Friday 14 November 2008

Buy A Wii Fit for Christmas



Designed to help you become more aware of your physical condition, Wii Fit invites you to have fun and get healthy in the process. With exercises that focus on helping you to improve balance and posture, change your Body Mass Index or simply relax, Wii Fit uses the latest technology to assist you in leading a healthier lifestyle.

The first step is putting your feet on the state-of-the-art Wii Balance Board in order to get an overview of your present fitness level. By measuring your BMI (Body Mass Index), analysing your centre of gravity and calculating your athletic ability via a couple of simple tests, the software determines your Wii Fit Age - a measure unique to the game which could range from 2 to 99.

Wii Fit features more than 40 different exercises across four areas of training. Burn calories with the Aerobic Exercises, work on your balance and posture with the Balance Games, bulk up with the Muscle Workouts or learn to stretch and relax with the Yoga poses. Featuring everything from Step Basics to Snowboarding, Rhythm Boxing to Jogging, Wii Fit offers a vast range of entertaining activities that will keep you interested in working out and encourage the rest of the family to give it a try.

To help you keep track of your progress, Wii Fit includes a special Wii Fit Channel that allows up to eight people to store and compare their personal fitness profiles, and also takes account of any exercise done away from the Wii Balance Board - ensuring you have an accurate overview of your fitness. And when you do make progress, you won't only be able to see it represented by a graph, but by the changing waistline of your chosen Mii character.

Take the first step on the road to a healthier lifestyle with Wii Fit!

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Monday 3 November 2008

The "missing" elements in the latest Mario and Zelda Wii Games

In a recent interview, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto stated that he believed something was “missing” in the latest installments of his two most popular series: Zelda and Mario.

That’s right; Miyamoto said that both Super Mario Galaxy and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess were lacking. In what he did not say, but he feels that other leading games have something his do not. He made it clear that Twilight Princess was not a bad game, just missing something he couldn’t put his finger on.

About Super Mario Galaxy, he mentioned, “And while, personally, I feel like Super Mario Galaxy was able to do some things that were very new and were very unique, at the same time, from another perspective, certain elements of it do feel somewhat conservative in terms of how far we branched out with design. And so this is something I've been talking to both of those teams about."

I agree that it does feel like there is a certain lack of a specific kind of depth in those games that we do see in other franchises. On the part of Mario Galaxy, it’s true that design is in many ways responsible, but there’s something else, too. And I have a pretty good idea of what it is. It’s the aspect of each series that has failed to evolve with almost every other major franchise: characters and story structure.

In terms of the depth-of-character, it’s understandable that they haven’t acted until now. Nintendo’s characters are well-known almost world-wide. What if they give Link from Legend of Zelda a personality, and large groups of people say, “That is not how I imagined him!” Besides, it is true, as Nintendo once said, that Link acts as the “Link” between the player and the character onscreen, and if Link had a specific personality people could not project themselves onto him as well.

However, if Link was truly the “Link”, shouldn’t we be able to customize his looks, or at least clothing? Choose in what manner he talks with people, and the kinds of weapons and abilities he uses? No, the games do not attempt to do this at all. Instead, (in the case of Twilight Princess) they give us a world full of characters, bursting with back-story and, in some cases, inner struggles. But when the main character has no voice or personality, the character dynamics needed to effectively portray these events and character aspects are inconveniently absent. The decision Nintendo has made is not like choosing “this” instead of “that”, it’s a complete absence of both.

The “characters” aspect may not apply so much to Super Mario Galaxy, but the “story structure” aspect does. Searching for star after star and unlocking new worlds is a heck of a lot of fun, but it does start to drag. People just aren’t as driven to beat the game as the case with other franchises any more.

Again, they are both great games, but they are missing the kind of depth that other games have. Shigeru Miyamoto is apparently putting a lot of thought into this, so let’s hope he’ll be able to make the right choice, and lead both series in the right direction.

