Video: Solution to America’s obesity problem? More video games
posted at 8:37 pm on July 12, 2007 by Allahpundit
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We haven’t done any gadget blogging since my last iPhone fantasia so here’s what Nintendo rolled out yesterday at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, i.e., E307. Behold the Wii Fit:
This new software will be packaged along side a pad called the Wii Balance Board that is pressure sensitive. With four genres of activities and over 40 activities including yoga, step aerobics, push-ups, and mini-games such as ski-jumping, and heading soccer balls. This Balance Board will measure weight, how balance shifts, and will be used as a new interface for games. The Wii Fit software will measure the Body Mass Index instead of spitting out your weight.
It’s a virtual treadmill, basically. Incidentally, anyone here have the Wii? I have the Xbox 360, as I think I’ve mentioned before, but I’m expecting the “red ring of death” any day now and might consider upgrading. Sell me on it, Wii fans. Make me believe.
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AP, how are the 360 games? I look at gamespot and just see a bunch of old arcade games. I still can’t see a new generation game (360, ps3) that is worth having. Wii looks interesting, but I don’t think my wife would play with me.
lorien1973 on July 12, 2007 at 8:41 PM
I recently lost 80+ hours playing “Saint’s Row”, a gang warfare simulator, on my Xbox 360. It was glorious!
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 8:43 PM
I like the FPS’s. Gears of War and Ghost Recon 2 are especially good. The sports games, not so much.
Allahpundit on July 12, 2007 at 8:44 PM
gears of war looks good – loved the commercial. but I hate FPS games.
I’m an RPG, action adventure person. Can’t see anything like that. I think the PC is the place for those; but most of them are MMORPGs and I won’t do those.
lorien1973 on July 12, 2007 at 8:45 PM
Bowling with the Wii is fun. Everyone who bowls on the Wii wants to own a Wii.
frankj on July 12, 2007 at 8:48 PM
She’s welcome to come balance at my place.
infidel4life on July 12, 2007 at 8:48 PM
I play most high end games on my PC.
A fully decked out PC is lightyears in performance ahead of even the most advanced console.
Games like World of Warcraft and Civ 4 are the ones I spend most of my time on.
However, to truly see the advantage of a PC over a gaming console, compare GTA Vice City on the consoles vs the same game on a PC with top of the line graphics. The console games are a joke by comparison.
That being said, I also have a Wii and my Wife and our family and friends have a lot of fun playing games that are not state of the art, graphicswise, but are just fun.
For ultimate gaming, I recommend a Windows PC, for family Fun, a Wii is a nice additional purchase.
JayHaw Phrenzie on July 12, 2007 at 8:57 PM
You realize this goddamn thing requires exercise.
km on July 12, 2007 at 8:57 PM
A bartender friend of mine brings his Wii to the bar on Monday nights and we play bowling and golf on the big screen. Drunk Wii bowling is the tits.
But I still haven’t played a better game than “Rainbow Six:Las Vegas” yet. We’ll see what the new Maddens looks like.
Tman on July 12, 2007 at 8:57 PM
I AM THE KING OF WII BOWLING!!!!11!!!
JayHaw Phrenzie on July 12, 2007 at 8:58 PM
I love my Wii and my DS. What can I say? Besides, I am far from obese, and could actually stand to put on a few pounds. So, if you need me, I’ll be playing more Phoenix Wright while waiting for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to come out.
CR UVa on July 12, 2007 at 8:58 PM
A bartender friend of mine brings his Wii to the bar on Mondays and we set it up on the big screen in the back and play golf and bowling. Drunk Wii bowling is damn fun.
I still haven’t played a better game than “Rainbow Six:Las Vegas” though. Best FPS I’ve ever seen.
Tman on July 12, 2007 at 9:00 PM
AP, Microsoft extended the warranty on the 360 to three years. So if you get the Red Ring o’ Death you’re covered.
Number 2 on July 12, 2007 at 9:00 PM
Wii has awesome party games. Wii Sports, Wario Ware, Mario party are all great fun to play in groups with people, especially when drinking. The control scheme is cool and really innovative for those type of games.
