Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: A question of multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/wii-warm-up-a-question-of-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/wii-warm-up-a-question-of-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/wii-warm-up-a-question-of-multiplayer/#commentsFiled under:

We like online gaming as much as the next set of obsessive gamers; in fact, we even brave the friend code system on the DS every week, like clockwork, just to throwdown via the WiFi network. But just because we like it -- and sometimes prefer it -- does that mean that every game with available multiplayer needs to have online multiplayer? For that matter, does every game even need a multiplayer mode? Obviously, we're thinking here about the recent confirmation that Metroid Prime 3 will have no online multiplayer, but it applies to a lot of things. Let's take Wii Sports, for example. Tons of fun! Could in fact be online! But does it need to be? The philosophy behind Wii Sports seems to be that playing with others -- in person -- is fun. Isn't the philosophy behind the Metroid series pretty centered on the themes of loneliness and isolation, as well as exploration? With games like Saint's Row and Halo on the Xbox, online multiplayer makes perfect sense. Whether we want it or not aside ... is it really right for Metroid?

We'll definitely come on board and say that we hope that the Wii boasts many online games by the time its cycle ends. We particularly hope for at least one or two great FPS games with online multiplayer, but perhaps that's a dream. Still, is it worth hoping for online multiplayer when it runs counter to the central idea behind a franchise or game ... and worse yet, should we be hoping for multiplayer from a team who has yet to show us that they can even manage decent local multiplayer, much less online?

Sure, online modes add replayability, and that's always nice. But if that's all we need in a game, should Nintendo start tacking online multiplayer onto Zelda games, for instance?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: A question of multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>metroidmetroid prime 3MetroidPrime3multiplayeronlineretrowifiwii sportsWiiSportswwuzeldaWed, 04 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Wii remote strapped onto a badminton racket]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/01/a-wii-remote-strapped-onto-a-badminton-racket/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/01/a-wii-remote-strapped-onto-a-badminton-racket/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/01/a-wii-remote-strapped-onto-a-badminton-racket/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As far as ghetto mods go, this one certainly takes the cake. So if you loaded up Wii Fanboy today with the intention of procuring a slice of cake, you're out of luck.

Acidmods forumer Gene0514 escaped the plastic tyranny of cheaply-made remote attachments from dubious Chinese manufacturers by creating his own Wii-Sports-Tennis-compatible racket. There's nothing hi-tech about its construction; he basically just "secured" a controller onto a badminton racket with rubber bands. Even with the wrist strap fastened onto the handle, we can't imagine Nintendo ever condoning anything as precariously-fashioned as this for its games.

Swing past the post break for more photos of the setup and its v2 model, a remote belted onto an actual tennis racket.

Continue reading A Wii remote strapped onto a badminton racket

JoystiqA Wii remote strapped onto a badminton racket originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We all love the mainstream attention the Wii is getting. It's a bona fide cultural phenomenon. But does anyone else wish that the Wii wasn't conflated with Wii Sports one hundred percent of the time? At this point, if you see or hear anything remotely related to the Wii system, you already know what game they're going to refer to. We love Wii Sports, but enough is enough.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Wii = Wii Sports originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendowiiwii sportsWiiSportswwuSat, 30 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Wii Sports, tournament style]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/24/wii-warm-up-wii-sports-tournament-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/24/wii-warm-up-wii-sports-tournament-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/24/wii-warm-up-wii-sports-tournament-style/#commentsFiled under: ,

The folks from Geekanerd, who made a strong showing at yesterday's Wiimbledon (good on ya!), tipped us off that they had some sweet pictures from the event, which of course, made us even more sad that we could not attend. However, they also hinted that this will not be the only such tournament -- only the first. We like the sound of that ... but do you?

Notice the turf that was rolled out for the players. We wondered if the organizers would go this extra step. It's just not Wiimbledon without the players throwing down on grass.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Wii Sports, tournament style originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geekanerdgrasstennistournamentwii sportswiimbledonWiiSportswwuSun, 24 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wiimbledon tomorrow, no sign of strawberries and cream]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wiimbledon-tomorrow-no-sign-of-strawberries-and-cream/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wiimbledon-tomorrow-no-sign-of-strawberries-and-cream/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wiimbledon-tomorrow-no-sign-of-strawberries-and-cream/#commentsFiled under: ,

Where were we weeks ago? We so would have made a pilgrimmage to Brooklyn to get our Wii tennis on. Maybe next year we can get in on this, since we hope tomorrow's Wiimbledon Wii Sports tennis tournament is the beginning of a yearly event. And where are the other Grand Slams, people? Get to work!

Unfortunately, Wiimbledon is closed to new entrants at this point -- the 128 player pool is full -- but hey, the tournament is being held in a bar, so if you're in the area, can you really lose if you head out to watch? We think not.

Wiimbledon gets going at 11 am at Barcade in Brooklyn, New York, and entrants are encouraged to "dress with moxy" like our man Richie Tenenbaum here. We encourage spectators to do the same. Just leave the bird at home.

[Thanks, Conor!]

JoystiqWiimbledon tomorrow, no sign of strawberries and cream originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barcadegrand slamGrandSlamnew yorkNewYorkroyal tenenbaumsRoyalTenenbaumstennistournamentwii sportswiimbledonWiiSportsFri, 22 Jun 2007 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix chief: 360, PS3 too fancy for today's market]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/12/square-enix-chief-360-ps3-too-fancy-for-todays-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/12/square-enix-chief-360-ps3-too-fancy-for-todays-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/12/square-enix-chief-360-ps3-too-fancy-for-todays-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Though the exact word used by the Financial Times article is "over-engineered," a word we deemed too complex for today's headline. Yoichi Wada, chief executive of Square Enix, feels that consoles such as the PS3 and 360 are over-engineered and out of place in today's gaming market, noting that handheld platforms will be the ones to dominate this year. After handing Dragon Quest IX (and thus the keys to Japan) to the Nintendo DS and inundating the PSP with remakes, Wada's belief should come as no surprise.

