Joystiq

Wii Fit patent lawsuit dismissed

JC Fletcher — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST

We know you've been unable to sleep restfully since the announcement of InterAction Laboratories' 2010 lawsuit against Nintendo, so you'll be relieved to know the situation is resolved. Nintendo announced this morning that a Maryland judge has summarily dismissed the case, which alleged that Nintendo's Wii Fit games and Balance Board accessory (among pretty much every other Nintendo peripheral) violated patents owned by IA Labs for exergaming devices.

IA Labs' last announced gaming product was the "XR Station," a controller attached to a big lever, that players must exert pressure on -- push, pull, lean -- to operate. It also showed the "Sqweeze" in 2008: a Wiimote peripheral with two rubber grips to squeeze.

Continue reading Wii Fit patent lawsuit dismissed

Wii Fit patent lawsuit dismissed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii becomes best-selling current generation console in Europe

David Hinkle — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST

We're always wary to talk numbers and Europe in the same breath, mostly because numbers over there don't mean the same as they do here. "One pound is a half kilogram? What does that even mean?" Luckily for us, there's no way to misconstrue the fact that the Wii is now the best-selling console in Europe this generation.

The European chapter of the Wii Defense Force is popping the bubbly now, we imagine, celebrating the 30 million Wii consoles in the region as of 2011's end. New console bundles brought a new "value Wii" into the region, The PS3 isn't far behind, however, with reports of over 22 million consoles sold at the end of August. But, the Wii figure looks even better when compared to the GameCube, which sold 4.7 million throughout its five year lifetime in Europe and Australia, combined.

On the peripheral front, Nintendo's also got robust sales figures for its Wii Balance Board and its bundled titles, Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus, to celebrate. 22.67 million copies of Wii Fit and 19.31 million copies of Wii Fit Plus have been sold worldwide.

Wii becomes best-selling current generation console in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Black Wii Fit Plus bundle headed for UK

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:35:00 EST

For years, you've been left out of the Wii Fit craze. Not because you're unwilling to put in the requisite physical effort, but because the Balance Board simply doesn't match the sleek black lines of your entertainment center. In a month, that all comes to an end -- in the UK, at least -- as Nintendo will soon release a black Wii Fit Plus console bundle, which looks to retail for £99.99 ($155), though Zavvi.com has it listed for £73.85 ($114).

Arriving October 7, the bundle includes a black Wii console with Wii Remote Plus, a black Balance Board and a copy of Wii Fit Plus. And, as an added bonus, new Balance Board adopters can soon belatedly take part in another fad: Never using the Balance Board again.

We've contacted Nintendo to see if the new bundle is headed to North America as well.

Black Wii Fit Plus bundle headed for UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nintendo of America patent shows off unreleased motorcycle game concept

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Every night, before we loose ourselves from the moorings of the conscious world, we say a short prayer that a game developer will realize the potential in a relaunch of Sega's arcade almost-classic, Harley Davidson & LA Riders. Our wishes haven't been granted yet, but a recently uncovered patent (.pdf) shows that Nintendo of America came awfully close to creating something similar to Sega's Easy Rider-esque masterpiece.

The patent depicts a motorcycle (and/or Jetski) racing game controlled using the Wii Balance Board and Wiimote. Twisting and turning the remote accelerates and turns the bike, while leaning on the Balance Board allows the player to take sharper turns. It's unclear whether the game depicted is still in development, but we'll keep our fingers crossed regardless. Hey, it beats buying and riding an actual motorcycle, you know. Those things are like, super dangerous.

Nintendo of America patent shows off unreleased motorcycle game concept originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

'Night of the Sacrifice' horror game features mysterious Balance Board function

JC Fletcher — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Ikenie no Yoru, or "Night of the Sacrifice," is a newly announced Wii horror game from Marvelous Interactive, and it's just as mysterious as the possibly-haunted mansion in which it's set. This is partly because so little has been revealed: All we have to go on is a translation of a Famitsu magazine article about the game and an accompanying trailer, also from Famitsu -- but even the trailer raises more questions.