For regular game, particularly games like FPS, not as much. I’d rather play them on another system.
brak on July 12, 2007 at 9:02 PM
I am hooked on Dance Dance Revolution on the PS2 (and I am way beyond video games). I was a disco queen back in ‘78 so jumping around to “In the Navy” is the best!
ukgoods on July 12, 2007 at 9:02 PM
Anyone have “Fear”? Not bad…
JWS on July 12, 2007 at 9:13 PM
Exercise in the 20th century : Jogging, push-ups, sit-ups, lifting weights etc.
Exercise in the 21st century : Leaning from side to side on an overpriced electronic square named after a bodily function.
forged rite on July 12, 2007 at 9:13 PM
Have had 3 xbox360 and “three red ring of deaths”. Great games but built like crap. If you get a quick cut off/reactivation in power during play your system will be toast. I’ll keep sending them back as long as microsoft keeps repairing them for free. After that its the Wii.
unseen on July 12, 2007 at 9:15 PM
JayHaw Phrenzie on July 12, 2007 at 8:57 PM
Try ME Total War 2 and Rome Total War. Great games.
unseen on July 12, 2007 at 9:17 PM
lorien, if you’re looking for an RPG for the Xbox 360, you could do far worse than “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion”. It’s got all the RPG elements and an enormous scope.
As for military games, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter was amazing! Ghost Recon 2 seems pretty terrific, too, but I haven’t gotten that far in it.
There was a great moment in Ghost Recon 2 when I had placed one of my squad members alongside a rock in order to intercept the Mexican terrorists as they came toward me. One of the terrorists makes a break for it and runs right past my guy. “LOOK AT HIM GO!” my guy yells right before shooting the terrorist dead. I’d never laughed so hard in my life. It was so effing cool that the artificial intelligence was so, well, intelligent!
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 9:19 PM
Ditto that.
Spirit of 1776 on July 12, 2007 at 9:19 PM
Spirit of 1776 on July 12, 2007 at 9:19 PM
I want a harder setting and I would be 110% happy.
unseen on July 12, 2007 at 9:21 PM
Yeah I wanna play that. But, its hard to justify $400 or whatever the 360 costs for 1 game. I’d rather by a new PC at get that game, plus many others. I just like games on my HDTV :)
lorien1973 on July 12, 2007 at 9:23 PM
I want to play WoW on a Wii.
frreal on July 12, 2007 at 9:26 PM
Are you a mushy couch potato or are you packing power glutes? Wii could be the answer, but you really don’t want to know what the question is.
Pablo on July 12, 2007 at 9:31 PM
Wii is a brilliant move by Nintendo. Most of the games require the participant to stand up and be active, as opposed to most video games that require movement of a wrist or two. My wife and I allow our kids to play Wii much longer than any other video/computer games.
Also, the whole family can play most of the games we have, so it’s fun for everyone. We are board game players, so the family is already oriented toward group activity.
Of course, all the kids’ friends want to come over and play all the time.
windbag on July 12, 2007 at 9:32 PM
Sell me on it, Wii fans. Make me believe.
I hear the Wii and iPhone are getting married
unseen on July 12, 2007 at 9:33 PM
As far as I’m concerned, it’s the PC and PS2. At least until the PS3 comes down some more.
If you like FPS, I’m not so sure the Wii is what you’re looking for AP.
SouthernDem on July 12, 2007 at 9:34 PM
On a completely different topic, from the headlines, Kimberly Guilfoyle was married to Gavin Newsom?!?!?
Pablo on July 12, 2007 at 9:38 PM
The Wii Fit is what convinced my wife that she needed a Wii. I just want it for Mario Kart.
Krydor on July 12, 2007 at 9:41 PM
I’m actually more interested in the PS3 than the 360. I hate FPS’s and so far the only system making me turn a head to them is Wii (Metroid Prime 3 looks to be killer). The 360 only has three games coming out that interest me, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, and Blue Dragon. Mass Effect is an RPG about… Mass Effect. Eternal Sonata is an RPG about Chopin’s last dream three hours before he dies. He dreams about a world where people with terminal diseases have magical powers. The concept just sounds amazing to me. And Blue Dragon is made by Mistwalker, which are basically the old standard bearers for Square Enix, which was formed by the two greatest RPG companies in Japan.
