The Wii is unique in that the control schemes for different titles goes far beyond which button does what- the game you’re playing determines which way you hold the controller. You can point like a lightgun, swing it like a tennis racket or tilt it side to side to steer around sharp turns. At the console’s launch some peripheral manufacturers put out some attachments for the Wiimote designed to look like tennis rackets, baseball bats and golf clubs, intended to make the Wii Sports experience feel more authentic.

I had plenty of good chuckles to myself every time I spied one of these sets in a store, but it seems not everyone was laughing- some were actually buying them. They must have been, because Nitho has announced they’re releasing a line of similar add-ons designed to fit with the Wii MotionPlus add-on. I can definitely understand the overall need for a lightgun, since it makes aiming for shooting games easier, but did we really need more fake sports equipment bits? They do offer a charging dock as well, but is it that difficult to pop the Wii MotionPlus off before you charge your battery packs?

A statement from the VP of sales and marketing in the US said that the company “focus{es} on innovation from the very beginning of the development cycle,” and that they “try to anticipate emerging market trends”. I’m not sure how well you’re doing claiming innovation at the same time you’re offering a ‘new’ product that’s essentially already been on the market for some time. The emerging trend they’re talking about? The fact that unsavvy parents and grandparents will buy some of these silly items for their children/grandchildren.