Modder DHRECK has just finished his first Nintedno Wii controller modifications, an original Wiimote and Nunchuk made with three kinds of 100% natural hemp string.

In stark contrast with the original Wii-mote set, what was once sleek, cold, white and hard plastic has now become a slightly fuzzy, natural, warm and textured concoction. No more bland, branded and boring but mottled, flawfull, rough and a tad sweat absorbing.

The Hemp-Mote is absolutely playable, all buttons, accelerometers and the infrared camera accounted for. Unfortunately its exterior is also quite fragile and prone to degeneration, being in the raw state that it is.

Head over to dhreck.com for more photos and info about the Hemp-Mote.

The “Wii Samba DE Hammer” accessory for the Nintendo Wii video game console allows you to transform the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers into a pair of maracas.

Features:

• Ideal for playing the Samba De Amigo game
• Beautiful appearance design
• Easy to operate

The Wii Samba DE Hammer is available from the Video Game Brando website for $15.

(Via Ubergizmo)

This portable 7-inch Nintendo Wii monitor allows you to play your Wii games wherever you are. Simply attach the device to the back of your console.

All of the ports on the back of your unit are cloned (barring the AV connection as it goes to the screen) so you can simply plug in your Nintendo power cable and keep all of your USB accessories. A ventilation hole is even cut in to the unit to provide correct ventilation to the Wii’s OEM fan. Extra AV ports are provided if you wish to hook up a DVD, Media player or another console and a car cigar lighter adaptor is provided for in car use.

The screen is made on a ball and socket design to create freedom of movement an allow for an incredible array of viewing angles, a reverse/up/down picture control is available to for fixing the picture if you plan to mount your Wii in the roof of a car and have this unit fold down instead of up for example. When not in use your monitor is protected by folding perfectly flat against the wii.

Features:

• Screen: 7inches TFT LCD
• Resolution: 480(W) X 234(H)
• Colour System: PAL/NTSC (auto switching)
• Perfect Portability for the Wii
• Clean White Finish
• Aspect Ratio Adjustability
• Adjustable Picture Settings -contrast, brightness etc.
• Fan Grill Hole so your Wii Won’t Overheat.
• Nintendo Wii Direct AV connection
• Auxiliary Stereo AV Connection (3 x RCA)
• 2 x USB for Nintendo Wii
• Built-In Stereo Speakers
• Power Source: 12 VDC (Car Cigar Lighter Adaptor Included
• Dimension: 258×62x156mm (LxWxD)

The 7-Inch Nintendo Wii LCD Monitor is available over at the Chinavision website for 64.44 EUR (about $102 USD).

(Via Coolest Gadgets)

Remember those cool Super Mario Brothers mushroom candy tins? Now you can also get some Nintendo Wii inspired cans for storing memory cards etc.

Here’s a great way to impress your friends when offering gum, or a cool way to carry game cartridges or memory sticks. The buttons are slightly raised to heighten the controller replica factor. If you feel like making your own Star Wars Kid video, be aware that this replica lacks a safety strap. Net Wt 1.2 OZ. (34g) Metal Tin Size : Approx. 5.75″ X 1.5″ X 0.75″.

The Wiimote Metal Tin is available from Fractalspin for $3.50.

Here’s something that outshines both the Wii Cyber Gun and the Wii 2-in-1 Combined Light Gun – at least when it comes to looks.

This shooting game device will transform your Wiimote and Nunchuk into a silver machine gun with details in black. The Metallic Nintendo Wii Machine Gun measures 11.81 x 4.96 x 1.65 inches, weighs 10.86 oz and is available from DealExtreme for $16.54.

Remember those adorable Nintendo Wii Mii wedding cake figures? The same store (I guess), Paul Pape Designs Geekery Store, now offers the gaming avatars as chocolate treats for Valentine’s Day.

They are made with real Hershey’s chocolate, white or brown, and comes in a box with the message “Wii belong together, you and Mii” written on the top. Open the box you will find the two Mii’s with little red hearts on their shirts.

The Chocolate Mii’s ($15) will be available January 7 through February 12.

(Boinkology via YumSugar via Boing Boing Gadgets)

This brand new video shows an i-SOBOT robot being controlled by arm gestures with the help of the Nintendo Wii controller and the Nunchaku attachment. At the heart of the video is the free Robodance 4 software.

System requirements:

• Windows PC running Windows 2000 or better (Windows XP is recommended for the Skype control system)
• Infrared transmitter: USB UIRT or Lego Mindstorms SERIAL tower (not USB)
• Nintendo Wii Controller and Nunchaku attachment (Wii console *not* required)
• Bluetooth transceiver (note many systems, especially laptops, already have a Bluetooth transceiver)
• Microphone headset (for voice control usage)

A “pre-test” version of Robodance 4 will be out before Christmas, by December 23 of this year. While somewhat lacking in polish and sporting a fair number of bugs, it is fully functional.

The formal release will be the end of February 2008, but if you’re adventurous and would like to help test Robodance 4’s WiiMote support and gesture recognition capability, you can get that chance in about a week.

Related Resources:

• Roboquad Skype Integration demonstration video
• Robosapien V2 WiiMote and Voice Control demonstration
• i-SOBOT information
• Robodance home page

Thanks to Robert Oschler at Robots Rule!

Nintendo Wii inspired cakes is something you see quite often, but this was new. Craig’s father has created a Nintendo Wii Cabinet for his son.

(Kotaku via SlashGear)

There’s been quite of lot of neat accessories for the Nintendo Wii game console popping up lately, but this has got to be the coolest one so far.

Simply slip your Wii Remote into the handle and press the on button to instantly power up your light sword, the power up and down effect is done gradually until the light sword is at its full length.

Features:

• Power up & Power down light effect to bring your Light Sword to life
• Uses 22 x ultra bright LED’s
• On / Off button
• Uses 3 x AA Batteries (not supplied)

The Wii Light Sword is available for £14.99 (about $31 USD) from Play.com.

Via a bunch of great blogs well worth visiting:

• Crave
• Coolest Gadgets
• Engadget
• Gadgettastic
• Geekologie
• Gizmodo
• Nintendo Wii Fanboy
• Pocket-lint
• Prylfeber
• SlipperyBrick

Videogame.brando.com.hk has now released an alternative to the 2-in-1 Combined Light Gun that we covered a couple of months ago.

The Wii Cyber Gun ($16) converts your Wiimote and Nunchuk into a light gun, making it easier and more fun to play Wii shooting games.

The Wii Cyber Gun requires no batteries.

Logitech has announced the Classic Keyboard 200, a full-sized USB keyboard that will work with Nintendo Wii systems updated to Wii Menu v3.1.

Logitech announces Classic Keyboard 200 for Nintendo Wii [Pocket-lint.co.uk]

Adam, a friend of Joel Johnson over at Boing Boing Gadgets, recently got married and celebrated the special occasion with two Nintendo Wii inspired cakes. One traditional wedding cake topped with him and her as Mii avatars, and one Nintendo Wii cake for Adam’s son Jasper.

Have a look at the lovely cakes at Adam’s Photostream at Flickr.

This handy Wii 2-in-1 Combined Light Gun ($18) holds your Wiimote and can be adjusted to suit different shooting games for your gaming console.

Speaking of Wii and shooting games: Nintendo has announced that the Zapper will include Link’s Crossbow Training, a Zelda-themed target shooter.