Square Enix interested in Wii Fit board for RPG

38 Comments by John Bardinelli Jul 17th 2007 1:55PM
Filed under: RPGs, Exergaming

In an interview with IGN, Square Enix's Motomu Toriyama speaks about the upcoming US release of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and divulges a healthy little detail about the company's interest in the Wii Fit balance board. No, a Final Fantasy workout game isn't in the pipeline (though taking on a Gigas or two would be great for our quads), but Toriyama and company are "intrigued" by the idea of using weight and balance to control games. Full body interactive RPG combat, anyone?

Tags: finalfantasy, nintendo, rpg, square-enix, squareenix, wiifit

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Crono: Jul 17th 2007; 2:03PM

I am curious as to how the WiiBoard can be used as pedals for a car sim, not much more though. A balance controlled RPG is a game I most likely won't play.

RPG's in general are becoming games I won't play. Too many cliches.

Shagittarius: Jul 17th 2007; 3:32PM

You got better at step aerobics! (32)

Anam: Jul 17th 2007; 2:05PM

Final Fantasy VII remake for the Wii!

To activate Climhazard, jump up and down really fast.

reductant: Jul 17th 2007; 2:07PM

I wonder what the weight limit is for this board. So many morbidly obese gamers out there, it's disgusting. I bet someone from GoNintendo is worried he won't be able to try this controller out.

dpad: Jul 17th 2007; 2:15PM

Now, is that really called for? I expect to see your comment buried rather quickly.

Exo: Jul 17th 2007; 2:22PM

dpad, hes just jealous that he is to fat to stand under his own power, let alone use the balance board.

JonnyBoy2U: Jul 17th 2007; 2:29PM

LMAO....

So true. Have you not see that Southpark episode.

I mean really there are some morbid huge gamers out there. Thats NOT hot. Thats NOT a good look.

Zertoss: Jul 17th 2007; 2:14PM

Squeenix's RPGs could do with some refreshing. Maybe they'll come up with something interesting.

The thought of each wave of games coming with all kinds of peripherals is a real turn-off though, especially with the remote as fleshed out as it currently isn't. I'd really prefer to just stick with the controller the system came with.

StrangeBum: Jul 17th 2007; 2:22PM

Well..square may not be the most innovative company out there anymore. Remake, remake, port, remake, rehash....blah.

But they have been very creative in the past, in terms of both graphical quality and gameplay. They have redefined the RPG genre and they should be able to do so again. Not sure how the balance board would work out in an RPG though, but I think it would be pretty interesting to see what they come up with.

duerra: Jul 17th 2007; 2:26PM

I can't wait to see a snowboarding game that uses the Wii Fit board.

Brian: Jul 17th 2007; 2:38PM

I don't know, the demo just looked like you leaned left and right but snowboarding uses a back and forth, heel to toe motion.

john: Jul 17th 2007; 3:04PM

If you watch the demo again you'll see that is measures the distribution of weight in all 4 directions.

Mr Khan: Jul 17th 2007; 4:33PM

Even then, you could still turn the board sideways to balance forward and back

NintendoFanbot: Jul 17th 2007; 2:38PM

NintendoFanbot will be dancing on the hardcore gamer's grave, both literally and figuratively! Mwahahahaha!!!

Rubang B: Jul 17th 2007; 7:59PM

Best comment ever. I'll be doing the same, with bells on.

Baker1000: Jul 17th 2007; 2:39PM

Sweet! Stand on the board while holding the Wii Remote as a sword! I'd love that, although I don't know what the board would be used for.

samfish: Jul 17th 2007; 2:42PM

Hover board sword fighting.

Duh!

Baker1000: Jul 17th 2007; 2:48PM

I never thought of that :P

hvnlysoldr: Jul 17th 2007; 2:54PM

Back to the Future 2 bully busting on hoverboards! Don't go over water without power!

Rubang B: Jul 17th 2007; 8:01PM

Who HASN'T thought of hoverboard swordfighting? I thought that was the ultimate goal of the evolution of gaming. Nintendo/Square will show us the way, the truth, and the light.

josh: Jul 17th 2007; 2:47PM

It would be cool if you could like... lean back and your character would lean back, like to dodge a sword swing or a punch.

I don't know if it would be worth BUYING for that, but it would be kind of cool.

hvnlysoldr: Jul 17th 2007; 2:53PM

You use it as a shield! Wait you'd have to hold it. How about chocobo racing and chocobo hot and cold. How about wine pressing and spaghetti/noodle mashing. A fully fleshed out soccer game with realistic footie kicking. A full body Madden to body check people.

spikepoint: Jul 17th 2007; 2:56PM

I could go for a Dragon Quest Swords game that also integrated leaning to dodge (and susequently parry) enemy strikes.

Jonathan Tran: Jul 17th 2007; 3:05PM

Hoverboard game would be great, except for the water levels.

We all know anyway that HOVERBOARDS DON'T WORK ON WATER, UNLESS YOU GOT NINTENDO POWER!!!!

archangel: Jul 17th 2007; 3:35PM

i remember playing a arcade shooter where u stood on a pad and it sensed where your body weight was which enabled u to peak around corners and move every which way and take cover. They could do something like that...maybe not square enix tho

and hey that arcade game was addictive AND a good workout =P

Spongie: Jul 17th 2007; 3:43PM

I have zero interest, but I wont say anything negative...

Matt B: Jul 17th 2007; 3:53PM

Why not? These trolls do it to us.

Matt B: Jul 17th 2007; 3:57PM

Try like this Spongie:

To bad the PSEYE's motion sensing capabilities will make wiifit board users look like they are riding a unicycle with no seat.
I prefer actually stepping forward than leaning forward.

Crono: Jul 17th 2007; 4:20PM

Nice trolling! :)

Kye: Jul 17th 2007; 4:01PM

Boxing game online.
Wii fit board.
Two Wii remotes

Duck and weave heaven. The most realistic boxing game ever!

Anam: Jul 17th 2007; 4:09PM

"Boxing game online.
Wii fit board.
Two Power Gloves."

Fixed.

Rubang B: Jul 17th 2007; 8:08PM

No no no. You place one Wii Board on each circle on the Power Pad, which is itself on top of a metal DDR floor mat, and you wear 2 Power Gloves and hold 2 Wii remotes. Boxing paradise.

Mr Khan: Jul 17th 2007; 4:37PM

No, no

RPG is the one genre that couldn't be accentuated by the Board (at least in a non-gimmicky way), Sports, platformers, action-adventure, many better things could be done

and i gave a plus to everyone who referenced the BttF quote "Hoverboards don't work on water, unless you've got POWER!" It synergizes with the old NES slogans

chimchim: Jul 17th 2007; 6:17PM

Anyone else thinking of that Final Fantasy 7 Snowboarding game on the playstation? I haven't played it but if it's happened once theirs always a chance for a sequel.

Hater3000: Jul 17th 2007; 6:17PM

The wii scale or fit board reminds me to the Sega activator.

It would be nice if one could actually use the board for something like that or for a snowboard game yet I dont see any moveable parts in the board...

Hey quick Idea make the wii board compatible with SSBB Hahaha.

Mabui: Jul 17th 2007; 6:22PM

rpgs are generally a long time playing, I can't imagine standing 5 hours shifting my weight while playing an RPg, though I guess by the end of a 100 hour adventure I'd have wicked awesome balance.

J.G.F.: Jul 18th 2007; 2:07AM

This "game" will sell enough to where developers can use it for actual games. Mark my words.

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