Glen AtwellNintendo Wii Sports: You Little Beauty!
September 19th 2006 06:29
The Nintendo Wii, for those of you living under a rock, is Nintendo's new console that is giving the big boys, Sony and Microsoft, a run for their money.
The 'Wii' - pronounced 'We' as in 'we play games' - was launched in Australia on December 7, 2006 for the friendly price of $399.
Today, Sport Talk takes a close look at "Wii Sports", a Nintendo sports simulation game that will be bundled with every console sold in Australia.
The Wii-remote, once again for those of you living under a rock, has been designed from the ground-up. The result? A sophisticated control mechanism that might just revolutionise the gaming industry.
Take a look:
The remote is totally motion sensing, up-down left-right forward-backwards and even fast-slow. No cords, no limits; this is the epitome of new.
The Wii-remote and Wii Sports game will allow gamers to interact with their console in an entirely unprecedented manner. In Wii Tennis, for example, gamers will swing the Wii-remote at the virtual ball to return it over the net.
Sounds simple enough? Let's add another dimension. Roll the Wii-remote over the top over the ball to add top-spin, or slice under it to create a backspin. Now we're talking new revolution.
Let's take a look at all the Wii Sports that Nintendo has created:
Wii Baseball - The character stands at home plate, and is required to hit a ball thrown by a computer pitcher. Players grip the controller like a bat and swat fastballs out of the park in a home run derby, but it is up to the player to use the correct timing and positioning to hit the ball. Again, Nintendo has indicated that specials such as spin will be possible. In the two player game, one player pitches and the other bats.
Wii Golf - In Wii Golf, the controlled character always faces towards the hole, requiring the player only to choose the appropriate strength with which to swing. After each swing, the player moves to the ball's new location and swings again. The faster players swing the controller, the further the ball will fly. Putting requires more delicacy and may involve lining up the actual putt.
Wii Boxing - This is the first Wii Sports title to use both the controller and the nunchuk attachment. The player holds one in each hand, then jabs to punch. Raising both hands (controllers) blocks punches from the opponent. Two players can compete on a split-screen view.
Wii Bowling - In Wii Bowling, the player swings the controller backward, and then pushes it forward to roll the ball, similar to the motion required for golf. Spin can be put on the ball by tilting the controller on release.
It's hard to imagine what it is going to be like playing the Wii with the Wii-remote. Will it respond without delay? Will it be accurate? From all reports thus far: yes, it will be all those things and much more.
From a sports point of view, Wii Sports is exactly what the videogame sporting genre needed; something new.
So bring on the Wii on December 7, 2006 - just in time for Christmas - and bring on one more good reason for the increasingly overweight children (and adults) of Australia to stay indoors this Summer!
The 'Wii' - pronounced 'We' as in 'we play games' - was launched in Australia on December 7, 2006 for the friendly price of $399.
Today, Sport Talk takes a close look at "Wii Sports", a Nintendo sports simulation game that will be bundled with every console sold in Australia.
The Wii-remote, once again for those of you living under a rock, has been designed from the ground-up. The result? A sophisticated control mechanism that might just revolutionise the gaming industry.
Take a look:
The remote is totally motion sensing, up-down left-right forward-backwards and even fast-slow. No cords, no limits; this is the epitome of new.
The Wii-remote and Wii Sports game will allow gamers to interact with their console in an entirely unprecedented manner. In Wii Tennis, for example, gamers will swing the Wii-remote at the virtual ball to return it over the net.
Sounds simple enough? Let's add another dimension. Roll the Wii-remote over the top over the ball to add top-spin, or slice under it to create a backspin. Now we're talking new revolution.
Wii Tennis not only allows the gamer to return the ball, but also add slice and top-spin using a simple flick of the wrist.
Let's take a look at all the Wii Sports that Nintendo has created:
Wii Baseball - The character stands at home plate, and is required to hit a ball thrown by a computer pitcher. Players grip the controller like a bat and swat fastballs out of the park in a home run derby, but it is up to the player to use the correct timing and positioning to hit the ball. Again, Nintendo has indicated that specials such as spin will be possible. In the two player game, one player pitches and the other bats.
Wii Golf - In Wii Golf, the controlled character always faces towards the hole, requiring the player only to choose the appropriate strength with which to swing. After each swing, the player moves to the ball's new location and swings again. The faster players swing the controller, the further the ball will fly. Putting requires more delicacy and may involve lining up the actual putt.
Wii Boxing - This is the first Wii Sports title to use both the controller and the nunchuk attachment. The player holds one in each hand, then jabs to punch. Raising both hands (controllers) blocks punches from the opponent. Two players can compete on a split-screen view.
Wii Bowling - In Wii Bowling, the player swings the controller backward, and then pushes it forward to roll the ball, similar to the motion required for golf. Spin can be put on the ball by tilting the controller on release.
It's hard to imagine what it is going to be like playing the Wii with the Wii-remote. Will it respond without delay? Will it be accurate? From all reports thus far: yes, it will be all those things and much more.
From a sports point of view, Wii Sports is exactly what the videogame sporting genre needed; something new.
So bring on the Wii on December 7, 2006 - just in time for Christmas - and bring on one more good reason for the increasingly overweight children (and adults) of Australia to stay indoors this Summer!
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by MichaelB
Diet Dog
I guess unlike other game platforms, you can stand up and at least move your arms when playing, thats SOME exercise. MB
Comment by Glen Atwell
Computer Game
Sport Talk
Gamer Herald
when i wrote that line it didn't strike me that the Wii actually encourages some physical activity.
i expect there to be games much like eye toy 'kinetic' on the ps2 to encourage exercise like activities.
i was thinking last nite, and read it somewhere on orble... if im tired and feel like gaming would i really want to be swinging my arms around using the wii, or kick back with a ps3 remote?
i'm probably just scared of the impending revolution, too scared to walk away from sony and jump aboard the nintendo bandwagon... but just a thought.
anyway, and besides the point, i aint waiting till march 2007 for a ps3. no way known.
glen.
Comment by Uh huh... it
Comment by Glen Atwell
Computer Game
Sport Talk
Gamer Herald
slip, slop, slap! brings back the life be in it slogan.
what better excuse to play the wii? to avoid those harmful, dangerous UV rays!
in all honesty, in 20 years someone might read this post and say 'why are those guys joking around' - because it will be reality...
anyway... let's wii for as long as we can!
glen
Comment by Social Commentator
Comment by Glen Atwell
Computer Game
Sport Talk
Gamer Herald
we wait, holding our breath.
Comment by Darko
Comment by Anonymous
Also, as a side note, play a couple rounds in boxing and you'll find yourself a little winded -- I think one can almost make the argument that (possibly) this system will help some of those overweight people lose a couple pounds.
Comment by Stanley
still, great machine and very innovative.