perhaps nintendo has a wireless one in the works?

Spacehog85

I understand.. but how do these companies normally get away with making pretty much exact copies of game console controllers.. do the companies normally turn a blind eye?

Polite Society

On one hand, it makes sense, because one might buy this 'chuck instead of the Nintendo one, and it looks like a normal 'chuck to boot.

On the other hand, it sounds dumb because it's limiting 3rd party controllers, and a lot of the arguments sound like "you can't make it look 'Wii-like'", which is kind of like Apple telling accessory makers "don't make your accessories match the iPod in any way".

Chef

Wait, so companies like Nyko don't discuss creating these peripherals with Nintendo first?

reddevil3

@snowlock:

Pretty sure this thing is strap-compatible There's a channel on the bottom where a wrist strap would very likely go.

Fett101

@Spacehog85: that might just be it.

i figured this would be about there being no wrist strap or something small.
nintendo should stfu about this for sure;
there's no reason third party hardware shouldn't look the same as theirs.

snowlock

Now that Nintendo is actually making money of course they care.

JonDarkwood

Of course Nintendo will sue. They are getting away with charging an arm and a leg for a remote I bet costs less money to make then both the PS3 and 360 controllers. Nintendo keeps on digging a bigger and bigger hole with me. Hell, I used to be the biggest Nintendo fanboy as a kid. First the Game Cube, then the horrific Wii they brought to the market. If Nintendo did not have the rights to Zelda I would never buy anything from them again.

Muisee

Nintendo to third parties: Only WE are allowed to make money.
...
And we're not kidding so here's a lawsuit.

interstate78

imma go ahead and be angry at nintendo for at least 3 days

bobdisgea

If Nintendo would have just made their own wireless nunchuk already, then there wouldn't be a problem.

This is a stupid move by Nintendo.

Lstormy10

What the hell else could the nunchuck look like? Nintendo is probably worried that it will lose money from this and probably has its own wireless one in the works. It seems like Nintendo is trying to completely discourage third party controllers with the Wii. If someone else makes a Wii remote, and if third party standards hold true and it's cheaper, Nintendo will lose money on two of its products: Wii remotes and Wii Play.

Ryodestined

As far as THEM MAKING OMETHING BETTER, I think it's the opposite... do you think a nyko product will be as good as a nunchuk [other than the wireless]? I don't know, but I would think the innards that do the motion sensing / tilt control would have to be pretty exact or else it could screw with nintendo's games in a big way.

I think its a more serious case with the wii than just a standard controller.

ajacy

Whoah. Looks like Nintendo drank some of the Sony juice.

h8GWB

Nyko needs to pay license fees like everyone else. Why the issue? Who ever let this ship without checking patent/tm issues should be fired. If Nintendo held their 'cross' pad design and forced every other company since the 80's to different theirs,why would they do any different with the tech now? Silly companies. If they want to make bootleg products, they should just set up shop in China and sale their wares through Play-Asia et al.

vidgmr

@Zero_Beat: *wait a long time to make and release a good controller...

Zero_Beat

Becuse nintendo can't afford to share their wealth..
[sarcasm off]

devilgoku

@everybest:

Probably different materials too!

LittleBigPlaneteer (Follow me!!)

@Drake Lake: Interesting you should say that, because Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all patent various aspects of their controllers, so it's no wonder that third parties will either wait a long time to a good controller and/or just release lots of not-quite-as-good or just plain bad controllers.

Zero_Beat

It's not even the same color. Nyko's has the cheap third-party off-white.

everybest

I don't see how using the same type of plastic would be an patent infringement. It's like a tire company suing another tire company because they used rubber.

In fact, they don't even look the same in that picture. Is it me or does the Nyko controller reflect a different shade of white than the Wiimote in that picture?

NPC

A wireless nunchuck being made by Nintendo confirmed.

kojirodensetsu

"The company is seeking a court order that would force Nyko to stop selling the wireless controller, plus cash compensation."

Yep, they're definitely making their own wireless nunchuk

LittleBigPlaneteer (Follow me!!)

The hell?

LuppyLuptonium

@Drake Lake: For the record, not gonna take sides on this issue.

Drake Lake

@Polite Society:

That was my thought exactly.

