I think one overlooked improvement from this console generation has been the switch to wireless controllers. Sure there used to be rubbish IR wireless controllers back in the day but they were rubbish. The only drawback with wireless controllers is the batteries or recharging them and whilst that problem isn't going to go away, Nyko seem to have come up with an elegant solution.

The new Nyko Charge Base 3 includes two attachments that will connect your controllers to the charging stand with magnets, so you can quickly attach and detach them from the stand. There's also built in LEDs that show the status of the charge for each controller, so you know when you can detach and enjoy a full gaming session without any battery worries. There's no cables to worry about which is real handy when you know your controller is running low on juice but the recharging cable is nowhere to be found.

The dock itself costs $29.99 which is a decent price considering you're getting the two dongle attachments along with the dock itself. It's a slick looking device and given it's ease of use I'd say it's well worth the money for simply not having to use cables. Just don't leave your controllers plugged in for months without use like I did with my Wii-motes... yeah, that didn't end well. 

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Epic-Kx

MAG-FUCKIN-NETO.

CaptainHowdy

Sounds freaking awesome.

Optimusbry

What happened to your wii-motes?! Mine have been plugged in for months without use as well

Scissors

I almost bought a charger stand, but then I realized I didn't need it. The battery life is really good for my controller, there's only been a few moments where my controller died, and even then it wasn't too much of a pain cause I could just charge it with my laptop.

Forsakeneyes

That's cool, but at least with a charge cable I can continue playing. I often forget charging my controller in between gaming sessions.

And yes, I didn't really paid much attention to the switch to wireless initially. That is, until you are forced back to a cable again, then you realize just how annoying those things can be!

dtomek

Thought these have been around for awhile? My brother got some sort of inductive charging stand like this last year. Pretty cool except nyko batteries don't have much endurance.

32BitSin

http://www.amazon.com/Charge-Base-3-Playstation/dp/B004UPP9ES/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1319666254&sr=8-5 $24.99. Buying it.

D Sane

Fuckin' magnets? How do they work?

Alasdair Duncan

@Optimusbry: I bought a third party recharger unit that came with some bateries. I left mine plugged in for a few months, then they never worked whenever I tried them.

@D Sane: first!

ikiryou

Excellent. I'm fairly sure I can weaponize this somehow.

MrDandyMan

I assume that because this has indicator lights to show when a controller has a full battery that it also has an auto shutoff feature that stops the charger from continuing to juice the batteries into permanent-dead-state-oblivion. But y'know. I'd be nice to hear it from the horse's mouth.

I've been meaning to pick one of these up since 2007. Maybe this'll be the one.

BrowneyeWinkin

Id cop this if i didnt just mod my ps3 to register my 360 razer onza

MCBattery

This is nice,but I think I'll stick with my $2 USB extension cord while playing,or just charge it with my PC when not using the PS3 until I have some spare cash.

BWAJAJAJA

naah....I already have a Nyko controller charger, i think i´ll gonna pass this one....

Zaheer

Wavebird for life

s0lesurviv0r

Kaden101

I think I'll pass. I'm pretty sure after stupidly leaving my DS3 overnight on top of my Logitech Z4 subwoofer, that the magnet in the speaker completely knackered the DS3 battery, as the controller was dead the following morning, & had to be replaced.

I assume the magnets in this aren't that strong, but magnet/battery. Nah, I think I'll pass.

I'm still waiting for that nice Memorex one to hit the UK. The one that does 2 DS3's, & 2 move controllers at the same time.

http://www.amazon.com/Memorex-Quad-Controller-Charging-Playstation-3/dp/B004OCID9K

Nobunaga Oda

I don't wanna talk to no scientists, yall mutha fawkers lying and gettin me pissed.