Wii Balance Board hands-on, er, feet-on

We got to get on a little, um, feet-on time with Nintendo's new Wii Balance Board. Besides the humbling experience of feeling like an uncoordinated, chubby remnant of your former self, we were surprised with the accuracy by which the device was able to detect even subtle muscle movements that affect balance and position. It definitely felt heavy and sturdy for a pre-production device. Oh, and the weight / balance sensors aren't just left / right, either, some games require you to stand in the middle on one foot. Check out the gallery, it's time to get physical like ONJ. (If you're still left wanting more, hit up Joystiq.)

Gallery: Wii Balance Board hands-on, er, feet-on

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[humpty @ Jul 13th 2007 5:30PM]

The Wii Board is getting a ho-hum reception by everyone.. its a drastic difference than the reception that the wiimote and wiisports got last year. Completely different. At that time, people just picked up the wiimote and instantly got it.. here, it a big wtf?

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Jul 13th 2007 5:55PM]

I'd say the problem is that this is another controller. The Wii Remote is a great idea. Why won't Nintendo just hold their horses and stick with that?

I, for one, do not want Wii accessories dominating my living room. That's the reason I favoured the system in the first place...

[Steve @ Jul 13th 2007 5:59PM]

I hope they can accommodate players with flat feet, such as myself. :/

[laughallway2bank @ Jul 13th 2007 6:13PM]

i have size 15 shoes.... you think this thing will accommodate me?

this is the problem... trying to do too much... stick to what works.

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 13th 2007 6:18PM]

I asked this before, but everyone seems to keep dodging it.

Is Nintendo trying to prove that add-on accessories can be successful? Seriously, how many games besides Wii-Fit will actually use this? (...and I'm not talking about what YOU THINK can use it. I'm asking how many WILL use it...) Of all the add-on controllers, the zapper was probably the only one to reach any kind of minor success. Even then it wasn't that well supported.

[humpty @ Jul 13th 2007 6:57PM]

One problem is that this "controller" isnt standard issue, so, the market for publishers is already smaller to begin with.

Also, how do you make a REAL game using this controller? I mean, a game that isnt a collection of mini-games. Are they going to make the next Mario Galaxy using this control scheme? (ok, skate and snow boarding make some sense.. what else?)

[Chris @ Jul 13th 2007 7:54PM]

I think this can be pretty useful. Not to be used with every game, but there would be plenty of genres this can be used for. I would use this for games such as:

Tony Hawk (and anything else on a board; surfing)
Spy Hunter (or any car driving game for the gas and break)
Drum Hero (or a drum kit tutor)
and of course Singer Sewing Machine Challenge 3000

[Solomon @ Jul 14th 2007 10:44AM]

Sewing Machine Challenge: picture the soccer moms 'pink fabric, FTW!'.

I agree, this *seems* like it will have minor adoption. But, I actually foresee it doing quite a bit. Which is sad. If only it were four-way, instead of just two! Imagine, you know, some kind of DDR mat with the pressure sensitivity. And, being a big solid mat, it would drastically improve the gameplay. That would be freaking sweet.

[rp @ Jul 13th 2007 6:31PM]

I don't really see this as being a failure. To me, this is part of Nintendo's scheme to virtualize video games. They've basically done it by adding the motion controls. I don't know many gamers that would object to virtually interacting with their environment. It's starting to look to me like "Playstation 9" will actually be Nintendo's next or next next gen console rather than a Sony product.
To me, this product looks about 1000x better than the zapper.

[Katie @ Jul 13th 2007 6:33PM]

I think everyone is thinking about this in the wrong way. This is the logical next step in what Nintendo was doing with the Wiimote. They're moving toward a gaming expirience where YOU move with the character. This isn't just for WiiFit. The obvious uses for it (surfing, skateboarding, ect.) are far from what could be done. It could revolutionize sports games. In fact, it could be used in any game where your character is on their feet. It's one more step toward immersive gaming. Wiifit is just to introduce it.

[alf @ Jul 13th 2007 6:54PM]

Agreed. People are also missing the fact that Nintendo has *heavily* marketed the Wii to mothers who don't want their kids sitting on their ass all day. This is just another way to get kids off of the couch, and looks like something that a mom would probably buy as long as the price point isn't outrageous.

I could definitely see a scenario where this isn't used just in games, but in separate titles for different types of exercise. (WiiYoga, WiiStep, etc.)

[radiant @ Jul 13th 2007 7:28PM]

Compared to the cost of a personal trainer this is a bargain. who knows, Nintendo may solve our problem of obese fatty kids. of course the downside is who will we make fun of now?

