Third-party console peripherals – cheap tat or a cost-effective way to expand the playability of the console of your preference? Well, both, in many instances, although it must be said that some are definitely better than others. Joytech is a generally reputable brand, and the company has just announced a new range of Wii bits and pieces of varying usefulness. Here’s what’s in store:

Sports Pack
This features a trio of clip-on accessories, all of which are intended to enhance the realism of the Wii sporting experience. Or that’s the theory. The Wii Remote fits neatly into a steering wheel, a golf club or a tennis racket. Neither of which appear to add anything more than an a questionable aesthetic upgrade to the game being played. Maybe the neighbours won’t think you’re quite so daft when they see you waving a semi-authentic sporting implement around. Then again...

Power Station
Ah, now this one is properly useful – it’s a recharging unit for two battery packs. It also doubles as a docking station for two Remotes and Nunchuks. Yes, we’ll be having one of these.

Racing Grip
This least shameful component of the aforementioned Sports pack is available as a standalone item. The Wii Remote fits into the middle of this racing wheel. Doubtless it’s comfier than holding the Remote on its own too. Beyond that we have nothing to add. Nothing, really.

Controller Grip
Like the above but less obviously wheel-shaped. We think this might be useful for games such as Excite Truck, where horizontal tilting is required as well as rotational.

Silicon Gloves
Pimp your Wiimote! These babies offer additional grip, durability and protection for your Remotes and Nunchuks. They come in his n’ hers colours too – ‘cos the Wii is a unisex console, don’t you know.

And there you have it - something for that difficult-to-please or just plain spoiled Wii owner in your family this Xmas. As for the vexed questions of price and release date, all we can tell you is that these accessories will be available before Xmas. We surmise that they’ll be relatively inexpensive too, given that the official peripherals are already pretty darned cheap.