The Price

$US35, available now. Package includes charger and two compatible batteries.

The Verdict

As we said in the lead, the Charge Base IC (which stands for “inductive charging”) is the best solution for charging Wiimotes we’ve seen to date, if you can stand its two-controller limit.

Yes, the stand is a cacophony of various plastics and LED, but you’ll quickly disregard aesthetics the first time you hold the Wiimote up to the cradle and it just sticks. Attached through magnetism, it will be charged without the need for plugs or ports, without the need of pulling out the little stopper from the Wii MotionPlus adaptor and without even the need of removing the silicone case. (Should you be a non-case user such as myself, you’ll find the ridged rubber backs on the batteries quite comfortable.)

The stand even includes a USB charging port, should you need it, and the AC adaptor has an outlet plug on the back, meaning you won’t waste a power outlet to recharge your Wiimotes.

There’s room for improvement — an indicator that signalled the level of charge (even just empty vs full) would be very handy. I’m not really sure how long it takes to charge the batteries to full because, at the moment, the charger always just glows blue. The magnet could feel stronger through the silicone sleeve. And obviously you can buy a basic four-Wiimote charger for the price of this two-Wiimote charger. Though I have a feeling that Nyko will announce a four-controller unit if this first model is successful.

But for the ultra-lazy among us, the Charge Base IC is pretty great.

Contact charging is easy and practical

Works with real Wiimotes and generics

There’s simply not a better design we’ve seen

Through sleeve, magnet still works, but could feel stickier

Charging indicator doesn’t indicate much of anything

So will there be 1:1 movement, accelerometers or IR bars? We don’t know. All the product promises in terms of functionality is the full gamut of Dual Shock controls (though note one analogue stick is missing), “three dimensional motion sensing” and “super sensitive movement sensors”.

But somehow the Blaze PS3mote promises to be compatible with Sega Tennis and Tiger Woods. Without the full support of EA or Sega (which we’re doubting they have), it’s hard to imagine the controller working very well. But hey, we’re happy to be proven right when it comes out at an undisclosed time for an undisclosed price. [Blaze via ubergizmo]

The stand is bundled with a special, contact-charging battery that replaces the standard AAs. You load the battery into the board, the board into the stand, and ZAMMO! Your Balance Board recharges. Mad Catz also used some of the stand’s body to integrate two USB ports, in case you’d like to recharge any of your other gear. And a foot pedal makes for an easy board release.

Look for the Power Up Charging Stand this August for $US40. [Mad Catz]

Bear in mind, I didn’t play a game with the controller, but I did push the buttons, etc. The A button feels perfect, just like the Wiimote. The B button trigger is a bit digital for my taste, lacking the Wiimote’s fulfilling trigger pull. The other buttons? They definitely feel one tier cheaper than the Wiimote. But how often are you using 1 or 2 in gameplay anyway?

Configured with the exact dimensions of Nintendo’s Wiimote (the Nyko Wand is ever so slightly fudged), Mad Catz’ “Remote For Nintendo Wii” feels indistinguishable in size and weight from the real Wiimote. It’s also all white (or clad in a few other colours), making it a bit less patriotic than Nyko’s red, white and blue Wand.

I’ll save final judgment for a gaming hands-on, but what Mad Catz’ Wiimote lacks in fancy tech (like Nyko’s Trans-Port button mapping), it makes up for in compatibility. Mad Catz guarantees that their Wiimote will fit in the sleeves of normal Wiimotes. And it should be ready for Wii MotionPlus, too. Look for them this June at the price of $US30. Matching “Z-Chuks” will run $US15 a pop. [Mad Catz]

Attaching to the Nyko Wand (the Wiimote is semi-incompatible because it lacks Nyko’s proprietary Trans-Port Technology), the Type Pad Pro transforms an ordinary Nintendo controller into a testicularly spaceshippy full QWERTY keyboard. Through Trans-Port communication, the A and B buttons on the Wand are relocated to the Type Pad while the pad itself integrates with the Wii through a wireless USB dongle. (Yeah, it’s a tad confusing. Basically, the pad is incapable of piggybacking its signal onto the Wand’s.)

The result is a QWERTY keyboard capable of surfing the internet on the Wii. The other result is the zaniest but most ambitious Wii peripheral we’ve seen this side of Nyko’s unreleased Party Station.

There’s a mad, mad man at the helm of Nyko’s design team. And we really want to go drinking with him.

Variety is claiming that Sony will unveil a Wiimote-type motion-sensing controller at E3, piling another rumour on top of expectations for a UMD-less PSP. No matter what, Sony’s in for an int-er-est-ing June.

Variety’s sources claim to have used the device, which more-or-less conforms to the system outlined in this two-year-old patent. This is actually kind of disappointing, because that particular patent describes a camera-based tracking system, in which a few LEDs mounted on the controller are monitored by a small camera, EyeToy-style. But if we’re going to trust the source’s claim that this controller exists, we should also note that he says that it performs more precisely than the Wiimote, especially during Z-axis (forward and backward) movement.

Sony apparently refused to comment on the story, which comes just a month after separate reports that a new PS3 motion controller was “done”, so you may as well brace yourself for the pending onslaught of novelty rhythm ‘n’ sports games. You know, just in case. [Variety via Kotaku]

If any of the consoles were in need of a wireless charging solution for their controllers, it was the Wii. All of the suggested Wiimote safety accessories make the thing such a hassle to try and keep powered. Now, it’s just a matter of casually placing it on a stand and letting the charger go to work. It will be in stores in May for $US50. [IGN]

The Wiimote Soap is the last of a long list of soaps based on controllers, like the Xbox 360 and the NES. OK, a long list of two. But then you have the iPod soap too, with its frothwheel. [Etsy via Gadget Venue via Geeky Gadgets]

The biggest difference you can spot is the D-Pad. One version had an analogue stick instead (what’s found in the nunchuk) and one version had a very strange 5-button layout instead of the traditional + design. I’d have liked that analogue stick… [Siliconera via Kotaku]

At the University of South Denmark, Kjeld Jensen has developed a robotic lawnmower called the Casmobot which can be controlled using your Wiimote. Using Bluetooth, the Wiimote communicates to a receiver in the Casmobot. It can be controlled manually, or be completely automated. Jensen says:

“We have been introducing [Casmobot] to the professional workers at the municipalities and the minute they got this Wiimote in their hands and started cutting grass, they were smiling and laughing all the time so I guess I’m not the only one that thinks this is a very good idea.”

“This robotics module could, in theory, be put in to any kind of vehicle. In theory, you could actually take this module and put it in to a wheelchair, and walk your grandma just by sitting inside at the window and using your Wiimote.”

Unfortunately, if I did that, my cantankerous Grandma would probably spit in my face, so why yes, an old-fashioned walk would be lovely. [Gossip Gamers]