Kotaku: wii wheel

Battery Packs Cause Wii Wheel Alignment Issues?

Owen Good — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:00:00 MDT

Apparently, using anything other than disposable "crap-assed gas station batteries" turns a Wii Wheel driving experience into that of a 1978 Datsun heading down to the shore. And no, that's not a desirable mod. Not for Don at videolamer, anyway. He swears that using the battery packs from the React Recharge Dock for the Wiimote reduces the 'Mote's weight and makes it drive off center when placed in the Wii Wheel.

Quoth Don:

Was the weight difference, a very noticeable one, messing with the ‘mote’s center-point?

Yes, in fact. Replacing the rechargeable pack with a standard set of crap-assed gas station batteries made our karts dead center again.

Now I’ve got to figure out how to add weight to my charger packs. That or play Kart at an odd angle.

So, fair warning, considering that the React dock runs about $50, if you Kart like hell and are considering eco-friendly ways to keep your 'Mote juiced. Does anyone else have the same kind of issue, or just this guy?

Peripheral Disdain [Videolamer, thanks taidan]

Amazonians Buying Wii Fit And Mario Kart Faster Than GTA IV

Mark Wilson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:20:00 MDT

This is by no means the most scientific of measurements, but GTA IV for both Xbox 360 and PS3 is currently being outsold on Amazon by Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii and the Wii Wheel. Things to keep in mind: the Nintendo games are each single platform (effectively doubling their sales) and Wii Fit pre-orders may be more common than GTA IV pre-orders this close to GTA IV's launch (at this point, gamers may be more likely to just go to the store to get their Liberty City fix). Still, we didn't expect Wii Fit's pre-sale numbers to come out on top today on Amazon. At all.

Bestsellers in Video Games [Amazon]

Wii60 Wheel Is Our Kind Of Mod

Mark Wilson — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:20:00 MDT

Works? Check.
Combines two otherwise cluttering peripherals? Check.
Takes like 5 seconds and requires no adhesives? Check.
Seriously? We're really lazy. Check.
Sends at least one fanboy into "angry coma?" Check.

SOLD!

The Wii60 wheel [GoNintendo]

Wii Wheel (And Hairy Knuckles) Porn

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:30:00 MDT

You've seen it before, but not like this. Not in such agonising detail. With the standalone version's Japanese box. And shots from various angles, with the wheel and Wii Remote in various states of undress. And probing. And penetrating. And the soft, longing caress of...an old man with lady's fingers but a man's hairy knuckles. Hit the gallery for more. It's safer for work than it has any right to be.

A 6 Year-Old's Take on the Wii Wheel

abarenblat — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:00:00 MDT

I don't think anyone will argue with me when I say that Tristan is Kotaku's best and most trustworthy reviewer. His reviews were spot on for the 360 Wireless Wheel , SIXAXIS, and the Wiimote. However, because YouTube is densely populated with Nazi whores, you can't see Tristan's older reviews anymore. Personally, I think he is one of the coolest kids around. Well, let me elaborate - Tristan's dad has one of the coolest jobs around and Tristan gets to reap all of the benefits. For example, Crecente took Tristan to the Mario Kart Driving School in Denver on Saturday where he got to try out the new Wii Wheel. Since I am the video intern, I had the distinct honor of capturing Tristan's review of the very thing we have all feared. The Wii Wheel, Nintendo's new gamble, could ruin Mario Kart forever. Luckily, Tristan lays it all down for us and puts our fears to rest.

Last Improvised Wii Wheel Post, Honest

ogood — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

OK, at risk of starting a deluge of copycat messages into tips, here's another kit-bashed Wii wheel. The reason this is worthy is a) the engineers are remarkably honest about how bad it performs, and b) they sound like three middle school-age at-risk kids and I want to encourage them to stay off the mean streets by building Wii wheels.

"If anyone ever needs another wheel, doesn't mind it handling a little bad and looking ... hideous, just remember that if you look through all that leftover rubbish and you might just be able to save yourself a bit of money," writes Lee Brady, whose friend Colin engineered the wheel. Lee and Shane were, I dunno, QA leads.

These kids prove that half the fun of mods is spending all day making something that an extra $15 will buy (though I think these blokes are UK, by the use of "rubbish"). They're working on another, with breakthrough technology that allows use of the B button.

