A valid reason to hate the Wii – useless peripherals
If you’ve been a gamer for any length of time, you’ve no doubt owned many peripherals which are designed to add to the experience of gaming. And some do, and some are even essential pieces of kit. But there are many peripherals that are utterly pointless, and this group of gaming gristle is one of my (many) pet hates. And the Wii is my number one enemy on this score.
My memory isn’t what it used to be so I can really only remember back as far as the Dreamcast clearly. Sheesh, ten years ago, is that all? I had peripherals aplenty for my Dreamcast, including a keyboard and mouse to enable me to kick butt on Unreal Tournament, and browse the Web. They were good peripherals, not necessary to own but which improved my experience of the console immensely.
Fast forward to the current-gen consoles and all three home consoles have their contenders.
The PS3 has the Wireless Keypad, which is actually a brilliant piece of kit. It’s robust, well-made, and absolutely essential for browsing the Web, messaging friends on PSN, and striking up conversations in Home. Although whether you want to talk to the Running Man-obsessed freaks who inhabit Home is another matter entirely.
There is also the obligatory Arcade Stick (for geeks), Steering Wheels (for people who own crap cars in real life), and the actually useful Blu-ray Remote and Headset.
The Xbox 360 has a similar tally of useful peripherals, with the Steering Wheels, Arcade Stick, Headset, and Remote Controls part of that list. All of which will cater to some without being needed by most.
And then we come to the Wii. Nintendo immediately foists two controllers on everybody, so eight are altogether required for serious party fun. The console may be tiny and look like a little child sat next to the behemoths that are the PS3 and Xbox 360, but add the controllers to the pile and it mounts up.
But we ain’t finished yet. Add in the almost useful Wii Speak Microphone, and the Wii Racing Wheel and the room needed to house a Wii increases. But you can at least justify these peripherals as having some merit.
Then come the real doozies. Buy Wii Fit and you get a Balance Board to exercise on. Buy Link’s Crossbow Training and get the Wii Zapper, an admittedly nicely-shaped piece of plastic that actually serves no purpose whatsoever. The Wii Wheel with Mario Kart? Same.
Then there are the plethora of third-party peripherals such as the extra skins for your Wii Remote, the Lightsaber, the fake tennis racket, and on and on. If there’s one reason to hate the Wii, it’s the amount of useless peripherals it has foisted on the world. That, and the fact it’s a novelty.
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15 Responses to “A valid reason to hate the Wii – useless peripherals”
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January 29th, 2009
wii bashing again?
we can buy headsets, steering wheels and arcade sticks n years ago.
move on. get over it.
January 29th, 2009
Yeah Dave, stop hating on the Wii.
January 29th, 2009
I like how the wii zapper doesn’t work with resident evil 4 for the trigger finger to be the….you know trigger. So the only reason to own the stupid zapper in not compatible with it. Awesome!!!!!!!!!
January 29th, 2009
QUICK!! Somebody call the Waaaaaaambulance!
January 29th, 2009
Awwwww another Wii bashing blog?
Gee, life must be really sucking for you when you have to fall back to these flamebait console warz bulsh*t to get hits, hey Dave?
Dont worry, you’re not the only loser doing this, fortunatly no-one takes this seriously anymore.
But cry MOAR. Entertain us plz
January 29th, 2009
I do agree that the zapper was crap.
But its just another smart move by Nintendo. They used to cost what? Like 20 bucks? (If not bundled) And I bet they knocked them out for under $5 each.
January 29th, 2009
Seems like some people are having a really really hard time dealing with the Wii’s success.
January 29th, 2009
seems to me that some people also cant acknowledge the shit that exist with the wii. yeah it apparently happens as well!
January 29th, 2009
dont forget the rock band and guitar hero peripherals…
January 30th, 2009
No one is forcing anyone to buy these things.
The Zapper was designed for Zelda and if there is any other games it works with then great.
Otherwise quit bitching about the wii. If you don’t like it don’t buy it, Plain and simple!
January 30th, 2009
DWH What the hell are you talking about?
Those games are on all consoles.
January 30th, 2009
great point ncaissie!!!!! But you must admit…It sucks when you buy it expecting it to work, and it doesn’t.
January 30th, 2009
I think the Wii is Wiitarted.
January 30th, 2009
Im talking about if you buy those music games for your Wii… it takes up your WHOLE FUCKING LIFE!! and your living room…
February 2nd, 2009
I thought the Wii Music was shit. But I didn’t pay for it so I don’t care.
If I did pay I would have been pissed.
But I would not spend more than $40 on a game without renting or getting a demo copy first.