At this point, the Nintendo Wii Remote has been around for over three years.  I think that’s enough time to pass judgement on the new technology, don’t you?  We’ve seen the Wiimote utilized in a dozen different ways by hundreds of Wii games at this point.  So why am I still so unsure what to think of this weird little controller?

Sure, there are some games that utilize  the motion-sensing capability of the Wii Remote beautifully.  Red Steel, Medal of Honor:  Vanguard, and Metroid Prime 3 all make brilliant and innovative use of gaming tech unavailable with any other console.  But for every success, there seems to be a least a couple of complete failures by game developers to integrate Wiimote gimmickry into their titles.  Need for Speed, Far Cry, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 all feel as though they’d play a lot better with more conventional controllers (say, a PlayStation DualShock?) than they do with a Wii Remote.  Many more games make no attempt whatsoever to utilize the Wiimote’s motion sensing. 

So three years in, is the Wii Remote a real breakthrough or just a gimmick that got old quickly?  Both.  It’s provided some stunning new ways to play video games, and it’s also been a frustrating obstacle to overcome in other games.  What IS nice is that there are always ways to improve the Wiimote so that a few of its flaws are corrected.  Take today’s deal of the day, for example.  The Wiimote goes through batteries like power ups:  It always needs more.  Thanks to our fantastic deal on the dual Wii remote charger, you get all the cordless controller action you can stand without blowing your game budget on Duracells. 

As for the Nunchuk?  For now at least, you’re on your own!