Reggie: Over 10 Wii Balance Board games in development

by James Ransom-Wiley { Feb 21st 2008 at 3:30PM }

Many of us assumed that when we got done riding Nintendo's latest one-trick pony we'd simply relegate the Wii Balance Board to stepladder duty -- for those pesky household items that rest just an inch or two out of reach. But, speaking to IGN, Reggie Fils-Aime altered this certain fate by suggesting there are "over 10 games in development that take advantage of the Balance Board," putting a number to earlier whispers that the board would be supported by more than just Wii Fit and Namco Bandai's Family Ski. We're not expecting much more than a minigame cesspool, but there's potential for someone -- please -- to use the technology for good.

Tags: balance-board

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Shagittarius @ Feb 21st 2008 3:35PM

Wow , a whole catalog of games I will never play.

aaron_k7 @ Feb 21st 2008 3:44PM

Agreed.

wait in the car @ Feb 21st 2008 3:45PM

I think you're giving em too much credit Shag. I'd hardly call 10 games a "catalog".

deaftly @ Feb 21st 2008 3:36PM

Cant wait to play "How drunk are you?"

Fanboy @ Feb 21st 2008 3:38PM

Finally I can't wait to get my fat ass into shape. Time to get ripped!

Shagittarius @ Feb 21st 2008 3:39PM

I'd recommend Rock Band drums on expert level, I'm sure it would be more of a workout.

deaftly @ Feb 21st 2008 3:40PM

Gotta agree with Shag, you can work up a mean sweat with the drums.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 21st 2008 4:40PM

I need to get live so I can challenge Shag to a drum off.

Raikage (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 21st 2008 4:49PM

You mean a beat-off right...

Shagittarius @ Feb 21st 2008 5:56PM

lolz, and yes, hurry up crono.

aaron_k7 @ Feb 21st 2008 3:44PM

This peripheral seems to have "Virtual Boy" written all over it, though I know it has sold well in Japan.

baby sea tuna @ Feb 21st 2008 3:49PM

Yeah, but so do bottles of 12 year-old girls' saliva...

aaron_k7 @ Feb 21st 2008 3:52PM

Good point, big Tuna.

Matt B @ Feb 21st 2008 3:44PM

Mario ski, Zelda ski,Sonic and Mario @ the slopes, Super Paper Mario ski, Ski Galaxy, Smash Ski Brawl, Skiin' Mama, Luigi Skate, New Super Mario Ski.

Martez @ Feb 21st 2008 4:09PM

What are you trying to say?

samfish @ Feb 21st 2008 4:15PM

Don't forget Brew Ski.

Thank you, I'll be here all night, folks! Try the roast chicken!

JonFitt @ Feb 21st 2008 3:46PM

Reggie tries hard to convince us that there's some point to buying one after the 30 minutes of use it'll get on WiiFit.
He should try an infomercial that's where the balance board belongs:
But that's not all Dianne, the Balance board is used in over 10 games. That's right, 10 games.

wait in the car @ Feb 21st 2008 3:49PM

What this thing needs is a game based on the scene in the Masters of the Universe movie where He-Man is flying around on a hoverboard chasing air centurians (ashamed I remember their name) through the city.

Also, since I brought it up, a Back to the Future II hoverboard game would be nice as well.

baby sea tuna @ Feb 21st 2008 3:49PM

Whew, now I just need to lose that last 200 lbs so I can stand on this thing without breaking it...

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 21st 2008 3:51PM

It can support 660 lbs., but it only measures 350 lbs.

Shagittarius @ Feb 21st 2008 3:53PM

Guess I'll have to keep one of my balls resting on the lazy-boy.

Co @ Feb 21st 2008 4:13PM

Shag, they are called breasts. We know you are part of the 4% unidentified.

FidliousWong @ Feb 21st 2008 4:18PM

Wow, Co came with the clever... this will be a day I remember.

deaftly @ Feb 21st 2008 5:19PM

Im voting him down just because im afraid of change.

Co @ Feb 21st 2008 7:16PM

lol p'preciate cha deaftly!

Cesaria @ Feb 21st 2008 3:50PM

Wow, so much negativity. How bout you hold that until after it's been released for a reasonable amount of time? So much negativity on the internet...

naxe @ Feb 21st 2008 3:58PM

is their any chance that SKATE will be re-released on the wii and i can use the board at an actual board? i have a addiction to skate i have to play at least 2-3hrs every day. and after 4 months iam still unlocking new spots and finding new things to do.