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Sunday 2 November 2008

Why The Conduit Will Open New Doors For The First-Person Shooter Genre

When the Nintendo Wii was released in 2006, it was immediately dismissed by many first-person shooter developers, who believed the system had neither the power, nor the technology to produce a great shooter. Though this belief has arguably been disproved more than once, next year's "The Conduit" may cause many developers to completely rethink their position.

Conduit has the potential to be superior to the majority of most competitors on the rival and often-touted "most powerful" systems, the X360 and PS3. Here are a couple of reasons why. These conclusions are based upon what data we can glean from the game developers and the demos they have released thus far.

First of all, The Conduit's visuals will be almost as technically proficient as shooters on "graphically superior" consoles, if not more so. The developers of Conduit have created what is called the Quantum3 engine, capable of utilizing features that gamers have come to expect from the X360 and PS3. Examples include: bump mapping, material based bloom, dynamic water effects, and color gloss maps.

You may not know what many of those expressions mean, but apparently neither do many Wii shooter developers; so this is in many ways a big and much-deserved step for the console. When the game was presented at press conferences, gamers could not tell the difference between the graphics in The Conduit and in other Xbox 360 games. Secondly, and probably most importantly, The Conduit will have better, more precise control. This is a point that should not require much explanation. Not only will the game utilize the WiiMotionPlus attachment for more accurate aiming, but the game's controls themselves are completely up to the gamer. An example of what this means is that at any point in the game, the gamer can pause and edit pointer sensitivity, or map button controls.

Far too many games developers focus on graphics and therefore have not invested as much in developing games for the Wii as they have for the rival consoles, the Xbox 360 and PS3. When a representative of the first-person shooter developer Epic was asked whether or not they would be developing for the Wii, their answer was, "Why? That would be like a step backward!" This reveals an imbalanced emphasis on graphics, an area where the Wii is perceived to be at a disadvantage.

If developers such as Epic would put themselves in the shoes of gamers, they would recognize that graphics is only one piece to the gaming puzzle. Also important are the visuals themselves, and the gameplay. Gamers know that when developers focuse on making better and better graphics, they are prone to completely overlook opportunities for innovation in gameplay. Developers who realize that the gameplay is ultimately all that matters will find themselves rewarded in the marketplace.

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Friday 31 October 2008

Video Gaming Technology Can Enhance Learning

Video games are not just for fun; they can also aid in helping you acquire valuable training and skills.

Flight Simulator Software
One of the earliest examples is that of flight simulators. Mechanical methods of flight simulation have been in place almost as long the airplane itself. Clearly the importance of training in a safe environment was recognized early on.

However, the advent of computer-driven flight simulation allowed for a much more realistic learning experience. The modern version boasts realistic colors, including daytime and nighttime variations, and furthermore can easily track flight instruments.

One of the most popular flight simulation games is produced by Microsoft. It is also one of the oldest, and in fact it was produced for three years even before Windows was released to the market! As such, the flight simulator program is the oldest continuously running franchise that Microsoft has on the market, further testifying to the timeless nature of this particular application.

Typing Tutor Software
Another early use of the computer for education is typing tutor software. Computers are ideally suited for this task because the computer can easily track typing speed and errors. Not only that, the computer can also track which keys produce the most errors.

Since typing is one of the most important skills associated with using a computer, typing instruction is a valid use of computer education and will likely remain so for as long as we have computers.

Students can benefit by using the typing tutor every day, particularly while they are still learning how to type. Typing tutor software often employ the use of games so that the student does not even realize they are "learning".

This can allow for great progress in a short amount of time. The benefits of enhanced typing skill include: greater speed, greater accuracy, and reduced frustration while working on the computer. Greater accuracy means fewer mistakes and a lessened need to employ double-checking by others.

Language Instruction Software
Many students have reported excellent results from the use of computer software to learn a new language. This type of software is valuable due to the interactivity inherent in this technology. It allows for an "immersion" type of learning, in which one actually begins to think in the new language rather than simply learn how to translate from one language to another.

