GamesRadar - Wii Sports

Top 5 biggest rip-offs on the Wii (Feature)

Nov 4, 2009

We hate to sound like cranky ass gamers incapable of embracing “The New,” but we’re just about ready to tell motion controls to f**k off. That initial ocean of vast futuristic potential, promising to turn our entire bodies into dignified instruments of control, has officially run completely dry. ...

Wii Sports Surpasses 50M Units, New Super Mario Bros. Nears 20M (News)

Nov 1, 2009

Wii Sports has sold over 50 million units worldwide and New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS is approaching 20 million -- 19.94 million, to be exact -- according to new software sales data released by the publisher.

Other Wii and DS titles that have sold in excess of ten million are Wii Play (24.43 million), Wii Fit (22.5 million), Mario Kart Wii (18.36 million), and Mario Kart DS (18.09 million). The figures include bundles and system pack-ins.

Black Wii Limited Edition bundle dated and priced for South Africa (News)

Oct 22, 2009

El33tonline writes:

"Yesterday we brought you news that a black Wii bundle would be arriving on South African shores just in time for the holiday period, but now we have the official date and price structure for the Limited Edition bundle, which includes a black Wii, black WiiMote, MotionPlus and Nunchuk, as well as the excellent Wii Sports Resort and the original Wii Sports."

Wii bowling strikes it big (News)

Oct 5, 2009

USA Today writes: "Everything is big in Texas. Even the Wii bowling matches.

Last week, the TexanPlus HMO conducted a Wii Bowling Championship with more than 550 contestants, enough to qualify for a Guinness record."

New Wii Bundle Arrives at Retail (News)

Oct 2, 2009

The new Wii console bundle, originally revealed by Electronic Theatre last month, has now arrived at UK retail and is available for consumer purchase. The new bundle has not received a reduction in price as many had anticipated, but rather added in more value through additional hardware and software.

New Wii Bundle Confirmed for UK (News)

Sep 24, 2009

Nintendo have today confirmed that the UK will receive a brand new hardware bundle for the hugely successful Wii console on October 2nd, 2009. As Electronic Theatre have previously suggested, the bundle will not reduce in price, but instead add more value to the existing package.

Nintendo Achieves Four Million-Sellers In Fiscal Q3 (News)

Aug 3, 2009

Gamasutra writes:

"Four Nintendo-published titles achieved more than a million units of worldwide sales in its latest fiscal quarter alone, according to the company's third quarter briefing."

Newt Gingrich Needs Tips on Wii Sports (News)

Aug 2, 2009

Kotaku wrote.... Newt Gingrich, putative presidential candidate (and in his party, who isn't?) is getting his ass handed to him by a 7-year-old in Wii bowling and has asked for your help,

Via Twitter, the former Speaker of the House says he's up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, visiting family and rolling the Wiimote. "Seven year old is proving tough competition," he tweets.

Wii Sports approaches 50 million copies sold (News)

Aug 1, 2009

Joystiq Writes....In a supplement to Nintendo's earnings statement yesterday, the company released some sales numbers for top-selling games in the last quarter. Four Nintendo products sold over one million copies between April and July, only one of which was a new release anywhere in the world during that time.

411mania's Release List for the Week of July 20, 2009 (News)

Jul 24, 2009

411mania talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Little King's Story, Katamari Damacy Tribute, Shatter, and Wii Sports Resort.

Nintendo challenges South African families to get (inter)active (News)

Jul 10, 2009

El33tonline writes:

"Nintendo of South Africa is challenging local families to compete in a series of game events at Pick 'n Pay Hypermarkets throughout the country, for a chance to win one of two big prizes, namely a family trip for four to Euro Disney, or R100 000 cash."

Nintendo, Activision, Red Octane, Bethesda, Blizzard & Microsoft honoured by the Guinness World Records 2010 Gamers Edition (News)

Jun 6, 2009

On the heels of February's launch of the annual Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition, representatives were on hand at the E3 Expo this week to honour gaming publishers with brand new records.

Guinness World Record recipients included Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario franchise and more recently Wii Sports, who received the record for the Best Selling Video Game with sales of 45.7 million to date.

What is Nintendo not telling us about Wii Sports Resort? (News)

May 9, 2009

But why the secrecy about the other five games? And why did the title get delayed from earlier in the spring until July? There's so many unanswered questions about the title that don't seem to be that big of deals, until you consider that Nintendo may indeed be hiding a few secrets. Below is a look at some questions and potential surprises.

Only in India: Mumbai Wii Tennis Tournament (News)

Apr 24, 2009

Split-screen.com: "Measuring the popularity of Wii Sports is akin to measuring the popularity of the Wii: For every console sold, that's one satisfied family of wannabe tennis players. I don't know why I haven't heard of it more abroad, in Japan even where the console originates from, but this may very well be the first ever tournament held for a Wii title…ever."

Top 5 Best Selling Nintendo Wii Games in Japan (News)

Apr 24, 2009

The five best-selling Nintendo Wii games in Japan so far, according to Famitsu.

Wii Hardware Supply Meets UK Demand (News)

Apr 17, 2009

Electronic Theatre has received word that Wii hardware supply in the UK has now reached a level-footing with demand, allowing retailers to freely order their required quantities without limitation.

Is Wii MotionPlus Support Coming to Wii Sports? (News)

Apr 15, 2009

After GameDaily sent an inquiry to Nintendo about whether the company would deliver patches that would make older games compatible with the new accessory, the company responded that "The Wii MotionPlus accessory is only for games that are designed to make use of its abilities.

The device that plans to add more precise control to the Nintendo Wii is set to arrive on June 8 for $19.99. Tracking slight wrist movements and a wider range of body turns, the device, which plugs into the bottom of the Wii Remote, translates those motions into movements on-screen.

What 'Wii Sports' Boxing Once Looked Like (News)

Mar 25, 2009

At his GDC keynote today, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata walked through designer Shigeru Miyamoto's design process. Miyamoto doesn't write design documents. He shares his ideas with a small group of developers who then make a prototype. Iwata said the developers may spend as many as two years making prototypes. He showed this example: the prototype for "Wii Sports" boxing. Good prototypes get greenlit for production. Iwata siad he tries to avoid asking Miyamoto how things are going, so as to keep the development team from cutting corners.

New Study Suggests Videogames Could Form Part of Daily Recommended Activity (News)

Mar 19, 2009

ELSPA has welcomed the findings of a new study that indicates videogaming could form part of recommended daily physical activity. The study, conducted by Nottingham Trent University, the Department of Health and Nottingham University Hospital, set out to investigate the levels of energy expended when playing videogames. Representatives from GameCity, a street-level programme of activity that celebrates videogames and interactive entertainment, were also involved in supporting the clinical trials.

Kate Winslet enjoys playing Wii Sports with her son (News)

Feb 8, 2009

Kate Winslet is just one of the many celebrities who have shown interest in the Wii besides the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Miley Cyrus. Winslet says she was playing Wii Sports Tennis with her son when her husband told her that she received a few Oscar nominations. She also loves to watch her son play Wii Sports Boxing.