"There is a new breed of gamers in the market - we have to make games for all kinds of people," he says. "In the old days, we could just focus on the PlayStation or the GameBoy, but the environment has changed completely." It's the same story we've been hearing for months, that one filled with flailing grandmas and casual players shouting "Blue!" at the top of their lungs. Wada isn't giving up on the hardcore gamer just yet, though. Despite thinking that "there are too many specs" on the more advanced systems, he reckons they'll fare better in "a year or two years." Isn't that about the time Final Fantasy XIII comes out?

JoystiqSquare Enix chief: 360, PS3 too fancy for today's market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brain AgeBrainAgeDragon QuestDragon Quest IXDragonQuestDragonQuestIxDSFinal FantasyFinalFantasyPS3PSPSquare EnixSquareEnixWii SportsWiiSportsXbox-360Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Friday Video: Consequences]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/friday-video-consequences/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/friday-video-consequences/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/friday-video-consequences/#commentsFiled under:

With the Wii injury cropping up all over again, this short comedic video seemed like the perfect way to wrap up the week. And if a simple game of tennis can set off this extreme chain of events, just imagine all the Wii injuries that are possible when it comes to using the Wiimote and nunchuk for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. We shudder at the very thought.

Continue reading Friday Video: Consequences

JoystiqFriday Video: Consequences originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffvhumortennisvideowii injurywii sportsWiiInjuryWiiSportswiitisFri, 08 Jun 2007 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Harrison: Wii lifecycle may exceed five years]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/harrison-wii-lifecycle-may-exceed-five-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/harrison-wii-lifecycle-may-exceed-five-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/harrison-wii-lifecycle-may-exceed-five-years/#commentsFiled under:

Chris Kohler of Game|Life interviewed Nintendo of America VP George Harrison about the future of the Wii system, and his responses were, well, generally unsurprising. We wouldn't expect Nintendo to suddenly change their strategy in the midst of such success.

Harrison said that because of the high prices of the Wii's competitors, he expected the Wii to have a lifecycle longer than the traditional five years. (Would that mean more than 35 million installed units in the US?) And it'll continue to have a pack-in for some of that lifecycle, since Wii Sports is a "cultural phenomenon" that is helping to draw people in to the system.

Harrison also mentioned that more Wii software targeted at Nintendo's new "expanded" audience would be revealed at E3, and that a game download channel is in development.

There's more, including some weird comments about localizing Virtual Console games and a response to the continuing shortages. Go read the whole thing, if you are so inclined.

JoystiqHarrison: Wii lifecycle may exceed five years originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channelchannelsdlcdownloadharrisonlifecyclenintendonintendo of americanintendo wiiNintendoOfAmericaNintendoWiinoawiiwii sportsWiiSportsTue, 29 May 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Waggle Tennis circa 2000]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/waggle-tennis-circa-2000/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/waggle-tennis-circa-2000/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/waggle-tennis-circa-2000/#commentsFiled under: ,


Wii Sports is totally innovative for its motion controls, right? You can move the Wiimote and swing your tennis racket, which is what makes the game so accessible and compelling. That's probably why the Wii has been such a big hit.

Just like online gaming, the Dreamcast already did it. While experimenting with the Dreamcast fishing controller, The GagaMan from The Dreamcast Junkyard discovered that its motion sensors worked perfectly with the fantastic Virtua Tennis. In fact, he claims, the controls are more nuanced and sensitive than Wii Sports Tennis. On top of that, you can actually move your character around with the analog stick. We wonder if things would have gone differently for the Dreamcast if anyone had figured this out back then.

Probably not. But at least we can pick up a fishing controller and try this ourselves!

JoystiqWaggle Tennis circa 2000 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dcdreamcastnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiisportstenniswiiwii sportsWiiSportsMon, 28 May 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three-year-old's Tennis tantrum]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/three-year-olds-tennis-tantrum/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/three-year-olds-tennis-tantrum/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/three-year-olds-tennis-tantrum/#commentsFiled under: ,

Brian McConnell left his son, Adam, alone with a game of Wii Sports: Tennis for only a few moments to fetch a drink, but that was all the time the little demon needed. Not even a Wii remote strap could've saved Brian's plasma TV once the three-year-old set his mind on avenging a lost match.

Brian came back to the living room to find his £1,000 television ruined, its 42-inch screen bashed by his Wiimote-wielding progeny. Queue up the darth_vader_nooo.jpg images.

The forgiving father let Adam off the hook with only a light lecture and a two-week Wii ban. That's a lot more lenient than the hanging, drawing, and quartering punishment one of our NintenDadz would've sought.

