droolicious : video games

Take Super Mario Bros. Off the TV and Onto Your Walls

SunnyChanel — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

For the hardcore old school gamer in the house, here is a set of wall decals that will take the video game out of the TV and onto the walls. bilk has created the Re-Stik movable and reusable decals that are based on the graphics from the original super Mario Bros. game (and it’s officially licensed so it’s all on the up and up). You can pick up this set and create your own game space anywhere in your home, well where ever there are walls that is. You can pick them up here for $75.

Tony Hawk: Ride Gets You Off the Couch and On the Board

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

If this exclusive skateboard controller isn't enough to get you amped for the upcoming videogame Tony Hawk: Ride, the video at the game's teaser site oughta seal the deal. Due later this year for Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360, Ride takes you off the couch and away from the push-button controller, giving you the full-motion freedom to execute grinds, flips, ollies, spins and other tricks using the board's built-in motion controls and accelerometers. Watch for another big announcement around the game at the annual E3 convention on June 2, and check out the controller in action at Gametrailers TV. [Uncrate]

Get DS-Style Gameplay for Your Dusty NES Cartridges

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT

If you haven't kept up with video-game advances since the acronym NES stood for "cutting edge," you can relive your 8-bit favorites on a handheld system that's almost modern-looking enough to keep the kids from poking fun at you. OK, scratch that: With your gigantic 8-bit cartrdiges sticking out of this Retro Mini Handheld, you'll be a perfect target for the kids' guffaws -- but let's see who's laughing after a few rounds of Mega Man.

$49.99 from ThinkGeek.

7 Days of Wii Games – Wii Music

SunnyChanel — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:41:00 GMT

Get your kids that musical fix without having to force them to listen to Mozart or drag them to piano class. Nintendo's Wii Music allows your kids to get their much loved video game action in with creative, spontaneous musical magic. The Wii Music game includes up to sixty, yes sixty different instruments. Guitar, flute, drums even the sitar which are playing with the Wii controller and the nunchuk controller. They can do some solo jamming, conduct an orchestra or get the whole gang together for hot band action (minus the booze and groupies).

The “band” can make videos to save or share later. Yeah, instant rock star status. But if you’d like some solo fun you can play music based games like Handbell Harmony, Pitch Perfect, or just improv with your virtual band mates called ‘Tutes’. You can use your music magic with the guitar, bango, or, my personal favorite, barking like a dog (your Mii character appears in a furry dog suit for howling and dancing around). With the variety of games, ways to play and all these instruments, there are “virtually endless” ways to make music.

One of the truly great things about this game is that all ages can play it. Which you don’t really believe till you see it in action. From a toddler just shaking the maracas in the improv jam, to an adult testing their ear with the highest level or Pitch Perfect. Literally, it’s fun for the whole family and how many things can truly stand up to that label? You can pick up a copy here for $49.99

7 Days of Wii Games: Mario Kart

SunnyChanel — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:01:00 GMT

There is one big problem with the Wii Mariokart game. It’s totally addictive. Although my young daughter loves to pretend she’s a ‘big girl’ and can drive, it is totally obvious she is far, and I mean far, from being ready, especially after seeing her attempt to play Mariokart. She found much amusement in trying to hit the other racers while I tried to explain the game was not a version of ‘bumper cars’. Me? Oh I am oh so ready to take this game for a spin, again and again and again. Mariokart is pretty much a wheel barrel gift of sorts for your kid, since it’s a game that is as entertaining for the hard to impress adults as it is the game happy kids.

Mariokart comes bundled with a Wii Wheel that houses your Wii remote in a comfortable touse steering wheel. This enables you to race through crazy courses like a gold mine, the street of Venice and the mall (which slyly features your various Mii characters along the sidelines and in the billboards around the track – it’s always nice to see a familiar face). And speaking of faces, there are oodles of characters you can choose from for your avatar or you can just use your own Mii. With your avatar selected, you race away. Along the way you can earn special powers that can really give you a racing advantage. But you must always be on the lookout for the rogue banana peel, dancing crab or wayward racer.

