The Nunchuk (model number RVL-004) is a controller attachment for the Wii Remote, and it is packaged with every Wii. A Nunchuk connects to a Wii Remote via a cord, and its name is derived from the weapon nunchaku, which it resembles while attached. A Nunchuk has an analog stick and two trigger buttons: a rectangular Nunchuk Z Button and a smaller circle-shaped Nunchuk C Button. Much like controllers for the Nintendo 64 and the Nintendo GameCube, movement of the Nunchuk's analog stick is restricted within an octagonal area. It works in tandem with the main controller in many games, including some Wii U ones, and some Wii games require the Nunchuk to be connected. Like the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk also provides accelerometer for three axis motion-sensing and tilting, but does not have a speaker, a rumble function, or a pointer function like the Wii Remote does.

Nunchuk

A white Wii Nunchuk
Manufacturer(s) Nintendo
Console(s) Wii
Release date USA November 19, 2006
Japan December 2, 2006
Australia December 7, 2006
Europe December 8, 2006
Connectivity Wired
MSRP Japan ¥1,800[1]
USA $19.99[2]
Canada CA$24.99[citation needed]
Australia AU$29.99[citation needed]
Europe €19[citation needed]
UK £14[citation needed]
Power 2 AA batteries
A person holding a Nunchuk connected to a Wii Remote

The body of the Nunchuk measures 4.45 inches (113 mm) long, 1.5 inches (38 mm) wide, and 1.48 inches (37 mm) thick.[3]

The Nunchuk is generally available in white and black. Cyan-colored Nunchuks were available in Japan as a prize for a contest used to promote Wii Sports Resort. Red Nunchuks are bundled with the red Mario anniversary Wii console and Wii Mini. A gold Nunchuk was offered to Club Nintendo members for a limited time to complement The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's gold Wii Remote Plus.

There are several unofficial wireless versions of the Nunchuk. They connect to the Wii Remote via a wireless adapter hooked into the cord input on the bottom of the Wii Remote, the signal is sent from the bottom of the Nunchuk to the hooked-in adapter on the remote.

In one conference, it was stated that Retro Studios helped design the Nunchuk because the Remote on its own would not be able to play Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. In the game, Samus Aran's movement is controlled via the joystick, and the C button allows her to morph in and out of Morph Ball mode. The Z button locks Samus' point of vision, or locks onto an enemy target if one is in Samus' view. The Nunchuck is also used to fire the Grapple Lasso, by casting the Nunchuk forward to Grapple a target, and by flicking the Nunchuk backwards to remove the target. This is used to remove a variety of obstacles, including shields, debris and other things.

In 2008, a wireless Nunchuk was released by Nyko, and it synchronizes to a Wii Remote by attaching a wireless dongle to the Wii Remote itself.[4]

Names in other languages Edit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ヌンチャク
nunchaku
Nunchuk

Chinese (simplified) 拿趣酷[5]
Náqùkù
Transliteration of Nunchuk, also means "To hold Fun and Cool"

Chinese (traditional) 雙截棍控制器[6]
Shuāngjiégùn Kòngzhìqì
Nunchuk Controller

Trivia Edit

  • On prototype Nunchuks, the Z and C buttons are labeled Z1 and Z2 respectively.

References Edit

  1. ^ N-Sider.com (September 13, 2006). "Japanese Conference Updates DONE" (Wayback Machine).
  2. ^ Casamassina, Matt (September 14, 2006). Live from New York: We're at Nintendo's Wii event. Live updates begin now!. IGN.
  3. ^ Nintendo of Japan (www.nintendo.co.jp). "コントローラ - Wii".
  4. ^ Greenwald, Will (January 7, 2008). "Nyko Wireless Nunchuck takes the wire out of the Wii waggle". CNET (Wayback Machine).
  5. ^ From the unused Simplified Chinese Wii System Menu text
  6. ^ https://www.nintendo.com.hk/wii/wii_console.htm