It doesn't just plug into the Wii's USB port?

Stop!

[www.play-asia.com]

This Chinese wiimote charger has all the functionality of the Nyko one, minus the terrible rubber grips and the AC adapter requirement and proprietary battery pack. Drop two rechargeable AAA's (included) into the slot on this thing, plug it into your Wii's USB port, and enjoy. I was strongly considering a Nyko solution, but after reading various complaints about it, I decided that $15 was cheap enough for me to try an unproven solution, and I've never had a problem with it.

Argh, I need a charger, but I dislike that ugly looking grip on the back.

so you have to remove the straps everytime you charge up?

@Hyperfludd: Just get some rechargeable batteries and a charger (it's basically the same thing and same price... plus you get to use it for other types of battery based gizmos like a digital camera). My wife had an old charger and I just bought a pack of 4 rechargeable batteries for $5.50 at Wal-Mart and it works great!

I like my Nyko charger... but I only got this weekend. Dag, yo, I spent more money than I should have.

@everyone

No you don't have to remove the straps, and the rubber grips aren't bad at all. They actually feel kind of nice.

It's actually quite convenient to pick up your Wii motes and play, and every time you pick them up they are at 100%.

The Nyko remote station is a great product. Now that they're $20, I'll probably buy another one for my other two wii motes.

...No I don't work for Nyko.

I really don't know why people complain about the Nyko charger, it's fantastic. You don't have to remove the straps and I actually consider not having to plug into the USB port a huge plus. What's the point of being able to turn the Wii on with the controller if you have to keep your controllers right by your Wii?

@yashichi8bit:
Absolutely not.
[youtube.com]

The grips really aren't that bad. One thing you do have to do is if you have 2 remotes be sure to rotate them every once in a while to allow for full chargning. My friend came over to play madden when I first had it and though fully charged it only took a few minutes before it needed to be charged again. After a while it was fine, but just be prepared.

@YASHICHI8BIT: You don't have to remove the straps each time you charge them, just position it the right way so you get the light on the unit. For me, I pull the strap tight directly towards the bottom front of the remotes and I have no problems.

I bought one recently and I'm a big fan. Its got a slightly larger profile than some of the other chargers out there, and some of the others do not have the grip on the back, if you do not want it (Circuit City carries a number of chargers). I personally like the grip so I have to worry less about using the strap without fear of launching a Wiimote thru my 56" Death Star.

@Mokona:
agreed. I'd much rather use rechargeable batteries that can be universal for other gadgets. Cheaper and the tree huggers won't bemoan me as much.

Why isn't there a rechargable battery pack to just drop in the remote? I'm not talking rechargable batts either - a battery pack that can be charged without being in the remote. Handheld VHF radios have had this for years...and battery packs come in higher amp ratings giving longer life.

I just buy a Duracell mega pack every few months - works out well for me. If I had a problem with batteries dying on me, then this would okay I guess, the price is right.

Of course there's nothing to play on the Wii, right? So why does this market even exist? WWWwWwwwwwww.

Kidding here, just kidding.

Actually, the rubber grips are a big plus.

This is nice indeed...

Speaking of Wii peripherals - where in the world is that Thrustmaster wireless controller you Kotaku guys were going on about a few weeks back? I want one like crazy but I can't find 'em ANYWHERE. :(

@yashichi8bit: No need to remove the strap; there is a small "crevasse" (?) so it can sit over the side. However, if you put the wiimote in some kind of sleeve, it probably won't sit right to charge.

Everyone else: got this, love it, and I even feel like the rubberized grips on the back are a bonus. At this price I'll probably get a second one soon, so I can charge all 4 wiimotes at once. Needing to plug it in does suck a little, though.

Dealztaku? I prefer Cagtaku.

I strongly endorse the Nyko charger, and actually prefer the rubber grips to the plain wiimote backing. You also have the added benefit of paralyzing any potential Wii burglars in their tracks with the insanely bright blue LEDs. Seriously, try to not look directly at them.

I also strongly endorse the Nyko charger. I've had mine for months now, and it was a deal at $35. It looks quite nice next to the Wii, the batteries hold a nice charge, and the grips, while kind of ugly, are really comfortable. If you don't have a charger I'd really suggest getting this one for this price. Nyko has great customer service, too. I had a slight problem with one of the batteries (my own fault) and they help me fix it right away. Get it!

i bought one of these a month or two ago. 3 weeks later its stopped charging entirely. I've been thinking about getting a different charges instead but With the price drop i might just get another of these

The charger works great for me. It doesn't, however, really help with the irritation that I have to pick up a wii-mote momentarily every time I want to start my machine and play a Gamecube game, which is all the use it's been getting for nearly a year!! I love that it's a Gamecube and a Wii at the same time, I just wish there was a way to autostart a Gamecube game when it senses a disc is present.

bought it forever ago... barely ever touch the Wii and the batteries now don't hold a charge for long at all.. great idea but needs improvement.

