Electronic Arts recently allowed a few gamers to preview Nintendo’s MotionPlus features - MotionPlus is supposed to provide one-to-one game response with Nintendo’s Wii. It’s been nearly a year since Nintendo announced MotionPlus, and I know a lot of us are pretty excited to see it.
From the article at IGN:
EA is developing two titles making use of the new tech, Tiger Woods Golf 10 and Grand Slam Tennis. Grand Slam Tennis is the mega publisher’s very first foray into the world of tennis games and has been made especially for the Wii — although 360 and PS3 versions will be coming in November. Tiger Woods Golf 10 is, of course, releasing on every single gaming platform known to man (with the exception of the DS). Grand Slam Tennis is due to launch on June 19, with Tiger trailing not far behind on July 3. So, can we expect to see MotionPlus hitting stores before then? EA wouldn’t be drawn to steal Nintendo’s thunder with an official date on the dongle, but notes - knowingly - that it would certainly make sense.
There are a small amount of titles available right now that are geared just towards making you sweat; workout “games” that challenge your lazy, fast food styles.
Wait, no, those are MY styles. Sorry!
Let’s check out the workout-specific titles - we own a few, and we love them! The essential, seemingly instigating game/controller is the Wii Fit (and Balance Board), so let’s start with that:
Wii Fit - the game keeps track of your activity, tests your endurance and balance, teaches you some Yoga, and makes fun of you when you either don’t do much or you don’t play for a few weeks. You gotta love a persistent title! The game comes with the Balance Board and the Wii Fit disc. There are tons and tons and tons of accessories for the Wii Fit Balace Board, check them out when you have a minute.
Here’s one I have not played yet - if you’ve given this a whirl, would you comment on the post below? EA Sports Active is a new title from - well, it’s from EA - and it looks pretty cool. Check out the video below:
EA Sports Active is not available for retail yet, but it’s pre-orderable and around $60.00. Preorder a copy!
My Fitness Coach is something my wife has been playing - I wrote a post about this a few days ago, and my wife seems to enjoy the game. It’s a motivator - helps push you to maintain speed and endurance, and gives you motivation! It’s on sale right now for $19.97!
Ok, Jillian Michaels is hot. She’s hot, and she has a workout title for Wii. Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009 is the title. I’ve heard acceptable reviews of the game - it’s the workout that’s important, right? Check out a trailer below:
Now last on this list is Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout. This is another title I have not played, and before I went looking, hadn’t heard much about it. Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout is going to be released on March 31, 2009 - but you can preorder the title here.
At the GDC2009, Satoru Iwata gave a keynote speech, and talked about the new Wii system update. This new update allows players to download from the Wii Shop Channel directly to an SD card - and play the games right off the card.
I found information about the new update on the Wii system memory Wikipedia page - it’s version 4.0:
Update includes SD Card Menu to “move” files and channels between the Wii console and SD card
You can download and play Virtual Console or WiiWare games directly to the SD card from the Wii Shop Channel
Wii Shop Channel supports classic arcade games
Ability to save and access Wii Channels from the SD card
SDHC card (up to 32 GB) support for System Menu, Wii Speak Channel, Shop Channel, and Photo Channel. Other features may not support SDHC cards.
Deletes every version of the Twilight Hack (including 0.1beta2)
Patches IOS16, which was the last official IOS with the signing bug
Fixed the bug that was used in the Homebrew Channel installer (so all existing IOS-versions were updated)
Added IOS38, IOS53, IOS55, IOS60, and IOS61
Right now, version 4.0 supports SD memory cards of up to 32GB! Have you updated lately?
Now, a side note: It is my understanding that you can use any SD card in the Wii. You do not need to buy a special Wii-branded SD card. That is all. Go nuts.
I just read about a new Wii light gun - the Dark Ops Wii Light Gun from Cobalt Flux. It looks nothing like anything that’s out there right now, but it’s certainly got its own flair and coolness about it!
From the Cobalt Flux website:
• Preserves independent use of the nunchuck. Lets you play every game with a gun!
• Ergonomic Pistol Grip sits comfortably in your hand.
• Full Access to all the buttons on the Wii remote.
• Lock ‘N Load - Easy loading and unloading of Wii remote - loads like a clip.
• Double grips for one or two handed action.
• Great styling to match any game.
• Fresnel light-bending technology let’s you aim the gun instead of the remote.
It’s something I’d like to check out, as I very much enjoy the FPS games!
Check out the Dark Ops Wii Light Gun from Cobalt Flux.
Game maker Electronic Arts (EA) is releasing two games using the MotionPlus technology, which is the technology that Nintendo is adding that gives the Wiimote even more detailed control.
