Wii Steering Wheel
Manufacturer: PEGA
Site: Buy from Goldenshop
Price: $10.00

Overview : Simulation controlling, let you feel real and exciting. Enhance the joy of playing games.

Quality/Usability : With racing games such as GT Pro and Excite Truck, holding the Wii Remote normal feels a little awkward..well to me that is. I want something that resembles a car steering wheel or maybe get that fake feel of actually driving (minus the gas pedals).

The game GT Pro came bundled with a steering wheel but for those who didnt purchase GT Pro but purchased Excite Truck was left steering wheel-less. Thats where 3rd party manufacturers come in. PEGA has been jumping on every opportunity when it comes to designing and ideas for Wii peripherals. Their latest is the Steering Wheel.

The Steering Wheel is one piece. You place the Wii Remote controller into the slot and start playing. On each side of the slot where the Wii Remote goes into, there are small padding to keep the controller from scratching. On the back of the Steering Wheel is an opening for the B button, thus allowing easy access. Slipping the controller in and out is easy and doesnt take any strength.

If you're like me, who uses a case on the Wii Remote, you'll have to take it off in order for the controller to fit into the Steering Wheel. Also, if you're using a wrist strap (which you should be), you'll either have to take it off (if you're not using Nintendo straps) of it will be somewhat in your way.

Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Steering Wheel is a nice product but has some minor flaws. I personally would like to see some grooves of some sort for better grip. An opening even a small one so that the Wii wrist strap can go through. The price is very affordable.

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Wii Controller Grip
Manufacturer: PEGA
Site: Buy from Goldenshop
Price: $7.00

Overview :

• Wii controller grip has a nice appearance and good touch-feeling.
• Designed according to controller shape, the two grips are suitable for different kinds of people, and you can play your games freely by holding the two bars.
• The controller grip will ease your hands tiredness.

Quality/Usability : The Wii Controller Grip is to give you a better grip and comfort when holding the Wii Remote controller when used horizontal. Like the Wii Steering Wheel that was reviewed, the Controller Grip also has little foam paddings on all sides to prevent any scratching on the Wii Remote. Access to the B button is not really easily accessible since the hole is fairly small and the button does not stick out of the back of the Controller Grip. The wrist strap situation is the game. There is no opening on the back of the grip to allow the strap to go through. So, you'll either have to take the strap off or it will be somewhat of an annoyance. I noticed that on the back of the grip, there is a small hole with the words "SYNC". How can we sync the controller if there is a battery cover in the way?

Unlike the Steering Wheel, the Controller Grip does have grooves on the bars for better gripping. The comfort of holding the peripheral is pretty comfortable.

Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Controller Grip feels nice in the hands but the small opening for the B button and lack of a hole for wrist strap isnt good. If you purchase this and have access to a dremel, you may want to make the opening bigger allowing your finger to reach the B button easily.

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Wii PAK Carry Bag
Manufacturer: PEGA
Site: Buy from Brando
Price: $17.00

Overview : This carrying bag is specially designed for the Wii console. It provides slots for you to place the Wii console, controllers, games and other accessories.

Features :

• Protect your Wii and accessories in transport
• Convenient to carry
• Double zipper design

Quality/Usability : Everytime I go to a relatives house, I bring my Nintendo Wii with me as it is a great console for get-togethers and will get everyone involved. I have been using my promo Nintendo GameCube Messenger bag that I received from E3 a couple years ago. Although it carried all accessories and my console, it lacked protection. I had to put the sensor bar in a padded envelope, Wii console in a box, controllers in a bag and cables just thrown into the bag. With all that shoved in to the bag, it still left some room for my games (with cases).

I thought it was time to move the Wii out of the messenger bag into a case that was more fitted for the Wii. Thats where the Wii PAK Carry Bag comes in. By the looks of the picture, the bag looks big. But dont let that fooled you because it fooled me. Once you see it up close and personal, the case is actually small.

There is a two compartments. One is for the Wii console itself and the other is for your controllers. Theres also a zippered pocket on the front, velcro pocket on the back and when you open the big main compartment that holds the Wii, there is four little pouches and five disc holders.