The clip shows semi-realistic characters interacting with silhouetted, stylized Feel the Magic-esque characters. Additionally, the Famitsu article reveals that Night of the Sacrifice will somehow integrate the Balance Board, the creepiest of all Wii peripherals. How exactly will that work?

We have a lot to learn before the game's March 24 release in Japan.

Continue reading 'Night of the Sacrifice' horror game features mysterious Balance Board function

'Night of the Sacrifice' horror game features mysterious Balance Board function originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mel B and Wii exercise accessories: 2 Become 1

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

How does former Spice Girl Mel B keep in shape?

Continue reading Mel B and Wii exercise accessories: 2 Become 1

Mel B and Wii exercise accessories: 2 Become 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii Fit used to diagnose football-related concussions

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Did you know that a football player's vocation requires them to hurtle their head at other football players' heads with little regard for the safety of either? Did you know that this type of reckless cranial colliding can cause concussions and other serious, long-term head injuries? It's true -- but according to the Washington Post, athletic trainers at the University of Maryland and Ohio State University have found a tool to help diagnose and monitor players' dome-piece health: Wii Fit.

Trainers at the two universities now require players to use the Wii Balance Board to get a baseline reading of their -- what else? -- balance. When a player suffers a fairly nasty blow to the head region, they can take another Wii Fit test to see if their balance has deteriorated -- one of the telltale signs of a concussion. Man, combine this test with the Vitality Sensor, and the Wii will become a one-stop-shop for sports-related injury diagnoses!

Wii Fit used to diagnose football-related concussions originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2K Play announces Nickelodeon Fit, bringing exer-fun to the children

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

With the recent reveal of Nickelodeon Fit, 2K Play looks to capitalize on the still-raging exergaming craze in a fairly unorthodox way. The Wii-exclusive is a youth-oriented, Balance Board-supported title that features characters from Nickelodeon cartoons, including Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Ni-Hao, Kai-lan and The Backyardigans. The game's young players will participate in context appropriate exercises, such as pogo-sticking with Dora (which we all know is the most efficient method for blasting your core).

Scoff as you might, but we don't think this sounds like too terrible an idea. If we had access to an exercise game when we were kids featuring Rocko, Ren, Stimpy and Doug, we probably wouldn't have received a "Laughable" rating on our Presidential Physical Fitness Test.

2K Play announces Nickelodeon Fit, bringing exer-fun to the children originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Grease: The Game to utilize microphones and balance board

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 27 May 2010 10:45:00 EST

You've used your Wii Balance Board to exercise, ski, hula hoop and snowboard. Soon, you'll have the opportunity to use the peripheral in the manner God intended: To do the Hand Jive Hop. According to a press release from publisher 505 Games, Grease: The Game will allow two teams of four players to fight for "musical domination" using two USB microphones and the Balance Board. Oh, man. We've got chills, and we'll be entirely damned if they're not multiplying.

The board will be used for Grease's many minigames, which include T-Bird racing, carnival games, and singing to the title's 16-song soundtrack. Not mentioned in the presser is the minigame where you take a nice, sweet-natured young girl and transform her into a spandex-clad hussy. We'll find out if that one made the cut when the game launches on Wii and DS in September.

Grease: The Game to utilize microphones and balance board originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 May 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nintendo sued by exergaming company IA Labs

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST

Was it something we said? No sooner does Nintendo close the book on the two-year-old Anascape suit than does the prolific peripheral manufacturer get slapped with another legal challenge. Gamasutra has obtained documentation of a lawsuit filed against Nintendo, on April 2, by exergaming company InterAction Laboratories, a.k.a. IA Labs, a.k.a. Powergrid Fitness, for alleged patent infringement.

In typical dramatic legalese, the suit cries out that IA Labs has been "irreparably harmed" by Nintendo's violation of two of its patents through a long list of Wii products. Here goes: the Wii system itself and its primary controllers, the Wiimote and the Nunchuk, and the MotionPlus add-on; Wii Fit, its expansion pack, Wii Fit Plus, and its peripheral, the Balance Board; and the Wii Zapper. Phew! Are we forgetting anything?

