Retail Radar: Nintendo Wii Blaster debunked

Updated product listing reveals that supposedly first-party peripheral is actually the work of third-party manufacturer.

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Earlier this month, gaming blogs like Joystiq and SPOnG lit up with word that Nintendo's Zapper peripheral for the Wii was set to go on sale shortly, as evidenced by an at-the-time detail-barren GameStop product listing. The peripheral was previously seen only in prototype form at last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The GameStop page being referenced listed a release date, name, and price for the product. It was to be called the "Wii Blaster," was tagged with a May 1 release, and set to cost under $20. However, the product page did not list a manufacturer for the accessory. Nintendo representatives told SPOnG the news was "pure rumor and speculation," and GameSpot's attempts to ferret out the manufacturer drew denials and silence from third-party peripheral manufactures Pelican and Mad Catz, respectively.

GameStop has since updated its page for the Wii Blaster, providing a picture of the product and verifying that it isn't a Nintendo offering at all. Instead, the white-and-orange shell into which a Wii Remote can be snapped will be made by third-party peripheral manufacturer Core Gamer. The company's previous products include plastic casings for Wii Remotes shaped like steering wheels and sporting equipment.

The release date of the Wii Blaster has also been updated. It is currently expected to ship June 26. As for the Wii Zapper, a Nintendo representative had not returned GameSpot's request for comment on the peripheral's status by press time.

251 Comments

  • Chooch-A-Doo

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 9:57 pm PT

    I want a stock and I want pump action and I want virtual slugs and other various ammo to load in it. I want a scope and I want some sniper camo to go with it. I want a compass in the stock with a matchstick sundial. Oh and I want a leather tassel hanging from it somewhere. I'd also like to see some buttons on it other than the wimote and nunchuk buttons. I want recoil function that knocks me back in my seat and I want it to jam on occasion so I have to take cover and fix it. I also would like to see some wii grenades that I can toss at my TV. I would also like to see some 10" subs built into the stock for eardrum numbing sound effects. Heat coils throughout so it's possible to overheat and burn my hand on the barrel.

    All this so I can play Gumshoe again on the VC. That game was hard.

    Other than that, it looks great.

  • theKSMM

    Posted May 9, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    I'm waiting for some nice light gun games to arrive on the Wii. And I agree that a dedicated light gun peripheral would be nice, but using the Wii remote would help keep the costs down. Then we could have Virtua Cop or Time Crisis done well on the Wii for $30 or less.

  • dietess

    Posted May 6, 2007 10:52 pm PT

    I wish the prototype Nintendo one was still coming out
    I remember seeing the joystick right on the arc of the gun (where the hammer would be), so I'm assuming it acted as a built-in nunchuck. The fact that this one may not support the nunchuck could hurt it, unless it has a port on the bottom to plug it into or something. Even so, it could fudge the aiming up, having a cord hanging out of the bottom

  • dragon_kin

    Posted May 4, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    if that was made id buy one xD

  • KingovGames

    Posted May 4, 2007 1:15 pm PT

    why was my post deleted biatches

  • Stink_Dude

    Posted May 3, 2007 5:36 pm PT

    Animal Crossing was on-line too... I think... but I'm pretty sure! I read it in Game Informer (no, not an April Issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GAME INFORMER!!!)

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted May 3, 2007 1:35 am PT

    FYI the game cube did have on-line just it was only used for home brews and fantasy star online... in fact u can get a broadband or a dial-up connector for the expansion slot

  • GyRo567

    Posted May 2, 2007 8:52 pm PT

    A dedicated zapper would be much more effective than a simple shell for the default controller. You would effectively have a wireless lightgun just like the original, rather than a triangulated mess that doesn't allow you to actually aim at the screen itself.

  • Katosepe321

    Posted May 2, 2007 3:43 pm PT

    hellza tight with RE:UC

  • langfora

    Posted May 2, 2007 10:02 am PT

    yeah this would be cool along with an update to the Power Glove ...with technology now that glove could be awesome

  • urine72

    Posted May 2, 2007 9:40 am PT

    The one we saw at E3 a year ago is not the same as this one. The one at E3 was made by Nintendo this one is not. Nintendo will still be making there own, look at the pic again and notice it says published and developed by " core gamer " This isnt the real deal yet.