The game can be playing solo (for after the kid goes to bed), or you can compete with up to three people in the comfort of your own home. You also have the option of logging in to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and race against, well, the world.

You can pick up your own Mariokart for Wii here for $45.99. But be warned you family will be racing the day (and morning and night) away. So if your kid has homework, you better keep Mariokart hidden.

7 Days of Wii Games - Active Life Outdoor Challenge

SunnyChanel — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Active Life Outdoor Challenge is not a game for the confirmed couch potato. There is no passive game play here. This Wii game (from Bandai Namco) gets your whole entire body – from head to toe- into the action.

Outdoor Challenge is bundled with it’s own mat controller which captures all your many jumps, hops skips and steps. There are oodles of options for games - twelve in all -that allows you to delve virtually into river rafting, mine-cart adventure, log jumping, see-saw, jump rope and water trampoline among others.

If you are in a loner mood, you can play solo or do some basic physical training to work on different body parts. If you like playing with others, like your kids, you can participate in some battles or work on some good old fashioned teamwork. My daughter’s favorite? Jump rope. We played as a team but didn’t get very far. She was more amused by missing than actually jumping correctly. But hey, she was amused and that’s what counts. The Mini-Cart Adventure elicited from her shrieks of delight not unlike the kind you’d hear on a roller coaster and she became a pro with a lumberjack like deftness at jumping logs in Timber Trail.

And for those augmenting their fitness regime with the Outdoor Challenge, your avatar (you can use your own Mii) will show physical signs of your workouts with your character’s body changing over time.

All in all, Active Life Outdoor Challenge gives you a great excuse to get off the couch and do something all without having to leave the comfort of your own home. You can pick up the bundle here for $56.99.

7 Days of Wii Games: Carnival Games MiniGolf

SunnyChanel — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:08:00 GMT

I learned something about myself this week. I suck at mini-golf. But my three-and-a-half-year-old? She’s apparently the Tiger Woods of the pre-school set. 2K Play’s Carnival Games: MiniGolf takes the standard video golf game and adds in dinosaurs, candy canes and farm animals to create a whimsical and wacky adventure for you and your little putter.

Where does the mad mad mad golfin’ go down? At lands like “Prehistoric Times, Wild West, Amazon Jungle, Pirate's Cove, Fairytale Land, Egyptian Pyramids, and the Haunted Mansion.” During your game play, if you happen to get the hang of it, you can earn coins to trade in for ‘prizes’, like upgrades to your customized avatar, special clubs and unique golf balls.

The game accommodates single player or multiplayer (up to 4 Wii remotes at once) so you can enjoy some lone player action or go for a full on party. But we warned, this ain’t just your regular run of the mill mini-golf. Things fly, come out of nowhere and your competition even has the ability to distract you with their own Wii remote while you’re playing. Yeah, the game can get rough. It’s time for a rematch with my little preschooler, just proving that this game is good for the young and the old…like me.

You can pick up your clubs and hit it here for $29.99.

7 Days of Wii Games for Kids: Dora Saves the Snow Princess

SunnyChanel — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:54:00 GMT

Personally, I’m not a fan of the Dora. I just don’t get the appeal. But Dora as a video game? Now that makes sense. The television show features those annoying computer clicks and that ‘user interface’ like appearance but allows no real interaction. It’s a totally static event. This Dora Wii game allows you to actually select an item from ‘Backpack’ or ‘ Map’ instead of having Dora rhetorically ask the question and assume you got it right. This game makes the user make the decision.

In Dora Saves the Snow Princess (based on the Dora feature of the same name), Dora traipses around a winter wonderland searching for said Ice Princess. Along the way she slides down ice covered slopes, falls into caverns, and collects Frost Sparkles, Magic Snowflakes and ‘Stickers’ . Physical tasks such as steering, flapping, lifting, digging and climbing are integrated into the game play.

My three year old was able to easily navigate the playing field, although some of the jumping, and extras were frustrating for her. With a little practice I’m sure she’ll be able to conquer those game demons. And if your little player does end up getting stuck or frustrated, there is the ‘Snowy Forrest Helper Feature’ which you can utilize with a second controller. This lets a parent assist the player to avoid a melt down or an attempt to throw the Wii controller at the screen.