Oh, yes -- the Wii Wheel. Uh-huh, that circular piece of plastic is allegedly infringing upon a patent for either (1) "Computer interactive isometric exercise system and method for operatively interconnecting the exercise system to a computer system for use as a peripheral" or (2) "Force measurement system for an isometric exercise device." IA Labs claims that these two patents are used in a number of its products, including the Kilowatt Sport and Exer-Station controller. Both have won an award at separate CES events.

If you're real up on your Wii peripheral pitches, you will recall the Sqweeze, a ThighMaster-esque device for your hands, developed by IA Labs and introduced in late 2008. While a PC version appears to be available, the Wii iteration never made it to market, perhaps evidence that the relationship between IA Labs and Nintendo soured long ago. Documentation from the recent suit reveals emails from 2007-2008 between the two companies, which had once been in talks for IA Labs to license its technology to Nintendo.

Nintendo sued by exergaming company IA Labs originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Scientists using Balance Board in stroke rehab

David Hinkle — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:15:00 EST

While the Balance Board is a good tool for controlling cute little monkeys and perhaps creating a career, Australian scientists have found it's also an inexpensive way to measure the balance in stroke patients. University of Melbourne scientist Ross Clark decided to pick one up after reading that some physicians were using Wiimotes to help recuperating soldiers, and found it to be "an extremely impressive strain gauge set-up." That's a very good thing, considering the only alternative is a "force platform" which can set scientists back a hefty £11,000 ($15,700).

There aren't any results out of Melbourne yet, but if you're interested in what's under the hood of that little plastic pad you're slowly turning a kind of brownish-black (would it kill you to wear clean socks when using it?), check out this Nintendo Channel video from back in the day.

[Via Kotaku and New Scientist]

Scientists using Balance Board in stroke rehab originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll gameplay trailer

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll is something of a troubling proposition. Sure, it might be fun at first -- something we can attest to -- but it could very easily become the most maddening experience in video games. Remember all the times you fell off the old Monkey Ball levels while using the precision inputs of a controller? Yeah, that's probably going to happen a lot more with the Balance Board. That said, after watching the above video, we'll be darned if we don't wanna give it a try.

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll gameplay trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Friiboard peripheral takes all the balance out of the Wii Balance Board

JC Fletcher — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:00:00 EST

We initially dismissed the Friiboard, a Balance Board attachment created by the husband-and-wife team at Swiit Game Gear, as another inconsequential plastic Wii add-on, or worse, a Roll & Rocker for the Wii. The device adds a convex surface to the bottom of the Balance Board, adding real movement to the board, with the goal of enhancing the realism of snowboarding and skateboarding activities.

But upon viewing the (very homemade) video, we think it actually looks like it could be fun. It gives the Balance Board a little wobble, but not so much wobble that it will destroy your body, loved ones and home like the Tony Hawk Ride board. One thing the device shares with Ride: it costs a lot. At $44.99, its price makes it a shaky proposition.

[Via GoNintendo]

Continue reading Friiboard peripheral takes all the balance out of the Wii Balance Board

Friiboard peripheral takes all the balance out of the Wii Balance Board originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Thrustmaster puts a board on your (balance) board

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:30:00 EST

For those of you who aren't totally bored with boards and board-based peripherals, Thrustmaster has just the thing for you. Introducing the T-Freestyle NW, a skateboard attachment designed specifically for the Wii Balance Board. The peripheral is crafted of maple and includes "Rolling Motion Board" technology for "true lateral movement capabilities." Also, unlike your real skateboard, the T-Freestyle NW includes a "safety stopper" to keep overzealous virtual skaters and snowboarders from tipping over.

Perhaps such a peripheral could interfere with games designed to work with a naked Balance Board but, assuming it works as advertised, the T-Freestyle NW just might be the thing to make your extreme games that much more extreme. For the asking price of $29.99, it had better.

Expect the T-Freestyle NW to hit shelves at the end of November.