December 2008 NPD: Top 20 Software Rankings (News)

Jan 17, 2009

Top 20 Games of December 2008:
01. [WII] Wii Play (Nintendo) - 1460k
02. [360] Call of Duty: World at War* (Activision Blizzard) - 1330k
03. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 999k
04. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) - 878k
05. [WII] Guitar Hero World Tour* (Activision Blizzard) - 859k
06. [360] Gears of War 2* (Microsoft) - 745k
07. [360] Left 4 Dead (Electronic Arts) - 629k
08. [NDS] Mario Kart DS (Nintendo) - 540k
09. [PS3] Call of Duty: World at War (Activision Blizzard) - 533k
10. [WII] Animal Crossing: City Folk* (Nintendo) - 497k
11. [WII] Wii Music (Nintendo) - ~480k
12. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
13. [NDS] Personal Trainer: Cooking (Nintendo)
14. [360] Fallout 3* (Bethesda Softworks)
15. [NDS] Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (Disney Interactive Studios)
16. [WII] Link's Crossbow Training (Nintendo)
17. [PS2] Guitar Hero World Tour* (Activision Blizzard)
18. [360] Madden NFL 09* (Electronic Arts)
19. [WII] Call of Duty: World at War (Activision Blizzard)
20. [WII] Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip (Ubisoft)

Wii Sports Now the Best-Selling Game of All Time (News)

Jan 5, 2009

Wii Sports has surpassed Super Mario Brothers as the best-selling game of all time. With over 40 million units sold (obviously including bundles), Wii Sports is estimated to break the 50 million mark while resting comfortably at the top of the list. Check out the closest competition as Ripten lists the top 10 best-selling games of all time.

Nintendo Slapped With Strap Lawsuit Once Again (News)

Dec 11, 2008

According to official court documents obtained by GameCyte, a new class-action lawsuit has challenged Nintendo's Wiimote straps once more -- and a prior 2006 case may hold the key to how it will all play out.

The Independent: Wii sports is the greatest game of all time (News)

Sep 20, 2008

In a recent article in the Independent, a UK daily newspaper, they listed their top 50 video games of all time. Surprisingly, they said Wii sports was the greatest game of all time...

The Top 7... New franchises that already feel old (Feature)

Sep 8, 2008

Mario is a cultural phenomenon. Final Fantasy is epic. Resident Evil, Fallout, Diablo... all of these classic franchises will eventually be tossed away, but they won't be stamped with expiration dates anytime in the foreseeable future.

Other franchises started growing mold before they even left the grocery store shelves.

The somehow-less-inspired franchises may sell millions, contain lovable ...

New study finds that Wii Sports burns fewer calories than real sports (News)

Aug 2, 2008

Destructoid writes: "In a tragic turn of events, the American Council on Exercise released the results of a 2008 study, which revealed that WiiSports burns fewer calories than actually playing the real sport equivalent. MTVMultiplayer found the results via the PDF that was released yesterday. The meat of the findings was in this passage:

'Compared to golfing at a driving range (3.9 calories per minute), playing Wii Golf burned 0.8 calories less per minute. Actual bowling burns nearly twice as much (7.2 calories per minute) as Wii Bowling, while baseball burns 7.3 calories per minute and Wii Baseball burns 2.8 calories per minute less. Similarly, Wii Tennis burns 2.8 calories per minute less than the actual game (8.1 calories per minute). Finally, Wii Boxing burns about 3.0 calories per minute less than conventional sparring at 10.2 calories per minute.'

Captain Obvious was so busy with the nature of these findings, that he forgot how to fly and ate some pavement. Captain Obvious will be fine after his accident, but you may not be if you consider WiiSports a part of your exercise regimen. I have to say, as a gym addict, nothing can possibly replace what free weights, elliptical machines, or treadmills can do for your body in terms of calorie burning. A point of interest from the study reveals that they made participants in the WiiSports part actively play the game. That means, no sitting on the couch and waggling."

Wii Fits nicely into New York gym (News)

Jul 28, 2008

New York, New York. So good they named it twice and decided to charge upwards of $2000 (£1000) a month for a poky studio flat.

Now Manhattanites fed up with breaking crockery or putting an arm through a wall of the city's famously petite apartments while playing their Nintendo Wiis can lash out to their heart's content.

Wii game used as research tool (News)

Jul 27, 2008

The Ohio AP reports: Sweat drips down Renee Mershon-Wollerman's face as she eyes a boxer across the ring.

She ducks left, punches. Her opponent, a Japanese amateur, throws an uppercut. Mershon-Wollerman counters. Jab. Right hook. Her opponent hits the canvas and doesn't get up.

Mershon-Wollerman goes to a neutral corner, but there are no high-fives, no celebration. Just a simple request from her trainer, Kristen Perusek: Pause the video game for a second and rate yourself on an exercise exertion scale.

Perusek and five other Cleveland State University students received a $6,000 grant from the school to conduct research this summer on how technology can help increase physical activity, especially among children. The students recently focused on how a Nintendo Wii boxing video game compares with a boxing bag workout.

Yanks beat Brits at Wii Sports - official! (News)

Jul 27, 2008

New research suggests that when it comes to frantic wrist-waggling, Americans are in a league of their own.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has just revealed the number of calories burned by a team of students playing virtual sports on Nintendo's Will console: digital bowling burns 3.9 calories (strictly, 'nutritional kilocalories') a minute, tennis expends 5.3 calories, while boxing KO's the opposition with a mighty 7.2 calories burned every 60 seconds.

Wii Sports Beats Sofa But Loses to Real Athletics (News)

Jul 23, 2008

The American Council on Exercise has just released a small study suggesting that the Wii Sports games are better than sitting on your butt but not as good as doing the sports themselves.

In descending order of caloric burn, Wii's version of boxing burned an average of 7.2 calories a minute, tennis burned 5.3 calories a minute, baseball about 4.5, bowling about 3.9, and golf about 3.1. (That means 30-minute workouts burn 216, 159, 135, 117, and 93 calories, respectively.) That's less than the real-life activity in all cases; real bowling actually burns about twice as much as the Wii version. And only Wii's version of boxing counted as strenuous enough to meet the ACE's guidelines for endurance-building exercise.

With new Wii Sports, Wii Music, the Wii's future is casual (News)

Jul 16, 2008

Nintendo's press conference held few surprises, but a new Animal Crossing, Wii Sports, and the announcement of Wii Music show that Nintendo is more dedicated to the casual market than ever. Ars reports from Nintendo's E3 press conference.

Wii-habilitation: Using Video Games To Heal Burns Also Using Guitar Hero (News)

Jul 16, 2008

Video games -- often regarded as nothing more than mindless entertainment for lethargic kids and teens -- are proving to be an effective, new tool to motivate patients to perform rehabilitation exercises. Rehabilitation therapists from the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are using the motion-sensitive Nintendo Wii video game console, along with traditional methods, to help patients recover from life-changing injuries.

Patients hold wireless remotes that control actions on screen. Players swing the controller to simulate realistic motions, like swinging a tennis racquet, swatting a baseball for a home run, among countless other motions. For burn patients or any patient with a skin graft, moving and stretching the skin is very painful, but imperative for a successful recovery.

