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E3 06: Wii wielding gun

Unannounced peripheral in the shape of a gun makes appearance at Nintendo's booth; combines both halves of nunchaku into one pistol-packin' package.

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LOS ANGELES--One of the biggest attractions at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo is Nintendo's Wii, which features the motion-sensing controller many have nicknamed "the Wii-mote," because it looks like a television remote control. Gamers aren't limited to just that controller, though. Additional peripherals can be used in its stead or even attached to it.

A separate analog-joystick attachment has been known about for a while, and Nintendo revealed the classic controller yesterday, a pad that has two analog sticks, as well as a more-traditional button setup.

Today in the Wii section of Nintendo's booth, a new, unannounced peripheral was shown off in a display case. Dubbed "The Zapper," the new addition to the Wii family is a casing that houses the Wii-mote and the analog joystick in a configuration that looks like a gun.

The purpose seems simple--instead of holding both attachments in one hand (the analog joystick controls movement and the Wii-mote controls aim), one hand can control both.

Old school gamers will recognize the Zapper name. In 1985, the Nintendo Entertainment System was sold with a light gun named the Zapper, which was used to shoot hapless ducks and snickering dogs in Duck Hunt.

438 Comments

  • Cloud_Strife37x

    Posted Sep 2, 2007 11:20 am GMT

    This will be great for RE:UC and games like it. I can't wait for my Wii this christmas (I got a PS3 last year).

  • maxmax1234

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:53 pm GMT

    looks good, realy a mix between a toy pistol and the wii mote

  • gigabrowser12

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 6:49 am GMT

    Nice, duck hunt always lives!

  • Pangster007

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 4:57 am GMT

    I want duel wielding cooperative house of the dead with motion sensing! ^^

  • notpencil

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 9:26 pm GMT

    this was my favorite accessory when i first saw it.

    problem after thinking though; consider how you play an fps on any console (think of playing goldeneye on n64), it's almost impossible for me, as a righty, to use the analog stick with my right thumb. in order to control it i would need to have both hands on the pistol grip (which would make sense but i assume the left hand would have to hit the controls on the remote).

    that and how would the accelerometer work for the second controller? you can't throw a grenade in red steel. i guess that's why it's a work in progress, it would be great to have this but the nunchuk seperate as much as that defeats the purpose. afaik its going to be great in duck hunt anyway but other games might be a little tough.

    [edit:] actually, why not just shoot left handed then? it might feel less weird. the nunchuk accelerometer function will still be useless, it'd be tough to look at this accessory on your desk and not be able to use it for every fps.

  • Lub1

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 11:55 am GMT

    mmm, I'm glad I pre ordered the wii, soooo happy. Good old arcade style shootin comin up muha

  • killyoufun

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:25 pm GMT

    cool i want 1

  • zerox0409

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 5:39 pm GMT

    to rbcc1800: if you look at the trigger opening on the shell you will notice a button, rumor has it this button will function as a second "B" button.

  • miniconan

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 8:52 am GMT

    any word on a release date for this thing?

    wonder if you could download the old duck hunt and use this new zapper on it... anyone know if thats possible?

  • rarson

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 8:32 pm GMT

    This thing is awesome! It shouldn't cost a whole lot to make. I imagine the thing itself will probably be like 30 bucks with DH2 included as a sort of demo for it.

    The best part is that it's just a shell. Cheap and since it uses all tech that's already built into the controller, it's not a necessity for people that don't want it.

    This kind of stuff is the innovation that makes me itch more and more for a Wii!

  • Charlord94

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 10:07 pm GMT

    looks awesome they should make it so the holding slides into a pistol for weapon changing

  • Charlord94

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 10:06 pm GMT

    that thing is awesome not sure if it will be for red steel but they should design it so you switch from shotgun to pistol by sliding the wii-mote's zapper holder forward shrinking it's size into more of a pistol shape

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 5:54 am GMT

    impressive

  • Lanik

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 7:02 pm GMT

    This is why Nintendo is well known for the zapper and Mario Bros.

    To bad the power glove wasn't as good... It sucked

  • vitomanez

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 3:01 am GMT

    Ah Nintendo. It's creative Ideas shine and make Xbox and Playstation fan bow down to them. What they have done, will make my life complete.

    Ok, now that that is over, when i first say this I was like ZOFMG!!!111OOne!!! Now I look at it and say.... ZOFMG!!!111OOne!!!

  • psychic

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 12:18 am GMT

    Oh Yeah, I light gun for shotting, Wii getting better and better everyday!

  • Boy_Make_Fire

    Posted May 24, 2006 7:02 am GMT

    This just looks like a little bit of plastic that holds the two controlers together, not a brand new controller....... Bet Hey! thats a good thing..... It sounds like one of those free extras we keep hearing about.......

  • liammaule

    Posted May 22, 2006 2:53 am GMT

    Nintendo shows again why it is the most innovative game company out of the 3.

  • da1ai

    Posted May 22, 2006 1:59 am GMT

    Cool. But i really wonder what great difference does it bring over the normal light guns? Seems like everybody just saw something that has never ever been done before

  • rbcc1800

    Posted May 20, 2006 3:23 pm GMT

    in red steel, if the trigger is shoot, how do you shoot and work the joystick with the same hand. (look at the pic, their far away from each other)

  • Streetrider9873

    Posted May 18, 2006 6:37 pm GMT

    My God, I have been waiting for this for ages. This means the development of next gen versions of classics like TimeCrisis and House of the Dead. This will be sooo amazing and precise. Another great reason to buy a Wii over the other systems.