Gallery: T-Freestyle NW (Wii)

Thrustmaster puts a board on your (balance) board originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Balance Board used in experimental airport screening study

David Hinkle — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:30:00 EST

The US has invested a healthy amount of money into combating the terrorist threat -- certainly a bit more than $100. According to a CNN report, one of a few experimental methods being used to identify suspicious dudes at the airport uses Nintendo's Wii Balance Board (sans Wii Fit Plus).

Scientists part of the Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST) program have taken the Wii Fit peripheral and adjusted it to measure how a person shifts their weight. Scientists hope to find "a level of fidgeting that would suggest the need for secondary screening." We're just glad we're not a part of the study, because every time we step on a Balance Board, we can't help but act like we're playing that awesome hula hoop minigame. That's a suspicious amount of fidgeting.

[Via Kotaku]

Balance Board used in experimental airport screening study originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Interview: Super Monkey Ball's Yasuhito Baba

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:46:00 EST

Who would've thought that a simple game about monkeys trapped in plastic balls would go on to become one of Sega's biggest franchises? We talked with Sega producer Yasuhito Baba at Tokyo Game Show about the upcoming Step & Roll for the Wii Balance Board, and talked about the future for the franchise. Will it include support for Natal and the PlayStation Motion Controller? Read on.

Joystiq: How long after the Balance Board was announced did you think of making a new Monkey Ball game for it?
Yasuhito Baba: So actually, as soon the Balance Board game out, we thought this would be a great match for Super Monkey Ball. But the problem is, because we can't bundle with the Balance Board, we had to wait and see how the Balance Board would do. We had to wait for it to sell and wait for there to be a market for more Balance Board games.

Monkey Ball is really well suited for new devices. So pretty much whenever there's a new device or new platform, we're always thinking about if Monkey Ball would work on it or not.

Continue reading Interview: Super Monkey Ball's Yasuhito Baba

Interview: Super Monkey Ball's Yasuhito Baba originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

TGS 2009: Feet-on: Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:00:00 EST

It's surprising to think Sega hasn't already made a Super Monkey Ball game for the Wii Balance Board. It seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it? However, Sega made the playable debut of the very first Balance Board-enabled Monkey Ball game at TGS this year with Step & Roll.

Conceptually, the game is rather easy to grasp. Once again, players are tasked with getting monkeys (that are mysteriously trapped in plastic balls) to a goal by tilting the game world. This time around, the game can be controlled through shifting your weight on the Balance Board -- the translation should be immediately apparent.

Perhaps masters of Wii Fit (and subsequent fitness-related knockoffs) should find no problem with Step & Roll. However, a Balance Board novice like myself was a bit overwhelmed by the sensitivity demanded by the game: it takes subtle shifts in weight to carefully control the monkeys. Instead, my exaggerated movements caused the board to jerk around, tossing the trapped simian around haphazardly through the course.

Continue reading TGS 2009: Feet-on: Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll

TGS 2009: Feet-on: Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage trailer travels the globe

David Hinkle — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:15:00 EST

Ubisoft just sent us a new trailer for Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage and, as those powder-carving kids would say, it's totally tubular. It reminds us of a time when snowboarding games were, uh, fun (oh, how we miss you, SSX). If this wasn't on your radar before this post, we're sure that's going to change for a few of you after checking out the action above. Enjoy.

Gallery: Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage trailer travels the globe originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll into new screens

JC Fletcher — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST

These latest screens of Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll reveal that, aside from the new Balance Board functionality, this is the Super Monkey Ball we're all used to. Which is to say, it's the cutest thing in the world. We admit we have a soft spot in our hearts for AiAi and his cinnamon-roll-eared pals. Not enough to keep us from throwing them all off of a checkerboard platform, but enough that we, you know, try.

We suspect that, by allowing ourselves to be charmed by Monkey Ball and its promise of wonderful minigames once again (some kind of Monkey Landspeeder thing!), we're setting ourselves up for crushing disappointment when it turns out not to be as good as Super Monkey Ball 2, like they all have since Super Monkey Ball 2.