The main compartment holds the Nintendo Wii console. The Wii fits snug inside but once its placed it, there is an open area (see image below). What I did was place the stand that came with the console on top. This will prevent the system from moving during transit. Since this compartment is the biggest, I also shoved in the sensor bar and tucked the cables into the little pouch that holds the Wii in place. The image below shows the sensor bar on top of the Wii console, which you can also do if you dont use the stand.

The second compartment is for your controllers/cables/power adapter. There are two elastic bands to hold your accessories in place. I personally use it just for my cables/power adapter considering I have two Wii Remotes and two Nunchuks and both have controller gloves on the, I wouldnt be able to fit them all into that little pouch.

On the front of the second compartment is a zippered pocket. This would be perfect for your manuals or anything small and thin. You wouldnt be able to fit anything else in there. The same goes for the back side of the bag with the velcro pouch. This is only good for documents as its a really really tight fit.

Lets go back to the main compartment. On the opposite side of where the Wii is stored, there are five disc holders and four little pouches. The four little pouches is good enough to hold your SD cards. Dont know what else is there for the Wii that is the size of SD cards. The disc pouch does just that, hold your Wii games and keeps them all together.

Conclusion : Overall, the Wii PAK Carry Bag is small, compact and holds all your Nintendo Wii products. But its a little too small. The pocket that holds the cables and controllers, you wouldnt be able to fit a lot in there if you have four of each controller. It either hold the cables or your controllers. I decided to place the cables in the second compartment since its already a tight fit and adding the controllers in to the mix may cause buttons to be pressed thus causing the battery to drain. If the bag/pouches were slightly bigger, it would be a great case not to mention a little pouch for the sensor bar. Now, I just have to carry my controllers in a separate bag.

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Wii Boxing Gloves
Manufacturer: PEGA
Site: Buy from Goldenshop
Price: $22.00

Overview : Feel like you're in the ring with Mike Tyson, without having to get your ear bitten off! This cool product from Pega brings new life to the boxing game in the Wii Sports package. Simply stick your Nunchuk and Wii-mote controllers into each glove, link them up and it's seconds out, Round 1! Gloves are fully padded to protect you, the controllers and whoever you might accidentily hit! Adjustable straps to suit most sizes. Get one, it's a lot of fun!

Features :

• High quality 3rd party product.
• Enhance the joy of playing.
• Easy to use.

Quality/Usability : As we were the first ones to bring you news regarding the Wii Boxing Gloves. We also mentioned that we would bring a review as well and here is the very first Wii Boxing Gloves REVIEW!

So how is it? Its got its share of good and of course, its got its share of bad. So lets start the review!. The quality of the gloves are well made. Its light weight and feels great in the hands. There are velcro straps to tighten the gloves to your hands. The glove itself is pretty much a one size fits all. If you have small hands, it will be loose.

Now the controllers. The controllers go inside the big padded pouch. Right hand for Wii Remote and left hand for the Nunchuk. Inside the pouch is a styrofoam cushin with cutouts for the shape of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The cord on the attachment and strap on the Wii Remote go through a little opening on the flap cover of the gloves. Once the Wii Remote and Nunchuk are connected together and placed inside the cushion and the cushion is inside the glove, thats when we run into problems.

Theres no way to press buttons. In order to press buttons, you have to remove the styrofoam cushion to access the Wii Remote. Putting it back together to get ready to play a game isnt easy either as you'll need two free hands to help shove the cushion into the pouch of the glove. The time it takes to put the cushion/controller into the pouch, you're getting your butt whooped by your computer opponent. If you use controller gloves like I do, its a very very tight fit and you'll need to take them off if you're using a glove..thats if you want to use the cushion.

Even if you take out the cushion and just stick the remotes into the pouch, you'll be able to access the buttons but you still have problems. Once the Wii Remote is placed into the glove, you cant select anything on the screen since the Wii Sensor Bar doesnt recognize the Wii Remote since the glove is blocking the IR. So you'll have to take the Wii Remote out just to aim and select what you want. Once you have selected what you want, you have to stick the remote back into the glove. At least this option is a little easier than with the styrofoam cushion.

If you're able to put up with all that hassle, gameplay is somewhat smooth sailing. Although the Wii Sensor Bar doesnt recognize the Wii Remote for you to point and select your options, it recognizes the movement of the controllers..but not completely accurate. Just holding the controllers without the use of gloves isnt accurate to begin with. Its a little harder to do uppercuts and those side-punches. Since the wires are coming out of the top of the controller gloves, the cord may get in the way of gameplay.

Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Boxing Gloves is just a gimmick. The idea is great but the design is poor. Cord being in the way, Wii Remote not being recognized when it comes to selecting things thus having to remove the styrofoam cushion and remote just to select what you want. By the time you're done fiddling with selecting and placing it back into the pouch, you dont want to bother anymore. You're pretty much either in between rounds resting or given up and got KO'd.

If they were to revise the controller glove, I suggest not having the styrofoam cushion over the remote but under it. This will allow user to have access to buttons without having to take out the controller. A cut out for the IR would be need so it is visible to communicate with the sensor bar. And maybe something with the wires where they are at the bottom of the glove rather than at the top. There were a couple of times where I got smacked in the face.



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Nyko Charger Grip Lite
Manufacturer: Nyko
Site: Buy from Nyko
Price: $24.99

Overview : Increase the battery life and comfort of the Nintendo DS lite with Nyko’s Charger Grip for the DS lite. The Charger Grip lite has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery that adds up to 8 hours of additional playtime. The batteries are encased in an ergonomically designed case designed to minimize discomfort and provide a more comfortable grip for extended playing sessions on road trips, plane flights and more. The ChargerGrip lite utilizes the existing DS lite AC adaptor to charge both the DS lite’s battery and the Charger Grip’s internal battery simultaneously. Attaching and removing the Charger Grip is simple and requires no additional hardware or installation.

Features :

• Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Up to 8 hours of additional play time
• Uses existing DS lite AC adaptor
• Enjoy longer periods of gaming without having to recharge
• Ergonomic design meshes with the décor of the DS lite
• Built-in stylus slot

Quality/Usability : Nyko announced and unveiled the Nyko Charger Grip at CES 2007. Since then, DS Lite owners have been wondering how the Charger Grip works out and how well it works. And we're here to bring it to you!

The Charger Grip comes only in one color and thats white. Installation and removal is fairly simple. First you'll need to remove the DS stylus. Fully extend the Charger Grip sliding power connector and place the DS Lite into the Charger Grip. Once the DS Lite is on the grip, slide the power connector down into the DS Lite power connector. Since the stylus has been removed from the DS Lite, Nyko uses a locking pin to secure the DS Lite in place. Where does the stylus go? It goes on top of the grip.

You can charge the Charger Grip alone, or both the Charger Grip and the DS Lite at the same time. Of course, you'll need the AC adapter in order to charge the Charger Grip.

There is a switch on the back side of the Charger Grip and consists of two modes, Charge Mode and Play Mode. Charge Mode is used to charge the Charger Grip by itself. This does not charge the DS Lite system. Play Mode will simultaneously charge the Charger Grip and DS Lite, or you can use the Charger Grip to charge the DS Lite if you are running low on battery.

There is an LED on the left side of the Charger Grip. NO LIGHT obviously means it is not charging. SOLID RED LIGHT means the unit is in Charge Mode. SOLID GREEN LIGHT means it is in Play Mode.

The Charger Grip has a foam cushion to prevent any scratching on the bottom of the DS Lite. With the DS Lite in the Charger Grip in place, the Grip feels comfortable in the hands and it doesnt add much bulk or weight. Access to the volume switch, headphone jack, power switch and both Slot-1 and Slot-2 are all easily accessible.

Conclusion : Overall, the Nyko Charger Grip does its job at supplying additional power to the DS Lite. It takes about 3-4 hours and lasted a little over 8 hours from our testings. If charging both the Charger Grip and DS Lite, it can take longer to charge. Having the Charger Grip would defeat the purpose of portability since it does add some thickness to the DS Lite. It would have been nice if Nyko offered a variety of colors such as black or pink to match the colors that Nintendo released in the US.

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DecalGirl Wii and Controller Skin (NES Retro Horizontal)
Manufacturer: DecalGirl
Site: Buy from DecalGirl
Price: $14.99 (Wii) / $4.00 (Remote/NunChuk Set) / $4.00 (Classic Controller) - Purchased together
Price: $4.99 (Remote/NunChuk Set) / $4.99 (Classic Controller) - Purchased Separately

Overview : We've always been huge Nintendo fans and we're proud to offer skins for the new Nintendo Wii. Extra care was taken on this next-gen console to cover as much as possible, minimize gaps between panels, and give fellow Wii owners a skin kit that does the box justice.

