Turn your PC into the most expensive Wii ever.
Motion control consoles such as the Wii can be a great way to do some social gaming, but until recently there just wasn’t a good option for PC. The Genius Wizard Stick might have a fruity name but it’s designed to bring arm-waving fun to your desktop computer.
The Wizard Stick uses internal accelerometers to detect movement, though it also has normal buttons. To ensure you don’t Wii-mote it through your monitor, the Wizard Stick comes with a suitably hefty wrist strap. While you can just play on your PC, the Wizard Stick is extra fun when connected to your TV through a media PC. The Stick uses the AIWI gaming platform and you can play a small range of motion-controlled flash games or the included Sega Virtua Tennis. If you have unexpected guests, you can even download an app that lets you turn your smartphone into a second stick.
The Wizard Stick is actually pretty good at sensing movement and accurately translating it into onscreen actions – though it occasionally messes up. It also has a standard D-pad style gaming control pad that’s perfect for playing emulated games from your youth. You can also use the Wizard Stick as an air mouse and with a bit of fiddling it would make a decent media PC controller.
The Wizard Stick is a fun way to mess around with Wii-style gaming on your PC, but don’t expect to use it for ‘serious’ gaming. At under $50 online, it’s worth more than just a look though.
Special features :
- AIWI GAMING PLATFORM
- AIR MOUSE
- ANTI-SMASH WRIST STRAP
Pros : Wireless motion sensing, D-pad lets you play old games.
Cons : Few motion games, occasionally screwy, suggestive name.
Verdict : 7 out of 10
Available from Altech Computers, retailing for $45.
