Nintendo trademarks 'Wii Fit Plus' and 'Art Academy'
by Randy Nelson 
{ May 27th 2009 at 8:00AM } 
Nintendo's core needs a workout, but it looks like the company may be planning to pump up its casual audience even more at next week's E3 with Wii Fit Plus. Originally uncovered in April via purported retailer listings, the game's title has been officially trademarked by Nintendo in Japan. Heck, there's even a logo for the game. Since the month-old rumor has borne fruit in terms of an accurate title, we're more likely to believe the November 2009 release date it claimed.Also trademarked by the Big N is Art Academy, a previously unheard -of title with no target platform mentioned. Detailed drawing would seem to lend itself more to DS, though we can't help but imagine a game in the vein of Wii Music in which players "paint" great works of art -- the Mona Lisa, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel -- simply by waggling the Wiimote around.
[Via Siliconera]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ May 27th 2009 8:08AM
oh Dear God.....
now we are going to have to get some type of attachment for the Wii Balance board!?!?!?
ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!!
Foetoid @ May 27th 2009 8:20AM
Nope. Wii Fit Plus obviously lends itself to the ideal of the Motion+, which wouldn't work on the board. It would be a motion+ compatible game that also works with the balanced board. I would think Nintendo would have the player hold a Wiimote in each hand to accurately portray what the player is doing. So they game can keep better track of arm movement and the player can get things like yoga poses and other things right.
Just saying. It's obviously the case, but i hope this isn't what Nintendo calls 'making games for the core audience'.
Snake Robot Podium @ May 27th 2009 8:20AM
The Plus probably refers to Wii Motion Plus, for extra accurate yoga control.
Ghen @ May 27th 2009 8:23AM
That would be hilarious. Maybe a 32X or mega CD style attachment?
The Baron @ May 27th 2009 10:56AM
They need to give a compelling reason for people to buy Motion+, so having a Wii Fit game for it is obvious. I doubt the Wii Sports Resort and Motion+ bundle would have sold more than a couple of million.
John @ May 27th 2009 5:39PM
I think the "plus" isn't for the new Wii Motion Plus, but for a new, larger balance board for "plus" sized gamers.
CloudStrife @ May 27th 2009 8:10AM
If this is Nintendo's big E3 reveal then I am certain a riot will break in Los Angeles far bigger than any previously.
Foetoid @ May 27th 2009 8:23AM
You speak the truth. +1
Aero @ May 27th 2009 8:21AM
And I bet Wii Fit Plus will be a massive part of their E3 conference. And I really hoped it would be different this year.
Foetoid @ May 27th 2009 8:27AM
Don't give up hope yet. They've already fixed storage woes this year and announced Metroid Prime Trilogy, so i'm hoping they're on a roll with good announcements. Keep em coming Nintendo! I wanna see:
Pikmin 3
Prime Trilogy Release Dates
Kid Icarus
Very early Zelda Wii footage.
Red Steel 2 release date.
Mad World 2
Tony Hawk Downhill Jam 2 (i think i'd have a seizure in excitment)
SSB N64 on VC
RE5 Wii.
That is all.
Dreganfyre @ May 27th 2009 9:18AM
"Metroid Prime Trilogy will be available exclusively for Wii on Aug. 24 at a suggested retail price of $49.99."
:)
Rob @ May 27th 2009 9:22AM
Sweet Jebus! That's only a few days before my birthday! This is going to be the best birthday ever!
tmacairjordan87 @ May 27th 2009 9:37AM
You're expecting madworld 2 already? Besides, with those awful sales I wouldn't be surprised if a sequel came to 360/ps3 too. None of that other shit's any good either except for wii zelda, which if it happened they wouldn't show any gameplay it would just be an announcement.
RE 5 wii? You didn't learn from dead rising did you? "Oh but Re 4 worked so well on the wii tmac!!" Yeah and RE 4 is a last gen game.
Rob @ May 27th 2009 9:53AM
Tmac, stop trying to project your opions and feelings onto others. Maybe there are people who would like these things?
S. Tiger @ May 27th 2009 10:24AM
Rob, I assume you call these people "core gamers"? The only things on that list I'd hope for are a Wii Zelda, Pikmin 3, and the original Smash Bros. And to add to it, an F-Zero Wii game. If Nintendo pulls an E3 2008 again, I will have lost complete respect for them.
Rob @ May 27th 2009 10:42AM
No, I do not try to label people, unlike others. I'm just saying that people might like these games and just because Tmac does not like them does not mean he can assume others will think the same.
tmacairjordan87 @ May 27th 2009 10:43AM
Sorry, I forgot negative opinions aren't allowed and are considered "projecting your feelings onto others". So please, continue with your giant circle-jerk.
