WII OWNERS! Get a brand new Wii Remote Plus for $20

[crashwg]

Target seems to be clearing out their stock of Flingsmash which includes a black Wii Remote Plus for $20.  Half the price of a Wii Remote Plus and you get a free game.  Also, Gamestop supposedly gives $6 in store credit for trade in on Flingsmash so if that's true then the deal is even sweeter.

I believe the tag said the price was valid through the 28th but don't hold me to that.

[Dartful Dodger]

I went to Target during lunch. It has it for $49.99. I asked a guy who works there and he said that $49.99 is the correct price.

[Mikezilla]

I wanted to buy one for my girlfriend but its not on sale for that price here. I checked online, but Im thinking of going down to the store just in case. I need drano anyway.

[Howard_Casto]

I'm holding out myself.  I've got the + dongle from when wii sports resort came out and although an enclosed one would be nice, My wii is white and I don't want a black one that doesn't match.  Also for some reason fling smash is ONLY bundled with black wiimotes. 

On top of that the only wii motion plus game worth noting that has yet to be released is the new Zelda.... the new Zelda that will be released so late that it might end up on the next console.  I'll start looking for deals if/when it comes out.

[ChadTower]

Yeah I went out and bought the Motion Plus sensors anticipating a bunch of games for it.  I wonder why I didn't know better.  I'm intimately familiar with the game console industry's history.   

[Mikezilla]

You know what burned ---my bottom--- when it came out and it was completely pointless? The memory expansion for the N64. The ONLY game that used it, that I actually wanted to play, was Zelda: Majoras mask. Actually, my mom bought it for me, but still. As a single mom I felt bad enough asking her for things that were expensive, have her buy it for me, and then barely use it. 

[Vigo]

You know what burned ---my bottom--- when it came out and it was completely pointless? The memory expansion for the N64. The ONLY game that used it, that I actually wanted to play, was Zelda: Majoras mask. Actually, my mom bought it for me, but still. As a single mom I felt bad enough asking her for things that were expensive, have her buy it for me, and then barely use it. 

Add Perfect Dark to that very short list as well, but your point is still solid, what a waste. Supposedly, there were a number of games that were "enhanced" by having the expansion, but I didn't notice a damn thing. 

[Mikezilla]

You know what burned ---my bottom--- when it came out and it was completely pointless? The memory expansion for the N64. The ONLY game that used it, that I actually wanted to play, was Zelda: Majoras mask. Actually, my mom bought it for me, but still. As a single mom I felt bad enough asking her for things that were expensive, have her buy it for me, and then barely use it. 

Add Perfect Dark to that very short list as well, but your point is still solid, what a waste. Supposedly, there were a number of games that were "enhanced" by having the expansion, but I didn't notice a damn thing. 

Ahh good ol Perfect Dark, forgot about that one. Good job Vigo. Yup! Damn you Nintendo!!!

[Howard_Casto]

Also Star Wars.... (Rogue Squadron maybe?)   It used it as well and for that game it was well worth it as it doubled the draw distance.

[DaveMMR]

A quick search on Wikipedia shows that there were a little over 60 (I counted 64 strangely enough considering the names of half the games on the system) that at least supported the Expansion Pak.  Two of them outright required them (Donkey Kong 64 and Majora's Mask) while another two are severely crippled without it (Perfect Dark and Starcraft 64).  As far as peripherals go, it was actually somewhat decently supported (approximately 20% of all US releases).   

However, it was mostly unnecessary at the same time (save for 4 games) as it just really gave higher resolutions or smoother frame rates and little else... 

[Howard_Casto]

However, it was mostly unnecessary at the same time (save for 4 games) as it just really gave higher resolutions or smoother frame rates and little else... 

Well wikipedia is seldom 100% correct.  While I will agree that at least half of your 60 some titles didn't really beneift from the pack, the other half did... it just wasn't so glaringly obvious that it coudl be put into a list. 

