Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

I had already ordered some Wii Remote Jackets from Nintendo when I posted a writeup on the offer some time ago, but it became apparent when they never arrived that my order had somehow vanished into the ether. I recently placed the order again, assuming it would reject my serial number if they were still working on filling my order. The order went through, was confirmed, and today I received a package from Redmond with four new Wii Remote Jackets in it.

Very large, but surprisingly effective.

I’m going to confess that I really only ordered the jackets because they were free. I figured I’d find them pretty worthless and toss them aside with no intent to ever use them in the future. The jacket is covered with ribs and other raised portions that make the remote a much more ergonomic and comfortable experience, and even with the lightest of grips, the remote feels like it’s very secure in your hand. The business end gets a heavily padded section which makes it hard to imagine it even breaking a house of cards, never mind a TV screen. The other end has a flap that fits into the Wii Remote’s extension port, keeping it dust-free when not in use. There is adequate space around the port to attach a Nunchuk or Classic Controller.

Easy to apply, easy to remove.

Inserting a Wii Remote into the generous space provided around the face buttons is fast and easy. Removal is even easier, you just pop the heel of the jacket off the controller and it peels off in an instant, which is useful for battery replacement or charging. The remote will not fit in the Nyko Charge Station or the Guitar Hero III controller with the jacket on.

Plenty of breathing room around the buttons.

I find myself surprised by the way the jacket is designed. It completely covers the power button on the Remote, which is flush with the face of the controller to avoid accidental presses, without interfering with its operation. Nintendo also didn’t bother trying to wrap the jacket around the areas between the buttons or around the speaker, as you can see in the pictures. The face is kept pretty much open, save for a strip of silicone between the A button and the system buttons. The same goes for the B button on the underside, which has clear access and is comfortable to operate.

Certainly, the goal here is to make the Wii Remote less of a weapon for those who refuse to use the wrist strap. Perhaps something that doesn’t have to be fastened every time one picks up the remote will get more use. It’s a little impractical for those of us who choose to leave our remote sitting in the Charge Station when not in use, but I would imagine for the average user, the Wii Remote Jacket is a worthwhile item, particularly for free. If you haven’t ordered yours yet, you can get them right here. Have the serial number from the underside of your Wii (assuming you have it standing vertically) ready. You can order up to four free with a single serial number, and shipping is free.