Fight Night producer ponders Wii version

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Feb 12th 2007 at 3:55PM }

If you've grown tired of furiously pummeling those smiling Miis in Wii Boxing, there's hope for you yet. Speaking to Gabriel Montoya of Doghouseboxing.com, the producer of Fight Night Round 3 explains that a Wii entry into the fisticuff franchise is currently being discussed within the towering offices of EA. "We're contemplating and we definitely feel there are some exciting things we can do with the Fight Night franchise and the Wii," says Michael Blank.

"When you play Wii Boxing it is a very simple experience and I think that is what they designed it to be just to let you know that you can throw punches. With Fight Night we have an amazing simulation of Boxing and so we need to take those Wii controls and tailor it to what the Fight Night consumer might want to experience." Though nothing definitive has been announced, Fight Night Round Wii seems like an inevitability.

With SSX Blur showing EA's willingness to embrace an alternative control set and Wii Boxing providing a solid, albeit simplistic boxing example, the way is paved. Even if it is with bloody teeth.

[Via CVG]

Tags: Boxing, EA, EA Sports, EaSports, Fight Night, Fight Night Round 3, FightNight, FightNightRound3, Wii Boxing, Wii Sports, WiiBoxing, WiiSports

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

William @ Feb 12th 2007 3:58PM

About damn time more people started gettin on the bandwagon!!!!!

Ken @ Feb 12th 2007 4:02PM

And now EA will be my best friend if they can make it work.

If not, here's hoping a good Punchout! game gets released.

Darkness @ Feb 12th 2007 4:03PM

I would be interested in this. My problem with Fight Night is that it's too slow. If they can speed the pace of it up a bit, and add some crazy hits in, then I think they'll be doing themselves a favor. My dream boxing game would be Ring King on the Wii. Oh, man, that would rock.

Foil_Goon @ Feb 12th 2007 4:06PM

More gimmick controls slapped on for a port, SWEET.

Seriously, screw that. Why haven't we made Ultra Punch-Out yet?

Mr Khan @ Feb 12th 2007 4:07PM

Nintendo did renew their copyright on Punch Out! for release in "Electronic Disc Medium"
Back in 2005

http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2007/01/30/nintendo-refreshes-punch-out-patent-provides-hope/

CowboyGA @ Feb 12th 2007 4:08PM

"Fight Night Round Wii" Sweet Jesus, I'd buy the game in a heartbeat if it held that title. The best thing about the Wii? That stupid name that grows on you.

Genius @ Feb 12th 2007 4:15PM

If the tracking of punches is going to be as bad as it is in Wii sports, they can keep it. My punches almost never do what im trying to make them do. Its almost more effective to just windmill, thats what my wife does and she wins a lot.

Prof-KOS @ Feb 12th 2007 4:16PM

Sounds great, now please make the controls as close to 1:1 movement as possible. If some of the look needs to be sacrificed to do that, I'm coll with that.

dantebk @ Feb 12th 2007 4:20PM

I love Wii Sports Boxing and would love a more in-depth version. The only thing I'd ask for that I probably won't get is a good enough character creation system that I can approximate myself. I think I feel a lot more passionately about these boxing matches because my Mii does actually look like me.

Though Punch Out Wii would be awesome as well as a more cartoon-y boxing game. They'd have to slow it down a bit from old school Punch Out though.

Sam G. @ Feb 12th 2007 6:51PM

I want an Ultra Punch Out with as many horrible stereotypes as opponents as can possibly be shoved onto a disc.

Jake @ Feb 12th 2007 4:31PM

This game is tons of fun with friends on 360/PS3. Hopefully they get it to work on Wii. It is interesting because much of what makes FNR3 great is its unique, solid controls. With the Wii, they have to abandon that for another unique style. Hopefully, they succeed again.

Thryon @ Feb 12th 2007 4:36PM

"Its almost more effective to just windmill, thats what my wife does and she wins a lot."

LOL...that what mine does...and she beats me all the time. I try to get to fancy and get frustrated that only 1 out of every 3 punches actually register.....