The most common use of the pack was to up the resolution to a full 480p.  This means any game in which precise aiming was required really benefitted from it.  Also as I mentioned, it also ups the draw distance, which again improves aiming.  I remember trying rogue squadron without the pack just to see the difference and I could barely play some of the fiddly levels. 

I think it was a very worthwhile add-on. 

Probably the worst in nintendo history is a three-way tie between R.O.B., the Super Scope and the Wii Wheel.  Rob only had two games, likewise with the wii wheel, and the super scope is probably the only lightgun ever released that made lightgun games less fun. 

And an honorable mention goes to the power pad... but track and field made it worth it. 

[ChadTower]

Did Track and Field even use the Power Pad?  I know it came with World Class Track Meet but I don't think I ever saw anyone use a pad for Track and Field.

[danny_galaga]

Target seems to be clearing out their stock of Flingsmash which includes a black Wii Remote Plus for $20.  Half the price of a Wii Remote Plus and you get a free game.  Also, Gamestop supposedly gives $6 in store credit for trade in on Flingsmash so if that's true then the deal is even sweeter.

I believe the tag said the price was valid through the 28th but don't hold me to that.

Not being familiar with it, I was thinking Flingsmash was a euphemism for the remote 

[Vigo]

Probably the worst in nintendo history is a three-way tie between R.O.B., the Super Scope and the Wii Wheel.  Rob only had two games, likewise with the wii wheel, and the super scope is probably the only lightgun ever released that made lightgun games less fun. 

At least if you waited before buying a Wii wheel, and were willing to get a 3rd party version, you could get one for only a couple bucks.

Oh, and I would like to nominate the SNES multi-tap, at least outside of Japan. Unless you really, really liked soccer games, there were not many games that utilized it.

[DaveMMR]

However, it was mostly unnecessary at the same time (save for 4 games) as it just really gave higher resolutions or smoother frame rates and little else... 

Well wikipedia is seldom 100% correct. 

Yes agreed, that's why I disclose it's from that source whenever I use it.   It's fine though for casual discussion.

While I will agree that at least half of your 60 some titles didn't really beneift from the pack, the other half did... it just wasn't so glaringly obvious that it coudl be put into a list. 

The most common use of the pack was to up the resolution to a full 480p.  This means any game in which precise aiming was required really benefitted from it.  Also as I mentioned, it also ups the draw distance, which again improves aiming.  I remember trying rogue squadron without the pack just to see the difference and I could barely play some of the fiddly levels. 

I could honestly say I've played not even ten of those sixty games on the list.  But basically, you could play without it - whether or not it was ideal is subjective.  That doesn't include the four "must-haves".  I guess that's why it worked as a peripheral.  They didn't have to make dedicated software for a smaller user-base (the typical problem of most peripherals) - it was only some extra memory. 

Probably the worst in nintendo history is a three-way tie between R.O.B., the Super Scope and the Wii Wheel.  Rob only had two games, likewise with the wii wheel, and the super scope is probably the only lightgun ever released that made lightgun games less fun. 

And an honorable mention goes to the power pad... but track and field made it worth it. 

I give R.O.B. a pass as far as peripherals only because it was basically a trojan horse to get the NES into US stores after the crash ("it was an interactive toy and an entertainment center, NOT a video game").  But yeah, it's pretty worthless. 

Wii Wheel is nothing more than a case for your Wiimote - the game works fine without it (some, like me, argue it works BETTER without it).   At the same time, you can use it for any game that you'd use your Wiimote as a steering wheel (e.g. Excite Truck).  It came with the game, so it's fine.

I agree on the Super Scope... pointless.  Also, the SNES mouse (though it did work on "On the Ball" [renamed conversion of "Cameltry"].   I think pretty much any add-on where games have to be made specifically to utilize it (like the balance board, 32X if you don't consider it a separate console, etc) will always fall short.   But I would move the Power Pad up to top three as it barely worked with games that were made with it.