Wii Sports Lounge At Mood, Newcastle UK (News)

Jul 7, 2008

It's the first time a games console has made it into a club and that is, the Nintendo Wii. At the GATE complex in Newcastle, the bar "Mood" was advertising a Wii Sports lounge

Women Duke It Out For a Free Wii (News)

Jun 14, 2008

Ladies, forget "Sex and the City."

Now there's Wii Sports BoxingÂ¿ and the city.

Last night, Nintendo invited women around the Big Apple to participate in a "Wii Sports Boxing in the City" competition (similar to last year's Wiimbledon). The event was held at a bar and restaurant located in midtown Manhattan, and Nintendo touted it as a chance for females "to throw a virtual punch or two while unwinding from a long day at work."

Seven women. One free Wii. Fourteen furious fists.

Wii Sports: A catalyst for sexual tension? (News)

May 29, 2008

Wii Sports has been recognized across the globe as one of the most approachable Wii titles. Furthermore, the game was one of the first titles from Nintendo in what appears to be a continuous supply of the "Wii ____" entitled brand. Even though Wii Sports was released more than a year and a half ago, one possible "effect" from the gameplay may be surprising. In a recent article from Kasidie, a claim is made that Wii Sports produces sexual tension. "Unlike many other games, Wii Sports strongly encourages physical activity among players. The games generally require movements modeled after the actual sports you are playing. This provides numerous opportunities for physical intimacy and heightened sexual tension ("Here, let me help you perfect your bowling stance. Let's start with those hipsÂ¿")."

Wii Sports Makes Appearance At Oscars (News)

Feb 25, 2008

Today showed that Nintendo really does know no bounds, as along with John Stewart making his usual writers strike, Iraq and political references at the show he also was seen playing a game of Wii Sports on the huge screen that adorns the stage at the 80th Annual Academy Awards.

British PM Ponders Game Crackdown Between Wii Tennis Matches (News)

Feb 12, 2008

When not planning an offensive on the UK games industry (allegedly), British Prime Minister Gordon Brown likes to engage in a bit of Wii Sports action in his living room with his four-year-old son.

Famitsu Japan Game Charts From Jan 21st to Jan 27th, 2008 (News)

Jan 31, 2008

Famitsu via VGChartz reports from Jan 21st to Jan 27th, 2008, the hardware sales in Japan were as follows:

Console :

Wii : about 79k
DSL : about 75k
PS3 : about 29k
PS2 : about 11k
PSP : about 61k
360 : about 4.2k

Top 10

1. Wii Fit (Wii) : about 96k (total about 1.21m)
2. Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (PSP) : about 70k
3. Lucky Star: Ryouou Gakuen Outou-Sai (PS2) : about 61k
4. Mario & Sonic at Beijing Olympics (DS) : about 54k (total about 145k)
5. Wii Sports (Wii) : about 28k (total about 2.69m)
6. Mario Party DS (DS) : about 26k (total about 1.56m)
7. Yggdra Union (PSP) : about 22k
8. Dora Base (DS) : about 22k (total about 141k)
9. Monster Hunter Portable 2 (PSP) : about 15k (total about 1.58m)
10. Wii Play (Wii) : about 14k (total about 2.15m)

New releases out of Charts(Top 30):

Exit (DS) : about 5.5k
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (PS3) : about 5k
The Sims 2 (DS) : about 3.7k
TOCA RACE DRIVER3 THE ULTIMATE RACING SIMULATOR (PS2) : about 0.75k

Kotaku:Nintendo Million Sellers Revealed (News)

Jan 29, 2008

Wii

Wii Sports - 17,850,000
Wii Play - 9,230,000
Super Mario Galaxy - 5,190,000
Mario Party 8 - 4,350,000
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 4,300,000
Super Paper Mario - 2,160,000
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree - 2,000,000
Mario Strikers Charged - 1,650,000
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 1,140,000
Link's Crossbow Training - 1,070,000
Wii Fit - 1,050,000

Nintendo DS

Nintendogs - 17,790,000
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - 14,170,000
New Super Mario Bros. - 13,140,000
Brain Age - 11,710,000
Brain Age 2 - 9,840,000
Mario Kart DS - 9,670,000
Animal Crossing Wild World - 9,200,000
Super Mario 64 DS - 5,780,000
Big Brain Academy - 4,610,000
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 3,820,000
Pokemon Ranger - 2,610,000
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Explorers of Darkness - 1,540,000

Wii workout trounced by traditional exercise: study (News)

Jan 23, 2008

Canadian students have given each other a Wii workout to see if the top-selling videogame console can get couch potatoes to work up a sweat.

Famitsu Japan Game Charts 2008-1-14/ 2008-1-20 and Sales (News)

Jan 23, 2008

Famitsu reports via VGChartz, that the weekly sales between Jan 14th to Jan 20th in Japan were the following:

Console :

DSL : about 91k
Wii : about 76k
PSP : about 65k
PS3 : about 32k
PS2 : about 13k
360 : about 4.4k

Software:

1. Wii Fit (Wii) : about 108k (total about 1.11m)
2. Mario & Sonic at Beijing Olympics (DS): about 91k
3. Mario Party DS (DS): about 38k (total about 1.53m)
4. Wii Sports (Wii): about 31k (total about 2.65m)
5. Wii Play (Wii): about 19k (total about 2.14m)
6. Monster Hunter Portable 2 (PSP): about 18k (total about 1.57m)
7. Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (DS): about 17k (total 714k)
8. Mario & Sonic at Beijing Olympics (Wii): about 17k (total 474k)
9. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii): about 17k (total about 844k)
10. Mario Party 8 (Wii): about 15k (total about 1.15m)
11. Mario Kart DS (DS): about 14k (total about 2.80m)
12. FF4 (DS): about 11k (toal about 559k)
13. School Days L x H (PS2): about 11k
14. DQ4 (DS): about 10k (total about 1.15m)
15. Prof. Layton and the Mysterious Village (DS): about 10k (total813k)
16. New Super Mario Bros. (DS): about 10k (total about 5.06m)
17. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS): about 10k (total about 4.56m)
18. Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2): about 9.6k (total about 605k)
20. Rune Factory 2 (DS): about 8.8k (total about 83k)
21. Everybody's Golf Portable 2 (PSP): about 8k (total about 202k)
23. Call of Duty 4 (PS3) : about 7.8k (total about 58k)
24. Star Ocean 1 First Departure (PSP): about 7.7k (total about 183k)
25. Power Pro kun Pocket 10 (DS): about 7.7k (total about 215k)

This week Upcomings :

1/24

[Wii]
No soft is released

[DS]
Nothing special

[PS3]
1/24
* Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights

The Rest of Europe / Others Chart for Week Ending 19th January 2008 including Software sales (News)

Jan 23, 2008

Software Total:
DS: 609,840
Wii: 570,059
PS3: 238,450
360: 203,563
PS2: 134,850
PSP: 24,268

1. Wii Sports (Wii) 119,835 6,379,604
2. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) 96,291 1,322,339
3. More Brain Training (DS) 83,439 3,111,330
4. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) 68,012 1,563,768
5. Brain Training (DS) 65,928 4,900,545
6. Wii Play (Wii) 55,725 2,715,265
7. New Super Mario Bros (DS) 47,174 3,855,957
8. Assassins Creed (PS3) 46,113 1,137,639
9. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (DS) 40,318 681,888
10. Nintendogs (DS) 39,444 8,685,024
11. Pokemon Diamond / Pearl (DS)38,614 3,267,347
12. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune 38,285 545,022
13. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2) 34,657 2,157,160
14. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS3) 31,894 928,084
15. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3) 30,592 962,322

Japan 2007: Nintendo Dominates Top 10 Software Sales (News)

Jan 13, 2008

January 11 - Nintendo claims eight of the top ten selling games of 2007 in Japan, looking at the latest figures from Enterbrain, publisher of the Famitsu magazine.