This Wii skin is made from the best materials - thin enough to cover both sides and still fit in the OEM stand, but thick enough to protect from scratches. The full-color, high-res "Retro Horizontal" design won't fade, smudge, smear, or leave any nasty residue when removed.

The same DecalGirl skins that Nintendo Power called "truly impressive" can now be yours for under $15!

Quality/Usability : Don't expect any fancy retail packaging. The quality of the skin is top notch. I was impressed by the quality the skins were printed on. The Wii skin came in two sheets. The first sheet contained the skin for the right side of the Wii (when stood up; top), front faceplate of the Wii and for the covers for the GameCube controllers. The second sheet was for the left side (bottom of the Wii).

They also included two more sheets. One sheet included skin for the Wii remote and nunchuk. The
second had the Classic Controller skin.

I'm anal and a perfectionist, so when it comes to making things look the best, it has to be perfect. Applying the skin was fairly easy. There were at times when it was not aligned perfectly and lifting/removing the skin was easy. It did not leave any marks or residue and the skin can still be applied.

Applying the top skin (right side when stopped upright), took me a couple of tries before I got it on perfectly. Once that was placed on, applying the rest was a synch once you get a hang of it.

Once all the skins have been applied, I thought there would be some added thickness to the Wii when placed into the stand that came with the Wii. But I was wrong. The Wii fit perfectly into the stand with the skin on.

Applying the skin for the Wii Remote, NunChuk and Classic Controller was easy as well. But if you have a glove on your Wii Remote, you probably wont notice that you have a skin on there.

The color of the skin looks fabulous. Looks exactly like a NES.

Conclusion : Overall, the DecalGirl Wii Skin is a great product. Gives your Wii a unique look until Nintendo releases new Wii colored system or a third party releases colored casings. Unfortunately, the top skin doesnt really cover completely. There is a slight gap. Also, with the skin on the nunchuk/remote and classic controller, I wonder how long it will last for those gamers with sweaty hands. But the skin is a great investment for those who wants to add a new look to their Wii. Not to mention, the skin can also protect the Wii from scratches.


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Wii Wireless Sensor Bar
Manufacturer: WirelessSensorBar
Site: Buy from Wireless Sensor Bar
Price: $24.99

Overview : The Wireless Sensor Bar™ can be used with any Wireless / IR control system that uses anchored IR points, such as the Nintendo Wii Remotes ("Wiimotes").

The Wireless Sensor Bar™ is battery powered, extremely easy to use, and has no external wires- perfect for any home gaming or home theatre system.

Quality/Usability : WirelessSensorBar.com is new to the peripheral scene. WSB took the same concept such as the candles, TV remotes, PSPs and Christmas lights but turned it into a real product. The WSB is to either replace the sensor bar that was included with the Nintendo Wii or used as a backup. Most people think that the sensor bar that came with the Nintendo Wii is communicating with the Wii with its 12 foot wire but its really not. The sensor bar is actually just being powered when connected to the Wii.

Honestly, the look of the WSB looks cheap. Looks as if someone just took some PVC moldings/pipes, cut them up and slapped them together. Then drilled some holes, added some LEDs and some soldering and BAM! Wireless Sensor Bar.

The WSB is about 13 inches long, 1 inch tall and about 2 inces thick. It's definitely bigger than the sensor bar that came with the Wii.

Aestheticly the WSB looks cheap but does its job perfectly! The IR LEDs are powered by a 9-volt battery. WSB.com claims the battery can last 48+ hours depending on use.

WSB.com also claims that it has the same range and accuracy that the original sensor bars of 3 and 8 feet but can probably go as far as 15 feet. From testing, it does hold true.

On the front of the WSB, it houses 4 IR LEDs (two on each side), a red LED power indicator and a ON/OFF button. The bottom has 13 inches of double sided mounting tape.

To slide off the covering, all you have to do is remove either end of the WSB and slide the top cover off. Once you have removed the top, the case reveals a simple design of the product. You can see all the wires and soldering. The soldering points look clean and I doesnt seem there would be any problems of it coming off. Even if it did, it would be easy for someone to resolder the points back.

