It happens to all popular gadgets and now it’s the Nintendo DS’ time. The Limited Edition Pink Ribbon to help fight breast cancer, which doesn’t just affect women, men can get it too. In shocking Wii white with a pink ribbon, you won’t get any games or accessories, but five dollars of the $129.99 purchase will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with Nintendo promising a minimum donation of $100,000. If you haven’t already jumped on the DS bandwagon, this is your chance to do so and do some good.

Most people would prefer wireless gear to similar wired gear. I can think of a few exceptions to that though, namely PC gaming gear like keyboards and mice. However, when it comes to console gaming wireless is where it’s at.

Take the Nintendo Wii, the Wiimote is wireless so what’s with the wire from the Nunchuk to the Wiimote? I’m not alone in wondering that and Thrustmaster has announced a solution to the problem called the T-Nchuk Wireless Adapter NW.

So, we all know that motion controls like Nintendo’s Wii are the future of gaming. The Stix controllers even took a stab at it for the PC. Actiga has an interesting take on it (We think) and has announced a new line of Mini-Motion controllers that will be available in different game categories.

USB controllers will be available for Mac and PC, that resemble such things as skateboards, RC Cars, baseball, and a racing vehicle. Each of the controllers connect via USB and will sell for $19.99. It’s unclear if the controller has games built-in or if they are simply controllers to be used with other PC games that already exist. I mean, we’re assuming these aren’t just glorified joysticks.

When it comes right down to it, entertainment is all about the sensory experience. It’s about feeling like we are there, even if we aren’t. The Wii has probably come the closest, but like other consoles, it leaves alot to be desired as far as fully immersing users. The Cocoon is a new VR system developed by NAU, which is a human-sized pod that you enter and it’s actually designed with videogames in mind.

The immersion and interactivity will take it light years beyond the Wii. It includes full 3D surround sound, and graphics as well as Internet connectivity, and could be the ultimate gaming environment to challenge friends from around the world. It may not show up in the home anytime soon, but when it does one future day, everything will change. Game graphics and audio are ready for it right now, but it’s the interactivity, interface, and total immersion that will set it apart. Most of Nintendo’s competitor’s were caught off guard with the Wii, but you can bet they are taking some serious looks at this future technology.

I hear ya. The Wii and DS already have Wi-Fi. True, but this device is a Wi-Fi router/bridge for those who don’t have wireless networks. Even when you do have a wireless network, it can be a pain to get your Wii set up depending on your provider. The device will be available in Japan on September 18th for $53.

Obviously it resembles one of those Wii knockoff jobs from China, but it’s the real deal. The adapter has a switch for three modes on back: “Router”, “Bridge” and “Auto”. “Router” is self-explanatory, while “Bridge” connects to another router and then communicates with the Nintendo DS and Wii. “Auto” will switch the household’s network over automatically.

Nintendo may have all kinds of DS Lite colors available, and a metallic silver will be available soon in the U.S., but according to IGN, they have something bigger on the horizon. A third version of the DS. One with dual touchscreen displays, one of them even widescreen. They aren’t sure whether the redesign will be simply another DS iteration or the DS 2. IGN says the rumored release date is April or May 2009, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see. The above pic is just IGN’s mockup.

We had thought that Nintendo had ran out of color ideas for the DS in North America, but there was at least one we hadn’t thought about. A Metallic Silver DS so you can look at your reflection now and then. Just like the one you own, just shinier and able to blind others on sunny days.

The Metallic Silver variety has been in Japan and Europe for almost a year, so I guess the big N figured it was time we had a crack at it. It should be available in all it’s shining glory on Sept. 7.

You might have noticed that the Clone Wars movie got some pretty bad reviews. So it’s not really a surprise that they’ve been pushing all kinds of Clone Wars merchandise in an attempt to make some extra money so George Lucas can get that new flannel shirt he’s had his eye on.

This is the ISpeaker. It uses a flat panel speaker and is compatible with iPod, iPhone and other MP3 players. It features Captain Rex from the Clone Wars and seems almost as lame as the movie. Small kids might like it, but your average Star Wars geek will probaly want to pass. It’s powered by 4 AAA batteries. The Clone Wars iSpeaker is available for $19. The lightsaber stylus for the DS is only $7.99 and a lot cooler.