[Donkbaca]

I had a power pad, I thought it was pretty fun. 

The wii balance board - well there are 2 wii fit games, and those are pretty popular.  Can't really call it a fail considering that for a lot of people, the few games that it supports are worth getting.

The POWER GLOVE, now THAT was an epic fail

[ChadTower]

I had a power pad, I thought it was pretty fun. 

The wii balance board - well there are 2 wii fit games, and those are pretty popular.  Can't really call it a fail considering that for a lot of people, the few games that it supports are worth getting.

The POWER GLOVE, now THAT was an epic fail

There are a lot more than two games that support the Balance Board.  You might be surprised if you look up the list.  Even Punch Out supports it.

[Vigo]

I'm thinking crappy peripherals deserve it's own thread at this point. There were far too many. What about this POS?

[Donkbaca]

Make it so Vigo.

[Vigo]

I see how it is. Tell me to make a thread on this, and then make your own quick.  Good thing I checked before making a new thread.

[Mikezilla]

At least the powerglove looked cool. I was in japan a few years ago and I saw some cosplay dudes using it in Shinjuku. 

[Vigo]

Did he look as cool as the stubby armed kid on the boxart? 

[Mikezilla]

Hhaha no, this dude looked straight out of an anime. His hair looked like he was Jerry Only from the misfits (look it up) and he had a proton pack-esque thing with all kinds of wires coming out of it, attached to a power glove on his right hand. It was hilarious. Japan is a trip. Go there if you ever get the chance. You see all kinds of weird ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

[Vigo]

Hhaha no, this dude looked straight out of an anime. His hair looked like he was Jerry Only from the misfits (look it up) and he had a proton pack-esque thing with all kinds of wires coming out of it, attached to a power glove on his right hand. It was hilarious. Japan is a trip. Go there if you ever get the chance. You see all kinds of weird ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

An Asian Jerry Only wearing a power glove and a proton pack. That has to be hilarious! 

[danny_galaga]

I had a power pad, I thought it was pretty fun. 

The wii balance board - well there are 2 wii fit games, and those are pretty popular.  Can't really call it a fail considering that for a lot of people, the few games that it supports are worth getting.

The POWER GLOVE, now THAT was an epic fail

There are a lot more than two games that support the Balance Board.  You might be surprised if you look up the list.  Even Punch Out supports it.

Shaun White Snowboarding was actually pretty fun using the balance board. Only problem is that when you jump, I found it hard not to actually jump...

[Dartful Dodger]

Shaun White Snowboarding was actually pretty fun using the balance board. Only problem is that when you jump, I found it hard not to actually jump...

That Wii Fit game where you walk/run past swinging balls and jump over cliffs and rolling logs always pisses me off. I get through a couple of levels and (even though I didn't leave the board) it'll warn me about actually jumping and resets me back to the beginning of the first level.

[Howard_Casto]

There are a lot more than two games that support the Balance Board.  You might be surprised if you look up the list.  Even Punch Out supports it.

While I LOVE the balance board and think it's a totally worthy peripheral, please don't cite Punch-Out as a good example of the other games that support it.  Punch-out's motion control option is quite possibly the worst motion controls on the Wii.  To any of the M.C. haters out there (I'm not one of them) punch-out would actually be good fodder for their argument. 

Other than that I agree though.  The balance board has more games than you think, and even if it didn't all the games it does support are really fun.  I put it in the same category as a music controller.... limited use, but it enhances the gameplay experience so much that you don't feel cheated.

[Howard_Casto]

Wii Wheel is nothing more than a case for your Wiimote - the game works fine without it (some, like me, argue it works BETTER without it).   At the same time, you can use it for any game that you'd use your Wiimote as a steering wheel (e.g. Excite Truck).  It came with the game, so it's fine.

I think pretty much any add-on where games have to be made specifically to utilize it (like the balance board, 32X if you don't consider it a separate console, etc) will always fall short.   

But I would move the Power Pad up to top three as it barely worked with games that were made with it.