  • mach-stem

    Posted May 2, 2007 9:37 am PT

    Looks interesting, but as previously mentioned, I too will only buy if the Nintendo name is on the product.

    As for DrMario, I don't know if you can do the math, nor do I really know what you are trying to say (i have a hard time deciphering idiocy), but if the Wii is already at 6 million units sold within 6-7 months of its initial launch, and the 360 is still only at 10 million within 18 month, and the fact that the Wii is continuously sold out, logic dictates that the Wii will surpass both consoles before the year's end.

    And in relation to graphics and online play vs. gameplay and fun, the latter is obviously what people (the masses) wants.

    PEACE

  • TTDog

    Posted May 2, 2007 7:28 am PT

    "Payback7: @ DrMario57

    Just wondering why you have a Nintendo name?"

    The name Mario has been around for centuries, unless your claiming that it was invented by Nintendo?

  • diablobasher

    Posted May 2, 2007 6:48 am PT

    dmastor:

    Dude firstly, theres a lot of dark surrounding bush, he definatly did not win legitimately.

    Secondly, the Wii is not the same as the gamecube, it's a different ball game al together, instead of not enough games, it's going to have wayyyy too many rubbish PS2 ports. And it will have online play in the future, but hey, noone cares about online play.

    The companies (like any) goal, is to make money, and when online play only matters to a handfull of people (such as us) why make it a high priority?

    Your looking at this from your own point of view too much, nobody cares about your point of view, not least the general public who is going to continue to purchase the Wii at an astronomical rtate.

  • dmastor

    Posted May 2, 2007 6:24 am PT

    um ya'll looking at numbers i'm in a country who hate there president
    and alot of people vote for him for an second term point just because alot of people got sucked in the hype doesn't mean anything the gamecube was the same thing no games, no on-line play i don't want to hear about how many people brought your system alot of people buy cheaper things over the other that don't make it better duh... i'm sure camry outsell the bmw 745

  • WGR_Darrin

    Posted May 2, 2007 5:50 am PT

    I don't care if Nintendo, Core Gamer, Pelican, or whoever made the thing... I want it.

  • Morrowindeler

    Posted May 2, 2007 4:31 am PT

    can you still plug the Nunchuck into this?

  • Payback7

    Posted May 2, 2007 2:38 am PT

    @ DrMario57

    Just wondering why you have a Nintendo name?
    I mean for someone that hates Nintendo so much, you've gone to the trouble of making a profile with a NINTENDO characters name? Very weird mate.

    Anyway - I've got a Wii, I love it. I've got nothing against the other consoles, I just didn't want to be playing the same old games with better graphics. If I wanna see a great looking game, I just play my PC. If I wanna have FUN I chuck on the Wii and have a few rounds on that with the mates. Long live Nintendo!!!!!

  • Captainintendo

    Posted May 2, 2007 12:08 am PT

    "I dont understand why the random orange color! it's totaly out of nowhere"

    Not if you have played duck hunt before.

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted May 1, 2007 10:15 pm PT

    DrMario57.... why do u hate Nintendo yet ur name is dr"MARIO"57....????? and look this is not a place for fan boy fights... and as for HDDVD vs BluRay it is still up for garbs..though i like the blu better and its sales are better ultimately the porn industry will decide and so far bluray isnt letting the industry in.... and dont think xbox 360 has chosen, for a rep from where i work said Microsoft doesnt care who wins because there is nothing set in stone, so if something was to happen they can up and leave the HDDVD drive. of course this is only talk as we all know in the gamming industry anything can happen so ya.... so no more fan boy yelling every things is still a toss up.....

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:59 pm PT

    i donno.... i mean its just a piece of plastic.. like the ubi-soft steering wheel.... and what about some FPS's that u can use 2 guns at the same time using both nunchuk and wii-mote, like in far cry vengence (god that game was horrible)

  • DFTricks

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:33 pm PT

    I dont understand why the random orange color! it's totaly out of nowhere

  • BigDaveyDogz

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:08 pm PT

    the look reminds me of the original NES light gun.

  • malmeid2

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:08 pm PT

    Ninty better be careful... It's also hard to believe it will be under $20. But if Gamespot says so, who am I to argue with them

  • Moogleknight

    Posted May 1, 2007 8:44 pm PT

    ummm.... cool? i mean, whats the point? isn't that the point of the the wii-mote? i can point it at the screen and shoot, no strings attached? this just sounds like a way to get more money from wii owners to me.