I do hope the Wii get some good games....beause Wii Sports is 14 minutes and 59 seconds into it's 15 minutes of fame.

Kizzle @ Feb 12th 2007 6:20PM

Great 360 game, but I don't want to see it on the Wii. As someone above said..."more gimmick controls slapped on for a port, SWEET." Give us a Punch-Out for christsake, you KNOW everyone would buy it in a heartbeat.

This is what I was worried about. There's next to no creativity with the Wii controller outside of first party games. It'll be a bumpy ride for the next several months.

vidGuy @ Feb 12th 2007 4:56PM

"beause Wii Sports is 14 minutes and 59 seconds into it's 15 minutes of fame."

Man, you're harsh! I'd say it's about 2 minutes in, myself, seeings how my roommates and I play at least an hour a day.

Boxing is so wonky I'm surprised they included it in its current form. But Golf and Bowling more than make up for it. Golf has single-handedly convinced me to buy Tiger Woods as soon as it releases, a first for me and golf games.

But yeah, Fight Night would be great. Sports games come alive for the Wii, at least in my mind.

Kye @ Feb 12th 2007 5:02PM

I hope they utilise two Wiimotes instead of wiimote-nunchuk combo. Not that the nunchuk doesnt detect motion well, it does. But it doesnt know where im punching. Too often I've hooked to the head only to hit the ribs :-(

That and the wire keeps getting caught, dragging the nunchuk out of my hand.

Im all for this game. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ONLINE *evil stare at Nintendo*

Brian @ Feb 12th 2007 5:08PM

The trick with Wii Boxing is that a "punch" is actually just a flick forward of your wrist. Since that doesn't happen every time you actually punch with your arms, many of them don't register. Also, you can't punch if you've just been hit.

So the trick is to keep both hands reasonably level when you're boxing, and make sure you give your wrists a little flick as you punch. It'll register much more often that way. Also, if you haven't figured it out, you stay down longer if you got knocked down by a combo than if you just lost all your life one bar at a time.

vidGuy @ Feb 12th 2007 5:10PM

@Kye,

Third parties have started to receive online-kits, so we should start seeing online games by summer.

http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2007/02/12/it-begins-developers-starting-to-get-online-dev-kits/

miles foreman @ Feb 12th 2007 5:15PM

I don't think it's a problem with the remote or the game registering punches, I can get off combos pretty regularly after practicing a while. The problem stems with the fact that the game itself limits you on how quickly you can throw your fists. If Fight Night allows you to do flurries as quickly as you can in real life, that'll be awesome.

Overall, I find the remote incredibly responsive. It's unfortunate that Wii Boxing artifically limits your input. I imagine I'd find it a lot more enjoyable.

Kye @ Feb 12th 2007 5:23PM

Thanx

Summer eh? Years overdue, but still, better late than never.

Striderhayasa @ Feb 12th 2007 5:52PM

I'm with you miles

I beat the champion in Wii Boxing and after seeing and feeling (ouch) the hellish combos that he throws, i realized which combos work on the computer and when. It's not one-to-one and Nintendo should have tightened it up a bit before launch but I still had a blast with it.

Fight Night Wii..hmmm, I don't know. EA would have to speed it up at bit, keep the framerate smooth, make it look better than a cheap-ass PS2 port and and put it online. Otherwise it's no deal.

jayblezzy @ Feb 14th 2007 1:58PM

@miles foreman

I'll definitely agree with you on the response of the wiimote playing boxing. It's a lot more responsive than people give it credit for, even I had my frustrations. But once I realized it was more off how quick you were punching and if you got hit that it will only register certain movements at a time. In fact I didn't play boxing for almost a month because of that. Then once I realized it what was going on I was boxing and pulling combos I didn't realize could be pulled off when I wanted it too.

Some to end this if they make a Wii Fight Night it can be successful. The main obstacle they would have to overcome is the response time and movements from you the player and what the onscreen fighter is doing. It can be a damn really good game or a turn for the worst.