You and your little gamer can help save the Ice Princess here for $19.99

7 Days of Wii Games for Kids: Hasbro Family Game Night

SunnyChanel — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:30:00 GMT

I love, and I mean LOVE a family game night. And what kind of games do I like best? The classics. Hasbro’s Family Game Night for the Nintendo Wii by Electronic Arts includes old school standards like Connect 4, Boggle, Yahtzee, Sorry, Sorry Sliders and Battleship all with a familiar host…Mr. Potato Head. And these aren’t just the standard versions you know and love, along with the standard way of playing via your Wii, there are also newfangled versions of the games like a ‘Panic Flip’ in Boggle, Connect 4 featuring ‘Power Chips’, and Battleship armed with ‘Super Weapons’. When you have a crew of kids over, you can play via the Party Mode that lets you play fast paced mini games letting everyone have a turn without waiting too long. You can pick up the fun here for $39.95.

AK Rock Box Ottoman Stores Your Rock Band Gear in Style

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Don't know about you, but since Rock Band arrived in my house, the playroom's turned into a garage-band practice space complete with cables, drumsticks and stray microphones underfoot. If this sounds anything like your current living space, the AK Rock Box might be worth a look.

Though its primary purpose is as a black leather ottoman, I'm more attracted by the inside of the Rock Box, which features a plush lined interior with space for two Rock Band guitars, a microphone and a foot pedal. (I'm guessing the drum sticks, game and any AC adapters could fit in there just fine, too.)

If you don't mind losing the frame that supports your electronic drum heads, the AK Rock Box also features a lift that lets you raise your Rock Band drums for play and then neatly stow them away afterward. What are those frames going for on Craigslist, anyway?

$199.99 from Amazon.

Gamer Giveaway: Win a Freaky Creatures MMO Starter Pack

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Sure, its heroes may look a little menacing, but that's part of the fun of Freaky Creatures, the new massively multiplayer online game that lets your wee beasties build and battle with their own little monsters. Of course, with this MMO, there are a few real-world items you need to get started, and we've teamed up with the Freaky Creatures folks to offer 5 lucky Babble readers a Freaky Creatures starter pack that includes just those goodies!

Five winners will score a Freaky Creatures starter pack like the one pictured here, which includes two battle-ready creature figures as well as a reusable 1GB flash drive that lets you unlock the game and start customizing your virtual creature with some 3.2 billion different potential combinations. To enter, just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number, and "Freaky Creatures giveaway" in the subject line. We'll draw five winners at random from the pool of entries next Friday, May 1.

Freaky Creatures is rated E10+ for crude humor and fantasy violence -- the game also has some fun community and interactive features that fall outside of the ESRB's rating scope, so be sure to give it a whirl before turning your kids loose in the Freaky Creatures universe. Or, if you're like me, just grab your laptop and play alongside 'em. [Freaky Creatures]

Dance Dance Revolution Disney Grooves for Wii in Stores This Week

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:30:00 GMT

I'm all for getting kids moving with a fast-paced game of Dance Dance Revolution, but the game series' flashier titles don't always include the music or characters to keep littler gamers engaged. Enter Dance Dance Revolution Disney Grooves, which hit stores this week for Wii. Starring Mickey, Donald, Goofy and plenty more familiar faces, the game also features "Disney dance remixes" of 40 songs ranging from movie scores to classics like "Circle of Life" and "A Spoonful of Sugar." All of which means the game will drive you batty, but your 5-year-old will totally be into it.

Dance Dance Revolution Disney Grooves comes bundled with two dance mats, so suck it up, Mom and Dad: You're gonna be shaking your moneymaker right there alongside the kids all the way through the 150th play of "It's a Small World." The game also features three different play modes -- Workout, Training and Advanced -- so you can ratchet it up for more experienced players or scale it back for more freestyle play when the kids just need to get their ya-yas out. Little ones will also dig the Dressing Room mode, which lets you customize your own Miis with Disney costumes (see the Simba-style Mii above).

$67.99 (regularly $69.99) from Amazon.