Despite loving RPG’s I can’t stand the Elder Scrolls series. They are too big for their own good, the dialogue is crap, everyone talks like they are on the same script, it’s an offline MMO. MMO’s are nothing unless they’re online.
PS3 is getting Final Fantasy. Nuff said.
As for the Wii, I love mine. I may be RPG minded but the fact is that the games are… fun. And I’m sure Nintendo will tap their newly acquired Monolith Soft for something interesting. There’s the Paper Mario series which is great RPG action, and of course even though it’s not an RPG Zelda is arguably the greatest gaming franchise. Square Enix is backing the Wii with Crystal Chronicles and Dragon Quest Swords. Right now the Wii is new, which is why most of the games that have come out are quick, cheap, or party games. But as it picks up speed expect it to get a ton of games and some exclusives that aren’t first party.
Keljeck on July 12, 2007 at 9:43 PM
I haven’t had a video game “console” since the very first Pong in 1976.
And darned few on the computer, either. I was a mean mom…made my kids go out and play.
:)
Bob's Kid on July 12, 2007 at 9:48 PM
You know, I want to appreciate Final Fantasy games, because I recognize that they have a passionate following and an important place in videogaming history, but…
Take two steps, have a random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
Take another two steps, have another random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
Take another two steps, have another random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
Take another two steps, have another random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
Gain a level.
Take another two steps, have another random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
Take another two steps, have another random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
Take another two steps, have another random “battle” where everybody just stands around staring at each other until the loser’s stats go down.
You see what I’m saying, here?
I’ve only played the first three FF games so far. Is that really all there is for (so far) twelve solid games?
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I think you’ve simplified it a bit too much. some of the puzzles are good and fighting can be fun. my main problem with ff games is that everyone gets to summon some sort of super powerful creature. To win any fight, you have to summon it (maybe more than once). It gets boring. But they always have a good story and it makes up for the deficiencies. Drop the summon the super powerful creature thing and its a great series.
lorien1973 on July 12, 2007 at 9:57 PM
Did you notice all the fat people showing you how easy and fun it is to do Wii-ercise.
Helloyawl on July 12, 2007 at 10:29 PM
I have a Wii. Before that, we had a GameCube for my son. I used it to fight Pokemon battles with him, and then play Madden Football after his bedtime. And long before I had a son, I had a SuperNintendo (for Zelda) and a Sega Genesis (for hockey games and Sonic). I’ve also lost far more sleep than anyone should while playing Myst and Riven on the PC.
So I am not exactly a hardcore gamer, but I’ve been around games for a while.
I think the Wii is a truly revolutionary game console. For example, my daughter will play nothing but Wii Sports or Mario Party — and she plays them with her girlfriends. Previously, they all turned up their noses at video games (”boy stuff”).
The breakthrough game for me is Legend of Zelda for the Wii. Previous Zelda games were clever and entertaining. This one is clever, entertaining, and immersive. When Link is attacked, I swing and stab with the controller just like a real sword. I duck when the bad guys swing at me (everyone I’ve seen play the game does so as well). I wouldn’t have thought the change from button-mashing to swinging a “Wii-mote” and nunchuk would make such a difference to the game experience — but it really does.
I am so looking forward to Madden ‘08 and Tomb Raider: Anniversary for the Wii!
For me, the graphics are a non-issue. There’s a point at which graphics are good enough for me, and the Wii exceeds that threshold. YMMV, of course.
My recommendation: get a Wii, Zelda, and rechargeable batteries for the “Wii-mote.” You’ll have fun. And even if you gravitate back to the awesome polygon count of the X360, at least you can claim to be au courant in this area of gadgetry — for far less money than an iPhone!
(Ducks)
Anton on July 12, 2007 at 10:35 PM
P.S. We were in the Nintendo World store at Rockefeller Center during a recent vacation. They seem to get a fairly steady supply of Wiis there — since it is Nintendo’s flagship US store. So you have a geographic advantage over the rest of the country if you decide to get one.
Stop at Books Kinokuniya a block down the street afterwards, and you could almost imagine you’re already in Japan.
