WiiSports
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Featured Friday Video: Reggie will stomp all over you
The Reggienator may not be able to stay out of the gutter when it comes to the real world, but in the virtual world of Wii Sports, he will kick you in the face and talk about your momma. And don't even think about mentioning Wii60 to him. Despite the way the portmanteau rolls off the tongue, he ain't trying to hear that. When he's done stomping on you, Reggie is gonna go get your 360 and stomp that, too.Check out Reggie's bowling after the jump!
Wiimote range gets tested with surprising results
While one would immediately cry "FAKE!" at the sight of the embedded video, it has hardly been proven as such and, personally, we find it to be one interesting look at the range of the Wiimote during a game of Wii Sports: Bowling. There isn't much reason why someone would play that far away from their television set, but it shows that Nintendo has planned for everything.What do you guys think? Fake or the real deal?[Via Joystiq]
Today's (next) hottest game video: Wii remote range
Today's we're on the second hottest game video, because #1 is Stephen Colbert, FTWii! The next one down is a video showing off the range of the Wii-mote while bowling, and it's pretty darned impressive. Although the only reason you'd ever be gaming this far away from the Wii is a) because you own a massive television, b) you're gaming at your local multiplex, or c) you're just too extreme to game in the room as the console. Or maybe you're an uber-rich gamer (Bill Gates, you got yourself a Wii?) and you've got all three going on.Fake or not? You make the call. Check it out after the jump and chime in. Better yet, send us your own results.
A Wii solution for sweaty hands
We here at Wii Fanboy understand that there are some players out there that really get into their games and as a result of their competitiveness in Wii Sports or Rayman Raving Rabbids, they sweat. Or, in some bizarre circumstance, their hands could get sore from holding the controller. Sounds silly, but who could forget those classic gloves Nintendo handed out to silence complaints of blisters, cuts, burns and lacerations from gamers playing too much Mario Party on the N64? This Skid Proof Glove kinda reminds us of that. Seems like Nintendo is covering their tracks just in case annoyed gamers come knocking down their doors to show them their ouchies after 25 rounds of tennis. Come to think of it, $8 (USD) ain't that bad to keep your TV safe from accidents. We just really hope that buyers wash their gloves frequently .... [Via Go Nintendo]
The best Wii Sports boxer
Get those boxing gloves ready 'cause we've found the best (and sweetest) Wii Sports boxer ever. Ends up, it's a girl and she is a whopping four-years-old. Never have we seen such enthusiastic flailing. No doubt her opponent shed a few tears after seeing her skill and cuteness. Honestly, the only thing that could top her boxing would be a dozen sad-eyed puppies surrounded by balloons. Check out the video after the jump. [Via Joystiq]
Wiimote dangerous in novice hands
Like so many others this past Thursday, I used Thanksgiving to introduce Wii into the hands of family members. Then my mom introduced her backhand into my 8 year-old cousin's head. BOOM!Admittedly, I wasn't around to supervise witness the scene, but quickly responded to the explosion of sound. A gasp. A yelp. A thud -- batteries and cover striking the floor. The strap held; and I snatched up the Wiimote, still dangling from my mother's wrist.After applying an ice pack to my cousin's smarting head, mom recounted the incident: As she stepped into a backhand return, my cousin excitedly bounced forward anticipating the ball, her head just at the height of mom's strike. The collision was enough to snap off the prongs that hold the top of the battery cover, sending the cover and batteries flying, scattering across the hardwood. Thankfully, no long-term damage to report (unless you count mom's abrupt retirement from Wii Sports).It seems Nintendo has anticipated such misadventure, offering replacement battery covers (currently on back order) for purchase on its online store. Note to self: Mom owes me $1, plus shipping.See also:A Wii Thanksgiving test on the familyA Wii Thanksgiving test on the family: Part 2
Wii Sports player faces 91 pins
If you thought you were the champ at Wii Sports bowling, think again. The real pro featured in the video took a shot at 91 pins in training mode and the results are eye catching. While using the right bumper as a ramp kind of seems like cheating, we don't care. Honestly, who in their right mind could ever knock down 91 pins? Only cheaters and Chuck Norris, that's who. [Via Joystiq] See the sweet bowling action after the break.
Wii Sports gift available in Animal Crossing
And the Wii-related gifts in Animal Crossing: Wild World just keep rolling in! This time it's a set of bowling pins to commemorate Wii Sports. We're just glad it wasn't, say, a replica of Mitch, the Mii who keeps popping up in our one-player Wii Sports games, complete with stringy hair and creepy mustache. [Thanks, Roddie!]
The world's cutest little Wii Sports boxer
With families gathering together for the Thanksgiving holiday, we expect thousands of relatives to be exposed to the joys of Wii Sports for the first time this weekend. We have to warn you, though, that no matter how cute you think it is to watch your family members flailing around with the Wii remote, there's no way their performance will live up to this video of an extremely excited four-year-old Wii Sports boxer.Think you can do better? Send us your embarrassing videos of family members trying out the Wii or PS3 for the first time and show the world that your genes come from a more mortifying source than anyone else's.