EmeraldDragon

Shape, design, and appearance, huh?

THAT'S why third party controllers suck! We figured it out, guys! It's because they aren't allowed to be comfortable at all, or else it's infringement!

Drake Lake

@JonDarkwood: When haven't they made money?

I think Nintendo's just pissed that Nyko's making something of theirs better than they bother to.

Green-clad Gamer Dude

Nintendo responds to copyright infringement, seems displeased.

Arahem

@Spacehog85: Exactly my thoughts. Seems like they want to muscle out competition on this one.

NitrousO

Well, now we know one of the things we will be seeing from Nintendo at E3. Why else would they get so defensive about this but not care about the billions of horribly made Mad Catz controllers out there for the past 10 years.

Tarutaru_Pantsu

Is Nintendo finally showing its true color?

Nyko should just paint the controller black. Haha

BlackFreefall

Unless Nintendo somehow makes most of their profits from Nunchuks, then suing Nyko over this seems pretty greedy.

mfwahwah

The originals should have been wireless, with the option to be tethered. I'm sure Nintendo has one just like that up their sleeves which is why they're targeting this.

Nyko is a big company. I doubt they just infringed on the tech. They must have licensed it from someone. Nintendo is just being picky and mentioning the "looks" of the controller. What did Nintendo expect a wireless Wii-mote/nunchuck to look like?

LittleBigPlaneteer (Follow me!!)

@Everyone attacking Nintendo for being "greedy":

"This is the first time Kyoto-based Nintendo has sued over an accessory for the Wii, the company said."

With all the crappy (and select few decent) Wii Accessories and knock-offs, if Nintendo was in this *just* to be greedy, don't you think they'd go after most of these other products seen everywhere?

Besides, who cares if Nintendo is just being greedy. They're a business. They have a duty to their shareholders to protect their business. If someone is actually illegally selling their technology, they need to stop it.

Plus, Nyko sucks the big one. Their g'd Charging Grip for the Nintendo DS Lite screwed up two different DS Lite chargers of mine and their customer service is horrible to work with.

TheUncleBob

Hey, they keep third party software at bay, may as well attack third party hardware producers too! I'm only kidding, but unless they have the same guts, the two products don't look very similar.

Wolfers

@bobdisgea:

Me too.

angry panda >:[

JuanMontoya

The only things I can see Nintendo having a case on are:
1) The name. It's called Kama Nunchuk, and Nintendo has that exact spelling of the word copyrighted for game controllers (Nyko could've gone with nunchuck, nunchaku, etc.).
2) The shape of the analog stick. It has one raised circle like all of Nintendo's sticks for Wii. Had they shaped it a bit differently, they'd probably be fine.

But other than that? I don't think Nintendo can really claim infringement. It isn't the same exact shape or color shade as Nintendo's own.

But, I don't know exactly WHAT the patents are that Nyko violated...

Still, it's a stupid case.

BPMι

@EmeraldDragon:
@Polite Society:

There are tons of components to controllers that have different patents on them. Do you know why most 3rd party controllers are crappy? It's because 3rd party controller makers have to get around all of these patents by using different technology. And Nintendo certainly didn't go out of their way to patent the shittiest or hardest to make technology for their controllers. In this case, I doubt Nyko violated any technology patents that Nintendo has. I think they just got a little too close to the aesthetic design of the controller. For reasons why Nintendo cares, see @Ryodestined:

BigShell

@kojirodensetsu:

I was hardcore; defended the Game Cube till I couldn't take it anymore. The N64/SNES days are long gone now. Replaced with shovel-ware and causal gaming.

With all of that said, if they show one clip of a new Zelda game at E3 I will eat my words and buy their "console". Sad, but I still love that franchise.

Muisee

Still this doesn't make sense how is this any different than any other 3rd party controller?

Bootleg Zani

I have two of these in black and they are completely awesome.

It's because it's a better product than Nintendo's that their suing....

