Best Wii Remote mod ever!

[Ziggy]

Most of the time I'm playing the Wii, I'm holding the remote sideways NES style. That being the case, you know that little hump by the battery cover release tab? Yeah, that thing. It has bothered me pretty much since I first got the Wii (January after launch). The way I hold the controller, it irritates my middle finger constantly. If I play a game for any extended amount of time it starts to drive me crazy! Why did they even put that stupid thing there? I suppose it's to keep the controller from rolling when you set it down.

Well, I removed mine. I've been wanting to for years and today I finally said enough is enough. I did some tests. If I throw my controller down on a table it'll roll onto its side instead of wobbling back and forth until it settles. Oh no! But you know what? It is well worth the minor inconvenience of having my controller roll onto its side, the comfort is now amaaazing (reference to recent discussion in the random thread).


Pic of hump on unmodified controller:

hump.jpg

Hump removed:

no hump.jpg

Of course, trying to manual focus on something white is really hard, so a less than stellar picture, but you get the idea.

Jokes aside... I wish the pic was a little more clear, I wanted to show how smooth I was able to get it. For any one that's interested in doing this, it's really easy and I highly recommend it. It takes about 5-10 minutes, most of that time spent taking the controller apart and putting it back together. And cleaning, should you wish. Removing the hump took less than a minute.

You need a triwing screwdriver to open the controller, but you could easily remove the hump with out one, I just didn't want plastic shavings and plastic sawdust getting inside the controller, and I figure I could clean it while it was apart.

Anyways, I used a fine wood file to take down the hump. Then I used some 220 grit sandpaper to take out the rest of the hump. Then I used some 400 grit paper to to smooth it all out. I could've followed that with 600 to make it perfect, but it was good enough. If you don't have a file, you could remove the hump with just sandpaper alone. It'll just take longer.

I'm probably not the first person in the world to have done this, but I haven't seen it anywhere, so I thought I'd share. If you hold the controller sideways a lot and have noticed that hump irritating you, I highly recommend doing this. It was super easy. I'll have to do it to my other three remotes now.

[CRTGAMER]

Nice simple mod. I had to look at my Wiimote and you are right! That hump sticks up a little unlike the battery latch next to it which is flush. Good move, so easy to do.

The only downfall which is no big deal, is having to hold the Wiimote steady on the table whenever a Plus calibration is needed.

[Ziggy]

The only downfall which is no big deal, is having to hold the Wiimote steady on the table whenever a Plus calibration is needed.

Is that something that's done on the Remote Plus? I don't (yet) have one. I don't know what that calibration entails, but if that's the case, then yeah, you might not wanna do it to a Plus controller. You wouldn't need the Remote Plus for any games that you hold the controller sideways anyway.

[CRTGAMER]

The only downfall which is no big deal, is having to hold the Wiimote steady on the table whenever a Plus calibration is needed.

Is that something that's done on the Remote Plus? I don't (yet) have one. I don't know what that calibration entails, but if that's the case, then yeah, you might not wanna do it to a Plus controller. You wouldn't need the Remote Plus for any games that you hold the controller sideways anyway.

There are a couple of Remote Plus games such as Red Steel 2 that I have come across requiring setting the Wiimote flat on the table during the initial calibration phase. However, holding the Wiimote steady flat will get the same results so the mod should be okay.

[Ziggy]

I kinda posted this as a joke, but I'm assuming people either didn't get it or didn't find it funny. Although I truly did hate that bump and am very happy it's gone, calling it a "mod" just seems funny to me. I guess technically it is a modification of the controller, but it's not typically what you think of when you hear "controller mod."

Also, I guess I'm the only the only one who was bothered by that hump. I thought there must have been a least one or two of yous out there that hated it as well.

Aint nothing like the sound of crickets.

[Ziggy]

A few things to add, if any one cares...

I finally got a Remote Plus and have been playing Skyward Sword (I also checked out Red Steel 2 briefly). When you calibrate the remote, it tells you to set the remote face down on a flat surface, hump side facing up. It makes no difference for calibration if you remove the hump.

Another thing, I don't know what the norm is but I use my remotes without the silicon protector condom thing. I wasn't ever a big fan of them when they came out, and they also don't fit in my charger. So to avoid the having to remove them constantly, I just do without them.

That being said, I reevaluated them recently and found out two things. One, they're really not bad to use at all. I originally didn't like the way they feel, compared to the bare controller. But after checking them out again, they're not too bad. Even when you're using the remote sideways. And two, they cover that hump. If I used them, I wouldn't have to worry about the hump. But as long as I charge my remotes the way I do, I wont be using them.

[CRTGAMER]

A few things to add, if any one cares...

I finally got a Remote Plus and have been playing Skyward Sword (I also checked out Red Steel 2 briefly). When you calibrate the remote, it tells you to set the remote face down on a flat surface, hump side facing up. It makes no difference for calibration if you remove the hump.

Another thing, I don't know what the norm is but I use my remotes without the silicon protector condom thing. I wasn't ever a big fan of them when they came out, and they also don't fit in my charger. So to avoid the having to remove them constantly, I just do without them.

That being said, I reevaluated them recently and found out two things. One, they're really not bad to use at all. I originally didn't like the way they feel, compared to the bare controller. But after checking them out again, they're not too bad. Even when you're using the remote sideways. And two, they cover that hump. If I used them, I wouldn't have to worry about the hump. But as long as I charge my remotes the way I do, I wont be using them.

I don't care for that silicon skin, too sticky. Also a pain for regular battery change out. Never noticed the calibration was faced down. I always either held the Wiimote flat steady or placed on table face up either method. I think you are right on the instructions, but that face down does seem silly though, seems like the A button might get bumped.