Rob @ May 27th 2009 10:53AM
You are a sad and pathetic man, spending your time degrading and belittling others who do not share your world view. I have no sympathy for you or anyone like you. You say all the games listed there are shit, like you are the King of Gaming, lord of all digital entertainment. So sorry I upset you your majesty, shall I throw myself to the lions then?
uncle jesse @ May 27th 2009 10:57AM
@Tmac:
Okay, seriously I finally have to say something. I'm pretty new to the site (in terms of posting stuff) but I've been reading posts by all for a long time now and I just haven't figured you out. I don't understand the point of about 95% of your posts. Whether you are trying to knock other people's likes and opinions down, if you just like being seen on the site, if you need attention, if you're just a fanboy, or what, I just don't get it.
So please, to help me better understand, maybe just tell me what you actually like, what systems you own, what you're looking foward too out there, etc? Maybe people will stop trying to jump all over you if you actually share some common thoughts or interests with others here. Please don't take this as a personal attack. I don't agree with people calling you out when you haven't even posted anything either. I'm all for sharing your opinion, that's what the internet is for, but not when it's always at the expense of others. People like different things, that's just the way it is. It doesn't make them any better or worse.
Paviel @ May 27th 2009 11:38AM
@uncle jesse:
Tmac does like Zelda: Majora's Mask.
@tmac:
Isn't that right?
TheLionOfAzzalle @ May 27th 2009 8:33AM
RE5 for the Wii? Stop deluding yourself foetoid....
As for Wii Fit Plus it's kinda ridiculous but at the same time i can't blame Nintendo. The original is so damn popular so of course they should capitalize on it.
I have a dumb question though. Does Nintendo sell the balance board by itself? Or can you only get it with Wii Fit?
Foetoid @ May 27th 2009 8:41AM
Obviously RE5 on the Wii is the longest possible shot from my list, but seeing how many gamers would love to see the game on the Wii with the RE4 controls, it's a guaranteed million seller, just like RE4. Just like asking for Mad World 2 so soon after the original is obviously not going to happen.
Rob @ May 27th 2009 8:43AM
This makes sense business wise, Wii Fit was very popular among people. It does not surprise me that this was made, or the Art Academy thing. Whether this will be a big part of their presentation or not is up for debate, but I do suspect that the "hardcore" gamers while seize on it and milk it for all it is worth to fuel their fanboy egos.
Rob @ May 27th 2009 9:07AM
In fact, I seem to be right. As the other game forums, you know which ones, are throwing a whining fit over this and only this.
Ashitaka @ May 27th 2009 8:50AM
Not again...
TracerBullet @ May 27th 2009 8:53AM
I would not start panic. Nintendo needs to, so to speak, light one candle to God and one to the Devil. Last year, they overlooked a parcel of it's public, they won't do it again: they will show interesting games, but also need something to show to the "extended demographic".
Even if Nintendo don't show anything breathtaking - an impossibility, given it's CEO apologises and hints - companies like Sega and HVS are giving the most demanding crowd a 2009 better than 2008 was to the Nintendo console
So... take a deep breath, and relax.
Rob @ May 27th 2009 9:00AM
I agree, if they don't have stuff for casuals they will go away and then they will be back to third place. They need to do this to mollify the casual audience. I have seen enough in the way for third party support that I am not worried, and there is the hint of better games form Nintendo. Like I said before, if they did not make this I would have been surprised. Also, I do suspect that even if they reveal a bunch of great games, the people who hate them now will seize on Wii Fit Plus as a reason to hate them even more.
Storm Eagle @ May 27th 2009 8:56AM
Mario Paint Wii, much?
Geist @ May 27th 2009 9:21AM
Why has this not happened yet.
Storm Eagle @ May 27th 2009 9:25AM
There's alot of great things from Nintendo's past that could easily be implemented on the Wii, and with much success. Just look at Punch-Out!! Games like F-Zero, Starfox (SNES), SuperScope 6, Duck Hunt.....
S. Tiger @ May 27th 2009 10:25AM
That reminds me that I found a copy of the Mario Paint guide at a book store for like $5.
Storm Eagle @ May 27th 2009 10:27AM
When we were moving my fiancee out of her basement, we found one of those guides.
uncle jesse @ May 27th 2009 11:07AM
NOOOOO! No SuperScope! Haha, that would be so crazy...
*Inserts wiimote into giant plastic rocket-launcher shell case and hits the A button*
Ghen @ May 27th 2009 11:10AM
duck hunt might not go over as well with updated graphics. They'd have to keep it stupid simple to work.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ May 27th 2009 11:34AM
Art Academy and Wii music should've been one game like Mario Paint.
tuunicopapi @ May 27th 2009 10:30AM
i knew they'd pull something like this. now watch again how they depend upon the sales of these games and produce no other titles. dammit if it is like that then it better not mean that they'll halt development of the new zeda, mario and whatever else they have in development in favor of these two games.
Mr Khan @ May 27th 2009 11:15AM
Yup. Nintendo's going to lay off all but two of their studios in order to rely on these two games. Or just give all but two of their studios a two-year vacation.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ May 27th 2009 11:36AM
According to Nintendo words they are working on the new Pikmin for the Wii I doubt we'll see a new Zelda game this year but hey I wouldn't be mad if Nintendo proves me wrong.