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqThree-year-old's Tennis tantrum originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 May 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brokenchildchildrendaddemonfatherirelandkidkidsplasmaremotescreensonstraptelevisiontennistvwii remotewii sportswii tenniswiimoteWiiRemotewiisportsWiiTennisSat, 26 May 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's High Velocity Bowling started 'literally right before' Nintendo announced Wii Sports' Bowling]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/sonys-high-velocity-bowling-started-literally-right-before-ni/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/sonys-high-velocity-bowling-started-literally-right-before-ni/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/sonys-high-velocity-bowling-started-literally-right-before-ni/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

which came first?
MTV ninja Stephen Totilo infiltrated the tooth-decaying sugar-fluff of Sony Gamers' Day and shoved his mic into High Velocity Bowling developer Scott Rohde's face, asking him the tough question: Dude, like, you know everyone's sayin' you just copied Nintendo ... so, like, you did, right? Maybe not. With the lens carefully trained on his San Diego tan, Rohde's fired back with a little-known factoid, "Before we knew that Wii Bowling was coming out we were building [High Velocity], absolutely." You sure about that, Scott? 'Cause Nintendo confirmed 'Bowling' back in September '06. "We started working on it, literally, right before that ... and we had a prototype up in place when [Wii Sports] came out," alleged Rohde.

But why argue about who was first to the gimmick? Considering price, Wii Sports and High Velocity are categorically different. Wii Sports is free, but as a PSN title, High Velocity will likely cost in the $5-to-10 range (and planned expansion packs could balloon the total price). If Rohde's statements are accurate, then High Velocity will end up more akin to Rockstar's Table Tennis or maybe the Outlaw sports series, as it will apparently feature a more robust physics engine than Wii Sports and pre-built unlockable characters. Wii's Bowling will ultimately be matched up against PlayStation Home's built-in bowling game, which is being developed separately from High Velocity, but, like the others, will probably incorporate motion controls.

Continue reading Sony's High Velocity Bowling started 'literally right before' Nintendo announced Wii Sports' Bowling

JoystiqSony's High Velocity Bowling started 'literally right before' Nintendo announced Wii Sports' Bowling originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2007 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a while since we saw one of these crazy-silly Wii Sports videos, and it seemed like a good time to get back to what's great about the console. We may complain about the graphics on some of the games, or about whether or not there's a drought, but when it gets right down to it, Wii isn't about the graphics. It's not about putting 60+ hours into the story. Sure, those things have their place, but with the Wii, Nintendo is trying to get back to the roots of gaming -- and it's fun that made video gaming an international phenomenon. Fun is really all we need, and from the hyperventilating giggles in this video, the Wii definitely brings the fun.

Continue reading Friday Video: That's what it's all about

JoystiqFriday Video: That's what it's all about originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2007 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxingffvnintendovideowiiwii sportsWiiSportsFri, 11 May 2007 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Today in Joystiq: May 9, 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/today-in-joystiq-may-9-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/today-in-joystiq-may-9-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/today-in-joystiq-may-9-2007/#commentsFiled under: ,

Perennial commenter Ken tried to calm the fanboy flames of the Wii-Xbox One post with this stunning picture -- nay, work of art. Even if we can't get along and apparently be tolerant of other people's opinions, we can still laugh, right? Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Joystiq tour: Xbox 360 Spring '07 Dashboard update
Today's most 'behind the lines' video: the making of C&C3's cinematics

News
Optional Hellgate: London subcriptions set at $9.95 per month
GRAW 2 gets 'Throwback Pack' for $10
Level designer defends Counter-Strike Texas school creation
Final Fantasy IV getting the 3D treatment on DS
Final Fantasy Dissidia looks to be a brawler
Rampart fortifies PSN this Thursday
Nintendo stays in Redmond; sales, ad, and marketing moving to SF or NYC
Shadowrun lands on Xbox and Windows May 29th
Ron Gilbert (ie: our hero) working on Penny Arcade Adventures
Spielberg's Wii project to be released before April 2008
Soul Calibur Legends adventures onto Wii
First Postal III screens emerge, bore
EA announces The Simpsons for every console known to Man

Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: Sega Vintage Collection heading for Xbox 360
Rumor: Command & Conquer 3 for PS3, Wii
Rumor: Jessica Biel as Chun-Li in Street Fighter flick
Rock Band's dubious $300 Gamestop price

Culture & Community
Nerfing your DS with a case
Team works to send Sam Fisher back to high school
Is Wii less powerful than Xbox One? N'Gai investigates
NES + PDA x CELL = OMG!
Mario and Luigi hats invade your couch

JoystiqToday in Joystiq: May 9, 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2007 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowlingdaily recapDailyRecapWiiwii sportsWiiSportsWed, 09 May 2007 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii is our favourite way to exercise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/wii-is-our-favourite-way-to-excercise/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/wii-is-our-favourite-way-to-excercise/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/02/wii-is-our-favourite-way-to-excercise/#commentsFiled under:

Are you looking to get in shape for the summer? How about following JR Cook's example? The 27 year old lifelong gamer has already lost 20 pounds since he started his Wii weight loss plan, and aims to ditch another 60 by the end of the year.

JR realised the Wii's potential for weight loss after a 90 minute gaming session left him sweating and physically sore. Now he plays for around 35-40 minutes a day, seven days a week. JR has been sharing the results of his plan through his blog every day.

This story of gaming changing people's lives for the better is just the sort of thing that keeps our hearts warm and our minds confident that our cholesterol filled diets need not be the end of us.

How about you fanboy readers? Has anyone noticed the pounds dropping off since picking up Wii Sports? Any transformations from coach potatoes into hyper-fit superpeople? If that's the case, be sure to tell us about it!

JoystiqWii is our favourite way to exercise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>J R CookJRCookNintendo WiiNintendoWiiWii SportsWiiSportsWed, 02 May 2007 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Sports is creatively excellent]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/wii-sports-is-creatively-excellent/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/wii-sports-is-creatively-excellent/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/wii-sports-is-creatively-excellent/#commentsFiled under:



The educational charity D&AD loves Nintendo. Last year, they bestowed a Yellow Pencil award upon Nintendogs, and this year, Wii Sports is nominated for one of the awards, alongside Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for the DS. The other nominees (soon to be known as the also-rans) are LocoRoco, Shadow of the Colossus, Buzz!: The Big Quiz, and CDX, an online game from the BBC.

