When the Nintendo Wii first came out, it became an instant hit because of the novelty it brought to the video game industry. People immediately saw the potential of Wii Sports. Then Wii Fit came out. Now we have Wii Fit Plus.

Countless people have been enticed to purchase these games in order to make their exercise routines more fun and positive. Even celebrities have been attesting to the effectiveness of the Wii Fit. Hardcore gamers, quite understandably, have turned up their noses at this. After all, you play video games because you want to have fun, not to lose weight, right?

Then again, we have a new generation of gamers – age does not matter and the whole gaming experience is taking on a change. Enter Wii Fit Plus yet again – lose weight while having fun!

And after a lot of flak and “investigation,” it seems that Nintendo has scored big. The UK government has released a statement to the effect that the Wii Fit Plus is a good way to get your blood moving. In fact, the game is now authorized to carry logos from the Change4Life campaign. A health department spokesperson stated that “active video games, where kids need to jump up and down or dance about as part of the game, are a great way to get kids moving more. Little bits of activity like this throughout the day can easily add up to the 60 active minutes kids need.”

How about adults? I suppose it should work the same way. Anything to get people moving is good, huh?

Photo courtesy of Gamespy

Tags: health, Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus

Not long after Sony released its much awaited PlayStation 3 Slim, video game console makers seem to have woken up from their slumber. If you thought that the video game console wars are over, think again! It’s back and in full force.

Try looking online for a video game console and you will be met with various promises and offers. This console has better hardware to give the best graphic experience. This one is the fastest. This one has awesome sounds. And so on.

More than the actual console itself, manufacturers are coming up with a plethora of hardware add-ons that promise to give gamers the best experience yet. At the most recent E3 convention in May, Sony revealed a new control system that is compatible with the PlayStation Eye. Not to be outdone, Microsoft revealed Natal, a hands-free control system. Of course, Wii had its MotionPlus.

Now we are witnessing the slashing of game console prices. The PlayStation 3 Slim already costs less than the first models. I was really taken by surprise at how low the price was! The Wii is also getting cheaper, with a 20% discount in the works.

What does this mean for us, consumers? Simple! We will have more and better choices in the near future. Looking at things from another angle, owners of the Xbox 360 and PS3 Slim are quite assured of the longevity of their consoles – it doesn’t seem like the units will be phased out for newer ones anytime soon.

Tags: Microsoft, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, PS3 Slim, sony, video game console wars, video game consoles, video games, xbox360

What made the Wii so popular? Before Nintendo came out with this gaming console, the “war” was practically between Sony’s PlayStation units and Microsoft’s Xbox units. Then the Wii came into the picture. Now, it is undoubtedly at the head of the race. So what made it so popular? There are probably a lot of answers to this question but the Wii-mote is definitely going to be one of the most common answers. To make the long story short, the Wii-mote has made revolutionary changes in the way we play games.

Now what would happen if the PlayStation or the Xbox had a controller much like the Wii-mote? Would it boost the sales of either gaming console? I cannot give a definitive answer BUT I am pretty sure that the people at Sony have thought about it. A lot.

In fact, the rumor is that they are releasing a PS3 controller which bears a striking resemblance to the Wii-mote, but with new developments. Yahoo Games has the story:

While Sony’s current Sixaxis PS3 controller already detects motion, its functionality is severely limited compared to the Nintendo Wii remote. According to the article, the new device will one-up the Wii controller by using tiny LED lights and a small webcam to track movement, which will apparently make for much more accurate motion-detection. This bears a striking similarity to a patent application filed by Sony in 2006, lending an air of credibility to the claim.

Can you imagine playing God of War 3 using this controller? Now all we need are 3D effects….

I know, I know, Guitar Hero has been around for a long time – the franchise has reached the third version. I have even featured it in this blog before. I didn’t really try it myself until this week, though, I guess that with all the games that I have been playing – on the PlayStation 3, the Wii, and the PC – plus the fact that I work day and night, I really don’t have much time to play everything.

In any case, we downloaded a demo of Guitar Hero, the Aerosmith edition from the PlayStation store the other day. Needless to say, I was instantly hooked. Perhaps one big factor is that I am a big Aerosmith fan. Listening to the songs while playing a video game is a different experience. Since I do not have any of the peripherals (instruments) used for Guitar Hero, I had to make do with the PS3 controller. It was still fun!

