The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had a lot of neat gadgets, and gaming peripherals seemed to be the top gaming focus. I got to see some great Nyko products, including and SpeakerCom for the Xbox 360; Wand+ for the Nintendo Wii; the Charge Base Quad IC for Wii-motes; Perfect Shot Pro for Wii; and the Intercooler Slim and Media Hub Slim for the PlayStation 3. All are quality peripherals we’ve come to expect from Nyko.

SpeakerCom

One of the best Nyko products I saw was the SpeakerCom for the Xbox 360. It’s an alternative to the bulkier headset that comes with the Xbox 360, and I’m excited about it. SpeakerCom is a 2-in-1 speakerphone/headset combo with a tangle-resistant flat wire that will be available in both black and white. The earbuds aren’t necessarily the best for smaller ears, but they aren’t the worst, either. I’m willing to deal with it because another fun feature of the earbuds is that they have magnets on them that let you clasp them together and wear them around your neck. Magnets are fun.

I really like the fact that the speaker can be used in a room full of friends. Playing Xbox Live with multiple players in the same room is always a little annoying because only one player can have a headset and talk during gameplay. With SpeakerCom, everyone can be heard. But there’s also a mute button that’s easy to access in case your friends are getting a little too rowdy.

I’m really looking forward to the release of the SpeakerCom. I’ve been waiting for an earbud alternative for Xbox 360. I’m glad Nyko can deliver.

Wand+

Wand+ is a motion-sensing IR controller for the Wii. According to Nyko, Wand+ will be fully compatible with all Wii Motion Plus and Wii software; the Trans-Port technology relocates key buttons and vibration for the accessories to help players get more immersed into the game; and the Full-Motion abilities offers players more accurate one-to-one movement detection for better input. And with the Wand+, you’ll get bigger 1 and 2 buttons.

I like table tennis (ping pong), and when I first got my Wii and used the regular Wii-mote for table tennis, I was no good. I’m not terrible at real-life ping pong, but I was terrible with the Wii. I’m not very good with all the technical aspects of the Wii and motion-sensing technology, but when I played table tennis using the Wand+, I felt the difference. My Mii seemed to respond better to my movements, which pleased me very much so.

One of the complaints I’ve had with the Wii-mote is that it doesn’t do exactly as I want/expect it. But with Wand+, my little Mii will hopefully respond better. If you’re looking for more control, pick up the Wand+ when it comes out in March.

Charge Base Quad IC

The Charge Base Quad IC offers four magnetic cradles in which you can charge your Wii-mote or Nyko Wands. It comes in both black and white, has lights to easily distinguish charge status, includes four rechargeable battery packs, and even has a USB port that will allow you to charge any USB-compatible device. Another awesome aspect of the Charge Base is that you don’t even have to take your controller out of its grip covers.

I had some fun playing with the magnetic aspect of the Charge Base Quad IC. As I said earlier ... magnets are fun. I also really like the fact that there’s a USB port and the base comes with battery packs. The USB port is brilliant to offer because everyone has some USB-compatible device they’d like to charge frequently. Extra ports are always welcome.

Look for the Charge Base Quad IC in March for about $49.99. It’s definitely worth the price for the base and battery packs.

Perfect Shot Pro

Perfect Shot Pro for the Wii is basically the second version of the Perfect Shot. It looks a lot like the original, but Perfect Shot Pro has built-in rumble, so you’ll be able to feel the vibration in the pistol. The tactile trigger will activate the B button, and aiming sight will increase accuracy. The Perfect Shot Pro will be available in February for about $14.99.

Intercooler Slim and Media Hub Slim

The Intercooler Slim for the PS3 offers a slim version of the intercooler system that turns on and off with the PS3. It will be available in February for about $19.99. I thought it looked pretty good and blended well with the PS3.

The Media Hub Slim has an SD card reader, four USB hubs and a remote control. I thought it also blended well with the PS3, and little remotes are always good and handy. Although, they can get lost easily, too, so you’ll want to keep track of it. The Media Hub Slim will be available in April for about $24.99.