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DIYee-haw: Wiimote rodeo
If you're anything like us (or the fictional construct of ourselves we've made in order to make this post work), you were intensely jealous of the guys who turned a springy horse toy into a Wiimote-based racing controller. The video of the rig in action provided plenty of evidence that it was awesome, but not so much information about how to do it in your own home with your own spring horse.This tutorial on Hack a Wii gives you step-by-step directions to make your own bouncy racing seat. Provided you have the Bluetooth capability and know your way around GlovePIE, you could be playing Need for Speed in style! (The style is "ridiculously.")
Now this is an awesome control scheme
Sure, it's just a Wiimote taped to the back of a child's toy, but this is one hell of an awesome way to enjoy playing a Wii game. It's perfect for a racing title and just about the most heart-warming thing we've seen in quite some time. It makes us wonder what other cool things people can come up with (aside from helmets).[Thanks, Tom!]
Today's trottingest video: Horse Life trailer
Horse Life looks like a Nintendogs where you can compete with your animal. (Oh, there was that whole dog agility thing, but we stuck to frisbee games instead. Will a horse chase a frisbee?) We'll leave the sharp critique for the commenters. To our eyes, if you're into horse raising-and-riding games, this looks fun.What do the equestrians in the house say? C'mon, we know you're out there. Or are you waiting in line already for the November DS release?See the trailer after the break.
Koei bringing G1 Jockey to Europe
We understand that the Wii is all about immersion. Seriously, look at the name of the site. We get it. But shouldn't there be a line somewhere that we're just not going to cross with the motion controls? Wherever that line is, Koei seems confident that whipping horses is on the good side of it. We're not so sure. Oh, not because we're huge animal activists or anything (though we don't whale on horsies; it's just not classy), but simply because of this: think of all the damage people will do to themselves and others while using the Wii remote and nunchuk to whip things. These people couldn't even bowl -- how do you think they're going to handle this?Dear God, Koei. Think of the children. Thank goodness the game looks very blocky and not particularly attractive! That will save us!All humor and graphical value judgments aside, we're all over a horse racing game on the Wii, sure. For one, horse racing is big with the Touch Generations set (in fact, remind us not to let Mom hear about this one), and second, for a sprawling racing/breeding game with many different features, the versatility of the controller could really come in handy. We're just not sure that whipping is where it's at. We admire the dedication to realism, and appreciate Koei's previous racing games, but we're as yet unconvinced on this front. G1 Jockey is scheduled for a June release in Europe, and is already out in Japan. No word yet on a U.S. release date.
Girasole electric car packs horse hoof warnings
Apparently, we've used that simple "beep" to alert pedestrians when a vehicle is reversing or otherwise coming up on someone long enough, as Yoshio Takaoka, in collaboration with Italy's Start Lab SAP, has crafted a fully functional electric car that packs built-in "horse hoof" sound effects. The Girasole can be fully charged from a home AC outlet for around $1 per "tank," and can then travel nearly 75 miles at a top speed of around 45-miles per hour, but the standout feature on this otherwise uninspiring (albeit very green) automobile is the entirely bizarre "clip-clop" horn that "alerts pedestrians and other drivers" that the car is near. While we're not entirely sure why a next-generation vehicle is throwing back to the days of (way) old when literal horsepower was the main means of transportation, we'll give due props for the ingenuity, but equipping our vehicle with equestrian noises is likely the least of the worries here in the US.[Via AutoblogGreen]
DS soon to be playing the ponies
Love horse racing sims? Dying for one on the DS? Winner's Circle is coming soon, and there are some new screens and Famitsu scans available for your viewing pleasure. In Winner's Circle, players do it all, from raising their horses and training to taking the reins as the jockey. There are three races in which would-be pros can test their mettle. Looks like this one is Japan only for now, but they've been bringing over some unexpected titles. Maybe this one will see a release outside of Japan.Scans after the jump.
Newest "World's Largest HDTV" constructed at Japan racetrack
We knew this was coming but now we've finally got a picture of the high definition 8,066 sq ft monster installed at Tokyo Racecourse. Now this Mitsubishi Diamond Vision display has far more square footage than the HD LED displays installed by Daktronics at Miami and Texas, or their own last screen at Turner Field in Atlanta, but we're not sure if it really deserves the largest title. Its measurements come in at 218 feet wide by only 37 feet high compared to Dolphin Stadium (137x50 ft) and University of Texas (134x55 ft). Thanks to Mitsubishi's technology they can display up to three races at once on the single screen, but until they start making movies in 5.89 aspect ratio it will be hard to really put this masterpiece to work. Still, if you've got $28 million or so lying around this wouldn't be the worst way to spend it, two NFL games plus 720p Madden should make a happy fall for anyone.[Via Pink Tentacle]
Blitz Games joins the Revolution
IGN reports that UK developer Blitz Games, who is responsible for the enjoyable Fuzion Frenzy (and many other not so enjoyable titles such as Bad Boys 2 and Bratz: Rock Angelz), has officially claimed they are in cahoots with an undisclosed, yet assuredly big-named, publisher to bring a game to the Revolution. We personally hope it's another entry into the dangerous world of equestrian combat starring everyone's favorite spy Barbie. We're not being sarcastic at all, really.