Only Capcom's PSP title Monster Hunter Portable 2 and Square Enix's Dragon Quest IV manage to break Nintendo's hold on the top ten.

The list of Japan's Top 10 software of 2007, with their units sold, is posted at MCV.

Enterbrain: Japanese video game market grew 9.9% in 2007 to record value (News)

Jan 7, 2008

Tokyo, Jan. 7, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) - The value of the computer game market in Japan grew last year by 9.9 percent to a record 687.7 billion yen, led by the sales success of Nintendo Co Ltd's Nintendo DS and DS Lite, magazine publisher Enterbrain said Monday.

The hardware market expanded by 25.0 percent to 327.41 billion yen, while the software market contracted by 1.0 percent to 360.25 billion yen, Enterbrain said in a written statement.

In the hardware market, Nintendo sold 7.14 million Nintendo DSs and DS Lites and 3.63 million Wii consoles last year.

Sony Corp unit Sony Computer Entertainment Inc sold 3.02 million PlayStation Portables.

In the software market, Nintendo sold 1.91 million sets of Wii Sports and Capcom Co Ltd sold 1.49 million sets of Monster Hunter Portable 2. Nintendo sold 1.487 million sets of Hajimeteno Wii, the introductory software package for the Wii console, Enterbrain said.

(1 US dollar = 108.95 yen)

By Kaori Kaneko

The Bitbag Editor's Choice Award Winners (News)

Dec 25, 2007

The Bitbag editor picks the winners for:

Â¿ Best 3D Action Game
Â¿ Best Racing Game
Â¿ Best RPG
Â¿ Best Fighter
Â¿ Best FPS
Â¿ Best Strategy Game
Â¿ Best Sports Game
Â¿ Best War Game
Â¿ Best Mecha Game
Â¿ Achievement In Excellence
Â¿ Best Handheld Game
Â¿ Best Graphics
Â¿ Best Sound
Â¿ Best Online Multiplayer
Â¿ Developer Of The Year
Â¿ Game Of The Year

The Weirdest Gaming Records from the Guinness Book (News)

Dec 21, 2007

When the Guinness Book of Records launches next February, it's going to include a section on gaming for the first time in its history. (If you don't know what the Guinness Book of World Records is, read the full story for an explanation.) Now that games are included we can expect some truly bizarre gaming feats to be attempted. To celebrate the launch of the Guinness World Record Gamers Edition 2008 a Guinness World Record attempt for the longest Guitar Hero marathon relay will be held at HMV, Oxford Street, London on February 6 between 6-8pm. Find out more by visiting the official website via CVG.

CVG has a selection of the more quirky records from the book...

Famitsu: Japan Sums Up 2007 in a Nutshell (News)

Dec 19, 2007

1UP - Brian Gray, 12/19/2007:

As the last of 2007 creeps away, Japanese gaming mag Weekly Famitsu asked 280 users and 63 stores to sum up the game industry this year, publishing the first part of the questionnaire's results in this week's issue. A summary of the results is as follows.

Current Japanese Best Sellers (News)

Nov 22, 2007

Mario Party DS sold a further 116,000 copies during the week ended November 18 to retain the top spot in Japan.

The feat follows unit sales of almost a quarter of a million in its debut week, and is enough to beat the latest Resident Evil title to the Japanese software summit.

Wii exclusive The Umbrella Chronicles, the first of five new entries to make the top ten, debuts at No2. It supplants Shin Sangoku Musou 5, which drops one place to No3.

Overall 14 DS games, six Wii, four PS3, three PSP, two PS2 and one Xbox 360 title chart.

01. Mario Party DS (DS) - 116,000 / 350,000
02. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Wii) - 83,000 / New
03. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (PS3) - 76,000 / 264,000
04. Pro Yakyuu Famista DS (DS) - 49,000 / New
05. Game Center CX (DS) - 46,000 / New
06. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 40,000 / 365,000
07. Heavenly Sword (PS3) - 15,000 / New
08. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS) - 14,000 / 230,000
09. Wii Sports (Wii) - 13,000 / 2,211,000
10. Soukou Kihei Votoms (PS2) - 12,000 / New

Nintendo issues dig at Microsoft and Halo 3 (News)

Oct 30, 2007

UK boss claims Wii Sports will be defining game of this generation.

Nintendo has launched a thinly veiled dig at Microsoft and its record breaking launch of blockbuster FPS Halo 3.

Speaking at a press conference this morning in London, David Yarnton, general manager of Nintendo UK, said: "For all the recent talk of record breaking entertainment launches, it might just be that the defining and most influential video game of this generation is a simple game of tennis that the whole family can gather around and play and enjoy together."

Although Yarnton didn't mention Halo 3 or Wii Sports by name, the "record breaking entertainment launch" is obviously a reference to Halo 3 and the "simple game of tennis" is clearly Wii Sports.

Nintendo's Best-Selling Wii Games: Six First-Party Million Sellers (News)

Oct 27, 2007

Nintendo revealed six first party-published Wii games that have sold over a million copies worldwide on October 26. IGN reports five out of the six:

1. Wii Sports: 11.1 million
2. Wii Play: 6.3 million
3. Mario Party 8: 2.9 million
4. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree: 1.8 million
5. Mario Strikers Charged: 1.3 million

IGN has apparently made an error and omitted the sixth title. According to user comments at IGN and Wikipedia, the missing title could be either The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (3.61 million), Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (1.82 million), or Super Paper Mario (1.74 million).

Gears Wins Big at Golden Joysticks (News)

Oct 26, 2007

Tens of thousands of gamers voted for the true people's awards, held Friday in London, which highlighted the elite titles from the past year across a diverse range of categories.

Undoubtedly the big winner at this year's awards was Microsoft and Epic's stellar third-person shooter Gears of War, which took four top honors. Gears triumphed in the Ultimate Game of the Year, Xbox Game of the Year, The Nuts All-Nighter and the Editor's Choice categories. It also placed third in the 1Xtra Soundtrack of the Year and The GameTribe Online Game of the Year categories.

Codemasters received the UK Developer of the Year award for 2007 sponsored by Next-Gen.biz, while Game took the prizes for Retailer of the Year. Nintendo took the Publisher of the Year award ahead of Microsoft Game Studios and Codemasters, while the Wii was labeled Innovation of the Year.