Gallery: Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll (Wii)

Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll into new screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Japan gets Wii Fit Plus on October 1

David Hinkle — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EST

Japan will get Nintendo's new and improved version of its fitness title on October 1, as andriasang discovered the above advert showcasing the date for Wii Fit Plus. Not only that, but you can also see a price there: ¥2,000 (about $20) for the game alone, ¥9,800 (about $102) for the game and Balance Board bundle. Who knows if it'll be priced accordingly when it hits the States this fall, though we think it's a safe bet. If there's one thing a gaming blog knows best, it's fitness and exergaming software.

[Thanks, Mr. Khan!]

Japan gets Wii Fit Plus on October 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll revealed by Sega 'Jackpot' countdown

JC Fletcher — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:47:00 EST

It's with cautious ... not quite optimism, but cautious lack of total pessimism that we regard the official reveal of the new (and trademarked) Balance Board-compatible Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll for the Wii. Sega's "Jackpot" countdown elapsed today, leading to the site for this new Monkey Ball game and its admittedly cute trailer.

We love Monkey Ball, but tilt control hasn't turned out well in previous attempts. Maybe tilting with our whole bodies on the Balance Board will work out better than tilting with just our hands? It has to work out better than tilting the screen while trying to keep our eyes locked on it.

Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll revealed by Sega 'Jackpot' countdown originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Monkey Ball trademark discovered, may use Wii Balance Board

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST

Isn't it weird when you wake up in the morning, covered in sweat, waking up from a dream where you are trapped in a plastic ball, forced to roll around in hundreds of deadly mazes -- collecting bananas you have no way of eating? This happens to us all the time. It looks like our dream may be becoming a reality, as Sega looks to be creating a Wii Balance Board-centric Monkey Ball game.

The US Patent & Trademark Office has revealed the title of a brand new game in Sega's long-running series, called Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll. While the listing doesn't confirm use of the Balance Board, it seems like a perfect fit for the franchise. The active nature of the title makes us believe this is indeed Sega's attempt at letting players use their real-life balance to navigate the tricky Monkey Ball worlds. It's such an easy concept to visualize, we're surprised it hasn't already been made yet.

[Via 1UP, Kotaku]

New Monkey Ball trademark discovered, may use Wii Balance Board originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hands-on (and flapping like wings): Wii Fit Plus

JC Fletcher — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST

While the idea of leaning on a board and waving a stick around may no longer carry an inherent wow factor after everyone has introduced a motion controller, it's clear from just a few minutes with Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus that the company has been thinking of new ways to use its existing technology in gameplay. We weren't allowed to demo the new strength or yoga exercises in the expanded version of the megahit Wii exercise game -- thus sparing a crowd of gaming's best and brightest the sight of us stretching -- but the new balance games were open to us.

Gallery: Wii Fit Plus (Wii)

Continue reading Hands-on (and flapping like wings): Wii Fit Plus

Hands-on (and flapping like wings): Wii Fit Plus originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii's new Dance Dance Revolution is Balance Board-based, fitness-focused

Randy Nelson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:23:00 EST

It's with no amount of surprise whatsoever that we tell you Konami is making a new Dance Dance Revolution, or what it's for Wii. Neither is the fact that it will feature licensed pop/rock/dance songs and videos. What is surprising: the game will support the Wii Balance Board and features a number of new elements focused on personal fitness. It's not about stomping on the right arrows anymore; hip-swaying and other full body movements -- still guided by on-screen arrows -- are the revolution.

Wii's new Dance Dance Revolution is Balance Board-based, fitness-focused originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Shaun White Snowboarding sequel is Wii-exclusive

Randy Nelson — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:00:00 EST

click to make with the bigness

Ubisoft has announced that its sequel to last year's multiplatform Shaun White Snowboarding is coming exclusively to Wii. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal and is planned for a holiday 2009 release.

The move to a single-platform release may seem surprising, but it's made less so when you consider that the Wii version of the first game outsold other versions by nearly a 2:1 margin. We've contacted Ubisoft for comment on the decision and to clarify whether or not this news marks a full-stop for the franchise on other platforms. In the meantime, start waxing those balance boards.

