WiiSports
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Wii Warm Up: Playing is believing
The biggest selling point of the Wii has to be the fact that it's incredibly fun to play. Thinking about that, we then pondered the people in our own life we've turned on to the console thanks to a play session of Wii Sports or WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Who have you turned on to the Wii in your life? And, what game was it that converted them from a casual onlooker into rabid Wii fan, combing over weekly sales in the newspaper and calling up various retail outlets to track down a console of their own? Who have you showed the wonder of the Wii off to and how quick did they want one of their own?
Get fit with Wii at Westin Hotels
It seems like you can find a Wii everywhere (besides a retail shelf) nowadays. Whether you're on a cruise, at a hotel or even at the amusement park, you just can't escape the little system that could.And now, the business travelers and other folks that find themselves staying at a Westin Hotel can also enjoy Wii (complete with Wii Fit) inside the confines of the Westin's workout room. So whether you're down for some Wii Sports: Bowling or simply want to have a nice, peaceful stretch with Wii Fit, you won't have to be away from your beloved console when on the road. %Gallery-4745%[Via Joystiq]
Dealership uses Wii to sell cars
Heck, we can't think of a smarter way to market your product. With the Wii being the hottest item on the planet, this is sure to bring some folks in, with the hopes that they'll hit some homers and knock the price of their car down.Of course, to take advantage of this offer, you first need to desire to drive around in a Nissan or Hyundai, since that's what kind of dealerships these are. And we're sure nobody ever paused to reflect on how great their life would be behind the wheel of an Accent. Unless you're a cafeteria worker at an elementary school or something.[Via Go Nintendo]
Come for the soft beds, stay for the Wii Sports
What's a good way to get folks into your hotel? We have no clue, what with being a game blog and all, but it looks like some hotels might have found a good way to get folks in their doors: gaming. We imagine if you have something the people like and want, they'll flock to you. That must be the thinking behind some hotels in the U.S. incorporating some of the most popular games into their repertoire of activities available to patrons. Games such as Wii Sports and Guitar Hero III. While we can't comment on whether this is a good decision from a business perspective, we can comment that this is a good decision from a customer service perspective. Now top Wii Sports bowlers and fast-fingered freaks in Guitar Hero III need not worry about getting rusty while they're attending that convention in Tuscaloosa.[Via Joystiq]
Wii Fanboy Interview: Hudson's Mike Samachisa on Deca Sports
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Wii_Fanboy_interviews_Hudson_console_division_head'; As you all know, we've had our eye on Deca Sports for quite some time. It really looks like a fun compilation of sports. But, to sway any doubt about the game's excellence that we may have had lingering around in our mind, Mike Samachisa, the head of Hudson Entertainment's console division, answered some of our questions regarding the game.Why wasn't Wi-Fi support added? What made them go with this collection of sports? What sports did they have to cut? Which is better: Wii Sports or Deca Sports? Head on past the break to get a better idea for what the present and future holds for Hudson's Deca Sports game.%Gallery-7109%
Deca Sporta TV spota
Actually, it's two spots for Deca Sporta (Deca Sports for everyone else), fresh from Japan. As with most Japanese ads, there is quite the amount of shouting. But, that's okay, because we get to check out some gameplay. We can't be the only one impressed with the amount of different sports in this game? What we're pondering really, though, is whether or not this game will have a sport that can topple Wii Sports: Bowling as the ultimate go-to game for anyone that enjoys Wii or has had yet to experience it? Perhaps others enjoy the Wii Sports: Tennis more, but our experience has been that everyone loves Bowling, while only some have liked the Tennis.Hit up the break for the other TV spot.%Gallery-7109%
Levine: Wii Bowling is the 'ultimate gateway drug'
Ken Levine, that dude who made that Bioshock game all of the kiddies went crazy over last year, recently spoke with GamesIndustry.biz about his stature in the industry now that he's made what most consider to be one of the greatest games of this console generation. But, Levine did take some time to touch on what he thinks about the casual market and how Nintendo is introducing new gamers into the fold.You see, Levine is embracing the changes that Nintendo and their Wii console are looking to bring to the industry. "Wii Bowling is like the ultimate gateway drug and God bless them for figuring that out because there is no barrier of entry," he explains. "Hey, can you go like that?" [swings arm] That's what you do in bowling, that's what you do in Wii Sports." Levine sees those that would otherwise ignore gaming as getting into it, commenting "I think there's a much better chance of people who wouldn't normally be interested in games going in and thinking "I'm interested in the history of Rome. I'll buy that strategy game," whereas before they would have been overwhelmed by the very concept of it." And, Levine, you're not the only one. We're excited about the future of gaming and how the Wii will help shape it, too![Via Go Nintendo]
Break a sweat looking over these Deca Sports screens
Some fresh, albeit kind of small, screens for Hudson's upcoming take on the whole Wii Sports thing, Deca Sports, have hit the net. And, we're hoping this game manages to be as fun as Wii Sports, because the overall package looks to have nothing but "win" written all over it. There's a ton of sports included in the game, some mainstream and some not so much (we can't wait to try the curling), so if you find yourself interested, hit up the gallery below for the new screens.%Gallery-7109%
Wii Tennis makes surprise appearance at the Oscars
There was no saucy saunter down the red carpet, but Nintendo's casual darling Wii Sports did manage to surprise gamers with a guest-spot at the 2008 Academy Awards. In one of the night's many gags, host Jon Stewart gets caught off guard when the show returns from commercial break, to find him using one of the event's gigantic projection screens to play a quick round of Wii Tennis.The entire segment lasts only thirty seconds, but it's chuckle-worthy, to be sure. Check out the video after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Campaigner calls Wii exercise in schools 'another gimmick'
It seems the school is still the eminent source of name calling, as the Wii, which has managed to shrug off all the "little fad" comments thus far, has been subjected to yet another "another gimmick" label. This time, however, it's in relation to the UK Department of Health's endorsement of an in-school "active" games scheme designed by the Droitwich and Worcester City School Sport Partnership. Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, was unconvinced by the program's weight-loss merits, saying, "Pupils would be far better doing serious competitive sports and games than this sort of thing." Channel 4 reports that this sort of thing has already been implemented in five schools in Worcestershire as "virtual PE," with the hopes that active gaming would lure children to participate in other physical exercise. Seaton, however, believes it "looks like another gimmick," one that's "pandering to the views of the physically idle." The Department of Health argued that the Wii makes for a good "first step" towards other forms of exercise, though failed to mention the benefits of the many, many steps required to excel in the physical strenuous Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party. Mind you, the embarrassing view of the physical idol in school would likely result in even more nasty name calling.[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
Canadian students compare Wii to traditional exercise
We've all worked up a sweat while playing the Wii, whether it be during sessions of WarioWare: Smooth Moves or Wii Sports (or any of the other numerous titles that ask you to get physical). We figured we were just unhealthy and that any normal person with any kind of regular physical activity in their life would just laugh as our doughy physique cried "mercy" after just minutes of throwing down in Wii Sports: Boxing.Canadian students from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia decided that they wanted to see how a workout with the Wii compares to more conventional exercises. These students could care less about scientific research apparently (or don't read Wii Fanboy, either of which being a crime against humanity), as took matters into their own hands and came up with an exercise scheme. Their conclusion, much like that of the scientists mentioned previously, was that although the Wii certainly did increase cardiovascular activity, it in no way was intense enough for them.Hopefully, whenever Wii Fit releases, the Wii will be a more viable solution for serious health nuts. Until that day, we'll just keep having fun with our low impact sessions of Wii Sports.[Thanks, gusto! Do you so happen to be an emcee?]
Wii serves over 5 million in Japan
In little over 60 weeks, the Wii console has managed to sell over 5 million units in its home territory of Japan. As impressive as this is, it falls short of the DS, which achieved sales figures of this nature in 56 weeks. But, the Wii did manage to beat the PS2, which cracked the 5 million mark after 66 weeks on the market.A system is only so good as its games though, right? Well, in Japan the games pushing the Wii are Wii Sports (2.6 million copies sold as of now), Wii Play (2.1 million copies sold as of now), Mario Party 8 ( 1.1 million copies sold as of now) and Wii Fit (1.1 million copies sold as of now). Super Mario Galaxy comes in fifth place in the country, only selling a total of 843,961 copies.
Have a pint and a go at Wii Sports
Now, if we were combining beverage time with Wii time, the product would probably be what you see to your right there. We have horrible coordination and the combination of alcohol into the mix would mean that we'd either spill our drink into our Wii or fall on it. That's just how we're built.You folks in England, however, have a bit more in the alcoholic coordination department, as playing the Wii has become the new "it" activity in the pub. It has inspired Team Europe, a company who manages Poker tournaments in pubs, to start up a similar tournament across pubs for the Wii. And, you can even find some tournaments going on right now, on a regular basis in London, should you be the type of person who enjoys immediate action. In fact, one such pub hosts a Wii tournament every Wednesday and enjoys a lot of support from the 30 or so players that show up for the event.This is just another example of the wonderful social aspect of the console, if you ask us.[Via MAXCONSOLE]
Science community tackles Wii weight loss claims
Studies into how effective the Wii is for shedding pounds are not new. Earlier this year, one gamer committed himself to a six-week regime of playing Wii Sports for thirty minutes a day, and came out nine pounds lighter. Not only that, but you should spend a day here at the Wii Fanboy offices -- it's all well-oiled, rippling biceps, bulging pectorals, and washboard stomachs. Sort of.Anyway, the scientific community has finally followed suit, with two UK-based researchers testing exactly how much of a workout Wii users are getting, compared to Xbox 360 gamers. Using teenagers as their subjects, the pair discovered that playing on the Wii burnt off an extra 60 calories per hour than gaming on the Xbox 360. Their conclusion? That while the Wii certainly helps with weight loss, it probably isn't an ideal substitute for regular exercise, cruelly scuppering our plans to work off post-holiday season pounds with some lengthy Wii Tennis sessions. Their findings were published in the British Medical Journal, no less. Admittedly, these results tell us little that we didn't already know, thanks to the experiment we mentioned in the first paragraph. But now that the same process has been carried out by the white coats, rather than Some Dude on the internet, some may claim it has an extra layer of credibility.[Via BBC]
What we're thankful for: Wii edition
Aside from stuffing our faces with 7,000 calories worth of food on Thanksgiving, we Americans are supposed to reflect on what we're most thankful for. While things like LOLcatz and coffee definitely make the list (oh right, and our families and friends, we guess), we wanted to show a little appreciation for the Wii as well. The Nintendo Wii Fanboy staff was thus asked what about the Wii we are most thankful for. The following is what happens when you have a staff with the collective maturity level of 37% (calculated by science).
Deca Sporta NA-bound, Hudson asks you to name the game
Hudson's Wii Sports clone (or wannabe sequel, depending on how you look at it) Deca Sporta will be making its way to North America. If compilations of 10 different sports minigames is your sort of thing, then Hudson's title might be right up your alley. Based on what we've seen, the plethora of minigames available within are varied and, most important of all, look fun.%Gallery-7109%[Via Siliconera]
Cheating wife caught out ... by her lover's Mii
Here's one you probably won't find on My Wii Story. A young soldier goes to war in Iraq, taking his DS and (eventually) Wii with him. While he's away, playing Wii Sports with his army buddies, his wife begins to conduct an affair with a ten-pin bowling champion. A little over a year later, the soldier returns to wagging tongues, tips from friends about his wife's indiscretions, and e-mails that reveal plans for his wife and her lover to run away together.Heartbroken, he turns on his Wii to reminisce about the friends he made in Iraq, and comes face to face with the final piece of incriminating evidence: the Mii of his wife's lover, and a list of the times and dates the pair played Wii Bowling together, forever secreted in his Wii's Calendar mode.This, if you were wondering, is the rather poignant tale of "Tony," who courageously sent his story to Go Nintendo. You can read his email in full at the link below.
A Wii Sports-alike on the DS? Simple!
D3 Publisher's Simple DS Vol. 29: THE Sports Daishuugo (The Big Sports Assembly) is exactly like Wii Sports. Except it doesn't look as good, has different sports, doesn't have any kind of motion controls, is probably lacking in polish to the point of glitchiness, and nobody's ever heard of it. But outside of those and probably some other things, the two are the same.THE Sports Daishuugo contains five main games: baseball, golf, volleyball, tennis, and futsal, as well as minigame variations on all of those. Like any decent casual sports game, it allows for multiplayer-- four-player single-card play.We're actually surprised by how bad this doesn't look. The characters are cute and the graphics are non-awful. We wonder if this cute sports game will take off in Japan, where Wii Sports sells tons as a standalone product.[Via Siliconera]
BAFTA: BioShock game of the year, Wii Sports wins most awards
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the winners for their British Academy Video Game Awards and BioShock came out on top, with Wii Sports winning most categories. The full list can be found after break. Wii Sports won six of 13 awards, Crackdown won two awards, as did Okami. Crackdown developer RealTime Worlds was the most successful European studio at the event, winning Best Action and Adventure and an audio award. Phil Wilson, producer of Crackdown, said, "BAFTA's are awards that are recognized and respected both outside the games industry and internationally, so we're incredibly proud that everyone's hard work has resulted in not just one but two of the prestigious gold masks." Great, now does that mean you'll finally start working on a sequel?
Wii Sports cleans up at BAFTAs
The entertainment awards competition with the most enjoyable name, the BAFTAs*, have come and gone, leaving Nintendo ordering a new trophy case for Wii Sports. Their flagship title took home six awards, more than any other game. In fact, the only category in which Wii Sports was nominated, but didn't win was Best Game, which went to Bioshock.The other big winner that Wii fans should be happy about is actually a PS2 game (for now). Clover Studio's brilliant Okami was awarded in the categories of Artistic Achievement and Original Score, both of which are well-deserved. We can gladly concede those categories to Okami over Wii Sports without much controversy.Check after the break for the full list of nominees and winners!*British Academy of Film and Television Arts; we didn't know without looking, either.
