In true Nintendo fashion

If you look at the history of Nintendo, you will know that themselves and third parties have long been involved in coming out with an entire host of controllers for a game console.  So much that it can be confusing to some.   I mean, look at ROB the robotic operating buddy (click ROB for a pic of the bad boy of NES) that came with the original NES.  When's that dude gonna show up as a Wii controller?  So, let's list what you need for the Wii.

Differenty Wii Remote Controller Types 

The Wii Remote, the Wii classic controller, the Wii Nunchuk, Wii Steering wheel, Wii fantasy set, Wii sports set, Wii Zapper or Light Gun, and the Wii Guitar, I may have missed one or two.

So let's clear the water hear, what are the basics.  For example do you need the Wii sports set to play sports games on Wii?  No.  Do you need the Wii fantasy game attachments, like a sheild and sword to play games like Zelda on Wii,,, uh,, no.  Basically, to play almost all Wii games what you need is the Wii Remote, the Classic Controller, and the Nunchuk is also nice to have.

So what's all this other stuff.  Well, basically attachments or controllers with specific shapes like that of a tennis raquet or golf club and just dressed up Wii Remotes.  They do the same thing the Wii Remote does, they're just shaped differently to help people really get into the game.  I mean, I've played golf on the Wii with the stock Wii Remote, but only when I put the Wii Golf Club in my hand could I feel the cool breeze of the course, the birds chirping in my ear, and my caddy text messaging his girlfriend in my backswing.  Same goes with the other attachments, like a sword attachment for example,, who wants to sleigh a dragon without a sword attachment?  

Other Wiimote Types 

Other remotes are more specific to the game and thier fuction a little more obvious.  Hmm, I wonder what games I'd want the steering wheel for?  Hmm, I wonder if I can play tennis with the Wii Guitar?  Some things are obvious some aren't, one things for certain though, all you need is your Wii Remote, The Classic Controller (think of your Playstation controller), and a Nunchuk and you're pretty much good to go on most every Wii offering.  

Until next time, keep your hands dry using the Wii Remote Controller Grip and try not to smack your friend in the head.

Game Console Controller Comparison

Whether you play with a Nintendo Wii controller, an Xbox 360 controller, a Playstarion 3 controller, or a host of other controllers that are out there; chances are you have run into a common situation that we all face from time to time and some of us more frequently than others, if not always; it's the sweaty clammy hands we get when we're really grinding it out trying to top our opponent.  So, let's talk about our options here.  If you play the Wii, one obvious option is to use the factory installed leash (go figure right) that comes with the Wii controller.  While this is handy for keeping the thing from flying out of your grip and smacking your little sister in the grill, it's not gonna help much when she returns your volley and you're sitting there with a contoller doing a hoola hoop dance around your wrist piece. 

Nintendo Wii Controller

So Nintendo and some aftermarket suppliers came up with a gel type sleave thing that fits over the controller so you can keep your nasty paw intact and in play.  Well, to be honest, although this may work, this may be the only controller set up it has hopes of working on.  Why, because on the Wii controller, you're doing big bulky movements with it, there's not a lot of precise button play involved in most Wii games.  Even so, if you don't like the feel of a bulky jellified controller, there are other things you can do, like ask your hockey buddy for some stick tape.  Barring taping up your controller, which may or may not t-off the other peeps in your crew that wanna use it, it's a fairly permanent and messy solution.  Why not just curb you hands from sweating to begin with?  No need for jelly grips or hockey tape. That's just one controller type, can those two methods work on an xbox or a playstation controller?  I've seen it attempted.  There are products out there, like controller gloves that fit over the handle of your controller.  There again, I feel they just make the controller bulky, more or less they just get in the way.  I've tried using athletic tape on my controllers, although my grip on the controller vastly improved, I got blisters from the added friction.  You see, when you play, you want your hand to be able to have a natural and very slightly tacky feel with the controller. 