Wii becomes a new tool for hospital rehab (News)

Oct 21, 2007

"There are a lot of things Barbara Everlith can't do since she suffered a stroke. Grasping objects with her left hand doesn't come as easily as it used to. She can't stand or walk as steadily as she once did.

But there's one thing that Everlith, who lives in Stratford, can do. She can play tennis. Sort of."

Connecticut Post's Amanda Cuba reports for the Associated Press that hospitals in the U.S. and Canada are incorporating the Wii into their physical therapy programs.

Wii-hab: Rehabilitating the Seriously Injured (News)

Oct 14, 2007

Minneapolis-based CBS affiliate WCCO reported on October 13 that the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, has been using the Wii in its physical rehabilitation program with tremendous success. The institute calls the program "Wii-hab" and uses the Wii's freeform motion controls as "a safe but realistic way to retrain" the bodies of people suffering from serious injury.

Therapists reported that Wii-hab is working.

"I've seen spinal cord patients really regain the ability to move - gain movement from everything that help them wash their face, brush their teeth, to get in and out of the chair to start a car," said Occupational Therapist Jennifer Smith.

The Sister Kenny Research Center is tracking the results of "Wii-hab" and may report their findings next year.

Seniors strike it healthy with virtual bowling (News)

Oct 14, 2007

CanWest News Service (Canada) reports how Nintendo Wii and DS are helping seniors and retirees to stay physically and mentally healthy while bonding with their friends, children and grandchildren.

"Friday is bowling night at the Millennium Trail Manor retirement home, when up to 20 residents gather for some friendly competition on the (bowling) lanes... They're going to try boxing next. There's no risk of bruised knuckles or broken noses, though, because the residents play the sports on the Wii..."

"Dr. Sharon Cohen has incorporated Brain Age (DS) into treatment programs for patients with Alzheimer's and dementia at the Toronto Memory Clinic. The games really do offer mental callisthenics, she says..."

Prediction: No More Wii Sports Included With Wii's (News)

Oct 6, 2007

"I've been thinking this for quite some time and now am pretty much confident this is going to happen. Back at E3 Nintendo said that all future Wii's from November (I think) will have the gun attachment packaged into the main £180 box. The Zelda Cross Bow training is not really a game as it's so small and apart from the hardcore Zelda fans no-one is really going to care about it - I suspect the only reason it's packaged with the gun is to stop people complaining about how they brought a Wii and now have to shell out extra for an attachment when if they had waited they would have had it free."

Prince Announces Custom Tennis Racquets for Wii Sports (News)

Oct 2, 2007

Prince - a leading manufacturer of real life tennis rackets and tennis equipment - announced the Prince-branded Wiimote holder for Wii Sports. The racquet brackets will be available in three color combinations beginning November 15, apparently exclusively though Circuit City, at US$14.99.

Wii even has its own boxing gloves now (News)

Oct 2, 2007

The latest Wii peripheral to hit the market are these lurid-coloured inflatable boxing gloves - just in time for the US release of Victorious Boxers: Revolutions on October 16.

Dev: Top Spin won't have legless, unfinished characters like Wii Sports (News)

Aug 28, 2007

PAM's senior producer Jean-Yves Patay has explained that the firm's upcoming Topspin Tennis for the Nintendo Wii will topple the console's tennis crown contested solely by Wii Sports at present.

"I have a son that has lots of fun with Wii Sports", said Patay, but "Topspin on Wii will have completely different play mechanic and a different focus. There'll be no big heads and no players without legs," he said, as he went on to explain why Topspin will be a more "finished game."

Nintendic isn't so sure Payat has heard the full story about Wii Sports when he implies that its legless players exhibit an unfinished game. Shigeru Miyamoto has previously explained that the design of the Mii characters are based on Kokeshi, a form of Japanese doll used as souvenir gifts in Japan.

Boogie bombs: American Software Sales (News)

Aug 15, 2007

American chart for week ending 11th August 2007 is released and as you can see, EA's high profile Wii game Boogie didn't have a strong debut (the reason behind PS2 version rumors?) and couldn't get to top 10 which is dominated by Nintendo.

See big-name games at Edinburgh Interactive Festival (News)

Aug 2, 2007

Thursday 2 August 2007 Several big-name games are slated to make public appearances at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2007, which takes place on 13 and 14 August. Amongst the blockbuster titles appearing are Unreal Tournament 2007, Assassin's Creed and the rather brilliant-looking BioShock. Codemasters' Rise of the Argonauts and Turning Point will be making their world debuts at the festival and, to top it all off, Guitar Hero III will be making its public European debut. Get in! The ...

US Chart for Week Ending 28th July 2007 (News)

Aug 2, 2007

Software and hardware sales in the US from VGchartz. Guitar Hero II takes the number one spot for software sales while the Nintendo DS was the best-seller for hardwares.

Hardware: Console Weekly Total
DS - 140,151 (-4%) 13,730,938
Wii - 95,171 (-3%) 3,974,505
PSP - 59,483 (-9%) 8,864,934
PS2 - 54,701 (-10%) 44,524,847
PS3 - 43,498 (-4%) 1,738,147
X360 - 34,174 (+5%) 6,607,403
GBA - 23,725 (-0%) 40,768,173
GC - 1,656 (-2%) 12,697,057
Xbox - 11 (-58%) 15,933,106
Total 452,570

Gym incorporates Wii Sports into circuit training (News)

Jul 19, 2007

Studeo 55 in Vancouver is thought to be the first gym in the country, and possibly in North America, to incorporate the popular video-game console into circuit training. According to the club's owner, one session of Wii boxing, tennis or bowling provides the athletic equivalent of going for a brisk walk - burning anywhere from 75 to 125 calories, depending on the person's size and activity level.

Latest US Games Chart 1st of July 2007 (News)

Jul 4, 2007

The Darkness has a strong start on both PS3 and Xbox 360. List of top selling games for week ending 01st July 2007. Rainbow Six Vegas PS3 makes it to top 10 and the number one is Wii Pokemon.

Superb deal on Nintendo Wii bundle (UK) (News)

Jun 20, 2007

Everybody would love a Nintendo Wii, but it's all about if and when you can afford it. Gamers in the UK who are yet to buy a Wii will be interested in a deal which TotallyWii have stumbled across...

Wiimbledon Tennis Tournament Hits New York (News)

Jun 13, 2007

With Wimbledon soon approaching, tennis fans are in for a treat with a non-profit Wii Tennis tournament, Wiimbledon, heading to Brooklyn on Saturday, June 23.

For more details and to sign up, be sure to check out the event website: http://wiimbledon.net/

WiiTube (Feature)

Jun 1, 2007

With the full Opera browser slowly - and we mean slowly - downloading into the Wii's master-brain, there's no better time to indulge in a spot of YouTubing shenanigans. It's here gamers reveal acts of gaming prowess beyond our meager arm-flailing goofiness, and demonstrate how to milk every drop of fun from those Wii discs. Now get surfing. Remote Flicks - Big screen Wii by hohlerman Watch as a group of enterprising Wii fanatics create the real big screen gaming experience. That such a tiny ...