D&AD's Yellow Pencil awards recognize "creative excellence." No wonder they're looking to Nintendo.

JoystiqWii Sports is creatively excellent originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NintendoWiiWii SportsWiiSportsThu, 12 Apr 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Your favorite so far]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/wii-warm-up-your-favorite-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/wii-warm-up-your-favorite-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/wii-warm-up-your-favorite-so-far/#commentsFiled under: ,



We talked about some of the best and the worst games according to the reviews, but we want to know what your favorite game has been so far on the Wii. Did the latest Link steal your heart? Are you a Wii Sports devotee? Or are you passionate about something else entirely? Tell us what you've loved the most, and tell us why.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Your favorite so far originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>favorite gameFavoriteGameNintendoTwilight PrincessTwilightPrincessWiiWii SportsWiiSportswwuZeldaThu, 05 Apr 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii robot bowls 300, feels no emotion with victory]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/wii-robot-bowls-300-feels-no-emotion-with-victory/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/wii-robot-bowls-300-feels-no-emotion-with-victory/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/wii-robot-bowls-300-feels-no-emotion-with-victory/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Lego hackers at BattleBricks have created a robot that throws Wii Bowling strikes every frame, dominating any human that dares face off against this plastic giant. The robot looks like a spastic uneven bars runner-up, but it does the trick; its controls move the bowler off-center, hold B for the swing, and release it at the perfect time. It even resets itself -- and its Mii -- after each frame.

And yes, of course the robot is supported on each side by Linux and C++ guides -- it just doesn't get any more perfectly geeky. See a video of the robot in action after the break.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Wii robot bowls 300, feels no emotion with victory

JoystiqWii robot bowls 300, feels no emotion with victory originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hacklegomodrobotWiiwii bowlingwii sportsWiiBowlingWiiSportsFri, 30 Mar 2007 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Wii Sports revisited]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/wii-warm-up-wii-sports-revisited/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/wii-warm-up-wii-sports-revisited/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/wii-warm-up-wii-sports-revisited/#commentsFiled under: ,

So, we've had both dry weeks and deluges -- overall, a fair number of offerings to distract us from Wii Sports over the past few months. And yet, it remains in the news as a media darling. But let's not worry about the rest of the world at the moment; let's talk serious, f'real gamers. Are we still playing Wii Sports? For fun, for profit exercise, or just out of sheer boredom -- if you're still whacking the racket or throwing punches, we want to know. And if you are still playing, we want to hear about those crazy, off-the-chart scores.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Wii Sports revisited originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>basebalbowlingboxinggolfNintendotennisWiiWii SportsWiiSportswwuWed, 28 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's most pugilistic video: Victorious Boxers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/todays-most-pugilistic-video-victorious-boxers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/todays-most-pugilistic-video-victorious-boxers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/todays-most-pugilistic-video-victorious-boxers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Victorious Boxers snares our video pick of the day, although much of our interest is based on imagining how this title will play on the Wii. The Japanese trailer shows clean art -- versus bad attempts at photo-realism -- that we've been waiting for on Nintendo's new system, but we're in it for the controller. How well will Victorious Boxers mimic player movements? Wii Boxing is a fun diversion, but we never feel quite in-sync with our Mii. Will this be import-worthy?

See the trailer after the break.

Continue reading Today's most pugilistic video: Victorious Boxers

JoystiqToday's most pugilistic video: Victorious Boxers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>importjapanvictorious boxersVictoriousBoxersWiiwii sportsWiiSportsThu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Wii as exercise machine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/wii-warm-up-wii-as-exercise-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/wii-warm-up-wii-as-exercise-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/wii-warm-up-wii-as-exercise-machine/#commentsFiled under:

The idea of using the Wii as a workout is becoming pretty common, but do you really think it will work? Can something as simple as Wii Sports transform the lifestyles of a generation of gamers? Well, no, probably not. But can the Wii provide the seed of motivation? A long session with the Wii remote can definitely inject a little energy into a sedentary lifestyle, but should it be the lynchpin of weight loss program? Or is the inspiration unimportant so long as people are getting on their feet?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Wii as exercise machine originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exerciseNintendoWiiWii SportsWiiSportsworkoutwwuThu, 08 Mar 2007 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq not-so-live coverage of the IGF and GDCA awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/joystiq-not-so-live-coverage-of-the-igf-and-gdca-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/joystiq-not-so-live-coverage-of-the-igf-and-gdca-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/joystiq-not-so-live-coverage-of-the-igf-and-gdca-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


6:20 p.m.: The Joystiq crew walks the red carpet, because we're just that important.

6:33 p.m.: Gnarls Barkley's cover of the Violent Femmes' "Gone Daddy Gone" is blasting as we find seats in the press section. Cushy seats with recline-able chairs.

6:42 pm: Sam and Max introduce the start for the independent games festival. The mention of projectile vomiting is disturbing, but welcoming somehow.

6:43 pm: Jamil Moledina and Simon Carless march onto stage, noting that the show is being broadcast to the entire world. We sense somewhat sinister undertones.