Language instruction programs will often employ the use of pictures to give a command. This method particulary benefits the visually-oriented reader and certainly aids in helping the student embrace the new language.

Language learning software will also give commands in the language being learned, so the student actually hears the language spoken correctly. This method is a clear advantage over instruction solely from books.

Whatever you need to learn, you can probably find a software program to help you learn it.

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Thursday 30 October 2008

5 Games Wii Owners Should Already Have

So you finally got your own Nintendo Wii. Now what? What games should you purchase first? Here are five games you should should not hesitate to buy and enjoy right away.

#5: Medal of Honor Heroes 2

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 was one of the first shooters to properly implement pointer control on the Wii. The game features online multiplayer and two single-player modes: Arcade and Campaign, both boasting fast-paced and highly replayable WWII shooting action.

#4: Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The newest Zelda is bigger and better than ever before. The new visual style harkens back to the N64 games, with realistic character models and environments, versus the cell-shaded ones in Legend of Zelda: Windwaker on the Gamecube. This and the large, immersive world, as well as the cinematic presentation of the story, make this an epic action-adventure well worth playing.

#3: Mario Kart Wii
Ever since it debuted on the SNES, the Mario Kart series has been no stranger to Nintendo's systems, and is renowned for its deep combat-racing gameplay, especially when it comes to the game's multiplayer. Although the Wii remote's motion controls are surprisingly well utilized for this game, Gamecube and Classic Controllers are also compatible. Another feature worth mentioning is the ability to transport Mii's onto the game and using them as racing characters.

#2: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Smash Bros. is commonly recognized as one of the best fighting game franchises ever, and Brawl is no exception. The vast, well-balanced character roster alone is impressive enough, but just wait til you get to the gameplay itself, often harked as one of the deepest fighting game combat systems out there. The game's multiplayer is for up to four players, all of which are dropped on a two-dimensional "stage", where the objective is to send all the other players flying off. The roster itself is all based on videogame characters. If Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog were to face off, who would win? Now we can find out.

#1: Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is possibly the best Mario game, or even best platformer game yet. The graphics are some of the best the Wii has seen so far, and the gameplay puts to use many mechanics that are both new and innovative. The most prominent of these is the planet physics that take place as you leap between floating spheres and other objects in outer-space. This and the spectactular visuals showcased in each of the game's fabulous worlds make this a game you cannot afford to miss.

Now, do not waste any more time; go down to your favorite local store or navigate to a reputable online store and pick up these games. Each one will provide you with hours of enjoyable playing time either by yourself, with friends, or family members.

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Wednesday 29 October 2008

Getting the most out of your Nintendo Wii

Considering the Nintendo Wii shortage, chances are that you have worked hard to get your own. So, now that you finally have one, do you want to get the most out of it? Here are a few ways to do just that.

First, and perhaps most importantly, get some rechargable batteries and a battery charger. Any even better solution is a charging station for directly restoring power to the batteries through the Wii Remotes.

Here's why this is important: the WiiMote's battery power runs dry at about 60 hours of use; less than half that time if you're using a Nunchuk. Recharging your own batteries will save a lot of time and effort, versus running to the store to buy fresh batteries every several days, and running out at inconvenient times. Of course, a good recharger and batteries will also save you some money too.

Second, buy yourself some component connector cables for the Wii. It may be hard to believe, but by merely replacing the original cords, your image quality will improve dramatically. This improvement is definitely worth the money, wouldn't you say?


Third, you can pick up a wireless sensor bar. The cord for the initial sensor bar is weak, flimsy, and gets in the way and can get tangled in other cords. All of these drawbacks of the original sensor bar interfere with your playing experience.

Fourth, plan to get a Wii SD memory card. The Wii's internal memory is quite roomy, but eventually you'll need to start storing files on an external drive; especially if you want to download classic games on the Wii's Virtual Console.

Fifth, you may want to consider buying one or more organizing cases for your Wii. These can be very helpful for keeping all of your Wii gear together, especially if you pack it from one place to another.

