WunderWall: "We're better than Wii"

by Kyle Orland { Dec 13th 2006 at 5:25PM }

Dutch company WunderWorks is apparently "surprised" that Nintendo's new-fangled Wii console is getting all sorts of press attention while their similar WunderWall wallows in obscurity. A press release on the WunderWorks web site ruefully points out that not only has the wireless-pointer-controlled WunderWall "been readily available for quite a while ... but also the games are excellent fun too!"

While the Wii pitifully maxes out at a mere four players, WunderWorks proudly proclaims that its superior system allows up to forty players to simultaneously play "soccer, MultiSnake, BigShot, MultiPong," and other games you probably don't care about. Not only that, but the PC-based system can be used for "group brainstorm software and interactive PowerPoint presentations," a feature gamers everywhere have been demanding in their game systems for years.

So why aren't people clamoring for the WunderWall over the Wii? Part of it might be that Nintendo has put over $200 million into marketing the Wii while no one outside the Netherlands has ever heard of the WunderWall before today. And while the Wii is available for $250 or a similar price at thousands of retailers worldwide, ordering a WunderWall seems to require putting in for a price quotation using a form on their web site. But the biggest reason the Wii is attracting more attention among gamers might be that Nintendo's decades of experience in the game business ensures the system's software lineup will be more impressive than the WunderWall's handful of cheap-looking, derivative games.

We posted some blurry phonecam videos of the WunderWall in action below so you can judge for yourself if their desperate plea for attention is justified. We guess we should be grateful, though -- as pleas for attention go, though, a press release definitely beats a lawsuit.

[Thanks Maarten]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jozyx @ Dec 13th 2006 5:31PM

I'm from the Netherlands I don't even know what Wunderland or Wunderworks is :S

is @ Dec 13th 2006 5:30PM

Lol, all three of em are gingers

Huzzah!! @ Dec 13th 2006 11:49PM

WTF? The second video is like 2 fps!

Babbon @ Dec 13th 2006 5:33PM

Same, never heard of them.

socrates @ Dec 13th 2006 5:40PM

"group brainstorm software and interactive PowerPoint presentations,"

Sounds like more fun than BrainAge!

Grey @ Dec 13th 2006 5:38PM

this is SO pathetic.. if this company wants to challenge the Wii then they need a slap.

Michiel @ Dec 13th 2006 5:39PM

I live there too, never heard of them.

Maybe they should work on media attention, like advertisements, interviews, a mention on a popular gameblog, oh! wait..

pattyblades @ Dec 13th 2006 5:49PM

that pong esque game looks fun, can you say xbox live arcade game? would be great for parties

brian @ Dec 13th 2006 5:43PM

There is currently no confirmation there will be Wi-Fi content of any kind in the game.

Agent MOO @ Dec 14th 2006 12:22PM

The Wii is bigger than Jesus!

TruthHurts @ Dec 13th 2006 5:44PM

Oh boyzencrauters does that look like fun!!!! Call Hanz and Franz!!!

NETNAVI @ Dec 13th 2006 5:48PM

What the heck is Laceball?

Erwos @ Dec 13th 2006 6:03PM

Why is it so inconceivable that Nintendo might have ripped the idea off?

Vince @ Dec 13th 2006 5:58PM

Yeah, that multi-pong looks great... coming to a console near you soon.

Robert Jung @ Dec 13th 2006 6:02PM

Someone needs to tell WunderWall that the Wii also can sense acceleration, motion, and tilt -- I can't see WunderWall even doing a half-decent version of Wii Sports, for instance.

--R.J.

mandarin @ Dec 13th 2006 6:02PM

Ron Howard's relatives....

Chris @ Dec 13th 2006 6:17PM

Erwos: I don't think anyone attributes the creation of motion-sensor technology to Nintendo. I remember playing a FPS where you moved your body to hide behind things for cover like 5 years ago. People attribute Ninteodo with the combination of motion-sensor hardware with GOOD SOFTWARE. Nintendo puts out good games that are wired around the hardware (or, they have with like 3 games. Hopefully they'll encourage software companies to wait until the games are finished). This company claims they are better than the Wii when they haven't even tried with the immersion idea. That soccer game looks like it was put out on the NES!

CJC @ Dec 13th 2006 6:18PM

That "Graffiti" game made me realize we need a Mario Paint Wii some time in the future.

devian @ Dec 13th 2006 6:20PM

YEAH BABY! The commodore 64 graphics are making a come back!

Jeffler @ Dec 13th 2006 6:35PM

Hmm...They insult the Wii...and steal the name of their machine from Oasis?

Thats it. You insult my favourite console and my favourite band...its on, WunderWorks.

Shaun @ Dec 13th 2006 6:37PM

The Gaming Adventures of Pete and Peter and Pete!

....anyone else remember that show?

jmatt @ Dec 13th 2006 6:46PM

The problem I see is simple: they aren't making a game console for home. This is mainly a business use, plain and simple. Nobody can take this home, plug it in, and then play games, they need to be a major company and have a lenghty installation. This is like saying Apple first created the online store for media that can be played in the same app, and saying Nintendo is copying them with the Wii Marketplace.

FUD

Wiiboy @ Dec 13th 2006 7:36PM

Jesus is bigger than Wii.

reppy @ Dec 13th 2006 7:52PM

Wunderland was the name of the nickel arcade where I live..

socrates @ Dec 13th 2006 8:11PM

Good point reppy...think these guys are vacationing in Oregon?

DJ @ Dec 13th 2006 8:22PM

Are they joking?

Man, talk about a desperate bid for free publicity.

That's a multiple pointer system... BFD.

It's a freaking wall with crap sensors in it to distinguish between different pointers... hooked up to a PC and an LCD projector.

That's all.

It has absolutely no relationship to a Wii...

Piggybacking on free advertising. For a piece of garbage.

driven2sin @ Dec 13th 2006 11:47PM

the Wii IS Jesus !!!!

> @ Dec 14th 2006 2:05AM

And so now it is completely obvious that Nintendo ripped their tech right off of someone else. But none of you fanboys will admit that will you?

the Dutch man @ Dec 14th 2006 5:03AM

Multi pong looks like a lot of fun. Get your ideas for free, Wii!!! I'm from Holland and played games from when i was 3, and read a lot about games, but wunderwall?????? No bells ringing hear

the Dutch man @ Dec 14th 2006 5:09AM

He! number 28 if Wii ripped them of then what did M.soft and sony did? (Rumble, Analog, D-pad, shoulder button...) Need I say more. Stop Your Whining, everybody rips now and then.

Laceballer @ Dec 14th 2006 8:59PM

I love the Wunderwall, F you guys hating on it. Me and my sister play football on it all the time. She's in a wheelchair, so she can't dance or play sports anymore, her counselor recommended the Wunderwall and we ordered one and it's really lifted her spirits. She'll never run again but she can beat her big bro in Wunderwall Home Run Derby almost half the time :). Thank you Wunderworks, for giving us hope. goede dag.