WiiHealthy.com sets your wii-kly workout regimen (News)

May 24, 2007

DDR isn't the only workout program out there anymore, WiiHealthy.com has a workout regimen using Wii Sports that'll help you shed those unwanted Cheetos and Mountain Dew pounds.

Sony's High Velocity Bowling started before Nintendo Wii Sports' Bowling (News)

May 22, 2007

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."

Wii technology used in brain rehabilitation (News)

May 16, 2007

The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is the first in North America to use the Wii technology to treat patients with movement and balance issues. Patients like Liaw, 34, have progressed from their wheelchairs, unable to bend at the waist or pick up things from the floor, to stand and play in front of a TV screen, swinging a virtual golf stick, scoring a virtual bowling strike or knocking out an opponent in a boxing match.

Dr. Grigore Burdea, a world leader in computer-based virtual reality techniques in rehabilitation therapies, said in five years, he believes every hospital and rehab clinic will have embraced the gaming technology for their patients.

Forget relaxation, Norwegian Cruise Line offers up big screen Wii play (News)

Mar 31, 2007

If you've been attempting to break into your local multiplex after hours ever since you saw that original Wii-in-a-theater video, here's something that could help put on the right side of the law, while still satisfying those big screen urges. Norwegian Cruise Line has outfitted its newest ship and its whole NCL America fleet with Wii systems galore, including setups for the kids, various public rooms, and that uber-screen in the atrium pictured above. The cruise line will offer up tournaments and other activities, and also says that "Cheering, yelling and high-fives will be highly encouraged."

Wii Fad, or Genius Way to Bring in New Gamers? (News)

Mar 12, 2007

"If Wii newbies migrate to those games, we can start talking about Nintendo changing the entire culture of entertainment."

"Could the Wii be a short-lived fad? Not likely, but impossible to rule out. Could its converts - people with almost no previous gaming interest - turn out to be a relatively small pool of consumers? Sure."

"The "mom" factor shows signs of emerging as a Wii theme. Before the console launched, there was considerable speculation about whether the Wii could draw in meaningful numbers of new women players. But consider this tale from the blogs:

"I also brought my Wii console home for Christmas, and my mother, who I have never seen try any game except for 'Tetris' in her life, after seeing what my brothers and I were doing, asked to play some 'Wii Sports' tennis! It was definitely a moment to get out the camera and take a picture!"

"I thought she would enjoy it and then let others play. No! She proceeded to play game after game for over an hour! I have been completely amazed at how the Wii brought that out of her (finally!) and how she can now appreciate my love for gaming."

Reggie PWNS IGN In Wii Tennis (News)

Mar 9, 2007

Well, it's official: at an intimate cocktail reception held by Nintendo last night, Casamassina had his ass kicked and name taken by Nintendo ass-kicker Reggie Fils-Aime on the virtual courts of Wii Tennis.

Wii Invades Retirement Home (News)

Feb 26, 2007

Nice article about how the wii is invading, of all things, retirement communities. Not only that but they are mixing it up with the AARP. I guess: Retired + Wii = Fun. Dang old whippersnappers and their Nintendo machine. But seriously more power to them.

Wii Weight Loss Not Typical (News)

Feb 2, 2007

Kotaku first wrote about Mickey DeLorenzo back in early December when he set out to lose weight by playing Wii Sports.

hey_suburbia at WiiNintendo.net plans to spend 30 minutes a day playing Wii sports, from December 3rd to January 15th, in order to chart the effect it has on his body, tracking his pain, weight, Wii Fitness Age, etc.

DeLorenzo would later report that he managed to lose nine pounds in six weeks by playing Wii Sports for 30 minutes a day. His workout was so successful that he has now signed a book deal, The Wii Workout, and teamed up with Traineo.com to show off his workout, Time reports.

But is his story of losing all of that weight while promising to "continue ALL normal activity and eating habits" too good to be true? Likely not for him, but it sounds like he may be an anomaly...

Wii Sports getting tennis racket, golf club and baseball bat controller attachments (News)

Jan 15, 2007

PEGA's sport pack for Wii will set you back 2,780 Yen (that's $23 or €18) and you can pre-order it at Visavis for a late January release. For that price you get four head-mounts for the Wii remote. These plastic attachments are the 40cm (16 inch) long baseball bat, a tennis racket, and a golf club, all for use with Wii Sports. No boxing or bowling gloves included though.

Friday Photoshop: Pimp your Wii-mote! (News)

Jan 12, 2007

Friday 12 January 2007 We've just got hold of Joytech's Wii Sports accessory set - a collection of three white plastic clip-on peripherals that turn the Wii-mote into a steering wheel, a golf club or a tennis racquet, to complement the relevant games. No longer do you have to imagine you're holding a golf stick playing Wii golf; you can hold a six inch plastic version ...

Study Shows Wii-Type Gaming Fights Obesity (News)

Jan 8, 2007

Playing active video games like Wii Sports helps fight obesity, says the Mayo Clinic. "The point is that children - - very focused on screen games -- can be made healthier if activity is a required part of the game."

Wii Sports wins TIME's game of the year (News)

Jan 3, 2007

So Wii sports picks up the covenanted "Game of the Year" title by TIME magazine. WOW, back in the day when I had to read TIME magazine for reports in high school there were never any cool articles about video games. Now TIME is telling us why buying a PS3 is a mistake and they are starting to pick video games of the year awards.

FACT SHEET: Proper Wii Remote Usage (News)

Dec 18, 2006

Nintendo is continuing a dialogue with its customers about the proper and safe use of the motion-sensitive Wii Remote controller when playing Wii Sports.

The following tips are advised for safe play:

Always wear the wrist strap while playing.
Keep a firm grip on the Wii Remote at all times.
Make sure people and objects are out of the range of movement before play begins.

More tips at source.

UK launch: Wii draws the crowds (News)

Dec 8, 2006

The Wii went on sale in the UK at the stroke of midnight on Friday, drawing huge crowds on London's premiere shopping street in two massive lines.

At Nintendo's official event in HMV on Oxford Street, celebrities Ian Wright, Nell McAndrew, Pat Cash, and Ricky Hatton turned up to play Wii Sports. Cash and McAndrew played Wii Tennis, with Cash winning two games to zero. Wright and Hatton sparred at Wii Boxing, with the ex-footballer winning the virtual game against the boxer.

Report: UK Retailers Forego Wii Pre-orders (News)

Dec 7, 2006

Next-Gen's European media partner reports that some UK retailers are opting out of a pre-order release scheme and selling off all launch allocation on day one; customers lining up for tomorrow's launch.
As the Wii is launching in Europe tomorrow morning, retailers are just as anxious to rack up some sales.

A games buyer at Asda Sanjay Kapoor told trade site MCV, "As we've decided to sell from day one rather than using a pre-order system, we're going to see just how manic customers are for Wii on launch day. From what they've told us, we could easily sell ten times more than our allocation."

Independent local retailers also said that by foregoing pre-orders, the most loyal customers are more likely to snag a Wii. A retailer in London said, "If we ran a pre-order system, we'd not only run the risk of letting our best customers down, but we'd miss out on the local publicity that comes from the massive queues we'll see at midnight."