My thoughts on the game…the graphics are funky. I love Steven Tyler but I cannot deny the fact that he does not have the prettiest face in the music industry. Still, maybe they could have made his Guitar Hero persona a bit more aesthetically appealing? I guess that does not really matter much, though. I like how you can choose among 4 modes. I suck so bad that I can only do well on the Easy mode. I tried the harder modes for Dream On, Sweet Emotion, and Walk This Way but I could not even finish half of the songs!

I would really love to buy this game but $200 is a bit beyond me right now.

The Wii has always had this image of being family friendly. People get together for good clean fun without the worry of having too much violence, blood, gore, sex, and what have you. Come to think of it, you always hear about people going haywire about games on the PlayStation (2 or 3, it is the same) and the Xbox 360 (and the old Xbox) but you do not hear people creating such a huge fuss about Wii games. How can you? With games such as Wii Sports and Cooking Mama, you simply cannot find anything to complain about!

Then again, change is the only constant thing in this life. And apparently, Nintendo is not immune to changing. They are set to release what is being dubbed as the most violent game ever. Called MadWorld, the game is supposed to “revolved around the themes of brutality and exhilaration.”

The descriptions of the game that have been going around are really stirring things up. Parents and anti-violence groups are already making some noise about it. Some are saying that the game should not be released at all while others are just asking for a ban in their country.

I am not really that big on excessive and senseless violence in video games BUT this kind of reaction is not really logical in my mind. The only thing I can think of is that NO ONE is forced to buy any game. If a game is dubbed as violent then do not buy it! No one forces your children to play these games, right?

It is just the middle of the year but it may be the time to get your presents already. That is, if you are planning on getting a Wii or two for your kids (or yourself!). Forbes recently published an article on the possible – no, probable, shortage of the Wii come the Christmas season:

Although it has been nearly two years since Nintendo’s latest videogame system went on sale, finding one is still a challenge for U.S. consumers. The hunt may get a little easier in the months to come, but bagging a new Wii is still far from a sure thing.

“We are really intending to increase the shipments to the U.S., especially compared to last year,” says Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s global president and CEO. “However, I can’t give you a 100% commitment [that you'll be able to find a Wii this holiday season]. What I can commit myself to is that Nintendo is going to do its best to supply as many Wii hardware units as possible in order to meet demand there.”

Iwata says demand for the device in the U.S. is unusually high in contrast to either Europe or Asia. The company is on schedule to produce 2.4 million Wiis this year and will allocate additional units to U.S. retailers. Still, it has been caught off guard by the popularity of the Wii in America.
“We could not imagine it would be that high,” he says.

I understand how much in demand the Wii can be but what I really do not get is why the manufacturers just don’t make more of the consoles! They have been experiencing shortages for the past year and I am sure that they can somehow predict how many consoles they will be selling for the year. Why can’t make things easy and produce ENOUGH to meet the demand?

Photo courtesy of el3enawe

When financial problems set in, the first thing to go is usually the non-essentials. For different people, the non-essential things may be different as well. To be honest, I always thought that for many families, entertainment (this include video games) would be the first to go.

Well, I couldn’t be more wrong – at least when it comes to the situation in the United Kingdom. The Telegraph reports:

Video games are experiencing a surge in popularity as families affected by the credit crunch shun
expensive trips to the cinema and restaurants in favour of staying in.

New figures show that the video industry is defying the economic downturn thanks to a host of best-selling titles, including Grand Theft Auto IV, the Wii Fit, Mario Kart and Metal Gear Solid IV.

Game Group, the video games specialist, reported that pre-tax profits for the six months to July 31 would be at least £33 million – 32 per cent ahead of the City’s most optimistic forecasts.

Now that makes sense, doesn’t it? I do not know much about the prices of movies over there but I am sure they are considerable as well. If you have 5 members in the family, movie ticket prices would be a lot to handle. Add to that the gas that you have to spend going to the movies and then the popcorn and then eating out. It is but understandable that families would just choose to stay home and have a good time in front of their favorite video game console. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear the same trend in the United States pretty soon.

