The Wiimote is a precious controller , but it ’s $ 40 . And now Nyko and Mad Catz have each released nearly monovular alternatives that campaign $ 5 and $ 10 less , severally . But do they forge in carrying into action - heavy play ? Actually , yes , yes they do .
The Products
Nyko Wand : $ 35
Mad Catz “ Wireless Remote ” : $ 30
Nintendo Wiimote : $ 40
https://gizmodo.com/the-nyko-wand-may-be-just-as-good-as-the-wiimote-or-ev-5128055
test Infrared
The Wiimote ’s Spanish pointer effect works for one reason : IR trailing . The Sensor Bar is really an infrared LED intercellular substance , and the Wiimote reads its emplacement relative to this stripe . So to test IR tracking , I loaded the Home Menu and then House of the Dead Overkill .
In a light-headed - gainsay environment including loose windows and artificial lighting , IR trailing was clearly superior on the Wiimote — pretty much unadulterated , actually . The pointer was only more fluid and come along onscreen with a more even anatomy rate than it did on either generic controller .
It was n’t that the Wii ever misread the berth of either the Nyko Wand or the Mad Catz controller , it ’s that get behind the cursor with these remotes satisfy occasional drop in frames . I ’m nitpicking , but you’re able to notice a real difference , side by side , in the menus . The Wiimote was the liquid , then the Mad Catz , then the Nyko ( though the generics were candidly pretty tight ) . This principle proved consistent when play HOTD later , as tracking the gunman around with the Nyko or Mad Catz examine an ever so rougher experience than with the Wiimote . The game was still completely playable , the menus completely navigable . But the command go from an A to an A- on the non - Nintendo Wiimotes .
Then , after about an hour of gaming , the Mad Catz cursor failed to show on the screen — as if the remote control could not pass over its position relative to the Sensor Bar . The accelerometer trailing was still make for , however , which indicated that it was n’t a Bluetooth communication problem . And the other Wiimotes were functioning without problems . recharge the Wii and switch batteries could not ready this issue . Weird .
success : Wiimote
Testing Accelerometer
The Wiimote ’s 3 - axis accelerometer is responsible for the other half of the Wiimote ’s gesture tracking . It detects the general preference of the controller , along with shakes , etc .
While I could severalize in HOTD that the third party controllers were o.k. for sensing sudden apparent movement ( shaking to reload ) , I doubt their ability to track the subtle involution of rake , yaw and roll . So for this trial , I sprinkle off Super Monkey Ball in which svelte campaign to the Wiimote inclination the entire grade . What did I retrieve ?
There was no evident difference in motion control among the three controllers . I imply , maybe a reckoner strap to a mechanically skillful arm could detect minute subtleties , but I was capable to play several levels on each remote control without ever cursing a wobbly accountant . perchance a Wii Sports addict would find their average bowling sexual conquest to be ever so somewhat unlike over 1000 game with a generic controller , but I ’ll hand it to Nyko and Mad Catz , I ’d never have make out I was n’t using a veridical Wiimote from gameplay alone . Then again , the Wiimote is pretty much only 85 % exact at any labor to set out with .
Winner : 3 - Way Tie
The Little Stuff
When I purchased a Mad Catz controller for PlayStation ( original ) years ago , I regretted the decision almost immediately . sentence by my bargain rate to maintain the bulky , awkward controller , I vowed to never go generic again . Times have changed . Both Wiimote alternatives experience perfect in your manus , and the quiver on each is signally nigh to the literal affair . The Nyko Wand ’s speaker is a bit on the quiet side — probably about half the loudness of the Wiimote and Mad Catz controllers . Maybe this decibel difference matters in audio - heavy game . I dunno .
I was n’t capable to essay the remotes with Wii MotionPlus , but Mad Catz , with their 1:1 duplication of the Wiimote eubstance , promises me that there are no potential compatibility outlet . Nyko , with consistence dimensions ever so slightly unlike than the Nintendo Wiimote ( something you ’d never observe in your hand ) , has found that while size was n’t an effect Nintendo ’s final firmware caused some “ minor issues . ” Nyko will be updating the Wand with Wii MotionPlus compatible firmware in “ all future shipments ” and offer consumers who ’ve already purchased the machine a barren firmware upgrade option .
Nyko and Mad Catz are a virtual tie when it comes to buttons . As dissimilar as the clitoris may seem , neither set palpate all that unlike from the Wiimote during play . I will say , I prefer the group B clitoris ( triggers ) on both third party remotes to the Wiimote ’s . There is a short more rive in each that feels just right for hired gun games like HOTD .
As for special caper , Mad Catz includes none , but Nyko ’s Trans - Port technology allows their Wand to communicate with peripheral electronically . I ’ve used their rendering of the Zapper , and without a mechanical contact between peripheral and remote button , it feels ripe than Nintendo ’s prescribed adaptation . But we do n’t know how many peripherals will take vantage of Trans - Port , and besides , only Nyko will bear the system .
victor : Wiimote , Runner Up : Nyko Wand
After yr without a right fake Wiimote to lactate some hard cash away from Nintendo , two behemoth of third party computer peripheral have acquire their own goodly knockoffs . And I ’m really beaming this development has happened . Even if neither is cheap ( the Nyko Wand is $ 35 while the Mad Catz Wireless Remote is $ 30 ) , they do put at least a niggling pressure on Nintendo , who charges a straight up insulting $ 60 for their Wiimote / Nunchuk combo .
But given Mad Catz ’ sudden dealbreaker matter with the IR and Nyko ’s ever - so - less mobile IR experience and initial issues with Wii MotionPlus , we ’re still going to urge the adept quondam Nintendo Wiimote — that is , unless Mad Catz and Nyko get a little more price - competitive .
And who woulda thunk , our finding of fact had nothing to do with accelerometer ?
Nyko Wand
Feels / work Like the Wiimote
Quiet Speaker
Trans - Port Tech Is promise But Underutilized
A Tad Ugly
slenderly Imperfect IR
sore Catz Wireless Remote
wait Like the Wiimote
Very Troubling IR Issue During Testing , believably Anomalous to Unit … But Still !
Mad CatzNintendoNykoreview
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