Gallery: Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage

Shaun White Snowboarding sequel is Wii-exclusive originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 May 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vertigo tumbles into retail June 16

JC Fletcher — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:15:00 EST

We haven't heard about Playlogic's Vertigo, the weird racing/Monkey Ball/labyrinth game, at all since last September. Today, Playlogic announced that the Balance Board-compatible "futuristic racing puzzle game" will be available on PC and Wii June 16. In a weird coincidence, this "futuristic racing puzzle game" will come out the same day as Let's Tap, Sega's "future tapping game" for Wii.

This trailer reminds us of a 3D Marble Madness more than Monkey Ball, with its future theme and precision jumping, but even that doesn't quite capture it. The levels seem a lot longer and more platformer-like.

Vertigo also features four multiplayer modes: "Time Trial, Xorb Football, Death Match, and 10-pin Xorb bowling," as well as single-player time trials. For our own sake, we hope that the time trial grades you on how quickly you fall off the side.

Vertigo tumbles into retail June 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 May 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Southpeak bringing Sled Shred to Wii

Justin McElroy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST

Here's a perfect example of why there needs to be freer communication between the press and game publishers. This morning, Southpeak announced that it would be releasing Sled Shred on the Wii, a downhill racing game that takes advantage of the Wii Balance Board. More importantly, though, the release stated that players would race "with and against the world-renowned Jamaican Bobsled team."

Springing into action, we asked the most obvious, important questions: [1] Will Doug E. Doug appear in the game? [2] Will zombie John Candy appear in the game? [3] At any point, will someone say "Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time!"? Get this: We still haven't gotten a response from Southpeak. Guess we'll have to wait until Fall 2009 to find out for ourselves.

Southpeak bringing Sled Shred to Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The 'Wii Riiser Aerobic Step' for ... the Wii Balance Board

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST

From the folks that brought you ... erm ... a bunch of case mods for the Xbox 360, comes the "Wii Riiser Aerobic Step" for your Wii Fit Balance Board. Just in case you were unsatisfied with the heights that the existing step peripheral offered, Zoozen has gone out and created an attachment to boost the level up to a more challenging four inches.

The company contests this is the average height of an actual stepper (which we won't point out also costs significantly less than the Wii Fit and "Wii Riiser Aerobic Step" combined), and as such, will help "improve your step aerobic workout." While we're sure this peripheral would attach to your Balance Board that much easier than two pieces of equally sized wood, we're not so sure it would serve a different purpose. Zoozen's "Wii Riiser Aerobic Step" is available now for the not-so-nice price of $39.99.

The 'Wii Riiser Aerobic Step' for ... the Wii Balance Board originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: EA Sports Active Balance Board features in detail

Xav de Matos — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST

You've already seen what comes in the box, now watch what the Balance Board adds to EA Sports Active. Using the fitness-focused peripheral, players can lunge to hit tennis balls, skate on one foot and dance the night away, all in the name of exergaming. Of course, use of the peripheral is optional but this trailer recommends adding it to your daily routine and the game's 30 Day Challenge (aka, the Career Mode) to "broaden" Active's variety.

To recap: EA Sports Active makes use of a leg strap, resistance band, the Wii-mote, nunchuck and (optional) Balance Board. We presume EA is looking to break some kind of Guinness World Record for most peripherals used by a player, at once. We can't wait for Active's next add-on to be revealed -- a spandex leotard that measures the player's heart rate and reduces their self-respect.

Video: EA Sports Active Balance Board features in detail originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DreamCatcher & JoWood bring dedicated Yoga game to Wii

Xav de Matos — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST

DreamCatcher and JoWood have announced a dedicated Yoga game for the Nintendo Wii, simply named Yoga for Wii. The game, which was built for use with the Wii Balance Board, includes three modes: Training, Routine and Story -- where players must seek revenge for the death of their brother... wait, no. Wrong press release. Oh, here it is, the purpose of the story mode is actually to turn Yoga novices into routine gurus. Also, players can go through a number of preset routines or create their own to fit their daily needs.

Using the Wii Balance Board in conjunction with the Wii Remote is said to analyze balance, making suggestions for better routine execution with the help of a Yoga Master that tracks overall progress. Yoga for Wii is set to downward-dog into stores this October.