Two reasons from preventing my purchase of this product:

1. Xbox360 controller

2. Wavebirds

Bought one of those the day I got my Wii. Soon after, it melted my motes.

Ive got one of these and i have to say that it was worth every penny.

@Mischaraka: I wish the remote shut the Wii off when you are finished playing a Cube title!

I bought two of these kits months ago and 3 out of 4 batteries still work. One began to overheat slightly melting the Wiimote battery compartment with it, although it still works fine and looks completely normal with the cover on.

Crap, wish I would've waited x-X

I'd be careful. I bought this charger about a month after I got my Wii in April and immediately 1 of the batteries stopped working after a couple minutes of use. I returned it and low and behold, after about a week and a half of a fair amount of usage one of the batteries stopped holding a charge again. I've tried switching the batteries around between remotes and its definately the battery. When I go into the remote screen it still says the battery is at full life too. It gets rather annoying when you're trying to play tennis or any other constant use game and right in the middle of play one of the remotes decides to turn itself off.

It would be nice if Nintendo would manufacture rechargeable battery packs like Microsoft does for the Xbox360 controllers.

This is starting to turn into a spoofee thread! =P

In any case, I don't trust 3rd party peripherals at all. On top of that I think plugging in a surge protector into another surge protector must be some sort of fire code violation. I have too many things plugged inaround/to my entertainment center/hub and not enough sockets. lol

I love this charger.

The grips are awesome and make it less likely for the 'mote to turn into a torpedo. My wife even cut a space out of her pink silicone wiimote skin (around the grip) so it lays against the charger easily.

@Maddogdw:
"The grips really aren't that bad. One thing you do have to do is if you have 2 remotes be sure to rotate them every once in a while to allow for full [LAZAR] chargening."

Actually, what happens is, after the remote fully charges, the light turns from green to blue (as you know) but the charger stops charging (to prevent battery overload). The light continues to shine blue as if it's fully charged, but in fact, the batteries will slowly drain over time. Every couple days you'll want to tip the 'mote slightly forward then let it rest again and you'll notice the light change back to green.

I just bought one last week! >:(

@Niku: Collaborate, and listen!

Damn i wish i knew about this sooner i got mine for 30 bucks but it's been worth it and in the past 3 months ive had them i never encounterd a problem. when the retail prices go down to 19.99 i would highly recomend these to anyone with a Wii but i may have to buy another one once i get two more remotes.

I can't complain much about mine. I did find that if after getting a full charge you take it off the stand it seems to last longer than leaving it on. The grips are nice too, but with my free sleeves coming, I'll probably just get rechargable AAs when these stop working.

I just use rechargable AAs.

Been using em for my Game Boy for years.

FYI: the lights on these stations are really, really bright! I keep my living room at just above movie-theater levels of lighting and these charge stations are very very distracting, especially the blue light for when a remote is recharging. Other than that, it's a really great product.

Nyko have started to sell the batteries and grips (in different colors) separately from the charger, so if there's a particular color grip you or your kids are looking for, have at it.

$20 I as waiting for something like that to happen.

Bouught one of these awhile back, had a DOA battery right out of the box.

Well, the battery wasn't DEAD, it charged fine, however it didn't seem to connect to the remote itself. I guess the contacts on the back worked, but the ones on top of the battery into the remote itself didn't.

I have a ton of rechargeable AAs that work better IMO anyway. Remote dies, I just grab two fresh batteries off the charger, instead of having to shuck the remote onto the cradle.

3 Xbox 360 controllers, a Wavebird, and 4 Wii Remotes equals AA superiority.

@twesterm: What's the point of changing games if you're too lazy to get up.

I switched from an USB powered charger to two of these. Had some issues with the batteries, but now they work fine. The only problem is that they don't hold too much of a charge, probably about 4-5 hours. It's fine for most cases, but you have to remember to put them back into the cradle. Looks nicer than having them lying around, too.

I want this damn thing in europe!

@CrispyCrunch: It's available in Europe.

How well do these things work with the new free Wii Remote Jackets? Not that you really need the jackets, just curious.

@Saxboy: You need to take the jacket off to charge them.

What color is the light suppose to be when it's fully chraged? Green or blue?