Continue reading Joystiq not-so-live coverage of the IGF and GDCA awards

JoystiqJoystiq not-so-live coverage of the IGF and GDCA awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aquaria, samorostAquaria,Samorostbang howdyBangHowdycastle crashersCastleCrasherscliffy bCliffyBepicepic gamesEpicGamesgame developers choice awardsGameDevelopersChoiceAwardsgdcgdc 07Gdc07gdcagears of warGearsOfWarmiyamotoPCPS2PSPschafershigeru miyamotoShigeruMiyamototim schaferTimSchafertwilight princessTwilightPrincesswii sportsWiiSportsXbox-360Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: Twilight Princess, Wii Sports take awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gdc-07-twilight-princess-wii-sports-take-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gdc-07-twilight-princess-wii-sports-take-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gdc-07-twilight-princess-wii-sports-take-awards/#commentsFiled under:

The awards continue to pile up for Nintendo. Both Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wii Sports have taken awards at the GDC Choice Awards. Twilight Princess nabbed an award for Best Writing, beating out top contenders like Sam & Max, Oblivion, Dreamfall and Bully.

Wii Sports picked up the award for Best Game Design, beating other hopefuls, such as Okami and Viva Pinata. The Best Game award, however, went to Microsoft Game Studios' Gears of War, proving that sometimes, graphics do make a game better.

JoystiqGDC 07: Twilight Princess, Wii Sports take awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsgdcgdc choicegdc choice awardsgdc07GdcChoiceGdcChoiceAwardstwilight princessTwilightPrinceswii sportsWiiSportszeldaThu, 08 Mar 2007 02:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War takes best game at GDCA, Aquaria wins IGF best game prize]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gears-of-war-takes-best-game-at-gdca-aquaria-wins-igf-best-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gears-of-war-takes-best-game-at-gdca-aquaria-wins-igf-best-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gears-of-war-takes-best-game-at-gdca-aquaria-wins-igf-best-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

At tonight's Game Developers Choice Awards, Epic Games' Gears of War took home three awards: best technology, visual arts, and the coveted Game of the Year award. On the independent side of things, Bit Blot's Aquaria won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize from the Independent Games Festival.

Okami picked up a win in one of the four categories it was nominated in (take that, AIAS). Unfortunately, Loco Roco did not pick up any awards despite two nominations (character design and audio). Independent game Everyday Shooter won two awards and a distribution deal from GameTap.

View the full list winners and nominees from both events below.

Continue reading Gears of War takes best game at GDCA, Aquaria wins IGF best game prize

JoystiqGears of War takes best game at GDCA, Aquaria wins IGF best game prize originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aquaria, samorostAquaria,Samorostbang howdyBangHowdybreaking newsBreakingNewscastle crashersCastleCrasherscliffy bCliffyBepicepic gamesEpicGamesgame developers choice awardsGameDevelopersChoiceAwardsgdcgdc 07Gdc07gdcagears of warGearsOfWarmiyamotoPCPS2schafertim schaferTimSchafertwilight princessTwilightPrincesswii sportsWiiSportsXbox-360Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Tacos, etc.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/03/wii-warm-up-tacos-etc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/03/wii-warm-up-tacos-etc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/03/wii-warm-up-tacos-etc/#commentsFiled under: ,

So the Wii has opened up new gameplay possibilities, new control methods, more immersion, and all that. But, unless the Nunchuk is involved, it's also opened up one of your hands. This has created the possibility for completely immersive snacking, wherein you don't have to stop playing even for a second while you stuff your face full of delicious, crunchy tacos (and, possibly, non-taco food items), totally sabotaging your Wii Sports exercise program.

We want to know-- are you guilty of the crime of convenience? Have you succumbed to a sudden banana craving after picking up hundreds and hundreds of them in Super Monkey Ball? Or have you refrained from eating during gameplay, afraid you'll accidentally transfer some Cheeto dust onto the Wiimote?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Tacos, etc. originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballexercisemonkeynintendonintendowiisportssupersupermonkeyballtacotacostacos!warmwarm upwarmupwiiwii sportswiimotewiisportswiiwarmupwwuSat, 03 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii + reitirement home = Wiitirement home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/wii-reitirement-home-wiitirement-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/wii-reitirement-home-wiitirement-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/wii-reitirement-home-wiitirement-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An entire retirement home full of elderly people passing their free time in heated Wii competitions. It may sound like a Nintendo press release, but it's actually a Chicago Tribune article about the Sedgebrook retirement home in Lincolnshire, where Wii Sports Bowling is taking the living community by storm. The game is so popular among the residents that grandparents are teaching their grandkids how to play and a 20 person tournament took place over the weekend. Sure beats watching Matlock reruns all day.

Previously: Wii appeals to the elderly

JoystiqWii + reitirement home = Wiitirement home originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agingbowlingelderlyoldretirementwiiwii sportsWiiSportsWed, 21 Feb 2007 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Contest: Sports Pack also-rans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/18/wii-fanboy-contest-sports-pack-also-rans/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/18/wii-fanboy-contest-sports-pack-also-rans/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/18/wii-fanboy-contest-sports-pack-also-rans/#commentsFiled under: ,

What better way to wrap up the weekend than with those efforts that stood out in our recent contest? While these entries didn't snag their creators the Wii Sports Pack from Brando, they did make us giggle ... even though some of them didn't quite fit the contest criteria. Check out these selected entries after the jump.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Contest: Sports Pack also-rans

JoystiqWii Fanboy Contest: Sports Pack also-rans originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesaccessoryBrandocontestNintendoWiiWii SportsWiiSportsSun, 18 Feb 2007 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[And the Brando Wii Sports Pack goes to ....]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/and-the-brando-wii-sports-pack-goes-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/and-the-brando-wii-sports-pack-goes-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/and-the-brando-wii-sports-pack-goes-to/#commentsFiled under: ,

Considering the nature of the Brando Wii Sports Pack contest, we couldn't help but choose this image as a fitting trophy for the winner. Congratulations -- you've demotivated us, and we don't want these attachments any longer. We bestow them onto the following pair (yes, pair) of posters from a reader with the interesting interweb moniker FlamingSquirrelofDeath.