Losing your inhibition (Wii delight #002)
Are you too insecure to become a toolbox? Because you will.It's no secret that Wii Sports can be played with slight flicks of the wrist, while the rest of your body sits slumped against the couch. But what happens when you stand up and put some umph into the forearm; a little finesse into your swing; a little swagger in your at-bat; some force behind that punch? What happens is fun (at the expense of your cool).We recently baited over some folk (not pictured) with the promise of PlayStation 3 -- they ended up staying for Wii Sports. Nintendo's pack-in won't hold the attention of the solitary gamer, but it can command a small party, especially when the drinks are flowing. What are your plans for Friday night?Wii delights vs. Wii annoyancesPS3 delights vs. PS3 annoyancesXbox 360 delights vs. Xbox 360 annoyances
A much better Wii Sports DVD case
Tired of that cardboard Wii Sports sleeve that came with your system? Want to jazz it up to match your other Wii game cases? Remember that Target Wii DVD for a penny? Tired of all these questions?If the answer to all of those is yes, then you've come to the right place. The Cover Project has created a far superior cover for Wii Sports and, if you go into Target and snag one of those white DVD cases, you can be rolling your own custom cases off the presses. The only caveat: PlayWii explains that you'll need to be able to customize your printer margins or use 8.5" x 14" paper to accommodate the custom cover. Pretty swanky.[Thanks, Tim; via PlayWii]
DIY Wii Sports case
Unsatisfied with the flimsy cardboard sleeve cradling the pack-in Wii Sports? Then make your own, like reader Tim. Just grab any of the premade sleeves floating around in the intertubes (Tim suggests The Cover Project), print it out, and find a white DVD sleeve. If you picked up one of the demo discs offered not long ago at various retailers, you're set -- and Wii Sports can enjoy a place of honor next to your other Wii games, instead of being relegated to the dark and dusty interior of your TV stand.Haven't seen the original sleeve for Wii Sports, the one included with the console? Never fear, because we've included a few shots after the jump. We must say, the DIY case is much preferable. What gives, Nintendo? We didn't rate a real plastic box? Absolute shenanigans. If you're sticking with the original sleeve (why would you?), try not to spill anything on it. Wet cardboard is no one's friend.
Metareview - Madden NFL 2007 (Wii)
Madden NFL 07 -- is it "one" better than Madden NFL 06? That's our basic complaint with sports games; we like them, but we don't want to keep buying the same thing again. (We're also not compulsive enough to upgrade just for new teams.)The Wii is supposed to change all of that by recreating sports game controls, and the initial reviews cast Madden in this positive light. And while the reviews have their caveats, they leave us looking forward to the next Madden for the first time in a long time; the second-generation Wii games are going to make the system succeed or fail. Gamespot (8.4/10) "But once you get your hands on it, you'll find a highly revamped experience that makes great use of the Wii's unique capabilities. And it's not just a few things here and there, either. Tons of the various moves and actions of football are mapped to the motion-sensing controls, with largely positive results. ... What this means is that by tilting the Nunchuk from side to side, you'll juke in the appropriate direction, and by tilting the remote from side to side, you'll perform a right or left stiff arm." 1Up (6.5/10) "This edition is anything but a pick-up-and-play experience, and while I enjoyed offense after getting the hang of things (especially juking with the Nunchuk and passing with a flick of the Wii-mote), I always felt totally helpless on defense." IGN (8.5/10) "Exclusive to the Wii version only, Madden 07 offers three multiplayer games for up to four players. Each of the games is simple in concept, but still very deep. We're hesitant to even call them "mini-games" as there's a certain stigma that goes with a title like that, and Madden 07's multiplayer is definitely very, very solid." Madden seems to be on the right track, but how are sports games that don't rely on upper-body movements going to play? Will FIFA include a soccer ball with a sleeve for the Wii Remote?
Wiimote strap breaks, controller destroys TV
So there's this dude who was playing Wii Sports bowling, as his story goes, and his pal rolls a Lebowski and the next thing you know the strap breaks from the force of the swing; his slippery hands let loose, and the Wiimote flies like a missile and cracks his pal's TV. Believe it or not, having played Wii Sports bowling, this is totally something we can imagine. But you can take one of two positions here: 1) dude or his friend weren't using the wrist strap, as is recommended before every game starts, and the controller flew out of his hands and smashed the set; dude(s) cut the strap and put it on display for internet pity points (and possibly a new TV courtesy of an anxious Nintendo). Or 2) somehow the Wiimote strap -- which, for the record, we think feels sturdy enough -- does break mid-game and this guy really is out a 60-inch TV thanks to Nintendo's fabric engineering team. But we know one thing for sure, that's a helluva crack and something tells us it won't be the last.[Thanks, Sando]Update: We spoke with Jon Leonard, the guy whose TV is now cracked worse than a Mad mag knockoff. He insisted to us there was zero foul play going on here and that he's not out to get Nintendo to replace his TV, nor is he ready to pursue legal options. Just that his pal got carried away bowling and the strap broke under somewhat normal circumstances. (We asked if they were spinning it around or anything of the like and he said no, it was all normal, non-abusive use.) Nintendo hasn't contacted him yet -- we assume they're just about now shuffling into the office up there in Washington -- but we'll keep you posted.