Does it? I haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t say for sure.
Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.
Sounds pretty interesting, right?
EA’s two games - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and and unnamed EA tennis game, will both employ the MotionPlus technology. Exciting!
That’s right! Accessories company NYKO is releasing a Wiimote controller for the Wii. I’ve been pretty happy with the rest of NYKO’s accessories, and it looks like this is going to be another good one.
In testing the Wand with Wii Sports bowling and just browsing through the menus, I didn’t notice any quality/responsiveness issues (though, we probably won’t be able to judge its precise calibration until mass amounts of users post their impressions after release.) Since the Wiimote isn’t a 100% perfectly responsive device as it is, it’s tough to tell if anything has been lost in Nyko’s translation.
We’re looking forward to these! Check out the NYKO line at Amazon - they have tons of gear for a lot of platforms.
Since I’ve been playing Wii Sports so much lately, I figured I’d post about some of the Sports Accessory Packs that have been making their rounds for retail lately. I’m still using my good ol’ sense of imagination, but who knows - perhaps Santa will be good to us this year!
Does your HDTV have a SCART input, or are you out of HDMI inputs and need to use a SCART connection? I can’t believe I just found one of these, but I did. On Amazon. It’s a Wii video output to SCART cable.
You might have seen commercials for Animal Crossing: City Folk showing off the new Wii Speak. So what is the Wii Speak? It’s essentially a USB microphone that connects to your Wii.
A Wii Speak Channel will be launching in December, which will allow you to talk to other Wii Speak users. Your Mii will lip sync to your spoken words. You can also chat with users in Animal Crossing: City Folk and The Conduit.
One complaint circling the Internet about the Wii Speak is its requirement for an unlock code to use. The code is included in the Wii Speak package. What this means is that you won’t be able to resell it or give it to a friend if you don’t like it, since the code will already be used.
The Wii Speak is out now. Will you be getting one?
NYKO’s Wireless Sensor Bar, the one that got such great reviews, is on sale at Amazon right now. Amazon has it for $15.99. Our original sensor bar died months ago, and we were forced to get a replacement, so we opted for this one. It has increased the distance you can play from the TV by about 15 feet!
Have you taken a look lately as to how many accessories, WIRELESS accessories, are for sale for Wii lately? I just counted on Amazon, and I counted 37, just by searching “wireless.”
Go check out the Wireless selection of controllers, communication devices (headsets), and other stuff.
Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.
Okay - well, yes, that sounds cool. The company in particluar is THQ, the producers of Wii’s de Blob, which was released on September 23. MTV Multiplayer had this to report from Nick Hagger, the producer of de Blob:
“I think if we had the MotionPlus to start out with, maybe the control scheme would have worked out a little bit differently,” said Hagger in a phone interview late last week. “I think the temptation with having Wii MotionPlus would have been to push it more in a gestural control scheme. While it’s definitely intellectually stimulating from a development perspective to play with those ideas — and I think it does appeal to a set of gamers out there — I think the majority of people that play on the Wii want something very simple that they can just immediately get their heads around.”
We hear you, Nick. I wonder how MotionPlus will affect future control.
After the first fishing games post, I found another fishing game. As in found, meaning I stumbled upon it. Wii Hooked! by Aksys comes with a fishing controller rig for the wiimote, and decent customer reviews.
Wii Hooked! has up to 4 online multiplayers - for all of your, uh, online multiplayer fishing needs!
Check it out, it’s $49.99 right now (September 8, 2008) and it seems as though there’s a little bit of a backorder. There are some used copies as well, that’s never a bad idea.
I was going to say something absolutely horrendous like “Get Hooked!” but I decided against it. Did I make a good choice? Only time will tell…
ANYWAY…
I just read an article about the game Rapala Fishing Frenzy, from Activision, complete with a crazy fishing pole-wiimote-nunchuk thing that ships with the game:
Wow. THAT is an accessory. Anyone have primary research on how this thing functions, and how strong it is with regards to holding up under virtual fishing stress? At least you don’t have to smell like fishing. Most of my memories of fishing include being exhausted at 5am, being cold, and out of beer.
Also, there is Rapala Tournament Fishing - I’m looking for some trailers for this, I’ll update once I find what I’m looking for. If you’ve played these, let me know what you think. Post in the comments.
Accessories not to forget if you’re into the Wii Fishing: Wii Fishing Rod, $13.99. Amazon has it down a buck.
that have been making their rounds for retail lately. I’m still using my good ol’ sense of imagination, but who knows - perhaps Santa will be good to us this year!
, by 
, again by 
, and others, at Amazon. I’ve listed a few here, hopefully this helps you find something!