[radiant @ Jul 13th 2007 7:29PM]

oh, yea, we can make fun of the 14 year old who owns a ps3 who is 5'4 and weighs 230 pounds and thinks he is Snake from Metal Gear solid 4. we can laugh at that little fat dork.

[Ed Cowden @ Jul 13th 2007 7:41PM]

(sigh) Great, a new way to make people anti-social. Rather than going out to play sports *with other people*, or going to the gym to workout ... wait for it ... *with other people*, we can all stay home and exercise AND play games AND learn how to cook AND perform virtual surgery ... jeez.

I see the point behind all these devices, and it's kinda nice to see gaming move in a new direction, but I'm concerned we're all gonna become hermits locked in our little Wii-caves.

[radiant @ Jul 13th 2007 7:57PM]

if you are interested in the topic of modern day anti-social behaviour I reccomend a book called 'bowling alone- the collapse and revival of american community". the title comes from the fact that just ten years ago there were many more bowling leagues and teams, now more people bowl alone, (or at home on the wii)

[JP @ Jul 16th 2007 4:46AM]

Go to the gym to work out *with other people*?!? I don't know what gyms you go to, but most people I see at the gym zone out completely and avoid talking to anybody else. Very much a case of all alone in a crowd...

My question is when is Nintendo going to come out with branded clothing for use with it's Wii Fitness range? With a heart monitor that links to the Wii etc etc...

[Waruwaru @ Jul 13th 2007 8:06PM]

CostCo sox rule!

[Charbax @ Jul 13th 2007 9:51PM]

This is another revolution in gaming.

One thing you have to remember, is that people posting in blog comments are always wrong, and Nintendo is always right.

The Wii Board let's you use the whole body to interact with the games. With the Wii Mote it was just the whole hand, wrist and arms. Now with Wii Board it is the whole body.

Imagine this: Combine a Wii Board with the Wii Mote, and you've got a Tennis game where you are actually simulating the whole experience of playing Tennis. The same with soccer game, skiing and surfing simulations at home. Imagine a 3D shooter where you combine the Zapper and the Wii Board, thus walking around in the game using the Wii Board combined with the Nunchuck.

This is probably not all, Nintendo probably has more precise WiiMote in the works and other motion sensing accessories.

[whatchaknow @ Jul 13th 2007 10:59PM]

Your comments: so...in terms of the shooter, you walk/run in place? that would be
cool...i guess. oki know you were making a point LOL and i totally
get your point. miyamoto or reggie even said that the board would be
in mind for future games...i definitly see a snowboard/skateboard
game. even a running/track game. does anyone else want to see more
action/adventure games for the wii, like zelda?

[Charbax @ Jul 14th 2007 12:43AM]

No I'm not sure it would be possible to make a game where you would be running infront of your TV.. But imagine that you would just be slightly leaning in one direction to get the tennis player in the game running in one direction or the other, the same with a football game, the same with a shooter. Or a Super Monkey Ball game where the board would give an extra layer of full body immersion control of the game over the controlling which you could do with one or two Wii Motes or Nunchucks..

The reports are that this Wii Board is very precise and sensible, if it really is, then you would be able to do very subtle moves and combination of moves using that which would not be possible with a thumb joystick.

[Golden Primus @ Jul 15th 2007 12:50AM]

If the board has more then just a left/right senser, and can sense any direction you lean (or press, if your lazy enough to sit and use it), then this product could "revolution"ize the whole gaming idea!
Moving your avitar with your feet sounds good to me.

[Simon Dick @ Jul 16th 2007 6:01AM]

Wow, Nintendo are really recycling old ideas now, just google for the Amiga joyboard :)

[Wingnut @ Jul 16th 2007 7:39AM]

Hang on... there is so much whinging regardin Wii... From where i look, i guess the same thing happened wen Atari (I guess they were the first) came out with their first gaming console. Every since then, gaming consoles are gaming devices that require you to sit and stare while playing.... (Wanna go BIGGGGG, get a gaming console). However, Wii requires you to actually move (a decent exercise to burn calories i would suggest....).

I think that if kids actually start liking it, then we might have found a solution to stop kids from getting OBESE..

waitin for some crap comin towards my comment.

[Chris J @ Jul 16th 2007 1:37PM]

No amount of exercise in video games will correct the negative health impacts of a high fructose corn syrup infused American food supply.

[Wingnut @ Jul 17th 2007 8:19AM]

I never said that its a permanent solution... All i said that it could be a solution! Bring games like Basketball, Footy, Tennis or first person shooter games like Command and Conquer where kids would have to actually move their legs to walk, duck in real to duck virtually, i guess it would help burn a few calories, if not more!