The wii wheel is up there because it was actually billed as a device to enhance mario kart wii.  As you said, gameplay is actually hurt when you use it.  And only two or three racing games actually work with it.  Excite Truck, for examle, does NOT work with it because you have to tilt the wiimote forwards and back to land properly.  There is only one first party game (mario kart wii) that supports it.... while there are two or three third party racers on the wii that work well with it, they all come with a wii wheel knock-off, which kind of defeats the purpose.

It's also a add-on with no real purpose.  I know a lot of people aren't fond of the wii Zapper, but at least you can admit that it serves a useful purpose by moving the trigger down to a grip and holding the wiimote at the proper angle.  The wiimote is practically a steering controller as-is and the wheel simply makes it more cumbersome to hold.

So it's a device that had so much hype that it actually had a featured segment at E3 and yet it only works on a single game and is nothing more than a plastic shell.  So yeah, top three worst of all time

I disagree with your other point.  The nes Zapper, the wii Zapper and accessories like the balance board prove that you can make a quality, optional controller, you just need to have good games actually come out for it.  I think the wii zapper would have blew up even more if nintendo could have been bothered to actually release a first party game to go with it aside for the crossbow tech demo.  I'll say this... I've yet to play a zapper or balance board game taht I didn't like.

Yeah the powerpad was a bit cruddy... but all soft mat controllers are cruddy.  The few games it had were sorta fun so it's merely the 4th worst to me. 

[DaveMMR]

The wii wheel is up there because it was actually billed as a device to enhance mario kart wii. 

Despite my opinions, there are people (my gf included) who cannot play Mario Cart Wii without it.  So maybe it does enhance it for them.  But I'm soft of it because it's mostly harmless.  It was included with the game (unlike say the Rumble Pak which pushed the price of Star Fox 64 to $80 new) so it's not like I spent money on it with the promise of all these upcoming games that never materialized.  And it's a bonus, not a requirement for any game.

Excite Truck, for examle, does NOT work with it because you have to tilt the wiimote forwards and back to land properly. 

I admit I haven't played it with the wheel nor do I have access to boot it up now, but in theory, I can't understand why it wouldn't work with it.  There's nothing keeping you from tilting the wheel when landing; it's not attached to anything.  Doing a quick Google search for "Does the Wii Wheel work with Excite Truck" showed me that it does work, aside from having to get used to it.

[Ginsu Victim]

Punch-out's motion control option is quite possibly the worst motion controls on the Wii.

First thing I did when I played Punch-Out was turn the controller sideways and use the old school NES setup.

[Howard_Casto]

Excite Truck, for examle, does NOT work with it because you have to tilt the wiimote forwards and back to land properly. 

I admit I haven't played it with the wheel nor do I have access to boot it up now, but in theory, I can't understand why it wouldn't work with it.  There's nothing keeping you from tilting the wheel when landing; it's not attached to anything.  Doing a quick Google search for "Does the Wii Wheel work with Excite Truck" showed me that it does work, aside from having to get used to it.

Well technically it will work with excite truck, but technically I could use a gamepad with my feet.  It doesn't mean that you should use it. 

You twist the wiimote forwards and backwards to line up your landing.  At the same time you are tilting the wiimote on the horizontal to line up your steering.  So yeah if you are landing straight you can use the wheel, just tilt it forward, but if you are landing into a curve you would have to turn the wheel and tilt it not forward, but at a 45 (if you can visualize that... it's hard to explain).....  This is easy to do sans wheel because you are essentially holding a tube, but with the wheel it is quite akward.

[DaveMMR]

This is easy to do sans wheel because you are essentially holding a tube, but with the wheel it is quite akward.

It's actually awkward both ways - that's why I don't play much Excitetruck.   

[Howard_Casto]

This is easy to do sans wheel because you are essentially holding a tube, but with the wheel it is quite akward.

It's actually awkward both ways - that's why I don't play much Excitetruck.   

