Wii bowling "power throws": Whither the perfect 890?

In a roundtable discussion before the Wii's release, Nintendo designer Takayuki Shimamura declared that "in all of the endless testing which Nintendo has done on [Wii Sports bowling], no one has ever achieved a perfect score!" This factoid didn't last very long -- since the system's release dozens of players have posted YouTube videos of their own perfect games, complete with anti-climactic confetti endings.
But while this seemingly impressive feat has now become commonplace, another Wii Sports bowling challenge remains seemingly unachieved and practically unachievable. We're speaking of a perfect score in the "Power Throws" training game, which steadily increases the number of pins at the end of the lane from a base of 10 to a staggering 91 pins in the tenth frame. Their are 445 total pins to knock down, but the game doubles the frame score for each strike, making a score of 890 the perfect ideal.
Despite our best efforts, we could not find documented evidence of such a score online. The best we could find on YouTube was an 804, and even this impressive player used the well-known cheat to strike out on the last frame. A couple of players on EliteScores.com have claimed to max out the score, but neither submitted so much as a screenshot as proof. Gaming scoreboard Twin Galaxies doesn't even track the Power Throws minigame yet, probably because no one has bothered to send in a VHS tape of their achievement as per the rules.
So we're putting out a challenge to the Joystiq community. Can anyone out there achieve the holy grail of Wii Sports and get a perfect score in this difficult minigame? The first person to submit video evidence of the feat (without cheating!) will get a handsome Joystiq T-shirt and eternal Internet glory as their reward. Entries can be submitted using the tips submission page. Good luck!
[Update: The challenge has been met by Joystiq reader el moco, who sent in the below video to confirm the feat. Mr. moco also outlined his methods on the WiiModWii forums. Congratulation el moco, we'll be contacting you about the T-shirt soon.]











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeff @ Feb 7th 2007 12:30PM
I'm the Jeff whose video is listed third in the link above and was one of the first to post a 300 to you tube (whoopee do da...) Anyway, my reason for chiming in here is to say I've tried quite a bit to get the perfect score in power throws only to fail in doing so. The closest I have come is getting all but the 2nd and 3rd to last frames. I will keep trying and if I do it, I'll post a video. (I play the game about 30 minutes a week, so don't expect anything, ever)
Interesting side note, my wife has managed to get strikes on the 2nd and 3rd to last frames in the same game, so perhaps I'll have her bowl those frames for me...
Grunge @ Feb 7th 2007 12:34PM
Okay, I knew it was difficult, but not achieved in three months? That's really hard ...
siro @ Feb 7th 2007 12:45PM
This is a joke right? I play Wii Sports from time to time at a friends place and my best bownling score was like 240. But I cleared nine out of ten in one of my three tries!? Never thought this could be that hard... Simply unbelievable.
Geo @ Feb 7th 2007 12:46PM
So, the 91 pin strike cheat isn't allowed to get a perfect score in this contest? Im not even completely sure it is easier to do. Ive done it twice, and striked it normally twice.
x876543 @ Feb 7th 2007 12:47PM
I thought the perfect score was always with a girl :)
knot_U @ Feb 7th 2007 12:58PM
Hey add me, my
number is:
8272-6692-6378-5861
knot_U
BCR @ Feb 7th 2007 1:00PM
I've never found anyone mention the power pitch in baseball. Try tapping the direction pad or 1/2 keys before you pitch and you will feel the controller vibrate like its revving up!
Joe Siegler @ Feb 7th 2007 1:05PM
My high score on that is 801. And I did NOT use any sort of cheat. A strike on the last shot isn't all that difficult. Now that's not to say it is easy - I get about maybe 2 out of every 10 attempts.
But it's not so hard that you have to cheat to get it.
I didn't think to document mine on video or anything like that.
Grunge @ Feb 7th 2007 1:13PM
@ siro
Power Bowling, not the normal game. Learn to read.
P Palermo @ Feb 7th 2007 1:49PM
When I had a loaner unit from Nintendo (that I reluctantly returned) in January, my wife trumped my power bowling score by snagging a 750 or something in that region....maybe I'll have to go get my own Wii just for this....but what if I already have a Joystiq t-shirt? =)
MrHoju @ Feb 7th 2007 1:51PM
Wouldn't this be a perfect example of where achievements would be beneficial? Especially if there were two separate achievements, one for a perfect game using the switch and one without.
EihBeir @ Feb 12th 2007 11:44AM
My weak 575 is the best I've done. I've hit the 91 pin strike only once, and that was one of the pathetic "domino effect" strikes.
FlyMolo @ Feb 7th 2007 3:43PM
Man, I just did this a couple weeks ago. I didn't take a video of it but I have an image here: http://inorpo-b.mirror.waffleimages.com/waffleimages/files/7f/7f8a3382205701c6102c7b73d1bf43434fc5bb17.jpg .
I did it without using the trick on the 10th frame, but obviously I can't prove that. Interestingly, my high score in regular bowling is only 288.
FlyMolo @ Feb 7th 2007 5:14PM
It seems you'll need to copy the link location in the link posted above, it doesn't like direct linking.
Stick Nutzman @ Feb 7th 2007 10:02PM
"7. I've never found anyone mention the power pitch in baseball. Try tapping the direction pad or 1/2 keys before you pitch and you will feel the controller vibrate like its revving up!"
Ummmm... yeah. That is actually used for aiming the pitch (high,low,inside,outside) and hitting the '2' button makes you throw sidearm. Power pitch? Hah!
Eric @ Feb 7th 2007 6:38PM
Flymolo, your link doesn't work. Even with copying.
Eric @ Feb 7th 2007 6:40PM
Nevermind. Here it is, TinyURL'd. I am envious...
http://tinyurl.com/ywjhdm
Richard @ Feb 7th 2007 6:53PM
Still doesn't work.
Here is another take on achieving the coveted 890 score.
http://www.feelthissite.com/sitedude/wii/forums/viewtopic.php?t=853&sid=35c3de23c5be61c18ff11efb54f9bff3
toffy @ Feb 8th 2007 9:18AM
I will accept this mission with only one condition.
If you really are going to give away (an awesome ofcourse) joystiq t-shirt, are you still sending if you have to send to europe ?
:D
StevePharma @ Feb 8th 2007 6:36AM
Damn never thought wii bowling would keep me occupied in this software drought (where are my games Reggie? :-D )
but still this is one hard challenge. I did manage to get a perfect score on the spin control game (20 hits, no misses, platinum). It's extra special because I'm left handed, and hey, you don't see a lot of left handed wii bowling movies :-P
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YZV9-CQnsmc
el moco @ Feb 8th 2007 10:28AM
here are pics of a perfect game
http://www.feelthissite.com/sitedude/wii/forums/viewtopic.php?t=853&sid=35c3de23c5be61c18ff11efb54f9bff3
Koz @ Feb 10th 2007 3:54PM
Updated the forum post with a link to youtube of a video of an "honest perfect" (no bumper trick).
Or for the lazy person, here's the link :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbGyFD85wyY