Over 20 titles will be available for the Wii at its December 8 European launch, including games from third-parties Electronic Arts, Activision, Midway, THQ and Ubisoft. As with North America, Nintendo is including Wii Sports with the system and will have The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess available at launch.

Wiimote attacks TV for massive damage! (News)

Dec 6, 2006

Looks like someone ate their Wheaties before playing some Wii Sports.

"It did indeed end up stuck in the hole. Tyler is right handed but usually bowls putting a clockwise spin on the wiimote, this time he put a counterclockwise spin on itÂ¿ lesson learned? Stick with what works in the first place! The great part is we pulled it out, laughed some more, replaced the batteries and backplate then continued to play (only in a milder manner this time around). We're trying to figure out how to make a comfortable/stronger strap right now."

GAME points to Wii Software Shortages (News)

Dec 5, 2006

While a lack of hardware was a given, it's quite surprising to learn from employees of GAME - the UK's largest game retailer - that most stores will not get a copy of Zelda or extra nunchuk for each console they recieve - at many stores Wii gamers may be forced to go home with just the console and Wii Sports.

GAME stores have taken action to try to prevent the shortage from causing too much trouble - banning lone software purchases! Until the launch period is over, don't expect to be able to walk into a GAME store and purchase a game - the chain will only be selling games and accessories to people who have purchased the console. All previous software orders are nul and void - software will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Wii Play and Wii Sports outsell Zelda (News)

Dec 5, 2006

Famitsu reports that early Wii software sales in Japan put Wii Sports and Wii Play ahead of Zelda.

Everyone expected The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to clean up in the Wii sales chart for the launch period, and this has been the case in North America. However, Japanese gamers had other ideas.

According to figures released by Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, the top selling Wii launch title was not Zelda, but Wii Sports with sales of 176,800 over the launch weekend. In Japan the game is not bundled with the console as it is in North America and Europe, but this hasn't stopped the game reaching 47% of Japanese Wii owners.

Behind Wii Sports comes Wii Play, a collection of nine mini-games designed to highlight the different uses of the Wii remote, and shifted an impressive 171,888 units. Zelda finally makes an appearance in third place with sales of 145,068 units.

First-party software leads Wii sales in Japan (News)

Dec 5, 2006

Enterbrain has revealed software sales figures for the Nintendo Wii in Japan, with first-party developed titles leading the pack on the first weekend of release.

Wii Sports was the best-selling game, racking up sales of 176,880 units, with Wii Play reaching 171,888 units.

Fan-favourite The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was the third best-selling game, shifting 145,068 copies, way ahead of the number four game, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, which reached 63,086 sales.

Tecmo's Super Swing Golf was the only third-party title in the top five, selling 12,673 copies, while Ubisoft's Red Steel, a title receiving a lot of press in the US and Europe, sold just under 9000 units to become the eighth most popular launch game.

The software tie-in ratio for the home console stands at 1.69, with Enterbrain reporting over 372,000 Wii's were sold over the first weekend in the region.

Iwata: We'll Beat Forecasts (News)

Dec 5, 2006

Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata says the company could beat its most optimistic forecasts for the year, following strong sales of Wii and DS. Meanwhile, stats have been released on the top selling Wii games in Japan, with Wii Sports beating Zelda.

In an interview with Reuters, Iwata said, "We came up with the current earnings forecasts before we sold even a single unit of the Wii and when we were not so sure about the cannibalization effect between the Wii and the DS. Confidence could be too strong a word, but there is an emerging possibility [for better results]."

Current forecasts from Nintendo are for a profits increase of 60 percent with sales up 45 percent.

Iwata said some analysts had predicted that Wii and DS Â¿ both of which are aimed at the 'expanded' games market - might take sales from one another. Iwata said this has not been the case.

Wii...secrets (News)

Nov 23, 2006

A list of Wii tidbits that you might not know.

· In the Photo Channel, you can catch the evil cat that runs across the screen to get tips! It appears in the Fun option, and you can grab the cat with the A and B button.

· You can have a 194 piece puzzle by holding down the 1 button before selecting any piece amount.

· If you don't have an SD card and still want to check out Photo Channel, you can e-mail a Jpg to your Wii Message Board. There is a size limit for any mail you send to it - possibly 1mb.

· In Bowling, you can throw your ball into other people's lanes.

· If you put mp3s in your SD card along with your photos, you can change the background music during a slideshow to one of your mp3s.

· When the messageboard records your play time, if you don't exit to the Wii Menu before you power off the machine, it records the play time as "other". If you properly exit to the menu and then shut off it will record it as the correct game.

· You can rearrange almost anything on the wiiÂ¿like the channels and messages by just holding the A and B

· The plasma burin reduction kicks in the second the wiimote shuts down.

· when you get an e-mail, not only does the disc drive light up and pulsate blue, but your Wiimote sends out a little chirp

· when you're in the Mii channel and you don't use the Wiimote for a little bit and your Mii's start walking around, if you then suddenly use the Wiimote, all the Mii stop and follow the 'hand' for about 3 secondsÂ¿.

· when typing messages, and you need to go back and edit the message(while still typing) instead of deleting letters, just point to where you want to edit to move the type cursor.

· In Wii Sports Bowling, when you press up on the Directional Pad, it will zoom in on the lane. The zoom in sound is the exac...

Wii Sports (Review)

Nov 21, 2006

When you're introducing people to something radically different from what they're used to, it's a good idea to start off slow and simple. With that in mind, Wii Sports is the perfect pack-in for Nintendo's Wii console; not only are its simple minigames fun and ultra-accessible for casual gamers, but you couldn't ask for a better tutorial on using the motion-sensitive Wii remote. The title might sound intimidating or even boring to non-sports-fans, but Wii Sports tosses out stuff like stat ...

Wii Sports (Screenshots)

Nov 21, 2006

JOYTECH Announce Accessory Line for Nintendo Wii Console (News)

Nov 17, 2006

Released to coincide with the launch of the Wii console, the JOYTECH line of Wii compatible accessories promises to further enhance the innovative range of software planned for the Wii console. JOYTECH's initial line of Wii compatible accessories includes the following products:

- JOYTECH Wii Sports Pack
- JOYTECH Wii Power Station
- JOYTECH Wii Racing Grip
- JOYTECH Wii Controller Grip
- JOYTECH Wii Silicon Gloves
- JOYTECH Wii Silicon Glove Pack

20 Wii games for launch (News)

Nov 16, 2006

The Wii will hit stores in America this Sunday, along with 20 titles for gamers to get stuck into.

We've had the list of games due for release before Christmas for some time, but Nintendo has now confirmed which of those will land on day one, and they are:

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Wii Sports (Packaged with every Wii)

EXCITE TRUCK

Call of Duty 3

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam

Marvel Ultimate Alliance

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Madden NFL '07

Rampage: Total Destruction

Happy Feet

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Cars

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Creature from the Krusty Krab

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz

GT Pro Series

Monster 4X4 World Circuit

Rayman Raving Rabbids

Red Steel

Wii Store Reserves Start (And Stop) In Japan! (News)

Nov 6, 2006

Sure, Amazon's already been doing Wii pre-orders, but AsoBitCity must be the first bricks-and-mortal retailer in Japan to offer them. Starting last Friday, customers could reserve a Wii (limit one per-person) with no money down. It was also possible to reserve four game titles: Wario, Twilight Princess, Wii Sports and My First Wii. Pre-orders at AsoBitCity were closed by Saturday.