Joytech to put cheap plastic crap on your Wii remote
OK, so you know how you swing the Wii remote like a tennis racquet or a golf club in Wii Sports? Wouldn't that be a little easier if the remote actually looked like a tennis racquet or golf club? No? Not even a little? Well too bad, Joytech is releasing a set of cheap-looking plastic Wii remote attachments to fulfill such a purpose anyway.In addition to the sports pack pictured above, Joytech also plans on releasing a rounded controller grip for the remote (perfect for playing NES Virtual Console games), a set of silicon gloves to protect the remote and nunchuck and, most exciting of all, a rechargeable battery pack and docking station to keep your remotes nice and energized. No price has been set for the units, which are due in stores this winter.[Thanks Jake]
Today's hottest game video: Today Show Wii
It seems like all of the PS3 fanboys are busy camping for consoles instead of watching YouTube; today's most-played game video again features the Wii. This clip, at a respectable 55,000 views (down from yesterday's record-breaker), shows Al Roker briefly trying to play Wii Tennis.In the unflattering -- to Roker and Nintendo -- clip, the newscaster and visiting expert swing wildly, barely able to serve and return one point. Maybe they'll rehearse next time.See the clip after the break.
The Wii gets a taste of Jack Black
One of the most recognized comedians in the world took the Wii for a test drive and the results are hilarious. Jack Black, best known for his band Tenacious D and several outlandish movie appearances, approached the Wii with a twinkle in his eye. He was ready to sweat with Wii Sports. He did let it slip that his newest film, The Pick of Destiny, is better than the Wii, but we'll let that one slide for now Jack. [Thanks JC!]
Metareview: Wii Sports
We had a couple of days to play Wii Sports and we documented a few things, but we haven't had the time to write up a review yet (it's coming soon, be patient). As such, we felt it best to check out what other critics are thinking before tossing in our two cents. Scores have overall been positive, but maybe not as high as Nintendo fans would've liked. Gamespy - 80%: "Wii Sports is at its best in a group setting, where the familiarity that everyone has with these games makes them incredibly easy to pick up and play. It's a game you can play with your friends and family, and it perfectly highlights the direction that Nintendo is taking with the platform. It's not the best-looking game on the system, and it's definitely not the deepest, but it may well be the most fun. You're not forking over any money for Wii Sports, so consider it the best money you won't spend this year." IGN - 75%: "What you're going to find in Wii Sports is a title that demonstrates the potential of the Wii remote, but comes up short in depth and visuals. Play it for an hour with friends and you'll love it. Your non-gamer friends will be dazzled by the immediately intuitive controls and the imported Miis. But the title sacrifices incredible depth and visuals for an immediately accessible experience." Gamerz-Edge - 85%: "Wii Sports truly is a great pack-in title. It's obviously not anywhere on the level of past pack-in titles like Super Mario Bros. or Super Mario World, but it's a fitting introduction to an all-new breed of gaming control nonetheless, and it can be enjoyed by nearly anyone. This is the kind of game to which your entire family could end up addicted."
Time talks Wii, loves Wii Sports
Wilson Rothman, admitted non-gamer and writer for Time.com, recently documented his receipt of Wii console and accompanying game Wii Sports. Upon hooking the system up and giving the game a go, while in the company of his wife and another couple, he thinks Wii Sports just might be the greatest game of all time.Even better, is his documentation that the next night during an impromptu dinner party, the Wii became the focal point of the night. They all had a blast designing their own Miis, then took them into Wii Sports where everyone became hooked on the spot. It's also noted that just about everyone that played was not a gamer at all.
TIME says Wii Sports may be "the greatest videogame" of all-time
Nintendo has been billing the Wii as the non-gamer's console. Nintendo wants to do with the Wii what they did with the DS, make it a huge hit among everyone (except die-hard partisans of the other systems, of course). Now Nintendo can add yet another notch to their non-gamer belt. Time Magazine's Wilson Rothman got his own chance to sit down with the Wii. His verdict? He loves Wii Sports. Like, really loves it. He breathlessly mutters, "it might be the greatest videogame ever made." We're not quite there with you Wilson, but you've got that whole "non-gamer" thing going. Despite his affinity for Wii Sports, Rothman wasn't exactly impressed with anything else but he does still recommend a purchase. The Wii is getting some excellent buzz. While Rothman finds Wii Sports intoxicating, others are attracted by Twilight Princess. Nintendo's strategy seems to be working; offering a broad variety of titles could win them the crown this generation. Will Nintendo be able to pull an upset over its more powerful competition? It's possible, especially since Nintendo is attracting fans in unusual places. [Thanks, sean]
