Wii Play: Nintendo's other minigame collection

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 8th 2006 at 1:25PM }

Siliconera previews Wii's other minigame title Wii Play, as it's known in Europe. Also Hajimete no Wii (in Japan), the collection comes bundled with specially-marked versions of the Wii controller (for an additional cost) and includes nine casual games that familiarize players with the Wiimote's unique abilities (similar to the experience of Wii Sports):

Shooting - Duck Hunt, minus the Zapper (and yes, there are ducks)
Find Mii - Where's Waldo using Mii characters
Table Tennis - Rockstar's Table Tennis this is not; players direct their paddles by pointing, and the ball is automatically returned (motion-controlled Pong)
Pose Mii - Players mimic the Mii's pose by rotating the controller
Hockey - Air Hockey with neon lights
Charge - Bull racing; tilt the controller to stay balanced
Fishing - Catch the specified fish using the controller as a fishing pole
Tanks - multiplayer tank battle; shells can be bounced off walls
Billiards - use controller like a cue stick (draw back and push forward); playable in 2D (top-down) or 3D (behind the ball)

Oddly, Nintendo has not confirmed Wii Play for North America; though with the Duck Hunt clone alone many would consider this a must-buy. What gives?

Tags: bundle, Hajimete no Wii, HajimeteNoWii, Minigame, Wii Play, WiiPlay

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mike @ Nov 8th 2006 1:30PM

Man, I'd buy this just for the fact that it comes with a controller. It can't be more that the $60 I'm going to have to spend on a new 'mote/'chuck combo.

Anon (sounds kind of like Ganon) @ Nov 8th 2006 1:38PM

From the reports I've heard the controller comes free and it's a cheaper-than-usual game package. For this reason alone I'm getting it on launch over here in Europe. It's gonna be class, and I need another controller for Wii Sports multiplayer.

Tim Harding @ Nov 8th 2006 1:50PM

The game doesn't seem to have any depth, but I agree that if it comes with a controller, it would probably be worth the purchase. Just don't confuse the title with my website!

http://www.playwii.com

daniel @ Nov 8th 2006 1:53PM

#2 look at www.choicesuk.com wii play is £30 there cheapest ive seen it and the same price as a wii remote on its own

Dracula Jones @ Nov 8th 2006 2:38PM

I wonder, actually, since the controllers haven't been put up for sale anywhere yet and no retail box has been seen, if we'll see Wii Play bundled with our controllers in America at launch (I mean, instead of it being sold as a game, it's a bonus with the sale of a controller). Not sure why they wouldn't announce it, though.

Prof-KOS @ Nov 8th 2006 2:41PM

Billiards looks great. I'd by this just for that and the Duck Hunt type game.

LunarDuality @ Nov 8th 2006 2:56PM

Only worth the purchase if you can successfully blow that dog's brains out in Duck Hunt when he starts to taunt you. (^_^)

John Lucas @ Nov 8th 2006 3:09PM

Anon (sounds kind of like Ganon) from Msg #2 says:
[[2. From the reports I've heard the controller comes free and it's a cheaper-than-usual game package. For this reason alone I'm getting it on launch over here in Europe. It's gonna be class, and I need another controller for Wii Sports multiplayer.]]

You know I've thought this too for a long time. Nintendo tends to make moves like that to attract attention to other games. A controller packed in with Wii Play would give you that second controller to go with that Wii Sports/Wii console package.

I'll have to take this under further Wiiview.
Raj, Dwayne, Wiirun come here, I need your input!

Gotta love a name that doesn't take itself so seriously. I feel so crunchy for doubting Nintendo on that name change at first. The puns & double entendres is part of what makes this system fun.

And guess how your mouth looks when you pronounce "Wii". Yep, that's right. Your mouth is in a smile formation. The pun just brings out the natural laughter since you're already prepped for the smile.

Ingenious branding!
Revolution is old hat for REAL!
John Lucas

Dylan @ Nov 8th 2006 3:18PM

I say its because NoA just wants to better spread out the games so they have give better attention to them each individually, and especially make more room for third party games to get in on the action, but Im positive we will see this game in the US eventually.

navstar @ Nov 8th 2006 4:10PM

Hey anyone, what does "no" mean in Japanese? It drives me nuts seeing it all the time in videogame titles! o_O

crono141 @ Nov 8th 2006 4:13PM

People should know, only the remote half comes with this game, not the remote-nunchuck combo.

Rootbeer @ Nov 8th 2006 4:20PM

"Hey anyone, what does "no" mean in Japanese? It drives me nuts seeing it all the time in videogame titles!"

It's a possessive, similiar to apostrophe-s in English.

E.g. "Link no Bouken" = "Link's Adventure".
"Hajimete no Wii" = "Beginner's Wii".

Repsode @ Nov 8th 2006 4:23PM

"Hey anyone, what does "no" mean in Japanese? It drives me nuts seeing it all the time in videogame titles! o_O"

It's possessive. For example Zelda no Densetsu is Legend of Zelda or alternatively it could mean Zelda's Legend. Something like that anyway.

Steve @ Nov 8th 2006 4:32PM

Given that this game was being demoed at the Nintendo Fusion Tour--with English on-screen text!--I'd be surprised to not see it released in the US.

the godfather @ Nov 8th 2006 5:01PM

my japanese is pathetic at best but i think hajimete no wii translates to "wii's beginning" or something along those lines.

Eih'Beir @ Nov 8th 2006 5:31PM

I'd buy that.

Semantic @ Nov 8th 2006 6:22PM

I played most of these at the Nintendo europe launch. Very shallow games - table tennis capped at 100 rallies getting progressively harder for example (I got the only 100, yay). It comes with the extra controller according to the Nintendites I talked to at the event. Rayman Raving Rabids has more fun midigames from what I tried/talking to Ubisoft directly.

Digital Dan @ Nov 8th 2006 7:08PM

I Played a Wii today.

My work had demo units available today. I tried the Wii Sports "Boxing game". Check out my blog for my experience and reactions from today.

-Digital Dan from the HooK Show

Mabui @ Nov 8th 2006 8:11PM

Somehow I get the feeling Nintendo of North America = cheap ass bastards lately. I mean, they know you like to spend money, so why release something to save you a little cash and give you another fun to screw around with game? Phooey..

The only potential risk I could see with this is to further eat at 3rd party numbers if they release another no brainer game at such a value as it is.

whatsurwiiq @ Nov 8th 2006 9:57PM

@Digital Dan:

That was by far the most undetailed review I've ever heard. Everyone check out his blogs for experiences and reactions. My favorite part was when he said "it was fun" very freaking informative! Next time, why not ask yourself a question or two about what happened (i.e The remotes sensed motion poorly/well, the was a feeling of novelty/longevity etc....) and write about that!?!?

Baka Roba @ Nov 9th 2006 4:05PM

They're 3/4 right in that

"no" literally means "of" with the Japanese's convuluted sentence structure; thus; "Beginner of Wii" referring to YOU the purchaser, and it becomes a possessive when used in that context (see above)

And i guess we'll see this when we see Wario Ware: Smooth Moves