Giveaway: Win 2 New Nintendo DS Games from Ignition Entertainment

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

To celebrate the launch of its two new kid-friendly Nintendo DS titles, Ignition Entertainment has teamed with Babble to give away three copies of each game to six lucky Droolicious readers!

For the younger gamers, we've got Boing! Docomodake (screenshot above), which has been drawing rave reviews since its arrival on U.S. shores. Though based on a popular Japanese mobile-phone mascot, the game is anything but a typical "we licensed it, now you play it" affair. You play as the lovable mushroom-dude Papa Docomodake, weaving through a variety of challenges in a race to find your family of fungi and get them to the Docomodake Forest's annual festival on time.

The game (imagine a sort of bizarro-world Super Mario Bros. with double the cuteness) is clever enough when you're navigating it with button controllers, but the real fun comes when you break out the stylus. You can split Papa Docomodake into "Minis," tiny versions of the main man that let Papa get into smaller areas of the challenge. Drag the Minis with your stylus to slide into previously unreachable spaces, or use them to fill gaps so Papa can keep cruising toward his destination.

For older players, we've got the equally well-reviewed Blue Dragon Plus (screenshot above), whose name your kids may recognize from the Cartoon Network series Blue Dragon. If the grown-ups in your house are into role-playing games, they may find themselves lining up to tackle this one, too. The Blue Dragon saga centers on a boy named Shu and several of his friends, who have the ability to control phantom shadows that can mirror their masters' actions. Blue Dragon Plus finds Shu & Co. emerging from a world-shaking battle to face a sinister horde of new adversaries.

Though the action is mild and the gameplay easy to follow, this one's strictly for the more advanced DS navigator. Kids who haven't yet learned to read or have trouble grasping role-playing features such as item collection will just end up handing the game to their older siblings, anyway. For those kids, however, Blue Dragon Plus packs over 30 hours of thrilling, customizable gameplay, as well as more than an hour's worth of high-quality video content that'll further immerse them in the story.

OK, so how do you win 'em?

Easy: Just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and the game you're entering to win. (Only one per winning entry, and three winners per game.) On March 31, we'll draw six winners at random from the pool of entries.

Good luck, and happy gaming!

CES 2009: Kodu - Teaching Kids To Computer Program On XBOX

Chris Ford — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:38:00 GMT

Probably the coolest thing I was shown at CES was a demonstration of a new XBOX 360 game for kids called Kodu. Actually, calling it a "game" does it a disservice. It's an online environment where kids get to create a game for themselves and then can play it with their friends. And by creating a game, what they're really doing is learning the basics of computer programming

What Kodu is doing really is demystifying computer programming by removing the abstract and forcing kinds to think critically and analytically. With Kodu, kids can create a "world" by creating one from scratch or changing any one of 10 to 20 starter worlds, and then fill that world with characters, items or other things. Each thing can have a behavior associated with it, and each behavior assigned will have a different consequence in the game.

In the demo I was shown racing type games, shooting type games and adventure type games, but kids can really create anything they can think up (with the programming tools they are given). The other cool think is kids can tweak and reprogram the game while they are playing it, which adds a whole other level of interactivity.

Kodu is being aimed at kids aged 9 years old and up, and will be available for download from the XBOX Live community games channel sometime this spring.

CES 2009: Game On - An Awesome Video Game Storage System For Your Kids

Chris Ford — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Game On might have, for a lot of parents, the answer to a problem that has been nagging them for a while. How do I keep al of this video game stuff looking neat and all in one place in my house? Well, I think Game On has the solution.

In the picture, you're looking at the one-two punch from Game On - the Video Gaming Storage System (on the top) and the Stash Box on the bottom. Both are made of durable MDF, can take up to 50 pounds of weight (when mounted to a stud) and have been designed to take the wear and tear that children can dish out.

The top portion holds your console (XBOX, WIi, PS3 etc.), has games on top and four side support handles for controllers, guitar controllers or any other gaming associated stuff. It also has curved vents on each side to let air pass through - keeping your console nice and cool.