Captain Planet @ May 27th 2009 10:47AM
I'm predicting another lackluster E3 showing from Nintendo.
:cries:
tmacairjordan87 @ May 27th 2009 10:49AM
Nah, they'll have another horrible conference but at the end they'll do some wierd stunt with miyamoto and announce a new wii zelda. Then everyone will magically forget that they had yet another horrible show just because of that 1 game.
Mr Khan @ May 27th 2009 11:13AM
And i'm predicting that they'll show what they have to show, which should be a good handful of core games.
Or we could ride the hater train and ignore the evidence
Mr Khan @ May 27th 2009 11:19AM
I initially doubted the validity of Wii Fit Plus's existence, if only because the release list it was on looked very spotty (and appeared right around April 1st). But the release list correctly predicted the existence of one "Wii Birthday" by 2K, so this is much more possible by this point.
As for Art Academy, it probably relates more towards Big Brain Academy, somehow.
But let's continue overreacting instead. It's much more fun that way.
Captain Planet @ May 27th 2009 11:40AM
Hater train? Handful of core games? Show what they have to show? You kidding?
I'm sorry but the Wii has disappointed ME (remember that, ME) all year long since last years E3 showing. Wii Music, are you kidding? And now with probable showings of Wii Art Academy, Wii Birthday...ARE YOU FRIGGIN' KIDDING ME?
Nintendo's coup d'état this year will be something as lame as Wii Orchestra Idol and stupid people like you will nut all over your keyboards and think it the greatest bloody game ever created.
We get one game a year on the Wii, ONE. You know it, I know it, Nintendo knows it. Who knows what it will be this year. Another Mario? Another Zelda? Pokemon? It doesn't matter because the fanboys (ie YOU) could care less about a diverse portfolio showcasing upcoming and future titles from first party AND third party developers.
TracerBullet @ May 27th 2009 12:28PM
I agree 2008 was a very slow year for the Wii.
But this year, The Plumber House launched:
Punch-Out
ExciteBots
That's two quality games already by nintendo in 2009.
Add the effords from 3rd parties, and we have a improved scenario this year. It's not the ideal, granted, but IS an improvement.
Mr Khan @ May 27th 2009 1:23PM
One game a year? Really? Then either Smash Bros or Mario Kart didn't count last year, and either Galaxy or Metroid Prime 3 didn't count the year before that.
As stated before, i'm going by the evidence, which suggests 3 large-scale first party games for this holiday (one from Retro, one from Factor 5, and one from Nintendo EAD), aside from Spirit Tracks that we know of, and others that we may not know of, aside from any casual projects, and the possibility of more Fire Emblem and Pokemon
To speak nothing of the rapidly ballooning cast of 3rd party titles, known or rumored.
Captain Planet @ May 27th 2009 1:41PM
My mistake, 2 games a year. It's official Khan, you're delusional. Blinded by your own fanboy faith. Ballooning cast of 3rd party titles? ROFLCOPTER!! Please list any third party title coming out this year or next that you would buy (Hell name something from last year). I'm just curious to know what I'm missing out on with my Wii.
Also, Factor 5 is NOT first party, where you got that, I don't know. So going by your punditry, we can expect to hear about 2 games this year, Mario Sunshine 2 and Wii Orchestra. Nintendo fanboys rejoice!!
Captain Planet @ May 27th 2009 1:49PM
To elaborate on my point(s), check out the following link for Microsoft's 2008 E3 showing:
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/highlights-from-microsofts-e3-keynote/
And then Nintendo's 2008 E3 showing:
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/highlights-from-nintendos-e3-2008-press-conference/
Where's the diversity with Nintendo? They showed nothing, IMO, that was worth showing from third parties and certainly nothing worth showing from first parties.
TracerBullet @ May 27th 2009 2:13PM
@ Captain Planet
I can't speak for Khan, but - and I'm using only my memory here, not checking the launch dates - I I intend to buy the Conduit, LKS, Formula 1, Night Game, Swords & Soldiers. and Maybe - a big maybe - NFS Nitro.
So... 5 3rd party titles, that personally I consider worth the purchase
Mr Khan @ May 27th 2009 3:56PM
Factor 5 has long been rumored to be collaborating with Nintendo on a project, making it first party.
Pointing to the E3 conference as the end-all and be-all of what a company is doing is what is delusional. Yes, Nintendo did badly last year, but that isn't a metric for everything their company is doing. We can be patient, or we can overreact. Like i said, the latter is more fun.
and finally, the notable 3rd party Wii titles set before the end of the year: TMNT: Smash Up!, The Conduit, Little King's Story, Muramasa: Demon Blade, Monster Hunter 3, Dead Space: Extraction, Red Steel 2, Rabbids Go Home, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Tatsunoko vs Capcom, Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles, Cursed Mountain, Ju-On, Spyborgs.
TracerBullet @ May 27th 2009 4:12PM
@mr. Khan
Rabids go Home - I knew something was lacking on my list. Thanks for reminding me.
I'll be quite poorer - but more entertained - by the end of the year...