Archive for Wii

Classic Controller Pro appears at E3

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 3rd, 2009

Classic Controller Pro appears at E3Here’s an interesting story. The guys over at Joystiq spotted a pair of Classic Controller Pros for the Wii at Nintendo’s E3 booth. What’s unusual about this is that it still hasn’t been announced for release outside of Japan.

Nintendo reps at the booth apparently know nothing, or they just weren’t saying anything about a planned release. There’s also no official word on the E3 press site. Yet the controllers were there in all their Wii-white glory.

Segway and Nintendo team up on Wii Fit Plus game

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Segway and Nintendo team up on Wii Fit Plus gameIf you wanted some new hardware to go along with the new Wii Fit Plus, you must be feeling disappointed, but don’t worry. There are some unusual surprises awaiting you in the game. Like a new Segway mini-game that’s been developed with Segway.

That’s right, you can use the Wii Balance Board and Wii Remote to simulate what it’s like to ride on a Segway. Oh joy. At least you won’t fall off and look like a dork. Looks like it’s a simple balloon-popping game that involves a “mole-like creature.” To operate the virtual Segway x2, just stand on the balance board and lean forward to make your Mii character ride forward. To turn left and right, you lean a Wii remote left or right.

Nintendo reveals heart-tracking Wii Vitality Sensor

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Nintendo reveals heart-tracking Wii Vitality SensorOne of the more interesting announcements from Nintendo today, was Satoru Iwata announcing the latest health-related peripheral for the Wii. The Wii Vitality Sensor. The purpose of the device is a little confusing and we aren’t sure just how it will be implemented in a game, but here’s the deal.

The device is basically a biorhythm sensor that connects to your finger and transmits your heart rate to the Wii. How will that be used in gameplay? We have no idea. Our guess is that this is more for the Wii Fit Plus.

Wii Fit Plus for fall, lets you play Mario-type games

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Wii Fit Plus for fall, lets you play Mario-type gamesNintendo has announced Wii Fit Plus. The new fitness software is planned for release this fall in two versions: bundled with the Wii Balance Board and as a stand-alone. Apparently, the new Wii Fit “moves in an added direction” beyond the original, letting users “create a specific workout program that’s perfect” for them. Six new strength and yoga activities can be tailored to your own tastes, depending on what goals you have. There’s also a revamped interface focused on creating seamless routines of 20, 30, 40 minutes.

Plus will also introduce 15 new minigames, like juggling, skateboarding and a game called “perfect 10″ were players move their hips to select numbers that add up to 10. It was dubbed, “Brain Age for your backside,”.

Nintendo reveals new Super Mario Bros. for Wii

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 2nd, 2009

Nintendo reveals new Super Mario Bros. for WiiNintendo just announced the New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The title will feature multiplayer-friendly gameplay, supporting up to 4 players for some local action. The emphasis is on co-operative play, while maintaining the classic Super Mario look and feel.

You’ll find all the usual warp pipes, hidden areas, and plenty of coins. But there’s some new stuff too, like the Propeller suit, where Mario and others have a propeller attached to their heads. Shake the Wiimote and players can fly in the air.

Queen Elizabeth’s gold-plated Wii

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on May 21st, 2009

Queen Elizabeth's gold-plated WiiTHQ has sent a golden Nintendo Wii to Buckingham Palace. No doubt the Queen mum enjoys a healthy game of Cooking Mama now and again. The shiny console was delivered to Buckingham Palace today as part of a marketing stunt to promote BIG Family Games, the latest title in THQ’s BIG series. The game contains 24 classic family games. Stuff like lawn darts and bocce, which THQ hopes the Royal Family will enjoy.

The chances of Her Royal Highness ever touching the console are slim, but if she ever does, she can rest assured that the wiimote sticking out of her sparking TV will be gold.

Komodo’s Retro Adapter connects your old gamepads to the Wii

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on May 21st, 2009

komodo-retro-adapter-20090521-600Lately there hasn’t been a ton of great titles for the Wii. But there is always the Virtual Console and all the classic titles. Why not play those games with the classic controllers they were written for? That’s where Komodo’s Retro Adapter comes in.

Sure, we’ve had the Wii SNES gamepad, but Komodo’s adapter is much more adorable and looks like a mini N64, while letting you use your old NES pad. That’s reason enough to buy it as far as we’re concerned.