Pay_Me_Or_Pay_Me_No_Attention

@Muisee: Yeah I used to be a Nintendo fanboy as well. Have all the Nintendo consoles except Wii. I wasn't too convinced about motion controls so I waited to see what happened. The Wii doesn't have very many games I like, and Nintendo is looking greedy from my point of view, which isn't helping me to consider buying a Wii.

kojirodensetsu

I think I am going to take Nintendo's side on this. Nyko sells unlicensed products that work for different consoles. These products are generally crappy because they have to be significantly different than the actual products to avoid lawsuits. Some companies actually pay royalties and can actually manufacture quality products (Hori). Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are not your friend next door, they are companies who compete in a very difficult and quickly changing market. They have to protect their products. It is not a matter of being greedy.

gatsu25

*Trying to wrap my head around a wireless nunchuck*

Can it still even be called a nunchuck?

I haven't bought a third party controller in a decade( The allure of turbo always got me) But aren't they notorious for being total crappy and never working quite right?

polarenvy

@Wolfers:
Oh thank god! Man, Nyko really covered their bases. Sort of.

BigShell

@Kyattsuai:
Yeah... if people can smash their TVs and give themselves black eyes with a tethered Wiimote, god knows what they will do with a completely untethered Nunchuk. I'm thinking decapitations.

BigShell

@Kyattsuai: The Nyko one includes a wrist strap :)

Wolfers

I somehow doubt that Nintendo is working on a wireless Nunchuk of their own. The shape of that thing, not tethered at all, looks like it is one over-enthusiastic flick of the wrist away from slipping out of the player's hand. The last thing they need is to hand out twice as many wrist straps.

Kyattsuai

Kinda sad, CNET gave the little wireless 'chuk a "best of CES" award, too.

Wolfers

If it's a trademark issue, Nintendo is legally obligated to sue, or they risk losing the trademark entirely.

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

Lame Nintendo. So what's it gonna take for people to start somehow adding a derogatory "$" to Nintendo's name?

giovonti

@Wolfers:
They don't have the same guts. No hardware producer would be that dumb.

BigShell

Yet another case of Nintendo being greedy as ****...

Gam3r

I always thought that they were given permission to make such products, appearently not. This also might explain why my original xbox third party controllers had the black and white buttons in a different place. And my Gamecube third party controllers had a weird extra button that I never saw a use for.
@polarenvy: I not too sure about crappy. I have 3 madcats nintendo controllers that out lived my Official nintendo controller that came with the gamecube.

xinic5

Huh, I don't get it... Third party controllers have looked like first party ones for years. Nintendo is just being greedy now, I mean is a wireless nunchuck from Nyko really going to cut into Nintendo's profits by any noticeable amount? Don't think so....

In other news, what is the point of a wireless 'chuck anyway? I mean unless you have an 18 foot arm span or something I really don't see the point.

Killalaz

So what about that new Wii Nunchuck called The Edge?

bigmil87

I really hope Nintendo gets the idea to take this concept for themselves. A Wireless Nunchuck may burn through batteries, but it gives much more freedom than the comparatively short Nunchuk chord...Certainly means you don't have to worry about getting tangled up in your chord during a heated boxing match...

GhostWhoWalks

@giovonti:
Nint€ndo

BPMι

What? Aw come on!

What the heck is the point of stopping them making this? Guess either Nintendo likes the revenue from Nunchuck sales or they're planning on a competing accessory... I dunno...

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

It's probably due to infringement of the security IC inside the nunchuk. O well, live by the sword and you shall die Nyko.

ProsumeThis

didn't snakebite also release a wireless nunchuck? i know they have a own wiimote but that thing is way too ugly.

i have no problem with wired nunchuck. i'm already running out of batteries for the wiimote. a wireless nunchuck would also require it's own batteries. so it's ok the way it is.

Himiko

@kojirodensetsu:God forbid Nintendo want to make money. Do you know how silly your debate point sounds?

Foxstar Sixtail

we all know the real real reason this lawsuit is happening is because the inevitable wii redisign is going to feature a wireless nunchuk =)

trunk3h

The whole deal is this: Nintendo gets no money from a design they made and invested in. They also have no control over how well-made the devices are, and if it so happens that they are complete shit, then it not only does the design no justice, it may detract a consumer from any similar device. Like the original, first party one.

