Retail Radar: Nintendo Wii Blaster debunked

May 1st, 2007, 23:44 Posted By: wraggster

via gamespot

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

There are 1 comments - Join In and Discuss Here