  • fongus5555

    Posted May 18, 2006 6:10 pm GMT

    I love light gun games : ) the zapper should be good

  • Cronaroth

    Posted May 18, 2006 3:45 pm GMT

    I hope it makes that loud springy noise like the good ol NES Zapper did-I still have mine!

  • T_U_M_E_G

    Posted May 18, 2006 4:30 am GMT

    OMG PLEASE just give me one House of the Dead game on the Wii!! PLEASE, EVEN IF IT WAS THE ONLY GAME I COULD HAVE! ONE HOTD GAME!

  • aerialstrike

    Posted May 17, 2006 5:15 pm GMT

    duck hunt 2?! sweet! i always wanted to shoot that freakin dog so annoying!

  • eduardovh

    Posted May 17, 2006 2:25 pm GMT

    Yeah!! nintendo really knows about what we like to play






  • markbridges

    Posted May 17, 2006 8:52 am GMT

    This gun owns all. Imagine Duck Hunt 2. (Mentioned earlier.)

    Red Steel with this, and the Wiimote, could provide a truly immersive gaming experience. I can't wait to test it out!

    Long Live Ninty!

  • wikkedclown17

    Posted May 16, 2006 8:39 pm GMT

    *sniff sniff* i smell a house of the dead game in wii's future!

  • vwgti3

    Posted May 16, 2006 7:09 pm GMT

    Their bring back the old school....... about time.

  • kungfu23

    Posted May 16, 2006 12:10 pm GMT

    i think i know what system to buy now later on this year. nintendo has always done things different from other gaming companies and always had fun games to play. im 26 now but when i get this, imma feel 6 ago especially with the zapper

  • Zcrimson07

    Posted May 16, 2006 9:39 am GMT

    loved duck hunt. probably best hunting sim ever, definitely better than cabelas big game hunter

  • manserban

    Posted May 16, 2006 5:12 am GMT

    I'm not gonna jump to conclusions this quickly. The whole idea is awesome, but i'm just waiting to see how it feels. If you imagine that you'll get the same control in a FPS game, as with a mouse on a PC, you're mistaking. I'm sure it will be some auto-aim thingy. Also if you look at the FPS game for WII, you'll find only 3. WII games are not very, how should i put it, dangerous .

    There are exceptions, like RE4, an awesome game.

  • MadCatMk23

    Posted May 16, 2006 5:09 am GMT

    One more GREAT reason to buy a Wii!!!
    I'm definetly going to get one, no matter what!

    How did they think that anyway???

  • johnathan111

    Posted May 15, 2006 10:16 pm GMT

    beautiful

  • NitroKat

    Posted May 15, 2006 8:26 pm GMT

    omg omg omg im about to have an aneurism!!!!
    best e3 new by far!!!!

  • strahd01

    Posted May 15, 2006 5:20 pm GMT

    Time Crisis 4 here we come!

  • ULTIMA-Demon

    Posted May 15, 2006 4:49 pm GMT

    So cool! I am so pumped about the Wii, and especially now. I can't wait to feel the classic arcade style shooting experience once again!

  • MoldOnHold

    Posted May 15, 2006 3:16 pm GMT

    wow, nintendo really is gonna make a REVOLUTION. lookin at that thing makes me go wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  • MoldOnHold

    Posted May 15, 2006 3:15 pm GMT

    wow, nintendo really is gonna make a REVOLUTION. lookin at that thing makes me go wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  • jenrard

    Posted May 15, 2006 1:25 pm GMT

    Netjes (NICE)

  • davenweb

    Posted May 15, 2006 12:59 pm GMT

    This is great, as as it just holds two already included (or so I assume) devices this should make is a nice and cheap gun controller

  • myron30

    Posted May 15, 2006 9:31 am GMT

    And the Nun Chuck is part of the handle. So the Remote is the barrel. Man Nintendo is going set some new standards in gaming again in a big way.

  • myron30

    Posted May 15, 2006 9:28 am GMT

    Dude, the Wii remote plugs into it. Has anyone noticed this?

  • kidokoro

    Posted May 15, 2006 8:33 am GMT

    That is actually awesome!

  • volpexpress

    Posted May 15, 2006 7:58 am GMT

    this will be sweet with fps games. it will make gaming easier. i cant wait to try it out!!

  • Drkskillz22

    Posted May 15, 2006 7:46 am GMT

    Very clever

    Nintendo is wiining the game console race in my mind

  • evilotto13

    Posted May 15, 2006 7:29 am GMT

    that is amazing go WII and 360

  • Icekxg

    Posted May 15, 2006 6:07 am GMT

    Ok, I'm not reading through 40 pages of comments, but uh...where the hell is the trigger? Why would I want a zapper with a trigger on the barrell or side but not by the handle??? Fix it Nintendo!

  • barulez

    Posted May 15, 2006 6:04 am GMT

    thats nice, nintendo fans should be happy to play that on fps games.

  • Halomaster7705

    Posted May 15, 2006 4:47 am GMT

    Nice. Lets just hope Busch doesn't shut us down.

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