DreamCatcher & JoWood bring dedicated Yoga game to Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GDC09: Nintendo reveals Rock and Roll Climber

JC Fletcher — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:54:00 EST

Nintendo's latest Balance Board-equipped game is a WiiWare title that combines the rush of rock climbing with the thrill of single guitar chords. Rock and Roll Climber uses the Wiimote and Nunchuk to simulate arm movements while climbing, while the Balance Board acts to read leg movements. According to our liveblog, at the top of the rock wall, "The character reaches the top, picks up a guitar, and plays a single riff."

This isn't entirely unexpected -- the title showed up on the ESRB database last week, but Nintendo apparently wasn't ready to tell us about it!

GDC09: Nintendo reveals Rock and Roll Climber originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Punch-Out! will support Wii Balance Board

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:00:00 EST

This ain't your dad's Punch-Out! No, with Balance Board support, it'll be your mom's Punch-Out!

The Italian Nintendo site leaked details on the various control schemes found in the upcoming Wii-make of Nintendo's classic boxing game. The first two modes are as-expected: play with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck to recreate the physical motion of boxing, or play with the Remote on its side to play it NES-style. The third mode documented takes advantage of the Wii Fit Balance Board, allowing players to dodge attacks by shifting their weight. Coupled with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, this mode should provide quite a workout.

[Via IGN]

Gallery: Punch-Out!! (Wii)

Punch-Out! will support Wii Balance Board originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

See the accessories included in EA Sports Active

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST

Peripheral gaming is in. Exergaming is in. So, EA Sports Active really should rake in the bucks. It'll support (but won't require) the Wii Fit balance board and to make the package even more attractive, it'll include two peripherals in the box. The leg strap (after the cut) will allow you to attach the Wii Remote to your leg. The game will then keep track of your movement, allowing you to run and jump without feeling too tethered down by a physical object.

The resistance band (above) will allow you to do other exercises that work out the upper body -- a rarity in the Wii exercise genre. These two peripherals are small, and really do allow for some freeform movement. Will you be picking them up?

Continue reading See the accessories included in EA Sports Active

See the accessories included in EA Sports Active originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Get juiced for Ubisoft's 'Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout' on the Wii

JC Fletcher — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:01:00 EST

YES! CARDIO BOXING ON THE WII! FROM UBISOFT AND GOLD'S GYM, YEAAAHHHH! AWESOME! Sorry, we were just doing our best to get your heart rate up. Consider it a free cardio workout from Joystiq, because Joystiq Cares[TM] about your health!

Ubisoft announced a partnership with Gold's Gym to market the new Wii exercise game Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout, due out March 31. The Balance Board-compatible game includes "cardio boxing, running, sit-ups and other activities" as well as calorie and weight tracking. The new game will include a coupon for one week at Gold's Gym, and in turn, Gold's locations will feature advertising for the game.

Wii nerds (like us) may remember developer Rocket Company's Japanese release Shape Boxing Wii de Enjoy Diet, which featured cardio boxing-based exercises and a few wacky minigames. Screenshots of Cardio Boxing (via Amazon) reveal it to be a localized version of that game. We have yet to determine whether the bear-punching minigame is still present. We can only hope.

Gallery: Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout (Wii)

Get juiced for Ubisoft's 'Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout' on the Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

OSX and Balance Board play nice, have fun together

David Hinkle — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals, Tech stuff, Controller, Video, Homebrew

If you're a Mac user, this video is likely to interest you. An aspiring individual hacked the program Wiiji (which is designed to allow Wiimote integration with Macs) to recognize the Balance Board as a joystick, allowing the use of Nintendo's peripheral with games that allow for joystick control. In the video above, you can see it in use through games Neverball and Extreme Tux Racer. Looks fun, if we may say so.

Enjoy this kind of thing? Then you'll definitely get a kick out of our Revolutionary feature, where the extremely talented Mike Sylvester tinkers around with all kinds of things. Aside from making his own homemade Balance Board, he helped us train with the Wii Wheel and also showed us what is really crappy about our favorite console.