Wii Sports has control issues (News)

Nov 1, 2006

After spending "several hours" with Wii Sports, IGN's Nintendo editor Matt Casamassina doesn't like the game due to flawed controls with the exception of Wii Bowling which he calls "totally rocking." Regarding Tennis, he had this to say: "You don't control anything except the swing of your player's racket. The movement of these Mii-alike athletes is all done automatically by the game. You simply swing the Wii remote back and forth to make your on-screen character do the same thing."

10 Must-Have Wii Launch Games (News)

Oct 21, 2006

I've been getting this question a lot. If I had to buy them -- which I don't, because I'm totally above the law and stuff -- which Wii launch titles would I choose for myself?

I've been thinking about it and based on what I've played, seen and know of the games thus far, I've compiled a preliminary list. Note that 1) Wii Sports is not on this list because it's included in the box and 2) as I get more play time with titles my opinion is subject to change. That said, here they are, and I've even ranked them for you, too. I do all of this out of love.

Is This PS3's and Wii's Launch Line-Up? (News)

Oct 10, 2006

The PS3 could launch with 24 titles and Wii with 30 titles according to new documents detailing the two companies' plans.

PlayStation 3
Resistance: Fall of Man - Sony
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Sony
Genji: Days of the Blade - Sony
Gran Turismo HD - Sony
NBA 07 - Sony
Call of Duty 3 - Activision (600,000)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance - Activision (300,000)
Tony Hawk's Project 8 - Activision (300,000)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Bethesda Softworks
Fight Night 3 - Electronic Arts (400,000)
Madden NFL 07 - Electronic Arts (700,000)
NBA Live 07 - Electronic Arts (500,000)
Need for Speed Carbon - Electronic Arts (800,000)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 - Electronic Arts (400,000)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Target In Sight - Namco Bandai
Ninja Gaiden Sigma - Namco Bandai
Ridge Racer 7 - Namco Bandai
Full Auto 2: Battlelines - Sega
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega
NBA 2K7 - Take-Two Interactive (400,000)
NHL 2K7 - Take-Two Interactive (200,000)
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft
Rainbow Six: Vegas - Ubisoft
F.E.A.R. - Vivendi

NINTENDO Wii
Wii Sports (bundled with hardware) - Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Nintendo
Excite Truck - Nintendo
Call of Duty 3 - Activision (200,000)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Activision (200,000)
Rapala Tournament Fishing Â¿ Activision (50,000)
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam - Activision (300,000)
World Series of Poker - Activision (50,000)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 - Atari (200,000)
Trauma Center: Second Opinion - Atlus
Madden NFL 07 - Electronic Arts (500,000)
Need for Speed: Carbon - Electronic Arts (500,000)
Elebits - Konami
The Ant Bully - Midway m (100,000)
The Grim Adventure...

Sunlight: Wii's biggest foe (News)

Oct 9, 2006

Nintendo Wii's sensor bar goes awry when confronted with natural light, according to a report by a "Warpstar Knight" on the Nintendo NSIDER Forums. The impressions, from OMBRENOIR17's September 14 visit to the Nintendo World (soon to be posted on Nintendo Gal), reveal that Mother Nature's carcinogen forced Metroid Prime 3 kiosks under curtains and completely shut down Wii Sports Tennis and Shooting Game. The kiosks returned to normal as soon as the bright star took a few steps back.

Survey says: Japanese developers rate the next-gen consoles (News)

Oct 6, 2006

What do Japanese game developers think about the next-gen consoles? Famitsu Mag took it upon themselves to ask 58 game developers (directors, programmers and designers) from 19 game companies about next-gen consoles and here are the results...

Which next-gen console will send cash registers ringing:
* Wii (60%)
* PS3 (37%)
* Xbox 360's (3%)

Which system they prefer for game development:
* Wii (63%)
* PS3 (32%)
* Xbox 360s (5%)

Which next-gen console they want for Christmas:
* Wii (49%)
* PS3 (42%)
* Xbox 360 (9%)

Most anticipated PS3's games:
* Metal Gear Solid 4 (12 votes)
* Final Fantasy XIII (10 votes)
* The Eye of Judgment (7 votes)
* Afrika (6 votes)
* Heavenly Sword (4 votes).
* Runners up: Bladestorm, Gran Turismo HD, Lair and Resistance: Fall of Man

Most anticipated Xbox360 games:
* Blue Dragon (18 votes)
* Lost Odyssey (14 votes)
* Culdecept Saga (8 votes)
* Dead Rising (4 votes)
* Gundam Operation Troy (4 votes).
* Runners up: Lost Planet, Gears of War, Riot Act and Idol Master
Most anticipated Wii games:
* The Legend of Zelda (26 votes)
* Super Mario Galaxy (8 votes)
* Wii Sports (5 votes)
* Animal Crossing (3 votes)
* Smash Brothers X (3 votes)
* Runners up: WarioWare, Fire Emblem, Sonic and the Secret Rings and Elebits

What they expect from PS3:
* Extremely high expectations (48%)
* High expectations (32%)
* Don't expect much (18%)

What they expect from Xbox 360:
* Not expecting much (45%)
* High expectations (40%)
* Extremely high expectations (13%)

What they expect from Wii:
* Extremely high...

Wii Sports - full game details with new logo (News)

Oct 2, 2006

Wii Sports offers five distinct sports experiences, each using the Wii Remote to provide a natural, intuitive and realistic feel. Players can use their own Mii caricatures in the game and play them against their friends' Miis for a more personalized experience. As players improve, their Miis' skill levels will increase, so that they can see exactly how much better they've become.

Will Wii Be Disappointed again? (News)

Sep 17, 2006

Nintendo finally dropped the bomb on most of the remaining details on their upcoming console launch Â¿ Wii. Nintendo fans everywhere cheered over the low price point of $249.99, Wii Sports packed in, an easy to use interface, low priced virtual console games, and the fact that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will finally see the light of day at launch on November 19. While all this sounds great on paper, I'm still extremely skeptical. Even though I can't wait to get my hands on my own Wii and take Link through his latest adventure, Nintendo has a poor track record that still makes me nervous.

Wii European bundle contents (News)

Sep 15, 2006

Here's what Nintendo's promising in the European Wii bundle:

Wii Console (white)

Wii Remote with strap

Nunchuk

Wii AC Adapter

Wii Stereo AV Cable

Wii Stand

Wii Stand Plate

Wii Sensor Bar

Sensor Bar Stand

AA Battery

Wii Sports game (baseball, tennis, bowling, boxing, golf)

Accessories will also be available:

Wii Remote - EUR 39 / GBP 29

Nunchuk - EUR 19 / GBP 14

Classic Controller - EUR 19 / GBP 14