There are profits to be lost for the company that put in all the effort. I say kill the leeches. Sue them for everything they have.

marmidukestank

.

marmidukestank

Maybe Nintendo is showing this attitude to give an early warning to Sony and M$ (rumoured development of Wiimote copy's).

Bluetribal

@xinic5: lmao! hahaha dude i remember that my friend always came over and when we played smash bros he said he was losing cuz of the "m" button.

TheGreatestManThatEverLived

"we accidentally violated Nintendo's intellectual property" may not hold up in court, but intentionally violating intellectual property has three times the penalty of doing it by accident.

Sofox

For a start they're evidently not the same material.

As for the shape, what else are you supposed to do? Why damage a proven to work formula? Third party accessory makers have been releasing near enough clones of official hardware for years now.

Gofthick

"Destiny is a fickle bitch John." -Ben Linus

Karma for Nyko making all those defective Intercooler fans that "void your manufacturer warranty" per MS repair rep.

TC

Heh... Nintendo's suing because Nyko's selling this piece of garbage before them. This is just like the wireless headset. At first people decried it because it was useless since our hands cannot be 6ft away from our heads, and now it's selling like hotcakes. Don't diss the wireless Nunchuck, you'll say it's awesome in a few months time.

Angryrider

Motion sense on nunchuck kinda sucks compared to wiimote, any info on how it is in Nyko version? Nintendo are greedy bastards, even M$ is not suing other companies for making controllers that match the looks/feel the 360 one for their console, same with Sony. Nintendo ffs, stop it

Zorba

I didn't know the color white was trademarked to Nintendo. Hope they don't raid my house.

Dudemeister on the Run

eh, others have said it...nintendo probably has a wireless controller in the works...

but lets focus on the real issue. no one has sued madcatz yet for all the crap they put out.

aforest

Yeah good job Nintendo. Sue a company that supports your platform with Accessories by suing them. Clearly the money you make from selling all those Wii's isn't enough, now you've got to piss on the little guys to make you feel better.

I don't think i'd ever consider buying this from Nyko as it seems pointless but i still think this is totally disgusting of Nintendo. Not to mention i find the idea of patenting a "color" ridiculous.

Walker

I own this wireless chuck and I think they have different innards cause i have huge problems with the motion sensing on the chuck in Okami. :( other than that though its great. Perfect in No More Heroes.

Thanatos-

o.o, how is that infringement?

oh well, looks like nintendo will be releaseing a wireless nunchuk now :3

kokiri-kid

Awe man, Nyko was the only third party Nintendo peripheral company I'd actually buy from. I mean, not this piece of shit, but they have some good stuff. Their Party Station is one of the most under appreciated gifts to gaming.

NeoStarr

Dear God Nintendo, did you just learn that there are companies out there that make peripherals for game consoles?? Maybe Nyko just needs to make it shaped like a donut (but not too much like the Wii wheel)

Akira119

Are you serious? Really? So not only is Nintendo calling it's die hard fanbase names with their "geeks and otaku" comment they're now suing companies for making third party controllers? What a fuck load of shit. I miss old Nintendo, all this success has clearly gone to their heads.

bkchurch

They just need to slap a little gripper thing on it like all the rest of their controllers.

Talleh

"We have not knowingly violated anyone's intellectual property and we're still examining this". I don't know whether "we accidentally violated Nintendo's intellectual property" will hold up in court, guys."

In this area of tort law intention and willfulness is a big deal. If Nintendo can *prove* that their employees willfully infringed on patents then the ruling is going to be profoundly more expensive for Nyko.

If the court discovers that Nyko went about building a bluetooth motion controller without dissecting Nintendo's IP then the ruling could amount to something like a licensing fee per controller, which Nyko probably asked Nintendo for in the first place.

tangled2

@Green-clad Gamer Dude:

i'd say nintendo didn't make money, or at least not much, during the gamecube era considering it didn't sell for shit. at least in that case the majority of what sold was their own games.

on to the topic: this seems like a bullshit lawsuit. nintendo is using its current market share leverage to bully nyko for this either because they're revealing a wireless nunchuck of their own around E3 or because they're simply being dicks. i think it would be funny if nyko said "oh yeah well fuck right off then" and quit making accessories for the wii period. unfortunately this is business and that wouldn't be smart. that and nyko products are generally hit or miss like anything else 3rd party so I'm not too sure they'd be miseed >.>

this is also bullshit because i just looked online and found 2 other 3rd party nunchucks that are pretty much identical as well. intec had one that i believe was also wireless and datec i think it was had a wired one (though it has grips on the bottom for your fingers but other than that looks pretty much the same).

either way *rolls up newspaper and smacks nintendo on the nose* bad nintendo! bad!

demonknightinuyasha

The world be changing 3rd party rip offs have been a pretty standard fair for years. Patten suites have been getting worse and worse and seems even the game makers are now getting in on it. Interested were this will go with MS supposedly making a wii-mote like control and sony with their break apart. I mean imagine if Nintendo had blocked Sega and Sony on rumble and Analog controls, Or Sony blocked dual analogs or MS blocked the services that mimic the live store. Imagine if there was only one brand of computer mouse,scary stuff.

Konchu

What Nintendo? A third party did for once a better peripheral than your own? I just hope you you lose your greedy lawsuit and you are forced to pay Nyko in trillions of dollars like Sony and MS did with Immersion. That would really be a fit resolution for your greed.

gencid

i don't have one of the Kama but i do have one of the "cord free" mods from Nyko to my reg nunchuck and i gotta say it is 100% better this way.
no longer to i have to concern myself with the chance i'll wring my own neck with the bloody cord! or rip one controller out of my hand as i use the other!

they really didn't think out how active people would get playing Wii games.
and things like Raving Rabbids where you are highly active makes it dangerous to even have that one cord there.

@Mact
yes, they sell the Wii Mote and Nunchucks SEPARATE as it is, and that is greedy since most games require BOTH to play!
its like selling you a computer with a keyboard and no mouse, or a sorround sound speaker set and no subwoofer.
its just stupid and not right,
a chat program with no micraphone... and so on.
the 2 are needed for most games to work, so greeding out and wanting more money by selling them separately is a ripoff.

Nintendo strung themselves up by leaving a wire in between the controllers IMHO, and its the only downfall the Wii really has (aside from a lack of a longer lineup of games, but considering it also has 100% compat with the GC it can be overlooked i suppose)

GrimCW

There's nothing greedy about protecting your intellectual property, but there is also a limit to what's reasonable under that umbrella. If you're sitting on your IP and it's keeping prices artificially high or spurning innovation then maybe you deserve to have people like Nyko come piss in your sandbox.

Nintendo has a long history of being very introverted and proprietary with their platform, successful or otherwise. I personally think Nyko did right by testing them (even if they end up having to pay).

tangled2

@devilgoku:
@mfwahwah:
So not allowing a company to sap sales is being greedy?

Mact

@GrimCW: Disagree - I have three Wii Remotes, but only two nunchuks - I've rarely had to use the second nunchuck and never had a reason to need a third. Very few multi-player games use the nunchuck (except for Brawl, which is better with the GCN Controllers and Mario Kart Wii which is better without it.) I'm glad I don't have to buy another nunchuck with each Wii Remote...

TheUncleBob

Like my coworker sometimes says "I accidentally did that on purpose"... It sounds better in my language...

Spiderbait

@GrimCW:
yes, they sell the Wii Mote and Nunchucks SEPARATE as it is, and that is greedy since most games require BOTH to play! ""

Not it's not. Not every game uses a nunchuck.

its like selling you a computer with a keyboard and no mouse ""

So I'm guessing you buy shitty HP computers? I buy ones made in the local computer stores. They don't come with keyboards and mice. You buy them.

a chat program with no micraphone ""

That's what I use.

Hmm?

`

You're on thin ice with me Nintendo.

If anyone needs me I'll be outside, burning my Viva Miyamoto tee.

LGscoundrel

Maybe I should buy one before they're forced to stop selling them.

oopl

I'm sorry, but this is big-time BS on Nintendo's part. Does this mean it's okay for every system manufacturer to sue any company that ever made a wireless controller?! I mean, come on! D:<

GameBoyFreak

it does look exactly like a normal nunchuk but has the power button and led light under the thumbstick. whatever it doesn't affect us so who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR DOES IT????????????????????????????????????????????????

freespeech