OSX and Balance Board play nice, have fun together originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wooden labyrinth made cooler and more frustrating with Balance Board controls

JC Fletcher — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Mods, Homebrew

Some geniuses from Kansas City's "Cowtown Computer Congress", with the help of an Arduino microcontroller and copious amounts of SCIENCE, have added Balance Board controls to a wooden labyrinth toy. Leaning on the board controls the servos attached to the game's two dials, causing the game to tilt in response to the board. It's like The Incredible Maze, but actually incredible! It can also be controlled with an Xbox 360 controller, though that lacks the representative motion element.

The whole thing cost about $60 in parts, not including the Balance Board. Of course, that's if you don't already have a couple of servos and an Arduino lying about, which, if you're electronics-savvy enough to carry this out, you probably do.

[Via Engadget]

Wooden labyrinth made cooler and more frustrating with Balance Board controls originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii Fit helps amputees adjust in the UK

David Hinkle — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: News

Despite some saying that Wii Fit is only gathering dust in the closet, UK amputees are using the software and bundled Balance Board to help them with their treatment. This isn't the first we've heard about a Nintendo product helping folks out with their physical therapy, but this is definitely one of the most interesting. Rather than just getting people to be more active by playing Wii Sports or something, the Balance Board and Wii Fit software are helping people adapt to their new prosthetic limbs. From walking to simply leaning, it's helping them adapt to their new, albeit very unfortunate, way of life.

Gallery: Unwrapping Wii Fit

[Via Joystiq]

Wii Fit helps amputees adjust in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

We Ski and Snowboard through lovely scenery

JC Fletcher — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screens

For a cutesy game about cartoony, low-detail characters in vast expanses of snow, Namco Bandai's We Ski series looks a lot better than it needs to. Not that we're complaining! We'd always prefer to enjoy looking at a Wii game whenever possible, and developers don't always enable us to do so.

The latest screenshots of We Ski & Snowboard are a bit small, but the nice lighting and detailed mountain backdrops are still clearly visible. We might be crazy (for snowboards!), but we think this one looks better than its predecessor! Again, not like we can make such judgments based on tiny-ish screens. We can safely say it looks nice!

We Ski and Snowboard through lovely scenery originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Don King Boxing makes a surprise comeback

JC Fletcher — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens

Hey, remember 2K Sports' Don King Presents Prizefighter? Kinda? The licensed boxing game was announced last December for release last spring, back before Facebreaker bombed and Punch-Out!! made other Wii boxing games irrelevant. Despite not hearing anything at all since Balance Board functionality was revealed, the game has not been cancelled. Nintendo Everything posted some new screenshots from a mysterious source, indicating that work was being done. We found the screens' origin -- at an official site that had quietly appeared in December for the boxing game, now titled a much less confusing Don King Boxing.

It looks -- okay. It's not going to divert anyone's funds away from Punch-Out!!, that's for sure. It's automatically better than Ready 2 Rumble in that it is devoid of Hasselhoff caricatures. And the vaunted Balance Board training, which is supposed to be a real workout? Looks like the Rhythm Boxing game from Wii Fit. According to GameStop, Don King Boxing is scheduled for a release on March 31, 2009. We'll see how that works out.

Don King Boxing makes a surprise comeback originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mirror's Edge meets the Balance Board

Alisha Karabinus — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals, Video

EA's Mirror's Edge is a beautiful game, if a bit flawed, and the highly-physical, parkour-inspired gameplay would suit the Wii's motion controls quite well. The only problem is that it wasn't made for the Wii! What's a gamer to do? Clearly, the answer is this: make a video demonstrating just what Wii controls, with the Balance Board, for Mirror's Edge could look like.

The video is well made, but there's a long lull at the beginning giving everyone their due, and after that, the controls-and-gameplay windows are small, so there's really not a lot of meat to it. But the video, and the notion behind it, is interesting enough for a watch. When you're done there, go back and check out our Mike Sylvester's revolutionary ideas for Mirror's Edge 2D.

Mirror's Edge meets the Balance Board originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments