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Hole in One in Wii Sports: Golf
We're sure others have successfully hit a hole in one in Wii Sports: Golf, but for us the idea of achieving such an immaculate shot is such an impossible goal as to not even exist. Like some kind of mythical beast, we cannot fathom it being possible to live, breath and enjoy life in the way we do. That's why this video is so priceless to us. It's like the first ever real picture of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.As always, the video has been embedded past the post break.
Everybody's doing it: Wii workouts
We've run across a couple of bloggers taking on Wii Sports workout regimens and we must say that it does sound appealing. It's funny -- preWii, people were complaining about the potentially tiring effect of playing for hours, and now other people are looking to maximize that very effect. We must say that a few rounds of boxing or tennis are pretty nice after a long day at the computer. What's your take on it? Think that Wii Sports can have any effect on a gamer's physique?
Wii Sports Pack offers trio of Wiimote extensions
In what's likely to go down as the most heavily accessorized (and harmful) controller ever, Nintendo's Wiimote sure is garnering a lot of attention from accessory makers. Sure, those Wii Gloves may keep butterfinger disasters from ever occurring, but they really don't give you any sort of competitive advantage when throwing down in Wii Sports. While we knew JoyTech was planning its own barrage of controller add-ons, it looks like Brando is offering up a sweet trio of Wiimote extensions to presumably improve your Wii Sports play. For just $22, you'll get a tennis racket, golf grip, and a baseball bat, which could arguably pull double duty as a sword in Red Steel. Of course, you'll still need to pick up that foam donut separately (or bundled in with another game) for the ultimate Excite Truck experience, but hey, you gotta start somewhere.
Retro Review: Hot Shots Golf 2
File Size: 157MBPrice: $5.99Developed By: Clap HanzPublished By: Sony Computer Entertainment of AmericaOriginal Release Date: February 29, 2000Short ReviewRecommended. For better or for worse, the golf genre's lack of significant evolution makes Hot Shots Golf 2 an incredibly worthwhile purchase. The graphics have aged very well, and the quick load times make this $6 purchase just as worthwhile as other fully priced modern golf games.
Build a golf club POV to improve your swing
So last weekend, some of the Engadget editors were getting together at our latest country club retreat (read: miniature golf) and we were discussing over glasses of chardonnay (read: a couple of beers) how we could improve our golf swing (read: none of this ever happened). That said, we're always looking to better our game. Fortunately for us, our pal Philip Torrone over at MAKE: Blog pointed us to a detailed set of instructions on how to make a golf club POV (persistence of vision, or a device that spells out words when swung) that writes "NICE SWINGING!" if you've got that coveted golf arc down. According to Zedomax, if you spend the time and money to build this POV, it should cost about $45 and ought to take about two hours to construct. Of course, a $45 gadget won't replace your $50/hr golf coach, but it may just make you the coolest (and dorkiest) player on the back nine. (Bonus points to the first person that makes one of these that spells out Engadget, or the "e" logo).
Does real world talent translate into Wii Sports talent?
... or, in the case of this blogger, lack thereof? With Nintendo boasting the intuitive, easy motion-sensing control scheme allowing all types of people to game with ease, we wondered if the control scheme was realistic enough to favor those who excel in these sports in the real world to do the same on the Wii. Sadly, we're all gamers and not a one of us can protest to be great at golf out in the real world. As such, we decided to document our trials in a couple of games to see if we could get the hang of the game, with the future goal being dominating anyone we come across.Can we step up and own the links right away? Is the game more realistic and challenging than its presentation would have you believe? Read on and find out!
Wii Sports has depth
In the surprisingly oft-updated series "Iwata Asks", Iwata sits down with some heavy hitters from the Wii Sports development team. We all know the reason that the game exists: to introduce to gamers, new and old, how easy and intuitive Nintendo's magic voodoo wand of a controller can be. Many, however, have expressed fears on how such a simple title could long hold a player's attention.Iwata asks the developers these very same questions. The developers go through every one of the five games, describing in detail some of the more complex facets of gameplay. Though the lengthy article is most certainly worth a read, some key points are summarized below: In Wii Tennis, the developers note how impossibly difficult it is to "hit the same exact shot twice". The game measures your skill level numerically, and pits you against over sixty progressively more difficult opponents. The game also has a new "rocket serve" feature, whereby if a serve is hit at the very apex of the ball's toss, the first shot will get an intense burst of speed. Though the controller cannot technically read one's full body motions, Wii Boxing was designed to move the player's body in-game when a player actually dodges, via the subtle hand movements during said dodge. In other words, the game will work best when the players actually dance around, dodging punches and counterattacking. Wii Golf has taken nine of the best classic holes from the original NES Golf (on which Iwata himself programmed!), and remade them in full 3-D glory. Only eight people worldwide would have recognized this, but it's a nice little bonus. Wii Bowling contains absolutely no arbitrary random variables, as many bowling games seem to. However, despite this, no one at Nintendo's internal testing team was able to score a perfect 300 game. To help you hone your ball rolling skills, the game offers three training-type minigames to pass the time. Also, in a nice touch of realism, you can actually roll the ball away from the lane or even into adjacent lanes around you. To those who feared that Wii Sports would be a two-day affair, worry not. Between your girlfriend and your grandmother, we're sure that your racket-swingin' days will last far into the future.
Tiger Woods content is cheating
We swear, we don't just come to work wondering how we can hate on EA. Honestly, we don't, but we couldn't help pointing something out. There's a new batch of downloadable content for Tiger Woods 07. Sure, everyone loves downloadable content, but this new "content" stinks.Unlock Golfer:-200 pointsPro Shop – 300 pointsMaxed out Player – 200 pointsUnlock Courses – 200 pointsAs a quick explanation, all of these downloads unlock content in the game. The thing is, it unlocks content in the game that you can unlock just by playing it. What it comes down to is that EA is basically charging us for cheat codes. You want every single golfer in the game, but you don't want to unlock them yourself? That'll be $2.50. Maybe you'd like to have every item in the Pro Shop. No problem: $3.75. Can't be bothered to raise your golfer's stats? Easy, we'll max him out for $2.50. And of course, what good is a maxed out golfer if he can't play on those pesky locked courses. We'll just unlock those for another $2.50.Now, we're not going to completely condemn this. Many people have complained that they don't have time to unlock things in their games. All they want is to be able to play with their friends, using all the same content. That's all well and good, but we can't help feeling that things like this are chipping away at the soul of gaming. Seriously, why play the game at all if you're just going to strip it of all accomplishment? Put simply, it's bullsh*t. And probably a goldmine for EA. God help us all if Konami charges us for "the code" when Contra hits XBLA.
Prostroke Golf gets release date, control system explained
It doesn't seem that many games are released in Europe before they are in the U.S., but ProStroke Golf: World Tour 2007 was released last month in Europe, and publisher Oxygen Interactive (No, not the women's tv channel) recently announced the game will make it across the pond Nov. 10.In addition to the release date, Oxygen also released information about how it's highly-touted "Prostroke" control system, which supposedly gives the player complete control of their shot, actually works.The press release goes into painful detail about the shot, and I'm sure you probably don't want to read it all. Basically, you start your swing just like any other golf game by aiming the direction of your shot, but after you select your aim, you can zoom in even further to more accurately aim your shot. The actual swing is started by pressing and holding the R shoulder button. Once you've attained the desired power, you press the L shoulder button then release the R button to start the downswing. When the power gauge reaches close to zero, you release the L button, and you're shot is off.Pretty simple, eh?
The GPS games: more details revealed
The upcoming camera and GPS peripherals have been getting a lot of attention, most notably because they have the ability to extend the PSP's already impressive capability set, and interface with games in new, original ways. One of the more creative examples we mentioned earlier was Hot Shot Golf's communication with GPS that transforms the game into a personal golf assistant when you're actually on one of Japan's golf courses. According to IT Media, this can become the "golf tool of the new age." This will certainly bring in a very unique audience to the world of gaming: golfers, who might pick up a PSP just to get all the golf data they could ever want. (But we wonder, how many people will actually use this functionality? And: will it work on US golf courses?)Of course, Hot Shots Golf isn't the only game using PSP's GPS feature. Read on to see how other software is taking advantage of the device.
TGS 06: Camera & GPS details revealed [Update 2]
The fine folks of PSP Vault appear to have discovered a few new screenshots and details of the upcoming PSP accessories: The camera uses Chotto Shot, a program that lets you edit your movies. Using AdHoc, you'll be able to transmit videos to other PSP owners. Hot Shots Golf will let you plan your golf shots on actual golf courses in Japan. The GPS functionality will help you locate other Metal Gear Solid players. Read - Camera details revealedRead - GPS details revealed[Update 1: IGN has revealed new pictures from the GPS interface.][Update 2: Vault reveals hints about MGS GPS functionality.]
An empire of new features for Vice City Stories
GTAPortable.com has been keeping an eye out for everything Vice City Stories-related, and they've uncovered a plethora of new information for this highly anticipated PSP exclusive. Golf is now a playable mini-game. It will be played using only one button. "Empire Building" mode allows you to act like The Godfather and invest in businesses throughout the city. Depending on how much you've invested, and how the business is doing, you can make a fair sum of money... so long as you provide the proper protection. You can hire bodyguards, and when the business isn't being hit, it acts like a Safe House for you to save at. Taking a page from Sim City, you'll be able to place the businesses throughout the city, and proper placement can lead to the mad profit (an example cited by GTAPortable.com is a drug extortion business nearby an airport). Spanning over thirty buildings, this mode seems to add a hefty amount of gameplay to an already massive game. Business types can include protection, extortion, and prostitution, with many more to come. Like in Liberty City Stories, there will be load times between the major islands, but surprisingly this time around, the loads will be even shorter, according to TotalVideoGames. Not only can you ride around in helicopters, you can ride around in jets, according to an IGN preview. Although there is no infrstructure multiplayer, there will be more multiplayer modes to compete in. And unfortunately for German and Australian players, the game will be censored, according to Gamepro.de. This really does seem like it's going to be one of the best games of 2006, not only on the PSP, but across all platforms. The depth of this game is incredible, and the fact that it's on a handheld is even more amazing. The game comes out on October 30th for $50.
New ProStroke Golf: World Tour 2007 screens released
I'm not very familiar with ProStroke Golf, which recently had a name change from World Tour Golf, but it released today in Europe and will release in a few months here. The game focuses on "the perfect swing above all else. The game lets you alter all aspects of your shot, from your position on the ball to the path of the club, allowing you to play shots exactly as you would in real life," according to Gamespot.Developer Gusto Games added in real golfers like Ian Woosnam, Sergio Garcia, and Mark O'Meara and a total of 18 different courses."All versions of the game will include four-player multiplayer modes, though, including the PSP version over ad hoc wireless. Also, if you've created a map and want to play it with your friend, the PSP will stream the map over to them so that they can try out your designs," said Struan Robertson, ProStroke Golf's producer.Sweet! I'm a sucker for map editors, especially when I can share them with friends.(Via FCS Publishing/Gamespot)
Wii Sports and the games within
We've been speculating on exactly how many different games will be included in the Wii Sports title for awhile now and even wondered if the game would be bundled with the system, so it's nice to finally be able to report a concrete number. Coming in with 5 total sports, Wii Sports will include Nintendo's take on golf, baseball, tennis, bowling, and boxing (sans Mario and the crew). The addition of both bowling and boxing is very welcomed by the Wii Fanboy staff, in case you wanted to know (you didn't).So previous rumors of a compilation of over 30 games is out and the airplane game previously rumored to be included is out, as well? Bowling is pretty much a gimme in terms of thinking how one would play the title using the Wiimote, but what about Wii Sports Boxing? Well, we had an idea about how one would play a boxing title on the Wii and are fairly sure our previous theories on the matter will prove true, causing many to cringe at the extra $40 US they'd have to drop just to be able to punch with both hands. Personally, we can't wait to get home on November 19th, open our Wii box and mess around with the Mii channel, maybe even going so far as to make an avatar to throw down in Wii Sports. One thing is certain: we will be the greatest bowler of them all.
MMO golf game tees off
Massively multiplayer golf? Yes, you heard us right. Purporting to already have a million players worldwide, subscription-free MMO golf title Shot-Online hits retail stores this week. The game aims to combine the social aspects of MMO games with a serious golf mechanic, though its cartoony graphic style implies a less-than-serious approach.From an outside view, this just looks like a golf game with a bit of social infrastructure slapped on; rankings, communication and levelling your character make a potentially dull sports game something that's potentially engrossing. It isn't true novelty -- the idea of ranking and progression in sports games, as well as competitive multiplayer, date back a way -- but at least it's not elves.
VW's Golf GTi "53 plus 1" is fully autonomous
You might think Volkswagen, of all car companies, would argue the best part about driving is the bit where you're driving (i.e. "fahrvergnugen"), and that drivers are, you know, wanted. Not so any longer, friends; looks like the higher ups got the Stanley bug and pimped their ride -- though not in any normal sense of the vernacular. They've begun showing off a new cloak and dagger prototype vehicle dubbed the VW Golf GTi "53 plus 1" (you're allowed not to catch the Herbie reference), which apparently uses a rig of laser sensors, GPS, and a radar net to drive itself at speeds of up to 150mph. We'll give you a moment to let that sink in. Now, why they had all this technology under wraps while Stanford was busting ass overhauling one of VW's own Touaregs for the DARPA Grand Challenge is beyond us, but unlike those "driving pleasure" types, you can give us a safe (clean burning) robo-car any day of the week. Except Sunday, that's drivin' day.[Via GoRobotics]
Wii Sports expanding?
An innocuous line of text found on Nintendo's official E3 website has us wondering: might we see Wii Polo in the future? The bottom of the Wii Sports page has a final bullet point, "Additional games may be added to the Wii Sports group." Interesting.What other sports do you think would be a great fit for the Wii controller? No. Darts is not a sport.
Robot golf tournament underway in Italy
Over a hundred robots from 28 countries are in Italy this week for the annual World Robot Championships, this time pitting battle-hardened bots against each other in a fierce game of golf -- the crowd has gone deadly silent, a Cinderella story outta nowhere. Former door assembly unit, and now about to become the masters champion. But this game of golf seems to be slightly modified rules as well, with robots playing in pairs, simply having to score points by putting colored balls into same colored holes, losing a point if they hit the ball into the wrong hole -- kinda like robo-goofy golf. So it looks like we won't be treated to the spectacle of robots trekking across the golf course, human caddies in tow; we're not sure if mechaNicklaus going to be in attendance this year, but he's gonna have a helluva time taking out Top Swing this year.
Pangya Golf commercial: 7 million can't be wrong
There's just so much enthusiasm coming from this commercial for Super Swing Golf Pangya, it's hard to ignore it. Or to breathe. If you make it through to the end, you may even glimpse Kasumi, fresh from getting her head kicked in by a despicable clone in Dead or Alive 4.[Thanks Nushio and AssemblyLineHuman!]
Pangya Golf interview
In chatting with Tecmo's Product Specialist Ryan Arbogast, Wii-supporter The Wiire has been able to gain some more information on the upcoming golf title. The game is not to support online play, which we knew before, but seems to be geared up to offer a robust single-player campaign and local multiplayer experience featuring several different types of unlockables and game modes, as well as Kasumi from Tecmo's famous Dead or Alive franchise. Also, it turns out that the game's development team is being led by none other than Kaguchi-san, who has worked on Fatal Frame and Tokobot.