When you turn on the WSB, the red LED is lit up to show you that its powered on. The other 4 LEDs dont light up as they shine IR to the remote.

Features :

• Uses Wii Standard 3-8 foot ideal range
• Setup and use in seconds with 1 button design
• On / Off switch with Red LED indicator
• 48+ hrs of gameplay battery life
• Adhesive strip on bottom for easy mounting
• Uses 9 Volt battery (extended life)
• Designed, produced, and tested in the USA!

Conclusion : Overall, the Wireless Sensor Bar does what its suppose to do. It would of been nice if they made a smaller design and sleeker design. For the price of $24.99, it seems a bit overpriced considering you can use candles, Christmas lights or TV remotes and doesnt include a battery. If you have the cash to burn and/or dont want the extra wires, this is a great alternative.

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Wii Silicone Case
Manufacturer: 3rd Party
Site: Buy from Brando
Price: $10.00

Overview : The Silicone Case design with high quality silicon plastic protection sleeve. Beautiful design and make you never worry about your controller being scratched.

Features :

• Prevent your Wii controller from scratches and finger print
• Anti-skid design
• Pressing button with suitable cutting
• Available color: Black, White

Quality/Usability : Similar to the Wii Controller Glove, this 3rd party silicone case is here to help you sweaty palmers with your gaming.

The silicone case comes with two cases. One for the Wii Remote Controller and the other for the Nunchuk attachment. They are only available in white and black.

The quality of the cases isnt as high as the Wii Controller Glove. The silicone (rubber) on these is not as thick. But other then quality, its all similar. The cutouts for each button is exact. The only differences between this silicone case and the Controller Glove is that there is no "WII" imprinted, no glow in the dark or multi-color look to it. Also on the back side of the silicone glove, are indentations on the back. This gives you a better grip. Applying the case isnt as hard as the Controller Glove due to its thinness.

Since the Will Controller Glove does not come with a nunchuk attachment, there is nothing to compare it to. In order to get the nunchuk into the silicone case, you would have to put the cord through the bottom. Once thats through, just slide the rest of the cord until you reach the nunchuk. Applying the case to the nunchuk is fairly easy as well.

Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Silicone Case is a great necessity when owning a Nintendo Wii. Price is reasonable as it comes with a silicone case for the nunchuk as well. The quality of the case can be better but the nice addition to the underside of the grip is great. It would of been nice if there were more choices of color to choose from.

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Wii Controller Carry Bag
Manufacturer: PEGA
Site: Buy from Brando / Buy from DealExtreme
Price: $10.00

Overview : The Wii Controller Carry Bag allows you to store your Wii-remote and Nunchuk controllers.

Features :

• Store Wii controller - Wii-mote & Nunchuk controller
• Protect your Wii consollers
• Convenience to transfer

Quality/Usability : Ever afraid of Wii-mote being scratched or damaged? What about misplacing your Nunchuk? How about accidently pressing the button and causing the battery to drain? Well, with this Wii Controller Carry Bag, you can keep both the Wii-mote and Nunchuk in the same place.

The case has a hardshell casing to protect the controllers. On the case itself is an image of the Wii remote and nunchuk attachment. The case is sealed with a zipper.

Upon opening the case, you'll notice a little netted storage area. You can either use it to hold the Wii remote, Nunchuk or the wires. If you wanted to, you can hold other accessories in that pouch such as SD card or something small.

There is also a small cloth attached inside. With this, you can protect/cover one of the controllers and prevent it from touching the other controller and causing any damage or scratches. There is enough space within the case to keep the controllers secure. Even with a controller glove/silicone case, there is enough room.

To help with transportation, there is a carabiner (clip) attached to it. So you can clip it to your belt, pants or bag.

Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Controller Carry Bag is a great accessory. Not only will it protect your controllers but keep them together as well. If you're like me who shoves the Wii remote into a bag during travel, more than likely one of the buttons is being accidently pressed by some object. When this happens, you're controller searching for the Wii and draining the battery at the same time. I had this happen to me many times where I would go play the Wii and the battery is dead. I know its not from playing. Hopefully, they release the case with more colors.

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