Mr Khan @ Feb 21st 2008 4:22PM

Because much like the people clamoring for 1:1 Wiimote swordplay, those asking for 1:1 Skateboarding (at least beyond the basic moving around) are going to be sorely disappointed

Cesaria @ Feb 21st 2008 4:28PM

I just don't understand why some people on here hunt down Nintendo articles and post the same crap on every one. Seriously, who gives a damn what anyone thinks on the internets?

Co @ Feb 21st 2008 4:52PM

Mr. Khan, all you need is the 1:1 basic movement of the board in a skating game. Just use the buttons on the remote to handle the rest. I think it would be kind of neat.

FOXHOUND @ Feb 21st 2008 3:51PM

...over 10 games? Really? They're not just DS titles sold at console prices? :\ This story is sadly sounding "shovelware-licious"(despite the fact that I'd actually like this device to succeed here in America too).

samred @ Feb 21st 2008 3:54PM

Who's to say these "ten games" don't happen to all reside on one mini-game loaded disc? Wake me up when a list of titles and/or developers is unveiled.

Rob Accomando @ Feb 21st 2008 3:54PM

Mario Surfing, Mario Skiing, Mario Snowboarding, Mario Balancing Act, Mario Log Rolling, Mario Rollerskating, Mario Step Aerobics, Mario See-Saw, Mario Fitness

Shagittarius @ Feb 21st 2008 3:56PM

Don't forget : Mario and Luigi: Statue Simulator.

xFenixKnightx @ Feb 21st 2008 3:55PM

Would be funny to replace my beer drinking all-nighter Xbox LIVE sessions on COD4 with this! LOL! IMHO though Nintendo is really selling out the real fans and just trying to add gimmick after gimmick after gimmick.

=(::::_____

wait in the car @ Feb 21st 2008 3:59PM

Considering they've already released (or are about to release) quality updated renditions of all their major franchises, I'd say they haven't really sold anyone out.

They're just adding the gimmicks in addition to appeasing the fanboys.

samfish @ Feb 21st 2008 4:23PM

So Mario Galaxy, Metroid, Smash Bros Brawl, Mario Kart and Twilight Princess (AKA- OoT Remake) means they're ignoring their core audience?

Nintendo has never been BETTER to their core audience. Nintendo is actually all about the fan service and nostalgia this generation, if anything.

Co @ Feb 21st 2008 4:49PM

You two are counterpointing FenixKnight, guys. Now where's the logic in that?

xFenixKnightx @ Feb 21st 2008 6:19PM

Samfish

I UNDERSTAAAAND THAT!! But whats the next gimmick, a mini toilet bundled with Mario Shit Deluxe?!! Why does'nt Nintendo focus their energy on new IP's instead of cheap gimmicks for kids and senior citizens? Also My question is until when is Mario, Zelda and Metroid going to satisfy you? Is that ALL they are ever going to do, gen after gen after fricken gen?

Dont get me wrong Im a sucker for Mario, after all I bought a system just for that game alone but it would be nice to have a GDC Nintendo press confrence where THEY are the ones that create all the buzz and hype. Thats where I applaude MS and Sony.

Just my .02

samfish @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:46AM

Nintendo comes out with at least one or two new franchises every generation. I'm not worried about that.

Furthermore, I don't blame them for focusing on "cheap gimmicks". The average "hardcore" gamer abandoned and berated Nintendo with the Gamecube. They aren't stupid. They know they're never going to get a chunk of that pie back unless they as a company sacrifice their principals and make whatever flavor of the moment genre people like.
...and even then, it's hardly a sure bet, what with the whole "Nintendo is teh kiddie" attitude amongst so much of the "hardcore" community.

So they went in a different direction while also giving the people who DID support them through the last 10 or so years everything they could want...more or less.
I'm sure if you ask any hardcore Nintendo fan, they'll tell you that they're quite pleased with the way things are going thus far, as far as games go.
That Sega is treating the Wii essentially like the Dreamcast 2 is a nice bonus, too.

I also like that Nintendo treats the GDC for what it's supposed to be – a conference for game developers to share ideas and talk.
MS and Sony have turned it into a freakin' trade show event. That's not what it is or should be. As a result, we get...lukewarm "megatons", at best. Not that I don't want news to come out of it...but you get what I'm driving at, I trust. Just let GDC be what it is and save the big stuff for E3 and PAX.