The winning entries are presented after the jump. Check back later and we'll put up some of the near winners. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Continue reading And the Brando Wii Sports Pack goes to ....

JoystiqAnd the Brando Wii Sports Pack goes to .... originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryattachmentBrandocontestNintendoWiiWii SportsWiiSportswinnerThu, 15 Feb 2007 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: So how 'bout the games?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/wii-warm-up-so-how-bout-the-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/wii-warm-up-so-how-bout-the-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/wii-warm-up-so-how-bout-the-games/#commentsFiled under:

Many of you are just getting your hands on a Wii (at last!) and others are just settling in for more in depth play on your games, so we figured it was a good time to ask: what have you played? What have you skipped? Which games have you liked most so far?

This particular blogger has only been a little disappointed with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, due to the controls. Everything else has been pretty engaging. Twilight Princess, Wii Sports, and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (skateboarding games are a longtime habit a girl just can't shake) have gotten the most play on this Wii, though we're always happy to throw down on a variety of other games. More recently, it's been extensive sessions of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves. But hey, we figure everyone's got different tastes ... so how about you? Don't be shy -- tell us what you've liked so far!

JoystiqWii Warm Up: So how 'bout the games? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Banana BlitzBananaBlitzNintendoSuper Monkey BallSuperMonkeyBallTony Hawk's Downhill JamTonyHawk'sDownhTwilight PrincessTwilightPrincesWario WareWarioWareWiiWii SportsWiiSportswwuZeldaThu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPR commentator: Wii Sports bad for self-esteem]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/npr-commentator-wii-sports-bad-for-self-esteem/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/npr-commentator-wii-sports-bad-for-self-esteem/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/npr-commentator-wii-sports-bad-for-self-esteem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

First Newsweek's Stephen Levy alleges that Guitar Hero is "dumbing down musicianship," and now this. NPR commentator Kelly McBride recently aired her fears that Wii Sports is artificially inflating the self-esteem of her Wii-playing children.

According to McBride's logic, children used to effortless success with minimum effort in Wii Sports tennis will be frustrated when they pick up a real tennis racket and aren't immediately experts. She has a point -- mastering a video game simulation is often much easier than mastering the real world activity it mimics. Just ask a fighter pilot or a world leader.

But while the barriers to success are lower for many video games, the rewards for success are also lower. While schooling someone in virtual basketball might let you hear your opponent's moan of defeat over a headset, the real look of anguish when you take someone down in a hard-fought game of real basketball is infinitely more satisfying.

There's something about the physical exertion and human interaction of real sports that makes it compelling in a way that's totally different from sitting alone playing a video game. Even jumping around and playing Wii Sports with friends isn't quite as interesting as taking them on in a real sport (though it's often more practical). This is why paintball hasn't gone away even though Halo is popular and people continue to ski even when Alpine Racer might be available at a nearby arcade.

Sure, children will often be more interested in the instant gratification of a simple game than the complex rewards of real competition, but as they get older most mature adults will come to realize the importance of sticking with something and attaining new skills in the real world.

Video games aren't a replacement for real world activities. They never have been and they won't start to be now just because Nintendo lets you move your arms a bit while you play them.

JoystiqNPR commentator: Wii Sports bad for self-esteem originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alarmistbasketballcompetitionNPRpaintballreal worldRealWorldtennisWiiwii sportsWiiSportsWed, 14 Feb 2007 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Add cheap nerf crap to your Wii remote]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/add-cheap-nerf-crap-to-your-wii-remote/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/add-cheap-nerf-crap-to-your-wii-remote/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/add-cheap-nerf-crap-to-your-wii-remote/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Apparently the powers-that-be at Nerf feel that the existence of one set of cheap attachments to make your Wii remote look like various sports equipment just isn't enough. Sure, Nerf's set is made of their trademark squishy foam, meaning there's less chance of knocking out your little brother's teeth when swinging that mini-tennis racquet. But we have to reiterate our bafflement at why anyone would want these in the first place.

It's not like attaching these things to your remote affects the way it feels to play Wii Sports -- we doubt anyone is going to mistake swinging these flimsy faux foam things to using their real equivalents. The only real function here is to make you look like a bigger doofus while you're playing. What's more, the attachments look like they actually block the IR sensor on your remote, meaning you'll have to take it off every time you want to navigate a Wii Sports menu. Stop the fun, I want to get off!

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqAdd cheap nerf crap to your Wii remote originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attachmentscrapnerfWiiwii sportsWiiSportsWed, 14 Feb 2007 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Nerf shows us the softer side of Wii Sports accessories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/13/nerf-shows-us-the-softer-side-of-wii-sports-accessories/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/13/nerf-shows-us-the-softer-side-of-wii-sports-accessories/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/13/nerf-shows-us-the-softer-side-of-wii-sports-accessories/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Wii Sports is getting Nerfed, but not in the bad way. These upcoming Wiimote attachments bring soft, friendly foam to the accident-waiting-to-happen that is Wii gaming, and we can't wait to get our hands on a set. These babies should take care of the weight and balance issues we experienced with the Brando Wii Sports Pack, though we hope they can still provide a greater challenge. Also, you can hit your friends with these as many times as you like without drawing blood. Probably. If you don't get too creative.