Sixth, the Wii controllers come in different colors that might be interesting to you. For example, you can buy a pink controller and Nunchuck combination.

Seventh, there are numerous specialty controllers designed to enhance your enjoyment and playing experience of many games. For example, you can buy a pair of boxing gloves. Also available are ping pong paddles, racing car steering wheels, the sport pack (which includes a tennis racquet, golf club, and baseball bat), laser swords, numerous guns and rifles, guitars, fishing rod, dance pad, drum pads, as well as upgrade or specialty versions of the WiiMotes or classic controllers.

Investing a little time and money into getting the best Wii hardware suited to what you like to play and how you like to play it will reap huge dividends in your enjoyment of your Nintendo Wii.

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Tuesday 28 October 2008

Top 5 Fighting Games For Wii

In the past couple years the Wii has seen a good amount of fighting games, and quite varying in quality; some atrocious, some gems. Here is list of the top five games that fall into the latter category.

#5: Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
The Guilty Gear series is well-known for it's wild, twitch-based 2D fighting action. Though the game's anime-style characters can be over-the-top in appearance and nature, the goofiness only adds to the fun. Just be sure to hook up a Gamecube or Classic controller. The action is just too frantic and fast-paced to be handled with waggle without injuring yourself.

#4: Naruto: Clash of Ninja: Revolution 2
The Naruto: Clash of Ninja franchise originated on the Gamecube but has quickly found a home on Nintendo's new console, the Wii. The sequel to Naruto's initial venture on the Wii acts as more of an expansion than an entirely new game. Revolution 2 features an expansive, more balanced character roster, new forms and abilities, new stages, and an all-new story mode.

The ability to use use hand signs to built up energy without even attacking, as well as being able to wrap a exploding spell scroll around a kunai knife before throwing it (resulting in a successful "letter bomb") are very welcome additions, although partly because they simply should have been there in the first place.

In any case, it's certainly a worthy installment in the series, and deserves to be checked out, especially if one has not played the first, and even more so if one is a fan of Naruto.

#3: Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Above all else, Mortal Kombat is so well-known because of it's extremely violent battles. The aftermath of every fight is a bloody, gory mess. Not only that, but the kills invoked at the end of each match often involve dismemberment, decapitation, and other such bloody techniques.

In a way, Armageddon serves as a definitive installment. It's a collection of almost everything fans have experienced up until now. The character roster boasts over 60 playable characters, most all recycled from Mortal Kombat games over the years.

Online play and a vast amount of content make this a worthy fighting game, and an especially good chance for those who have never played a Mortal Kombat game up until now.

#2: DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
The latest and best Tenkaichi game also happens to be simply one of the best fighting games on the Wii yet. The reason for this becomes clear when you understand the nature of the gameplay.
The multiplayer battles are splitscreen. Each player maneuvers his character over the open landscape, flying, swimming, and blasting their way into and through each other.

There are practically dozens and dozens of types of powerful techniques, many unique to certain particular characters, which is quite feat when you see that are almost 200 playable fighters.
The 3-dimensionallness of the open-stage battles make this the future of fighting.

There are so many things to do and places to be in each stage, (not to mention the amount of characters you can be) it's highly improbable for the exact same thing to happen twice. Talk about replayability!

1#: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Some have called Smash Bros. a button-masher's game. But the truth is far from that. Smash Bros. has one of the deepest combat systems in any fighting game yet.

The latest game in the series, Brawl, takes the fight to a whole new level with "Final Smash". Each character has one, an ultimate attack which can be activated by breaking the "Smash Ball" when it floats onstage. Brawl could be compared to Guilty Gear, only with slightly more realistic visual effects and attacks.

But what really makes Smash Bros. so unique is it's fighters, which are based on renowned videogame characters. Only in a fighting game like Brawl can you see characters like Sonic the Hedgehog, Snake from Metal Gear Solid, Ike from Fire Emblem, and Mario himself all head-to-head.

With more characters, stages, and items than ever before, this is a fighting game not to be missed.

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