Hotels are wising up, providing Wii Sports and Guitar Hero to bored guests

We keep telling ourselves we're going to play through Mario 64 some day on one of those ubiquitous N64s embedded into hotel entertainment systems, but we never get around to it -- primarily because of our unhealthy addiction to "next-gen" graphics and gameplay. Lucky for us, hotels are starting to get in on the action and hand-delivering consoles to guests, sticking a Wii in the fitness center, and offering Guitar Hero nights in the hotel bar. Best of all, Hotel Sax Chicago networked its Xboxen for Rock Band and Guitar Hero multiplayer with other hotel guests. Unfortunately, most of these hotels are charging an arm and a leg for the priveldge -- $50 an hour of Wii rental? Ouch! -- but it's starting feel like these places have at least figured out which century we're living in.

[Via Joystiq]

[Flashpoint @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:12AM]

Now guests won't have to leave the hotel with just towels and bibles anymore.

[TrentD @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:26AM]

Don't the Gideons want you to take the Bibles?

[Towncivilian @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:29AM]

Only towels and bibles? Pfft. I take shampoo, the notepad, whatever's in the closet, pick open the mini fridge, and even the paintings.

Of course, the towels are the most useful.

[fraz @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:24AM]

yeah... the towels are useful... for hiding the other crap in case the hotel asks to see inside your suitcase to work out where all there paintings have gone.

"you can have a look in there if you want but my used underwear ain't a pretty site buster..."

[Paa Kwesi Thompson @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:19AM]

Don't forget the hangers!! I regard myself a wooden hanger aficionado now.

[Nate @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:12AM]

At those rates, buy/bring your own. The Wii is very portable, assuming you aren't playing GH.

[Rurik @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:39AM]

Hotel TVs purposely lock guests from plugging in their own A/V equipment. Pisses me off to no end, especially as I'll travel somewhere on business for 2 weeks straight. I now just bring a portable DVD player and hook my games to that, but the quality stinks.

[7on @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:10AM]

@Rurik

Bring a flat head screw driver and use it to disconnect the RF coax.

[y3k.nik @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:15AM]

or, you could play guitar hero on your ds, assuming the gameplay is practical!

[UKNigel @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:24AM]

You can get a pretty simple RF adapter from most game stores that will let you connect your console to most hotel TVs. Not too expensive either.

[loof @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:25AM]

You can also try using a universal remote to enable the TV inputs. That's what I do.

[andy @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:17AM]

I got excited when you said "networked xboxen", I was having flashbacks to the impromptu 5am Halo LAN sessions in the frat house.

[omgwut @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:29AM]

Woohoo!

[aardvark sandwich @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:30AM]

I didnt even know they had N64 units available.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:30AM]

I'm tired of hearing of the Wii being some sort of revolutionary fitness device.

I challenge you to show me anyone who has had steady weightloss playing Wii games. Its absurd.

The only games I've seen thus far that you could lose weight from steadily are DDR and for the most part, their lack of upgradability causes you to shelve them within 2 months. Wii has a watered down version of DDR that's better on PS and Xbox.

Wii Fit is a joke. Unless this thing allows for upwards of 375lbs, most of the people who'd really benefit from it won't be able to use it. Instead, it will be purchased by these yoga-practicing metrosexuals who think this is going to make their wet-pillow thigh look go away.

I guarantee you that the Wii balance board is going under a bed - or into a closet within 3 months while these lazy, fat people pack away bon bons while watching MSNBC and Faux News.

Oh yeah - I'll get low ranked for this, but SO WHAT.

[a ham sandwich @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:42AM]

sigh. fine.


http://www.wiiweightlossplan.com/?q=node/6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMVj2yL--GI

[Flashpoint @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:46AM]

Are you kidding me?

The first guy is over 270 pounds and there IS NO AFTER PIC.

This isn't evidence.

I said "find me someone who has had steady weightloss".

Don't show me some fat, UFC, couch potato who "wants" to lose weight.

[schmitty338 @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:01AM]

Uhhh...unless suffering from a chronic disease, then only people who WANT to lose weight, will lose weight...

