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Mario Armstrong demonstrates Wii Fit for CNN


Just the fact that a major news outlet is covering Nintendo's Wii Fit isn't enough to be featured on this blog. Oh no, you have to present us with something we want. Here, CNN has succeeded, as the linked video showcases the title's hula hoop minigame.

Then again, you're not us, so perhaps you could care less about the hula hooping? If that's the case, then know that they tackle the subject of Wii Fit versus a traditional gym membership or workout regimen in the segment. The individual demonstrating the title for CNN, Mario Armstrong, sees this more as a game and less of a substitute for traditional exercise. He does make a valid point, however, in that Wii Fit could be a good motivator to ease people into a healthier lifestyle, as the physical activity in the game would make it easier for individuals to transition into a more intense routine.

Gallery: Wii Fit


[Via Go Nintendo]

Point/Counterpoint: Wii Fit


Click for larger image

With Wii Fit finally hitting store shelves, it's time for us to weigh in with our Point/Counterpoint feature. Within, we tackle the issue at hand both positively and negatively. Sometimes we're serious, sometimes we're silly. Hopefully, you'll find something inside to your liking.

Without further ado, let's get this shindig on the road. So, go ahead and click that Wiimote in the bottom right-hand corner to get started.





What's the deal, Wii Fit?

Gallery: Wii Fit

Point: Wii Fit is dumb


Click for larger image

Okay, so I'm immature. Sue me.

From a business standpoint, Wii Fit is an obviously excellent decision. For me, though, I wonder about what kind of effect the successful venture will have on the future of the Wii. Sure, Wii Fit follows Nintendo's goal of extracting money from the wallet of every person on the planet, but think about this: what big titles have we seen from Nintendo since the introduction of Wii Fit? Actually, what have we seen period from Nintendo since the unveiling of Wii Fit? Any big first-party titles planned? Reggie hinted, but we honestly have no idea!

Aside from that, Wii Fit helps Nintendo distance themselves from the model of actually making games for their games console. Wii Fit is selling like some kind of made-up word, proving to the company that they're less relied on to innovate in the games space and instead should put more focus on expanding the market, luring in non-gamers with a barebones fitness experience and other similar products going forward.

This could put a damper on Nintendo dishing out new titles for their longtime fans who actually crave nothing more than installments in the company's key franchises. Sure, we've all played the Super Mario games, but one thing that keeps us coming back, despite the supposed lack of innovation in each installment (as some say) is that each entry does innovate, if only a tad sometimes. We don't keep playing these games out of some nostalgic loyalty to the characters. We play because the games are good.

Finally, people, the thing is way too expensive. You're talking about a $90 bundle, which is more than a third the cost of the console (given that you can find one), for nothing more than a plastic board and an introductory fitness application. We're not talking Brain Age here, where Nintendo is offering a mass market experience at a mass market price. We're talking the kind of price you see on a monthly electric bill.



Introductions

Wii Fit = great

Gallery: Wii Fit: Central Park launch

Deaths that don't mix with Super Mario Bros.


Oh, the memories we have from our days playing Super Mario Bros. in our PJs, bellies full of sugary cereal. We can't tell you how many times we've watched Mario die, whether it be falling down an endless chasm or getting torched by a runaway fireball while penetrating the darkest corners of Bowser's castle.

What would you get if Mario's death animation was swapped out for the death animation of, say, Mega Man? Or Q-Bert? Our personal favorite? The use of Friday the 13th.

Halo 3 video pays homage to Nintendo


What do you get when you combine Halo 3 with several franchises in the Nintendo universe? A pretty darn funny video, if you ask us, so give it a chance. It has direct references to Super Mario Bros., StarFox and even Pokemon Snap. Let's see if you can get all of the Nintendo properties directly referenced! Winner gets our undying love for all of eternity.

[Thanks, Chris!]

Characters we'd like to see in Mario Kart


When you think about a franchise that has been around as long as Mario Kart, you see it's hard to validate each title as the series gets farther along. One of the ways to validate the game for fans has been to offer a complete and full roster of racers. Well, we're going to go through the characters we wished were in the games, yet woefully aren't. So read on and see what changes we would like to have happen to the roster in upcoming installments in the Mario Kart franchise!

It's pricey to be Wii Fit


Nintendo just sent us a press release confirming our darkest fears: Wii Fit is going to cost almost 1/3rd the price of a Wii at $90. Ouch, our wallets!

Of course, we all pretty much knew this was coming, but it's one thing to think something and another to have it told to you. That sound you hear? It's our wallets breathing a sigh of relief, for they know that us lowly bloggers cannot afford such a costly package.

With the bundle costing so much, we wonder if it'll do as well as some think it will?

Gallery: Wii Fit

Wii and friends: A Great Match


Why do we love the Wii with friends? Because we want all to share the splendor and majesty that comes from playing the best home gaming console around. So that's why we set out to bring you a nice, easy package of great multiplayer games for the Wii.

Both online and local multiplayer is covered, as well as games that have released and those that are still in production. We hope you find this useful in your own life, in some small way, or at least a good place to link a friend who has no idea what they're getting into with the Wii. So read on and see what we have in store, then come back here and tell us what multiplayer experiences you enjoy most on the Wii!

NES mod swallows a Wii whole

The boys at High Bias gutted an old Nintendo Entertainment System and replaced its innards with a Wii, dressing the white console in its great-great grandfather's clothes. Further modernizing the old, gray plastic, they've installed a number of LEDs and replaced the controller ports with their GameCube equivalents. You can slip a game into the Wii's disc slot by just lifting the cartridge door. It's like a reverse Virtual Console!

[Via DCEmu]

Super Papier Mario folds effortlessly across Europe on Sept. 14th

After only a five month lag since its U.S. and Japanese releases, Nintendo announced today that Super Paper Mario for the Wii will be released across the continent of Europe on September 14, 2007.

In case you haven't had a chance to pick the game up, it's quite delectable and well worth checking out. One of its strongest points in the American version was its witty, tongue-in-cheek localization courtesy of head translator Nate Bihldorff. Given that Final Fantasy and other relatively text-heavy games often take far longer than this to translate into one language (English), it's rather impressive that NOE can ready this game for release in at least five (UK English, French, German, Spanish and Italian) in as many months. If their work can stand up to the quality of the U.S. localization, Europeans should be in for a tasty treat, indeed.

Sega springs for Don LaFontaine


Sega must have a lot of faith in their upcoming Olympics game-- and well they should, since they've got Mario and friends on board, and assistance from Miyamoto. Even if the game is "gaming chewing gum" But it's not often we hear voiceover legend Don LaFontaine, also known as "that announcer guy from the movies," in a game trailer. The trailer looks good too, but the fact that it's in HD should give you a clue about how much it has to do with the real game.

Maybe they should add Don LaFontaine to the roster. We'd play Mario, Sonic, and Don LaFontaine at the Olympic Games. In a world where cartoon plumbers can run races with gigantic, anthropomorphic hedgehogs at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, can one man make a difference in terms of how nonsensical the game is?

A new princess for Super Mario Galaxy?



Crowned and blonde, just like our fair Princess Peach, this new gal materialized in Famitsu's latest preview of Super Mario Galaxy. The Japanese magazine identifies her as Rosetta, but doesn't clarify whether or not her name bears any deeper meaning or relation to the famed translation stone.

Those of you who fear any drastic change to your beloved franchise or the expected routine need not worry -- Rosetta won't be replacing Peach's role in this intergalactic adventure. As has been stated several times since the game's announcement, Mario will be touring the cosmos in search of his kidnapped love, Ms. Toadstool.

An update from a different dojo


No, this isn't about Smash Bros. In fact, Famicom Dojo probably won't be about Smash Bros. for a good few years. Famicom Dojo is a new show from Powet.tv and 4 Color Rebellion about our favorite subject: old Nintendo games. Combining clever comedy with in-depth coverage of old Japanese game hardware, specifically the Famicom and its Disk System.

Surprisingly, not all of the comedy comes from the appearance of the Famicom. Other people think it's a little silly-looking, right? Maybe we're just jealous because its player 2 microphone makes the system vastly superior to the compromised hardware we received in the US.

Pachter: Nintendo wins another E3

The analyst from Wedbush Morgan seems to think Nintendo walked out of the recently concluded E3 as the victor, for the second year in a row, commenting to gaming mag GamePro. He also commented that Sony would've walked away the victor, given news of their recent price drop for the PS3, but Nintendo still presented " new hardware and decent software introductions."

Of course, you already have our general impressions of the keynote immediately following it, but looking at the variety of content available for Wii owners now that the show has concluded, we're happy about the future of the Wii. And the experiences it'll provide.

[Via Codename Revolution]

Sarcastic Gamer parodies Wii Fit


Maybe you are really excited for Wii Fit, or maybe you aren't all that excited for it. Either way, you have to be able to extract some humor from Sarcastic Gamer's latest video. A lot of truth is revealed in this video, as we can think of no better recipe for fun when it comes to children like graphs and charts. Also, the Wii Fit looks great ... with anything from Ikea!

It's a pretty funny video, so be sure to check it out past the break (and try not to take it too seriously).

Continue reading Sarcastic Gamer parodies Wii Fit

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