Plugged In goes hands-on with "dangerous Wii accessory"

s this bowling ball controller really the most dangerous Wii accessory so far? So we wondered in a June post. Manufacturer CTA Digital thought we were being a touch premature, and offered to send one along so we get some firsthand experience.

So, we spent the last few days knocking down thousands of virtual pins in Wii Sports, and the verdict's in: we're convinced CTA Digital has made this controller adapter as safe as it can be, but it's still significantly more dangerous than bowling with just the Wiimote.

It's not because of any flaw in the design of the ball. If you're nervous of third-party controllers, rest easy: this is a well-planned, well-made offering. You set the Wii remote in the center of the ball, which splits in half like some Indiana Jones prop. MotionPlus adapters will fit, too, and unlike some other controller adapters we’ve tried, the infra-red "eye" on the end of the Wiimote stays uncovered so you can still use the pointer in menus.

The buttons on the Wiimote are accessible as well, thanks to an intricate arrangement of rods that connect buttons on the outside surface of the ball to pins that press the remote's actual buttons. Sounds chintzy, but works beautifully. A set of plastic inserts mean you can customize the size of the fingerholes, but we found the standard size to fit like a glove.

Perhaps most importantly, the device also sports a fetching blue wrist strap -- complete with lock -- although if that puppy comes loose or breaks, you’re going to be in trouble. Fortunately, it's an absolute beast of a strap. You could probably tie it to a rafter and swing from it, Tarzan-style (note: not recommended, kids.) It certainly puts the standard-issue Wii wrist strap to shame, and it's not going to break or slip loose under any reasonable play scenario.

Smartly, the ball slips the "B" button -– which releases the ball in Wii Sports Bowling –- under the middle joint of your pointer finger. After a brief acclimatization process, you'll be slinging out strike after strike. I scored at least as well with the ball as without it. That's surprisingly uncommon for a novelty controller like this.

So why is it dangerous? It's dangerous in the same way any old Wii controller is: if you're crazy enough not to wear the wrist-strap or someone is absent-minded enough to stand too close to you while playing, someone's gonna get beaned, or something's gonna get broken.

That's obvious enough, but the bowling ball makes these everyday risks worse for several reasons. One, it's considerably heavier than a Wii controller alone, and as any physicist will tell you, more weight means more momentum, and more momentum means more damage. Second, it's larger and poses a bigger threat to anyone carelessly walking past. Third, you don't have your nice, soft hand wrapped around it: your hand's on the inside, where it can't cushion any blows. It's inherently more dangerous than the standard Wii controller simply due to its weight and size.

Don't let this prevent you from buying it, though, if you think it's a cool idea. Keep it out of reach of the kids, enforce the same old common-sense rules every Wii owner knows, and you're golden. Novelty controllers often feel cheap or gimmicky, but we found the Bowling Ball added enough to Wii Sports to make it an easy recommendation. Just don't blame us -- or CTA Digital -- if you throw it through your TV.

by Mike Smith

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