Type Pad Pro Score: 50% Developer: Nyko Device Type: Accessory

Function: Sometimes you find a gaming device that makes you realize how much you have been missing. This isn't that kind of device. The Nyko Type Pad Pro fills a need that all console gamers eventually run into, which is part of making the transition away from PCs. Games like MMOs and Action titles that use chat always feel clunky when one has to "type" with Analog Sticks or point-and-click mechanics. The Nyko Type Pad Pro is similar to what Microsoft offers with its Xbox 360 Messenger device, and Sony's Wireless Keypad attachment for the PS3 controller. The key difference may be that Nintendo hasn't opted to release any official keyboard, letting third parties fill that void. The only real competition now to the Nyko Type Pad Pro appears to be the Wii Cordless Keyboard from Logitech, which is designed like a traditional wireless keyboard. The Nyko Type Pad Pro fits directly over the Wii-mote or Nyko's own Wand replacement controller, looking a lot like a charging station. Imagine the classic split-design of any ergonomic keyboard, and you'll get the mental picture. QWERTY layout is used here, with numbers across the top and keys with special characters that can be accessed using a function key at the lower left. Short cuts like ".com" and the "@" symbol are included as individual buttons to save time, and you can map the (A) and (B) buttons to the Left or Right Trigger on the Type Pad Pro, as long as you're using the Nyko Wand. The whole thing works in concert with a USB dongle that fits into the back of your Wii, while the Type Pad Pro itself draws power from the controller. Once you enter an application, web form, or game where you would normally enter text, you can use the Type Pad Pro and maintain full control over the Wii-mote or Nyko Wand for pointing.

Performance: There's a major problem with the Nyko Type Pad Pro, and that's the fact that it doesn't type very well... One culprit appears to be that wireless link between the USB dongle and your Type Pad Pro, because we found the performance was greatly improved when we stood about 3-4 feet away from our Wii. Pointing at the sensor bar doesn't actually seem to have any bearing on the typing, but you can still use the pointing features as you would normally. The speed of the typing once you are more than a few feet away from your Wii drops to a crawl, slower than just pointing and clicking as you normally would. Especially taking into account the native auto-correct features (which Nyko recommends you disable while using the Type Pad Pro), there aren't many people who couldn't point-and-click their way through a text or chat message quicker than someone using this device. Even when you take the range limitations imposed by wireless off the table, the Type Pad Pro just doesn't feel very good. QWERTY helps seasoned typists understand where keys are located, but there are too many finger-acrobatics required to do simple things like type uppercase letters. The shift key has to be held down while you type a letter to get uppercase, and there's no equivalent to the "caps lock" key here. We can imagine that using this with the Nyko Wand is a far better experience, since it proved very awkward, as we held the Type Pad Pro in our hands, to keep reaching up to hit the (A) button with our thumb or forefinger. There's really no incentive to own this without also having the Wand, but the issues with typing are still a factor. On the plus side, the Type Pad Pro felt good in our hands; except for the Wii-mote jutting out in the front, it was a bit like holding an Xbox 360 controller. People with smaller hands may have some thumb-stretch using this, but it seems well made from a strictly ergonomic perspective. The worst part for smaller hands would be that (A) button reach, which is eliminated completely with a Wand. There's even a handy switch to reverse the A/B button mapping, we assume to accommodate left- and right-handers. Overall performance with the Type Pad Pro as Nyko intended it to be used would likely be better than as tested, but we're not convinced that the wireless range issues would be any different.

Features: QWERTY Keypad for Online Navigation and Game Chat Interaction Trans-Port Technology (Nyko Wand only) for Mapping A/B Buttons Can Be Used with Nyko Wand or Wii-mote Ergonomic Design Allows for Comfortable Thumb Typing Up to 25 Foot Wireless Range Wand or Wii-mote Central Placement for Easy Navigation and Field Selection No Additional Batteries Required

Drawbacks & Problems:: You might think at this point that the greatest challenges with the Nyko Type Pad Pro revolve around hardware limitations, but we were most disappointed with the lack of places online or otherwise that support typing. Fire up the Internet Channel and you'll find the Opera browser available on Wii doesn't play well with Google Docs or GMail. We got close to sending some email, but didn't have much luck entering text beyond the subject line. Yahoo was better, so it might just come down to your site of choice being typing-friendly. The only offline functionality we found was in the Message Board section, where you can post memos or send notes to your Wii friends. The typing action here was probably the best of anything we tried, since this is close enough to a simple notepad or word processor. The same delay issues persisted throughout, making it impractical to try and do much typing from the comfort of my couch or chair. A typing device that doesn't absolutely kill at typing is headed quickly for that drawer near your entertainment center. You know that drawer, the one holding all your 8MB SD cards, your GameCube accessories, and your Power Glove... Setting aside the fact that the Wii isn't necessarily America's first choice for multiplayer online gaming, there are some people that surf the web and send messages over the Wii, but the Nyko Type Pad Pro doesn't provide a solid alternative to the tried-and-true hunting, pecking, and clicking mechanic available with a Wii-mote. Take a pass on this one, especially if you don't have the Nyko Wand.

-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock

Related Links: Nyko Online