The Stash Box underneath is meant to work in conjunction with the top portion, and it provides extra storage for more games and DVDs. All put together it's a pretty awesome clutter solution for your kid's room or playroom. At least when you tell them to put their video game stuff away, they'll have a place.

Both are available in black, white, green, red, blue and yellow; and both will cost about $59 each. Neither are availalbe in stores in the US yet, but you can check them out at IWantMyGameOn.com

CES 2009: Pyro Army Chair From Pyramat

Chris Ford — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Here's a new gaming chair from Pyramat that I thought was pretty cool - the Pyro Army Chair. Like some of the other Pyramat chairs it has four speakers (two at the top, two at the bottom) and a big subwoofer. It's called "Army I suppose because of the camouflage patterns and has loads of pockets for whatever your son (most likely) wants to put in them.

What I liked the most about this version though is that it can be linked up to other Pyramat chairs - up to eight in total - so more than one person can enjoy the video game, movie, or whatever other audio source you have plugged into it. Each chair will have to have it's own separate power, but the audio plugs just into the first chair, and is distributed to the other chairs from the first.

The Pyro Army Chair should be available in four to six months an should retail for around $129.

CES 2009: Nyko Charge Station EX - An Improved Rechargeable Wiimote Solution

Chris Ford — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

The representative from Nyko (makers of video game accessories) told me an interesting piece of information. If your family plays an average of 14 hours of Nintendo Wii per week (which is apparently the average for families with a Wii), then over the span of a year you'll be spending around $200 keeping fresh batteries in the controllers. Granted, rechargeable Ninetendo Wii controllers and charging stations are Nyko's biggest product, but it's something to think about when considering getting rechargeable battery system for you Wiimotes.

The Charge Station EX is Nyko's newest version of their popular Charge Station and will be replacing their current version in stores. It's basically the same product, with a few improvements. The design is a little more sleek, it now has an LED light that will tell you once the batteries are charged, and of course it will let you keep those all important tethers on the Wiimotes when you're charging them.

The system comes with the station, two rechargeable batteries and rubber-backed battery covers. Available in stores as soon as the current versions sell out, and will cost $34.95.

CES 2009: Vibe By X Rocker - A Vibrating Stage For Rocking Rock Band

Chris Ford — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Judging by the number of booths at CES with something Rock Band or Guitar Hero related, you'd think that everyone was pretending to be a rock star at home. We've seen some cool video game chairs, but this thing gets my vote for most unique Rock Band accessory. The Vibe by X Rocker isn't a chair, but a vibrating Rock Band stage for you to dream your dreams on.

Basically what you're doing is standing on a big speaker - actually three speakers. It's got stereo sound and a giant subwoofer with also some sync lighting thrown in for effect. But the cool part about it is the massive vibration you feel when you're playing the game. It's definitely not for all night gaming sessions, but if you and your kids are Rock Band obsessed it's something you should definitely check out.

Vibe from X Rocker will retail for around $99 and should be available in Q2 of 2009.

CES 2009: Drum Rocker - A Premium Rock Band Drum Set From Ion

Chris Ford — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

I told you about the fancy entry-level electronic drum set from Roland the other day, but if you're looking for something even a little more affordable, then you will probably want to check out the Drum Rocker drum set from Ion. It's the Rock Band drum set that grows with your playing ability.

The Ion is probably the most robust Rock band or Guitar Hero World Tour drum set out there. It has a better all metal kick pedal, a better rack and to extra cymbals. But the cool thing is that if you add an electronic drum module, it can become a fully-functioning electronic drum kit. It isn't going to be as good as a Roland Drum set, but at over half the cost of the cheapest Roland set, it might be the right choice for budding drummers on a budget.

Drum Rocker from ION, $299. Check it out at DrumRocker.com

CES 2009: NVIDIA Brings 3D To PC Games WIth GeForce 3D Vision

Chris Ford — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:00:00 GMT

See those two dudes playing Guitar Hero with the funny 3D glasses on? They're rocking out in 3D thanks to the new NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision. And you thought it wasn't possible to look geekier playing Guitar Hero.