Mario Kart used to show students the danger of texting and driving

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on May 17th, 2009

Mario Kart used to show students the danger of texting and drivingVail Christian High School is educating students about the dangers of texting while driving. Students hold the motion sensitive wheel in one hand, and a cell phone in the other. It’s unclear if they are required to drive as Toad, Mario, or anyone else. But were they sorry when they ended up getting hit by a turtle shell? Did they learn not to text while driving?

Apparently some did. One player said, “I ran into a lot of things and it was very stressful,” Which is interesting, because how stressful can texting and Mario Kart really be? Still, I’m sure it drives the point home to these kids.

Wiimote chocolate bar looks yummy

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on May 3rd, 2009

Wiimote chocolate bar looks yummyCheck out this Wiimote chocolate candybar. Now you can have your cake and eat it too. Now you can throw your Wiimote at the TV and eat it too. This Wiimote chocolate replica is the product of Digital Chocolates, a company that specializes in making chocolate bars shaped like various game controllers, like the Sony Playstation controller and this Wiimote.

Not only is it delicious, but it’s got some nice detail too. It’s made of Merckens melting candy wafers. I don’t know what those are, but I’m sure they are yummy. They supposedly taste like the white from Hershey’s cookies n’ creme chocolate bars.

Wiimote prototypes revealed

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on April 24th, 2009

Wiimote prototypes revealedYou won’t find anything earth shattering in these schematics of Wiimote prototypes. They’re all fairly similar. But it is interesting to see what they were thinking at the time. One of them even adds the GameCube’s analogue stick to the surface of the Wii Remote.

Hit the link to see some Nunchuk variants as well. Those early models look very awkward. Just be glad that they put so much work into the process. That’s why you have the awesome ergonomic wiimote that you know and love.

Japan getting Wii video service, DSi connectivity May 1st

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on April 23rd, 2009

Japan getting Wii video service, DSi connectivity May 1stIt’s been pretty quiet on the whole Wii video in Japan front, but finally there’s some news. Japanese Wii users will soon be able to try it out for themselves. The service is ready to launch in Japan on May 1st.

It’s being called the “Wii no Ma Channel,” and features advertising from Denstu, both free and paid content. What really caught our eye though, is word that a free DSi app will be launching at the same time. The app will allow you to download video from the Wii to your DS, and do other stuff like download coupons from advertisers, which can be scanned directly from the screen.

Nintendo president: No Wii price cuts

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on April 9th, 2009

wii-sbLooks like Nintendo is being a bit of a grinch, by saying that there are no plans to cut the price on Wii systems. This comes straight from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, in response to recent speculation that a Wii price cut could be in the works. It seemed likely since manufacturing costs for the console have supposedly dropped quite a bit recently.

According to Iwata, they won’t be driving up sales numbers with a price cut. Instead Nintendo will put “more energy and time into making better entertainment so that our products are going to remain in the top position in our customer’s wish lists”.

What Super Smash Bros. Brawl looks like in 720P HD

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on March 29th, 2009

What Super Smash Bros. Brawl looks like in 720P HDStill disappointed that Nintendo missed out on high definition Nintendo games with the Wii? Luckily for you there is a workaround. You’ll need a Dolphin emulator for the Wii and to legally copy your own games to your PC. Then you can see what they’d look like if Nintendo had decided to up the Wii’s graphics.

The clips below show the game running in what is equal to 720p. So click on through to see how they would look if Nintendo had only joined the 21st century. And yes, it looks awesome. Just make sure you hit the HD button.

Nintendo launches Wii system menu 4.0

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on March 25th, 2009

Nintendo launches Wii system menu 4.0At long last Nintendo is finally doing something about storage. Finally. You can back up titles to SD and now games can be played straight from the cards. The SD Card Menu can be accessed from the Wii System Menu 4.0. That’s the new update that we are getting right now.

It lets the Wii work with memory cards larger than 2GB, maxing out at 32GB. Nintendo is also launching the new Virtual Console Arcade, that gives you all the old arcade titles on the Wii.

EA bundling Wii MotionPlus with tennis game in Europe?

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on March 24th, 2009

EA bundling Wii MotionPlus with tennis game in Europe?We already gathered that Nintendo’s Wii MotionPlus controller add-on was somehow tied to the launch of EA’s Grand Slam Tennis game, but it now looks like the two may be not just swell pals, but bestest buddies. According to a listing over on Amazon.de, the add-on will be available in a bundle with the game (in Europe), which will cost you just over $70. It launches on July 2nd.

Joystiq speculates that the move could also be the excuse Nintendo has been looking for to delay its Wii Sports Resort game, which was supposed to come bundled with MotionPlus.





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