Improving Your Game Grip

That brings us to another attempt at getting better controller grip, the gamer glove.  I tried to play with a set once, again, just didn't feel right, didn't have the same connection with the controller that I am used to.  Not to mention, can you imagine going to play some heads up at your friends house and you whip out a pair of gloves?  The words tool and shed come to mind.  The other thing the controller makers have tried is to put a set of fans inside vented handles on a game controller.  What???  I picked one of these up once when it was being demoed, not only were the vents in the controller handle extremely annoying, the fan noise itself going off in the unit was brutal, not to mention the fact that it just didn't work.  So, that brings me full circle to the very beginning of the problem.  If your hands are sweating and annoying while you're engaged in some instense action, why not just go to the root of the problem, rub on some Ghost Grip, and you're good for 3-4 hours of sweat free gameplay.  

When it comes to handling a sweaty controller, GhostGrip has you covered, no sweat!

Until next time, keep your hands dry and your room a pig sty.  What is a pig sty anyway, I may need to google that one.  

Check Out Left 4 Dead

This was kind of an accident, but it was a blessing in disquise and I suggest everyone do the same as I did.  First, get Fallout 3 and make yourself sick playing that, patiently prodding through dialoge and load screens for days on end until you finally can't stand it anymore and you want to puke all over your Xbox.  Now, here's the beauty in that, having preplanned, you have a unopened copy of Left 4 Dead stashed under your sink next to the pepto.  Take a step back, slam a red bull or mountain dew, do some jumping jacks, or say to yourself "this is crazy this is crazy this is crazy", whatever you have to do to shake off the Fallout 3 stuper your in, now you're ready to smoke some zombies!

The Anti-Fallout

I'm talking pop the disc in, grab your controller, and just start shooting stuff.  It's the anti-Fallout.  No character building, no learning different tricks and paths around, no need to worry about running out of ammo, you got a pistol as a back up that doesn't run out.  You heard correctly, all you have to do is just run around and shoot zombies!!  It's awesome, a good, but not completely mindless shoot'em up.  They kept things simple, but the game play smooth and precise, a great combination.  Of all the games in my collention, I think this one has the most replay value and a change of pace and the online multiplayer is awesome and stress free as well.  No need to worry about playing against other players and their trikery, you can just jump in a room if you want and join a squad of other online players, up to four total including yourself, and then just go around in a co-op mode poppin zombies, it's great. This is when having some video game controller grip is important to take control.

What is up with Fallout 3?

Let's talk a little bit about Fallout 3, where the first thing you can learn is how to play with your teddy bear.  Ok, so here's what I noticed after a few hours of playing Fallout, it takes forever to get anywhere.  Now understand, when I say forever, I mean for evvvvvvv rrrrrrrrrrrrr, Goonies style.  Check the link, www.tvstoreonline.com/goon005.html , this shirt is not as cool as the Ghost Grip shirts that will be coming out, but it's not too shabby.  Anyway, after sweating it out for 4 hours, I was, dang dude, I'm gonna be playing this game for half a century before I finish.  I'm guessing my patience with having to jump through hoops to develope quick travel points on a map got worn to a nub a few years ago playing Fable.  Anyway, prepare to invest a large number of hours before the game play increases it's pace, in the meantime, you're gonna have to plug away and put your time in maggots.

Whats Next

Now the good stuff, when the game actually get's rolling, you're looking at a decent shooter mixed with some good role play, a little choose your own adventure Mass Effect kinda stuff, but overall, pretty darn satisfying until you wake up at 9 in the morning passed out on your gamer roost with a puddle of slobber on your shoulder.  If you haven't gotten the point so far, the game can be addicting and engaging, and time flippin flys by when you get into a rhythim on it.  So if you wanna make it into work the next day, use a timer or alarm clock to gently alert you that it's time to turn your console off before the disc melts a hole in it. Grab some Ghost Grip and improve your game controller usage.