best of CES 2009 award in gaming, the Wand is now available in five different colors. The standard white is still there (with a light blue padded silicone sleeve and wrist strap), but you can opt for purple, blue, black, or red instead. Remember to consider third parties when it comes to your video game accessories. Not only can you save a few bucks, you can gain some extra functions and fun too. Share This With The World!