Who said that video games were for kids only? You only have to look at the statistics and you will see that a lot of gamers are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Yet did you know that now, even senior citizens are getting into gaming?

Indeed, the older generation has discovered this activity that so many of the younger generation hold dear. In fact, even doctors are looking into the possibility of the existence of the health benefits of video games on senior citizens. An article on Newsday features this topic. It seems that casual games and Wii games are the most popular with the senior citizens. They have discovered a way to pass time and exercise both the body and the mind as well.

I have no doubt about the benefits that these games provide to senior citizens. After all, I am a firm believer in the benefits of video games to other age groups – why exclude the older generation? More so, I am observing first hand this kind of experience. My parents are retired – have been so for many years – and they just stay at home most of the time. My dad goes out and does odd jobs here and there but for the most part, when they are at home, their favorite pastime is to play casual games on the computer. I know how this activity makes them feel more relaxed and less bored.

Maybe the next step is to get them a Wii so they can have actual physical exercise?

I knew this day would come! I have always thought that one day, hotels would feature video games as part of their offerings. It is but logical – video games are not only for children but adults as well. Actually, there are already many hotels which offer video game consoles in some of their rooms, especially those catering to families.

This concept being employed by the Westin chain of hotels is somehow new though – adding Wii consoles to their hotel fitness centers. Here is more information on it:

Looking for a fun way to work out on the road?

Hotel companies across the nation are putting more money into their fitness centers as surveys show travelers are putting a high priority on them.

The folks at Westin recently added a twist to their fitness offerings: a video game. Nintendo’s Wii system, to be specific.

Last week, the hotel brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts installed the gaming system in its fitness centers at hotels in Bellevue, Wash., and Times Square in New York as part of a pilot program.

This month, the system will be added to Westin properties at the Galleria in Houston, Kansas City, Mo., Hilton Head Island, S.C.,

St. Louis, San Francisco, Toronto, Hollywood, Calif., and Savannah, Ga.
Other locations will be added later, pending guest feedback, a spokeswoman said.

The Wii systems will be integrated into the WestinWORKOUT program and will be preloaded with several popular games.
(Opt for boxing rather than bowling if you really want to raise your heart rate.)

The systems will also incorporate the Wii Fit program, which leads users through various exercises, including yoga and strength training, and is scheduled for release May 19.

Maybe I’ll stay at a Westin hotel the next time I hit the road…

Wii enthusiasts, here is something for you. The hit series Super Smash Bros Brawl is coming to the Wii! It is one of the world’s most popular franchises due to the simple fact that characters from the whole Nintendo world are incorporated into the game. Imagine playing Sonic and Pikachu against each other. Or maybe Zelda and Mario.

Yahoo gives us all the reasons anyone would want this game for himself:

1. Actually, there are over 40 reasons you want it
Link. Zelda. Snake. Mario. Samus. Sonic. Pikachu. Bowser. Kirby. Peach. Wario. Smash Bros. Brawl features a huge list of characters from classic Nintendo games — and for the first time, favorites from non-Nintendo hits like Sonic the Hedgehog and Metal Gear join the party. Each comes with special attacks, props, sound effects and signature moves. Snake has even brought along his all-important cardboard box: no Special Forces agent leaves home without it.

2. Smash yourself
Smash Bros. games usually opt for multiplayer madness over single-player content. Not so with Brawl, which includes a solo Adventure Mode called “Subspace Emissary.” Written by a designer culled from the Final Fantasy games, it’s the perfect way to hone your skills before humiliating your friends, and if you get too lonely, you can even team up with a friend to take on the evil Subspace Army cooperatively.

3. Play with the world
That’s not to say that Brawl doesn’t have plenty of multiplayer content. In fact, it has more than any other Super Smash Bros. game to date. Not only can you enjoy four-player matches on one console you can also use the Wii’s wireless networking to take on players from your Wii friends list or the world at large. You can even capture replay footage of your victories and mail it to your rivals in the ultimate of trash-talking hijinks.

Oh, there’s more – just visit Yahoo’s feature on this and read to your heart’s content. After that, order your own copy.

Tags: New Games, Nintendo, Wii