While we're on the subject, don't forget to enter our Brando giveaway -- we've gotten more entries than we anticipated, but there's still time to get in there and get a real Wii Sports weapon. Er. We mean bat.

JoystiqNerf shows us the softer side of Wii Sports accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NerfNintendoperipheralsWiiWii SportsWiimoteWiiSportsTue, 13 Feb 2007 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[A fashionable way to play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/a-fashionable-way-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/a-fashionable-way-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/a-fashionable-way-to-play/#commentsFiled under:



Some of us are perfectly happy to sling our Wiimotes while wearing sloppy jeans and an old t-shirt, but not all gamers are so unconcerned with fashion. After all, you play your best when you feel your best, and how can you feel like a pwning machine unless you look the part? Well, if you're a Nintendo-loving fashion plate, City Magazine has the answer -- themed outfits for the fashion forward Wii owner. They even tell you where to pick up each item, so if you can't live without a sequined DKNY baseball jersey so you can look like the bat-slingin' diva that you are, you'll know exactly where to go.

We'd also like to add that if you really feel like you need a diamond bangle for Wii Sports tennis, we absolutely take donations. Share the wealth love, friends!

[Thanks to Hamish for tipping us on the story!]

JoystiqA fashionable way to play originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>City MagazineCityMagazinefashionNintendoWiiWii SportsWiiSportsMon, 12 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Sports bowling "power throws" perfected]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/wii-sports-bowling-power-throws-perfected/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/wii-sports-bowling-power-throws-perfected/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/wii-sports-bowling-power-throws-perfected/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Just a few short days after we posted our challenge for video evidence of a perfect 890 in the Wii Sports bowling "power throws" mini-game, video evidence of the feat has surfaced courtesy of Joystiq reader Koz. Not content to just show off his skills, Koz has also written out the method that led to his perfect run in scientific detail over on the WiiModWii forums. Apparently, imported Belgian beers and a "vocabulary of thousands of cuss words to scream in anger" are the keys to success.

Congratulations, Koz (if that is your real name ... which we're pretty sure it isn't). Your T-shirt is on the way.

[Update: The original post mistakenly credited tipster el moco instead of video-maker Koz.]

Continue reading Wii Sports bowling "power throws" perfected

JoystiqWii Sports bowling "power throws" perfected originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>890bowlingperfectpower throwsPowerThrowsthrowsWiiWii sportsWiiSportsMon, 12 Feb 2007 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Friday Video: From the fists of babes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/friday-video-from-the-fists-of-babes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/friday-video-from-the-fists-of-babes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/friday-video-from-the-fists-of-babes/#commentsFiled under: ,



Who could possibly resist video of a tiny girl throwing beatdowns in Wii Sports boxing? We couldn't. The video (after the jump) is just too cute. For the record, we're completely in favor of training young girls to crush their gaming enemies in from an early age. How else will we take over from you guys?

Continue reading Friday Video: From the fists of babes

JoystiqFriday Video: From the fists of babes originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxingffvNintendovideoWiiWii SportsWiiSportsFri, 09 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War wins big at Interactive Achievement Awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/gears-of-war-wins-big-at-interactive-achievement-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/gears-of-war-wins-big-at-interactive-achievement-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/gears-of-war-wins-big-at-interactive-achievement-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards have at long last confirmed a growing, industry-wide suspicion: Gears of War is pretty good. In a ceremony held last night at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences bestowed eight shiny statuettes upon Epic Games' monsters vs. testosterone epic. In addition to winning overall Game of the Year, it picked up gongs for Console Game of the Year, Online Game Play, Animation, Art Design, Visual Engineering, Outstanding Character Performance and Action/Adventure Game of the Year.

Wii Sports waggled three awards out of the academy, including ones for Outstanding Innovation, Gameplay Engineering and Game Design. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Guitar Hero II and Loco Roco all came away with double wins, whereas The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess made off with a single prize for Outstanding Story and Character Development (in your face, Saint's Row!). Inaugural Lifetime Achievement awards went to Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln, for their involvement with the NES and the rebuilding of a shattered games industry during the 1980's.

Check out the full list of winners after the break.

Read -- AIAS press release [PDF]

Continue reading Gears of War wins big at Interactive Achievement Awards

JoystiqGears of War wins big at Interactive Achievement Awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Academy of interactive arts and sciencesAcademyOfInteractiveArtsAndSciencesAIASDSGears of WarGearsOfWarGuitar Hero IIGuitarHeroIiJoseph OlinJosephOlinLoco RocoLocoRocoOblivionPS2PS3PSPThe Legend of ZeldaTheLegendOfZeldaWiiWii SportsWiiSportsXbox-360Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii bowling "power throws": Whither the perfect 890?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/wii-bowling-power-throws-whither-the-perfect-890/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/wii-bowling-power-throws-whither-the-perfect-890/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/wii-bowling-power-throws-whither-the-perfect-890/#commentsFiled under: ,

In a roundtable discussion before the Wii's release, Nintendo designer Takayuki Shimamura declared that "in all of the endless testing which Nintendo has done on [Wii Sports bowling], no one has ever achieved a perfect score!" This factoid didn't last very long -- since the system's release dozens of players have posted YouTube videos of their own perfect games, complete with anti-climactic confetti endings.

But while this seemingly impressive feat has now become commonplace, another Wii Sports bowling challenge remains seemingly unachieved and practically unachievable. We're speaking of a perfect score in the "Power Throws" training game, which steadily increases the number of pins at the end of the lane from a base of 10 to a staggering 91 pins in the tenth frame. Their are 445 total pins to knock down, but the game doubles the frame score for each strike, making a score of 890 the perfect ideal.