It’s hard to take the Stix Wiimote knockoff for the PC seriously when it looks the way it does. It’s trying to hard. But the proof is in the play and at least one reviewer failed to shake any fun out of the thing. It’s only a 2D controiller after all.

The Stix 200 may look a lot like Nintendo’s wiimote, but it’s more like “a set of slightly unresponsive, highly inconvenient arrow keys” instead of an awesome motion controller. Like the device itself, the PC games that can be played with it are bad. The 3D-capable Stix 400 controller might do better, but the consensus seems to be that it’s not worth the bother after this review. The reviewer pretty much sums it up by saying, it’s the kind of gift “parents who can’t get their hands on a wii should get their children to make them cry.”

While we’re waiting with bated breath for a possible new updated Nintendo DS model that has been rumored, we thought we would take a look at some of our favorite DS mods. Like the Wii, modders love to spice up Nintendo’s boring design and put their own personal touches on the device. Some are weird, some are awesome, some will make you wonder what’s in the modder’s local water supply, but all are creative.

If Bigfoot actually existed, which we all know he does, he would need a giant controller to play Nintendo with you. This is what he would use, while you used your puny girlly controller. It was obviously inspired by the NES coffee table we showed you awhile back.

It’s made by SCAD Inc., a company that has seemingly mastered the art of enlarging things. This giant SNES controller actually has working buttons. The body is cut from wood and the buttons are connected directly to the guts of a standard SNES controller. Matt LaBoone, the main guy on the build, says that videos are coming soon.

Anybody else getting tired of hearing the same old thing from the big N regarding shortages? The company just issued a statement regarding shortages of Wii Fit and it’s a familiar tune: Regarding Wii shortages in November of 2007 they said: “The demand for Wii hardware globally has been unprecedented and higher than Nintendo could ever have anticipated.” Fast Forward to NOW, regarding Wii Fit shortages: “Nintendo had a substantial supply nationwide for launch, though some stores saw spot shortages due to unprecedented demand for this unique product.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if you have a huge demand for the core product, wouldn’t the demand for a fitness accessory be nearly as huge? And shouldn’t you have planned for it rather then having to pay PR people to explain that there is a Huge demand? Nobody is taking you seriously.

Wood classes up almost any gadget. Even simple USB drives. But when you give the Wii a woodgrain makeover, the result is simply awesome. It’s as if the the old Atari woodgrain consoles merged with the Wii. Much better then boring Wii white. For now it’s just a concept design by Joe D, which is a shame. Nintendo would sell a ton of product.

Joe’s concept apparently has a layer of woodgrain veneer on the Wii-Mote, Nunchuk, even the Classic Controller and Nyko Perfect Shot. That’s sweet enough, but he also gave the controllers get some bright white backlit buttons and black paint to bring out the wood. Once you see design like this it’s hard to come back to reality and pick up your white wiimote.

Seems like a whole lot of Wii owners have been waiting for Samba de Amigo on the Wii, which was originally for the Dreamcast. Now Amazon has the first live shots of the maracas attachments for the Wiimote and nunchuck. What other color would you expect, if not a festive hot tamale red, making it just like the originals on the Dreamcast console.

Amazon is pre-selling them for $15 and they’ll be released on Sept. 23. These should make Wiimote shaking a new art form, which makes me wonder if there are any Pinata games in the works, cuz I’d like to beat something virtually with a stick and get some damn candy. If not, there should be.

If there’s one thing you can say about the Wii, it’s that it is and always has been white. Back in the days when it was first called the “revolution” it seemed like we would be getting an assortment of colors, but alas, just plain old Wii white. That’s why it’s kind of shocking to see these.

While this may not be a lime or blood red Wii console, at least Nintendo is taking a baby step in the right direction with these pastel-colored Wiimote straps for Japan. You can get the whole pack for $10 or individually for afew bucks. No word if they’ll be coming our way soon.