Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the Wii-holder. The Charge Base IC is a $34.99 induction charging device for Wiimotes and looks like something out of a Frank Lloyd Wright sketchbook. The base sits firmly on the ground while sweeping cantilevered arms reach out to cradle your Wiimotes with magnets. It’s almost graceful, this amalgamation of clear and white plastic, the glorious sense of weightlessness, the architectural stability with just a touch of grandeur.
But darn it if the lights on this thing aren’t too bright.
See, these sorts of devices are great for a kid’s room. You stick it in there behind the Build-a-bears and the homemade hamster launcher and forget about it. However, there are large, blue LEDs under the clear plastic Wiimote holders that are bright enough to see even in the day time. For adults you’re faced with a quandary: hide your Wiimote charger in a closet or put it out for all to see, the bright blue lights signaling to house guests that yes, you are a gamer, and yes, you’re shameless about it. This is fine if you are actually a gamer but not so nice if you’re a Bishop or Special Forces Captain.
At $34.99 this is a nice charging solution. It uses induction so there are no contacts to get gummed up and you can charge through your Wiimote’s plastic sleeve. The magnets hold the controllers in place while charging and you have an extra USB port for other accessories – PS3 controllers, maybe – as well as a pass through plug that lets you free up an extra outlet.
Barring the lights these things are great. You slap your controller in there and yank it off when you’re ready to rumble. No more battery changes and no more trying to find the sweet spot for your non-inductive charger. Also, if you place one of those old fashioned toilet paper cozies over it – you know the kind that your grandma used to knit and it looks like a Barbie doll wearing a large, pre-Civil War Scarlett O’Hara dress and it’s designed so that Barbie’s legs go into the hold in the paper to hide said paper from the house guests? – you could pretend that your Barbie is from outer space and that her underwear glows.
If you happen to have one of those toilet paper cozies lying around, you’re in luck. We’re giving away five of these Nyko Charge Base IC devices for you and your’n. Just comment below and we’ll pick five winners on Tuesday.
Brilliant !
Gimme, gimme, gimme !
This could also double as a night light in my kids room. Two Birds – One Stone.
+1 exactly what i was thinking.
Sure, I’ll take one. Won’t be any more obvious than the remotes sitting on the living room table 24/7.
What a great idea. Too bad the LEDs don’t give you an on/off option…
Well… If you look in between the Wii-motes you’ll see this little button with a circle and a line through it. When the lights get too annoying, push this button. When you leave the house or go to bed, push the button again so your Wii-motes get fully charged.
Yes please, one for me too!! :)
Pretty nice idea. Wouldn’t mind having it :)
This would be great for my son. He is not even 3 yet but loves to play the sword fighting game as well as the Ski jump in Wii Fit. So we can definitely use this since we go through a lot of batteries.
Excellent Idea! I love induction!
I only have one wiimote, but it’s a perfect gift for my brother and my two nephews! Hope I win!
Please give it to me – I keep buying batteries for the wiimotes!
I am in
Interessante
Wow, beats my $7 non-inductive knockoff any day of the week. A good side to the blue light – it would make a good night light, no?
Wow, these do look cool.
That’s cool, id love one.
I’m in…no, really. Count me in for this! It’d be cool to win one of these holiday contests as a $2 lottery ticket just isn’t cuttin’ it!
My kids would LOVE to have this! No more scraping for batteries in the junk drawer. LOL
Love induction but I imagine the rubber covers need to come off each time
um.. The whole point of these induction charging stations is that the skins DON’T need to come off. There are some comments that with certain induction bases the Wii-motes charge slower with the skins on. Some of them do use LEDs to signal when the Wii-mote is in place, prohibiting opaque covers, but not all of them have this problem.
Those lights do look really bright
It’s a match made in heaven, I was just thinking I really need a rack for my extra toilet paper cozy.
I am in, I want one of those!
This is great, especially if it’s greener than constantly throwing away batteries (rechargeable or not)
The induction definitely makes up for the lights. I definitely want this.
Who wouldn’t want more rechargeable Wii controllers? :)
Sounds great. I’ll take the shame of the lights in my living room.
Oooohhh….. ahhhhhhh (really – looks neat).
Just got a Wii. I’m in!
Mine just died so I could really use this and it will be a night light for my kid!
I have been looking for a good Wii-mote charging solution this one looks way better than the others I have seen.
Not having to change batteries all the time would be awesome. I’m in.
I could hide this in plain sight…
A far more elegant solution that stealing the batteries from one of the 360 controllers.
pick me! Would make a great Christmas present.
I would love to have an excuse to make my wife knit some toilet paper cozies! Bring it!
i would love to toss…er…i mean recycle…my rechargeable batteries….!!
ftw
Sure, why not?
We love our original Nyko charging station. Our family needs 2 more Wii Remotes to fully capture the Wii party time!
Do want.
Personally, I’ll just unplug it at night. Saving energy, anyway.
35 year old Gamer, let me be louder and prouder!
Sweet I would love one of those.
I would love to have this for my husband as he’s having surgery and will be confined to a bed for a month. Thank you
This is a great demonstration of the world-wide appeal of the WII – and pretty much any offer of free gear!
Good article, John, as it made up my mind to go out and find this charger unit, since I’m neither a bishop nor a special forces captain.
Umm – unless I’m one of the lucky five…?
Awesome, is there any way to win two?
:-)
Thats very cool…..I will love to win one! :)
While it’s an ok design, it in no way evokes Frank Lloyd Wright. In any way. At all.
One more glowing thing on the entertainment center to drive my wife nuts – WANT!!! =-)
My wallet would love not having to feed the battery eaters that are Wiimotes anymore.
Nyko Nightlight
This would make a great Christmas gift.