Despite our best efforts, we could not find documented evidence of such a score online. The best we could find on YouTube was an 804, and even this impressive player used the well-known cheat to strike out on the last frame. A couple of players on EliteScores.com have claimed to max out the score, but neither submitted so much as a screenshot as proof. Gaming scoreboard Twin Galaxies doesn't even track the Power Throws minigame yet, probably because no one has bothered to send in a VHS tape of their achievement as per the rules.

So we're putting out a challenge to the Joystiq community. Can anyone out there achieve the holy grail of Wii Sports and get a perfect score in this difficult minigame? The first person to submit video evidence of the feat (without cheating!) will get a handsome Joystiq T-shirt and eternal Internet glory as their reward. Entries can be submitted using the tips submission page. Good luck!

[Update: The challenge has been met by Joystiq reader el moco, who sent in the below video to confirm the feat. Mr. moco also outlined his methods on the WiiModWii forums. Congratulation el moco, we'll be contacting you about the T-shirt soon.]

Continue reading Wii bowling "power throws": Whither the perfect 890?

JoystiqWii bowling "power throws": Whither the perfect 890? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300890bowlingchallengeperfectpower throwsPowerThrowsWiiwii sportsWiiSportsWed, 07 Feb 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[And the GDC Award nominees are ...]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/and-the-gdc-award-nominees-are/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/and-the-gdc-award-nominees-are/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/and-the-gdc-award-nominees-are/#commentsFiled under:



We expect The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to get nominated for awards. It's a beautiful entry in a long-running series known for racking up the awards. What is surprising today is that while Twilight Princess received its due attention, it wasn't Nintendo's star when the Game Developers Choice Award nominees were announced -- Wii Sports was.

Just a few months ago, people were calling it a "trumped-up demo" and decrying the fact that this "minigame" was going to be marketed as a full game. Then, as a pack-in, some wanted to take a pass on it in favor of a cheaper price. Who'd have thought that months later, Wii Sports would emerge as a powerhouse and continue to dominate the spotlight? Now that everyone's had some time to be sporty in the living room -- and realize the depth of Wii Sports -- we wonder if that attitude's changed. Certainly someone thinks it's worthy of attention.

Twilight Princess is nominated in the Best Game and Writing categories; Wii Sports is up for three awards: Best Game, Technology, and Game Design.

JoystiqAnd the GDC Award nominees are ... originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardGame Developers ChoiceGameDevelopersCGDCNintendonominationTwilight PrincessTwilightPrincesWiiWii SportsWiiSportsZeldaWed, 07 Feb 2007 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Power Gloves? Nope.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/wii-power-gloves-nope/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/wii-power-gloves-nope/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/wii-power-gloves-nope/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This is NOT an official Nintendo product !!!What's more useless: plastic shove-on attachments or boxing gloves with Wiimote pockets? We suppose those attachments are, but these 'un-official' Wii boxing gloves rank among the lamest of 3rd-party peripherals.

Maybe if you have a tendency to fling your Wiimote the gloves are $22 well spent; then again, Wii Sports' boxing requires players to hold the Wiimote vertically. You won't be punching with these gloves on; you'll be knocking on doors. Awkward.

A better Wii "Power Glove": Wii Remote Power Glove Hack

[Via VideoGamesBlogger]

JoystiqWii Power Gloves? Nope. originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BoxingBoxingGlovesGlovesNunchukPower GlovePowerGloveWiiWii RemoteWii SportsWiimoteWiiRemoteWiiSportsWed, 07 Feb 2007 01:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Contest: Win the Wii Sports Pack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/06/wii-fanboy-contest-win-the-wii-sports-pack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/06/wii-fanboy-contest-win-the-wii-sports-pack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/06/wii-fanboy-contest-win-the-wii-sports-pack/#commentsFiled under:



Now that you've seen them in action, we want to give one reader their very own Wii Sports Pack! Conduct your own playtests. Sneak up on friends with the bat for a little nefarious fun. Break them out during parties and take bets on who shatters the ceiling fan lights. The fun never stops!

It's not gonna be as easy as just waltzing in here and asking for them, however. You're going to need to inspire us into letting go of the goods. We're not feeling too motivated here, so what we need is for you to make a (de)motivational poster inspired by Brando's Wii Sports Pack. The tools you need are tucked away after the jump.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Contest: Win the Wii Sports Pack

JoystiqWii Fanboy Contest: Win the Wii Sports Pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesBrandocontestcontrollermotivational posterMotivationalPosNintendoSports PackSportsPackWiiWii SportsWiimoteWiiSportsTue, 06 Feb 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the charts in Wii Sports [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/05/off-the-charts-in-wii-sports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/05/off-the-charts-in-wii-sports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/05/off-the-charts-in-wii-sports/#commentsFiled under:

Last week, we bragged chatted about our Wii Sports accomplishments, and suddenly our e-mail blew up with stories of folks screaming off the charts in their favorite sports. Here we were, feeling good about being mid-range pro in tennis, and there are folks with rankings that make us feel like we might just be the noobiest noobs who've never noobed.

We'll be comforting ourselves with chocolate while you check out the pics.

[Update 1: Fixing an error both heinous and gratuitous.]

Continue reading Off the charts in Wii Sports [update 1]

JoystiqOff the charts in Wii Sports [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxingNintendooff the chartOffTheChartproscoretennisWiiWii SportsWiiSportsMon, 05 Feb 2007 16:25:00 EST