The GeForce 3D VIsion is a box that hooks up to your computer monitor (it's only for PC gaming) and works in conjunction with software you install on your computer. The cool thing is it doesn't require any versions of the games you want to play - as most all video games are created in 3D "space" anyway. NVIDIA has confirmed it works with 358 PC games, but it may work with others as well.

NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision - $199 from NVIDIA.com

CES 2009: GameLeash and CamLeash For Kid's Handheld Electronics

Chris Ford — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The GameLeash / CamLeash is exactly what it says it is. A simple idea to be sure, but after having shopped for a camera wrist strap recently, it wasn't as easy to find something I liked. And if you're buying your child a new camera or handheld video game player, getting them a wrist strap that's more secure than what comes with the device is a pretty good idea.

They are both identical (just different packaging) and made of velcro and neoprene.

A single leash costs $9.99 and a four pack (bundled for Nintendo Wiimotes really) will set you back $29.99. Available now from Leashtec.com.

CES 2009: Metal Pedal Kick Drum Pedal For Rock Band And Guitar Hero

Chris Ford — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Did you get Rock Band for XBOX 360, Playstation 3 or Wii right when it came out? If you did, there's a good chance you've broken your drum pedal by now. That's why Nyko had made the Metal Pedal. And all puns are intended.

The Metal Pedal is made with a durable metal plate and has a splitter so you can attach two drum pedals for that hardcore double kick drum action. It works for Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band on all platforms and will be available later this month for $19.99.

CES 2009: Turtle Beach XLC Video Game Headphones For XBOX 360

Chris Ford — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Got a kid who loves his (or her) XBOX 360 but you'd rather not hear all the noise coming out of his (or her) room? The new XLC headphones from Turtle Beach might just be the solution you are looking for, and at a price you can afford.

The XLC headphones hook up to both the audio output of the television (headphone jack or RCA pass-through) and the XBOX 360 controller. That way the person playing the game can hear the communication with his friends online, as well as the audio from the game itself. I personally use a pair of the Turtle Beach wireless X4 headphones and I love them (and my wife loves not having to hear my video games even more).

These are wired headphones, but at a price point of $29.99 they are super affordable for a good pair of headphones (and some quiet around the house).

Turtle Beach XLC, $29.99 - available mid to late February 2009.

CES 2009: New Pyramat Disney Gaming Chairs And Sofa In Q3 2009

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:00:00 GMT

The cool thing about CES is sometimes you see stuff that hasn't been seen by anybody before. And when I do, I then get to introduce it to you. Pyramat, maker of gaming chairs we've written about before, have announced a new partnership on a couple of new products with Disney.

The Disney Chairs (prototypes pictured above) and Disney sofa (pictured kind of in the background to the left) have the usual Pyramat stuff built in (two speakers at the head rest and a sub woofer in the seat) and will of course have fabric designs by Disney. The other cool thing is that they will also fold flat for storage (to go underneath a bed for example). The sofa has a speaker that raises out of the back, and again has the same subwoofer seats that we love.

The chairs should retail for around $120 and the sofa for somewhere in the $700 to $900 range. More details will definitely be available in the future, as they're looking for a September 2009 availability.

Read all of the posts from CES 2009 the Consumer Electronics Showcase on Babble.com here.

CES 2009: Nyko Wand - An Improved Controller For The Nintendo Wii

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Video game accessories pioneer Nyko has made what looks to be a much better "Wiimote" for the Nintendo Wii - the Nyko Wand.

The new controller is very similar to the current offering by Nintendo, except the buttons are bigger, it's got a rechargeable battery, rubber trigger (B button) and grip - and one other big difference. Unlike the Ninendo "Wiimote," the Nyko Wand exports data as well as imports. But what does that mean to you?

Currently, all of the gaming accessories you buy now to work with the Wiimote (like the gun, steering wheel or the like) have to use physical manipulations to work the Wiimote (the trigger on the gun has to physically push the B button for example). The Wiimote also can't make an accessory rumble for instance. With the Wand, any accessory made to work with it can talk back and forth with the Wand itself, making for a better interface that should be more reliable and potentially more fun.

Wand should be available in April or May of 2009 and should retail for around $30 to $40.