Sure, Wii Fit is about health and lifestyle, but I'm looking forward to the games; I sampled some of the lesser-known modes at the recent Nintendo Media Summit. We've already played with the hula-hoop, soccer, ski-jump, and other basics, so I jumped straight to tightrope walking, floating in a bubble, and other later unlockables. But first, I warmed up with jogging.
- Jogging: One or two players can jog together by stepping off the balance board and sticking a Wiimote in a pocket. I trotted in place while my Mii avatar ran through a sparkling park. Easter eggs and strange events amused me, such as a pack of dogs running straight at -- and past -- me and a hidden, 8-bit Mario graffiti tag. But I decided to phone it in later, shaking the Remote like I was playing Samba. The Nintendo representative and a few onlookers scolded me, but I raced on.
- Tightrope walking: On the balance board, I lifted alternate feet, like I was walking ahead. But I had to keep my weight centered the whole time, otherwise the Mii would tip off the high wire. I was supposed to jump over a chomping bear-trap near the end of the path by crouching and extending my legs. (The motion is similar to the ski jumping game.) But I was off-center before I tried the hop, and just launched myself sideways off the narrow path.
- Bubble in a river: My Mii was trapped in a bubble, and I steered down a narrow, winding river with my leaning. If I grazed the edge of the riverbank, the bubble popped, and I lost. This mode works like a Super Monkey Ball variant. Speaking of which, hey, Sega, how about a Balance Board-tuned version of that game?
- Penguin-eats-fish: With my Mii donning a penguin suit, I stood on a teetering iceberg. From a side view, the platform tilted only left and right with my movements, sending my Mii to those edges. Fish flopped up onto the floe, and I slid in their direction, catching them for points. If I fell off, I automatically hopped back on. And I tried to fling myself up in the air, like tossing ingredients in a skillet, to grab giant fish.
- Snowboarding: I tried slalom skiing first and later rotated the balance board 90° for the snowboard simulation. I shifted my weight downhill to speed up, back to slow down. I bobbed up and down like a drinking bird to steer, and the process was challenging but worked well.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
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Even though nearly everyone who posts here probably thinks it's the lamest thing ever, to me, if they can make it abouot as fun as Wii Sports is, I see no reason not to be excited for it.
It's a bit pricey, but at least it's more or less in line with other games that come with controllers, ala Time Crisis 4.
Besides, I'd much rather spend my economic stimulus check on firearms, hookers, and booze. It's the American way, after all.
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Now if I can just get the elite hardcore gamers that sit around on gaming forums all day to realize that they make up less than 10% of the total market maybe they'll realize that a game doesn't have to appeal to them to be extremely successful.
I like what Nintendo's trying to do - still don't think I'll buy it, but it's not a definite no. Maybe w/ a price drop. Who knows, other people I'd like to play games with could be interested in this as well.
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I'm pissed that people would waste money on this garbage thinking they'll actually get in shape with it when they could just easily lug their fat dumb ass outside and jog an hour a day.
Trust me I wish I could be at home playing either or, but for some reason I have to work and pay the mortgage and all taht good stuff so Im stuck here at the office from 7am-4pm. So I am doing what I like right now (on down time that is)...chillin on Joystiq/ESPN/IGN/Gametrailers/Myspace and Youtube =P
Oh, and I weigh 170lbs so no...Im not mad that my normal ass wont fit on that balance board I just cant take these gimmicks man thats all.
I can see why people don't like it, but as stated in other posts, you don't have to buy the game. There isn't really any point in complaining about it - no company is going to care what you have to say if their product is raking in the cash. Plus, if the product is making a ton of money, then a lot more people in games like it than dislike it.
Nintendo's just trying to get more people into games and I think they're taking the approach of Wii Fit to remove the negative perception of games that certain individuals have. The hardcore gamers will never have issues finding their games, so why bust on a company who's reaching out to others? Clearly, the game isn't meant for the hardcore.
I hope you dont think Wii fit is actually going to make you "fit".
Personally I don't see why this "game" is a bad thing and why people are hating on it.
If you don't like it don't buy it. Simple as that.
However it doesn't change the fact that Nintendo has created something revolutionary and innovative that will probably sell extremely well despite the bitter angry haters that call themselves "hardcore gamer"...
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However, as Chris said in the podcast, most hardcore gamers are not concerned at the success of things like this, but rather the message it sends out to developers. Or as he put it.. "Flash training costs all of $20 to develop and look at those sales, why would developers take the hard route when the easier one makes a lot of money for basically no effort."
That, I think, is the real fear. After all, everything BUT Carnival Games flopped for Midway last year. Why would Midway, as a developer, have ambition on the next gen consoles? The cheapest and laziest game they made last year was their runaway success.
Fearing that "hardcore" games will stop being made is irational and over blown. Ultimately, if you're making a million dollars or whatever in profit from a piece of software, you won't really care, from a business perspective, what kind of game attains those profits, unless you're small or indy.
If people want to make "hardcore" games and they know they'll make money, they will.
The only downside is that they'll be less likely to try new things and play it safe and cookie cutter.
...but that's pretty much already happening in full force anyway, so it'd be disingenuous to blame that on "casual" games.
But as long as hardcore games like COD4 and Assassin's Creed and multimillion sellers on both consoles they are on, I don't see hardcore gamers going away.
Also, Midway did release a few big budget flops including Area 51. I guess it disproves Dubbya's theory, you can't outspend a problem.
UT3 is the only "good one" that comes to mind. And even that was lost slightly in the tide of FPS titles of '07.
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http://www.amazon.com/RESPONDESIGN-30002-Yourself-Fitness/dp/B0007PNEGA/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1208266832&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Casual-Living-8931300000-Yourself-Fitness/dp/B00061NL7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1208266869&sr=1-1
Just saying is all....
It's a nice idea and device... but I'm not going to be reeled into buying it just yet. Hell, I'm still spiteful after buying the broadband adapter for the GCN; and getting PHANTASY STAR ONLINE as pretty much the only worthwhile use of the adapter.
Its cool though, I have no real "beef" with you lol. Hey for some reason I think Peach is showing less nipple now. Why deprive us Samfish, why? =P
I'm looking forward to see if any other developers build games for the balance board. A new 1080 or serious skiing game with an option to use the board could be epic. Add an option for a Tiger Woods game where your stance is taken into consideration for your swing. Easter eggs is sports games and others could offer some real value (certainly more so than animated celebrations after a TD in Madden).
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Ha. Curmeo's posts just make me wish I hadn't read them. At least some of the flame posts have an ounce of wit.
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Seriously, Wii Sports and this are a joke. I've played Wii Sports and if you actually get tired from this crap then you need to go out and excersice more. (Not counting old people though, because we know how this is such a huge hit with those hardcore senior gamers.)
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It's great how people miss the entire point of targeting a new audience... the new audience being NOT YOU. I'm surprised you guys aren't bitching about the existence very of exercise DVDs...
Well, whatever... it just seems stupid that people can't seem to get their head around these kinds of games existing... it's not unlike certain ignorant people who can't accept the fact that there is violence in videogames and that videogames are meant solely for children...
*shameless plug*
http://forums.thecrisiscenter.net/
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*that videogames AREN'T meant solely for children...
... bleah
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