  • MetroidBounty

    Posted May 1, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    Could that be the same day as RE4 in Los Estados Unidos?

  • MasterBlade7123

    Posted May 1, 2007 7:46 pm PT

    bet u they use it 4 Resident Evil 4

  • Psyfon

    Posted May 1, 2007 7:25 pm PT

    I've always been a fan of the Zapper and SuperScope. This looks like it will be cool regardless of who makes it.

  • xdaballerx

    Posted May 1, 2007 6:47 pm PT

    The wii has a lot of dumb games, a lot of their shooters suck because the thing is too messed up at aiming! Though I own a wii, I will prefer a 360 any day.

    But hopefully this thing will help out a lot!

  • juanfraino

    Posted May 1, 2007 6:46 pm PT

    I gotta admit that gun looks pretty nice.

  • happyfaceboy

    Posted May 1, 2007 6:38 pm PT

    drmario57...

    dude

    nintendo is the future
    over 6 million in their first year!!!

    and how much 360 sold in their first year

    when you find it...then shut up because you dont know what you talking about

  • Lightchaos

    Posted May 1, 2007 5:59 pm PT

    looks sweet!

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted May 1, 2007 5:09 pm PT

    The NES Light Gun looked better

  • Viewtiful_Joker

    Posted May 1, 2007 4:44 pm PT

    DrMario57
    The 360's been out for a year, you little fruitcup.
    The Wii is still completely scarce yet you can walk into any store and get a PS3/360.

  • luigimario_64

    Posted May 1, 2007 4:05 pm PT

    @ rokkuman09 People who don't read the articles here (like you) and then post really bug me. This ugly thing IS third party! A first party one would be far better.

  • AvIdGaMeR444

    Posted May 1, 2007 3:25 pm PT

    Good timing...Let's release a 3rd party gun peripheral just 2 months after the worst mass shooting in history! Jack Thompson might finally turn his endless crusade toward the Wii.

  • playwrite

    Posted May 1, 2007 3:19 pm PT

    ug-ly

  • Cyrax-Sektor

    Posted May 1, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    Looks like a piece of junk IMO. I'll wait for Nintendo's.

  • kazya_mishima

    Posted May 1, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    if Nintendo doesnt have their seal on it, I dont buy it

  • JAREDJR

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    pretty neat, i'd prefer first party quality, however.

  • DJ-Lafleur

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:38 pm PT

    looks interesting, though I probably wouldn't get it. Even if I do get any shooting games for the Wii sooner or later, I'd probably just prefer to use the wiimote itself

  • blazethe1

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    this is the type of design i had in mind too

  • Duel_core

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:29 pm PT

    this just seems like the duck hunt controller..... sweett

  • Phazevariance

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:14 pm PT

    Resident Evil with the zapper would be fun.

  • DrMario57

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:42 pm PT

    WOW if you want to bring in the numbers here Anti haters, then dig this;

    10 million 360's
    2-3million PS3's
    6 million wii's....

    ok ok so thats at least 12 next gener's and 6 retro's, i would think that people as big as THE ENTRIE POPULATION OF THE WII AND the majority of the rest of the console's (6 million) AGREE that nintendo sucks. HD is the next DVD!

  • rokkuman09

    Posted May 1, 2007 12:50 pm PT

    Kind of pointless for most games.. Only reason I would want one is for a light gun game, and I wouldn't want this one.. I would want a third party one if I could.. considering how stupid this one looks.

  • blitzkrieg13

    Posted May 1, 2007 12:47 pm PT

    Would adding a little gun like this make games any better? It reminds me of those Wii sports attachments that were the embodiment of crap.

  • T-bone123

    Posted May 1, 2007 12:30 pm PT

    that sucks,no more zapper?

  • JLCrogue

    Posted May 1, 2007 11:54 am PT

    "keeperofgames
    To nghtcrwlr821....

    You're wrong. BWII, SMSC, and SSBB are ALL online, Pokemon Battle Revolution will be the FIRST one online, not the only one. And Guitar Hero III will use online for the Wii."

    Those are just rumors (that are hopefully true). Nintendo has officially confirmed that Battallion Wars 2 will be online, but they haven't said anything about Super Smash Bros. Brawl or Guitar Hero 3. What is SMSC an acronym for?

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