That's a shame because even though it's a lauch title there hasn't been a single racer released on the wii, mario kart included, that even comes close to excite truck.  In terms of arcade racers I think it might be the most perfect one I've ever played. 

[DaveMMR]

This is easy to do sans wheel because you are essentially holding a tube, but with the wheel it is quite akward.

It's actually awkward both ways - that's why I don't play much Excitetruck.   

That's a shame because even though it's a lauch title there hasn't been a single racer released on the wii, mario kart included, that even comes close to excite truck.  In terms of arcade racers I think it might be the most perfect one I've ever played. 

Oh I do not disagree; it's a fine game - but you've touched upon my love/hate relationship with Wii titles.  I hate having to use motion controls when traditional controls would be better.  It's why I haven't invested more time in Donkey Kong Country Returns - the difficulty of the platformer is increased by having to waggle the stick to perform essential moves (the roll, ground-pound, etc.).   At least titles with titles like Super Smash Brother's Brawl and Mario Kart Wii, they allow more traditional control methods.

Motion controls were exciting back in 06/07 but for certain games, I prefer traditional. 

[Howard_Casto]

I'll agree with you on DKCR, the waggle was pointless.... then again the wii's classic controller is crap (it's too BIG and too flat) and there aren't enough buttons on the wiimote to handle all the actions.  With all of these add-ons for the wiimote you would think somebody would have thought to add a top row of buttons that plug into the accessory port. 

I don't see how excite truck would be fun without the motion controls though.  They are spot on and manipulating two axis at once would be quite difficult on a racer unless you used a (blah!) dual analog stick setup, at which point you've ruined everything fun about a racer. 

You have to put that forward/back tilt in there too because back in the day, that was what make excite bike.  Remove it and you might as well take the "excite" out of the title. 

[versapak]

I'm confused...

The Wii wheel is just that little plastic wheel that is nothing but a circle that you plug the Wiimote into right?


If so, then how is it that you would think that you can't play Excite Truck with it?

I had one of those wheels long before Mario Kart ever came out, and it worked just fine with excite truck. It takes no more effort to tilt that thing back and forth than it does to tilt the Wiimote by itself.

[Howard_Casto]

I'm confused...

The Wii wheel is just that little plastic wheel that is nothing but a circle that you plug the Wiimote into right?


If so, then how is it that you would think that you can't play Excite Truck with it?

I had one of those wheels long before Mario Kart ever came out, and it worked just fine with excite truck. It takes no more effort to tilt that thing back and forth than it does to tilt the Wiimote by itself.

How good are you at Excite Truck?  I've got all S's (or whatever the highest rank is... it's been a couple of years since I last played it) I can tell you that while the game is playable with a wheel, it hinders performance to the point of where you are hurting yourself by using it.  It's like I said to Dave... I can use a gamepad with my feet, but it doesn't mean that is the best option. 

[versapak]

I'm confused...

The Wii wheel is just that little plastic wheel that is nothing but a circle that you plug the Wiimote into right?


If so, then how is it that you would think that you can't play Excite Truck with it?

I had one of those wheels long before Mario Kart ever came out, and it worked just fine with excite truck. It takes no more effort to tilt that thing back and forth than it does to tilt the Wiimote by itself.

How good are you at Excite Truck?  I've got all S's (or whatever the highest rank is... it's been a couple of years since I last played it) I can tell you that while the game is playable with a wheel, it hinders performance to the point of where you are hurting yourself by using it.  It's like I said to Dave... I can use a gamepad with my feet, but it doesn't mean that is the best option. 

I haven't played the game in years, but I am sure I didn't 5 star everything.

That being said I still don't see much difference between the Wiimote alone and the Wiimote stuck in a plastic circle. Every movement you can make to one you can make to the other.


I'll take your word that you 5 starred everything and that you are better without the little plastic wheel, but I am sure that there are people out there that have 5 starred everything with the little plastic wheel as well.