Also, the wii fit board can handle up to 300lb, which will cover the VAST majority of people who are even going to consider purchasing it.

Lastly, you are correct that most users are not going to see significant weight loss from playing wii...that said, however, somebody that plays wii sports at least 3 times per week for, say 30 mins or more will benefit from the exercise, even if only a little. This is especially true if somebody regularly plays wii boxing...have you ever played wii boxing? 30 minutes of playing wii boxing is physically exerting in the same way people use punching bags for cardio...

[Ken @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:52AM]

I'm trying to find out where the HELL this came from! There is nothing in the article that says anything about Wii Fit helping people lose weight.

[Derbeste @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:07PM]

Wii is being praised for fitness for the same reason DDR has been in the past.....

THEY ARE BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE!

If you can't see that, you really need to take off the fanboy colored glasses.

[Colin B @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:16PM]

Wow Flashpoint, you really think you're the sh!t don't you?

[Alex @ Apr 2nd 2008 3:41PM]

Hey, I ranked you up...

[y3k.nik @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:14AM]

@Flashpoint

Not to bring out your repressed childhood memory of being beaten up by random strangers, but i am curious now, is that what happened, because most of the comments you make are you bitching about something or the other.

Stop with all the hate! you made a point saying that the wii cant help people with their weight problems.. i get it, just move on and stop harassing people who are trying to do something good for themselves!

[packetsniffer @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:23AM]

Agreed. Flashpoint provides us with undue crankiness.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:29AM]

I can make whatever I want...you're loading your own messed up childhood onto others?

You're the reason why I am pro-abortion.

(I didn't say Pro-Choice... I said: Pro-Abortion)

[Tony Rayo @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:57AM]

Let's see, so Flashpoint is probably 14... that puts him at the ~60th trimester. Yeah all we need to do is get the law changed from no abortions after the 2nd to the 60th and I'd totally be on board (and since you felt the need to clarify, I am in fact pro-choice).

[NHAnimator @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:48AM]

Does this mean I can virtually trash my hotel room now?

[Allen @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:50AM]

And, Flashpoint, you must remember that playing Wii Fit is still better than playing Banjo Kazooie 2: being active, at least you won't GAIN weight.

As to the hotels, I usually take the soap, the mints, sometimes the towels (good quality or not?), and throw the bible out the window. Or leave it just teetering on the paper shredder, so that when room service walks in their heart jumps. ;)

[Jake @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:51AM]

I'm sorry, but "priveldge"? Dude, c'mon, that's not even close to the right spelling.

[BigTeebo @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:04PM]

At a hotel I stayed in Taipei, there was an HDTV and in the drawer next to it, there were A/V cables, as well as a VGA cable. I bought a Vii(Wii knockoff) and tested it right there in the hotel room.

As for stuff I gank, I take whatever is replenished on a daily basis, such as toiletries. They are great for the trip home, and if I forget to hit the grocery store when I'm at home.

[bo sneb @ Apr 2nd 2008 2:42PM]

maybe my travel plans are abnormal, but i don't see the point of paying for hotel entertainment. sure i'll watch their free tv when i've got nothing better to do, but usually when i have a hotel room i have better things to do than spend a bunch of time sitting in front of its tv.

[Ian @ Apr 2nd 2008 2:43PM]

wow what about the 50 dollar an hour charge for a wii? so can i rent it till i buy it? seems like a great way to buy a wii to me

[Hernan @ Apr 2nd 2008 3:51PM]

I'm the owner of a hostel in Buenos Aires and we have a wii in the common room for the guest to play with and we don't charge any extra, so if you are coming to bs as and want to have a good time in a hostel and play some wii visit us www.veniteacasahostel.com.ar

[Tim @ Apr 2nd 2008 3:57PM]

You have to promise to keep the creepy german dudes in rubber aprons out...

[Balls @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:03PM]

Don't lie. The reason you dont get around to beating Mario 64 is due to all the porn that's available.