Lee writes:

"Colin (center) after hearing Shane (right) and I (left) had gotten our hands on Mario Kart Wii (with Wheel), wanted to make a second wheel... himself. He came to us a few hours later with that thing basically. Made of Polystyrene and a pole for the handle, and covered in masking tape, we laughed and tested it out. It actually handles ... pretty awful. And the measurements were so wrong the Wiimote kept falling out until Colin got some cardboard string to hold it in. We helped out and made some minor adjustments, but really, nothing could make this thing any better.
"We've already started on a Mock 2. [Does he mean Mark II? Mach II?-Ed.] Mock 2 is, so far, lighter, smaller and even white! (say it isn't so!) This version too can also be made with just random objects you find around your house. It even allows use of the 'B' button! (Yup, playing with the original was just one big party...)

Well, with that sales pitch, why aren't we all doing that instead of ponying up the $15 — WHICH IS ALL OF £7,50, GUYS.... Sheesh.

Buy Another Wii Wheel? No, Make Another (Sorta) [Kotaku]

So The Wii Wheel's Not $15?

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:30:00 MDT

$15 for a Wii Wheel? No, thanks. Hollowed-out plastic shells aren't quite at the MUST-BUY stage where that becomes a sensible purchase. But what about $10? Contrary to GameStop's (now yanked) advertisement, that's what Nintendo Power reckon the wheel costs, stating in the terms and conditions for a Mario Kart comp that the wheel's MSRP is $9.99. Which is certainly more palatable, if not entirely delicious.
Wii Wheel for $10 says Nintendo [Nintendo Power, via Go Nintendo]

Nintendo Tried 30 Times To Reinvent The Wheel

Mark Wilson — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:40:00 MDT

Nintendo's official "Iwata Asks" segment is up in which Nintendo President Satoru Iwata interview Kenichiro Ashida, Hideki Konno and Shigeru Miyamoto about Mario Kart Wii. Fans of the series will enjoy the interview that's chock full of "(laughs)" from the Nintendo insiders. But what's particularly interesting is their discussion about Wii Wheel development. They spill some interesting factoid, like that they tested roughly 30 different prototypes. Some were not white, some were not perfectly round.

No matter your opinions may be of the Wii Wheel, the design process is always an interesting one. And these Iwata interview sessions always feel so happy that you've gotta wonder whether or not these guys are really kicking back with some cigars and a nice bottle of single malt scotch.

Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii [Nintendo via GoNintendo]

See A Man Come To Grips With The Wii Wheel

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:30:00 MDT

Here's MTV's Stephen Totilo testing out the new Wii Wheel that's being packed in with Mario Kart. Still looks...well, pointless. This is a GameCube game, Nintendo. We all know it, we're all cool with it, you should be too!
Two Videos Of New 'Mario Kart': Wii Wheel Vs Remote [MTV]

Mario Kart Wheel Is Quite Possibly "Absolute Crap"

Mark Wilson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:20:21 MST

Bulent Yusuf from the blog WiiWii just got back from Nintendo's base in Frankfurt, Germany. There he had a chance to play Mario Kart. His review? He loved the game, lauding the experience (especially the newly tweaked drifting system). But what about the Wii Wheel that comes with? He's not feeling it. At all.

Finally, the Wii Wheel. This was the most disappointing thing, simply because it's absolutely crap.

He continues:

Though Nintendo valiantly tried to convince us otherwise, it's a silly gimmick that detracts from the quality of the game. Fortunately, you can play using the standard Wiimote and Nunchuk, or you can bust out the GameCube pad and be proper old school.
Don't know why Nintendo thought this thing was necessary; perhaps it looks good in advertising? A good way of bumping up the price? Either way, it's rubbish.

Whether or not he means the game doesn't steer as well with the wheel, or that the wheel just feels horrible in your hands, we can't tell. But it's more than a little ironic that Nintendo has released this one, magically simplistic universal controller...and then decided that what we really need is a boatload of more peripherals.

Hands-on with Mario Kart Wii (Verdict: Game is great, Wheel is rubbish) [WiiWii]

UPDATE: The WiiWii link has been pulled at Nintendo's request.