[lanejasper69 @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:56PM]

MOST people in Hotels are in other towns on vacation, business or other ;-) Why do we need game consoles in them anyway? Take the rugrats out of the hotel room and give them something educational or fun to do rather than sitting in some expensive or not hotel room and playing Wii like they do at home!!! The Wi-Fi is great for business end of things, but I'd never take my kid out of town and pay for room with wii instead of going out and seeing the city, zoo, beach or wherever you may be. And if you are in some lame ass town to begin with stuck in a hotel then you are probably there for work and wouldn't have kids with you anyway.

Just my 2¢

Faslane

[Donna @ Apr 5th 2008 9:06PM]

Ok come on now geez people are to worried about playing vidio games in a hotil room ? GET real people do we remebr the days of going outside and not sitting in front of the tv theres more to life then sitting in front of the TV. So get up and go out enjoy life .

[NotATheif @ Apr 5th 2008 9:25PM]

Sounds like there are abunch of theifs on here. Get a job and you won't have to steal.

[Elle @ Apr 5th 2008 10:11PM]

Wow -- that's annoying that you think you're getting a low rank. Have some confidence in yourself. Maybe there are other people in this world that think like you. Seriously, nobody want to be around a Negative Ned who thinks he's a nerd or has an opinion that no one else has. Don't be too offended.

[Elle @ Apr 5th 2008 10:11PM]

@flash

How does your stance on abortion tie into this? && you know what that's just great that you support killing babies. Fuck! We should just change the law so anyone can kill whoever the hell they want at any point in life.

[WENDY @ Apr 5th 2008 10:44PM]

HOW DOES KILLING BABIES FIT INTO THW GAMING SYSTEMS CONVERSATION? AND REGARDING THE ABORTION ISSUE... MURDER IS MURDER. DON'T TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF IF YOU AREN'T RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO USE BIRTH CONTROL. WHY SHOULD A BABY BE CUT INTO MANY PIECES AND PULLED OUT OF YOUR BODY, SUFFERING UNIMAGINABLE PAIN, SO YOU CAN BE RID OF THIS INNOCENT LIFE YOU MADE? I WATCHED AN ABORTION ON A MOVIE AND IT WAS SO SICK AND THE CHILD WAS JUST RIPPED APART PIECE BY PIECE. MY GOD, WHERE IS THIS COUNTRY GOING?
ANYONE WHO CAN COMMENT SO STUPIDLY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO JUST GET AWAY WITH IT. AMERICA MUST STAND UP AND FACE IT'S EVILS.
GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY.

[Ya-Ya @ Apr 5th 2008 10:49PM]

Wendy - often time birth control fails. Sometimes the pills cause instantaneous abortion. The only answer is not to screw around if you're not ready for a kid. But I agree with you completely.

[smoochy72 @ Apr 6th 2008 12:40AM]

Whatever... to all of you. The Wii is still way cool, for fat people, skinny people, lazy people, thieves, pro-choicers, pro-lifers...whatever you are. It's supposed to be fun. Oh yea, and for all of those people who can't seem to stay on topic to WHAT THE ARTICLE WAS ABOUT...get over it! It's just a freakin ARTICLE. Have a nice day :-)

[sam @ Apr 6th 2008 12:44AM]

The got a Wii at my great grandmas nursing home and you should see the old people standing in line waiting to play and then watching them play is even funner.
Very cute you could just see the kids in them.

[Josh @ Apr 6th 2008 12:47AM]

if you had any smarts just bring your own xbox360 and avoid the rental fees, duh

[Smokey @ Apr 6th 2008 2:12AM]

Did you know that drying oneself with a virtual towel after a bath is the pits people! PULEEZE leave at least one towel.

[GLOOM ROOM @ Apr 6th 2008 3:40AM]

To loof:
Why couldn`t you keep that trick under Your hat!?
I,m a retired tv tech and repairman and I can off 5 ways hotels could firewall that just off the top of My head, witch is just what they`ll do if guys like You get to many people doing it. Next time think before blowing off Your big bean shooter! Your not the only one who will pay!
Side Pocket Bob

[jez @ Apr 6th 2008 4:50AM]

I take all the little shampoos, soaps etc... and save them. Once a year we drop them off at the local Teen Shelter.

[mak @ Apr 8th 2008 11:30AM]

i before e except after c *thief*