Anton on July 12, 2007 at 10:47 PM
If you like FPSs then the 360 will be an excellent choice:
BioShock
Halo 3
Call of Duty 4
Rainbow Six: Vegas
Unreal Tournament 3
Haze
Blacksite: Area 51
Turok
America’s Army:True Soldiers (made by the US Military)
Half-Life 2: Orange Box
Mass Effect
Assassin’s Creed
Brother’s in Arms
Alternative games like Dead Rising and Viva Pinata are also a blast. There’s also some pretty cool looking games coming out for Xbox Live Arcade.
I’m still trying to figure a way to get a Wii in the house though. Even though I essentially got my 360 for free, I’m having a hard time justifying the cost of another console in the house with my wife. :) We have two 360s and a DS.
Queasy on July 12, 2007 at 10:48 PM
When you get tacked in Wii Madden, you really suffer spinal injuries!
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 11:00 PM
I stopped past there earlier this evening, as I’d done with some regularity and, for the first time, they seemed to have Wiis available for purchase when I was there.
I know that they’ve gotten a new supply every day, but until recently, apparently, the day’s stock would be sold out within a few hours. Today, there wasn’t even a line when I stopped by.
After futiley trying to buy one last November the night it was released, I swore that I wouldn’t bother again until I could simply pick on up on impulse without having to plot or strategize. That day seems to have finally arrived. The only problem is, having waited so long, I no longer wanted one. I guess waiting for so long finally soured me on the thing.
So even though I finally saw some for sale, I didn’t buy one.
That said, this WiiFit thing sounds neat, so I might buy one after all.
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 11:06 PM
Allah,
I have both the 360 and the Wii. Right now, the Wii doesn’t really have a “killer app” just yet…we fanboys are still waiting for Smash Bros. and Mario Galaxy. Metroid should be a good holdover, though.
I played about ten hours or so into that game (I work at GameStop so I get to check stuff out), and would you agree that Saint’s Row is perhaps one of the most racist, stereotypical, white-guys-in-a-boardroom-approved games of all time?
Viewtifulgare on July 12, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Absolutely! Not only that, but I truly think it’s a bad idea for anyone under, say, 20 to even play it unless they are exceptionally mature (in which case they probably won’t want to play it, of course).
That said, it’s all done humorously (albeit darkly, darkly humorously) and, having played through five Grand Theft Auto games before it, I’m somewhat desensitized to the offensiveness. It’s no Custer’s Revenge.
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 11:17 PM
Also, Saint’s Row has kind of a subversive ending that sort of undermines the anarchy that the game had previously been rewarding. That was unexpected and really kind of interesting.
Kensington on July 12, 2007 at 11:19 PM
You know what? It amazes me that whenever the subject of obesity comes up in the news and all the various options for solving the problem are discussed, no one ever mentions that maybe the consumtion of 7 twinkies, 3 cheesburgers, 4 slices of cake, 9 cans of Pepsi and 2 slabs of bacon in less than 24 hours has anything to do with the problem.
Joshua P. Allem on July 12, 2007 at 11:56 PM
Allah, Wii is awesome. You get old NES, Genesis, SNES and N64 games, and another system I think.
Wii Sports is fun as hell. I also like Rayman Raving Rabbids and WarioWare.
Bad Candy on July 13, 2007 at 12:20 AM
True. You pretty much covered my former diet. I had to join WeightWatchers online so I could get my portions and what I ate under control. I’ve lost 20 pounds from my winter high and I lose about 2 pounds every week now. What you eat is about 80% of the battle.
Mojave Mark on July 13, 2007 at 2:09 AM
Chinese fingers puzzles will be making a comeback next.
Ssssttttrrrreeeettttchhhhh!!!!!!
profitsbeard on July 13, 2007 at 2:29 AM
The best part of the video was the black lady dancing next to her husband as he actually did the work. I can really see my wife doing that while I do fat guy yoga. Didn’t they even think of making head to head stuff for this fit thing?
It’s not like in college when my roommate played Final Fantasy VIII on the PS1 for a month. I watched him play through all 136 hours. That’s 3 weeks of my life I’ll never get back, nor would I want them.
The Fit is go!! TM
sweetlipsbutterhoney on July 13, 2007 at 3:01 AM
Ah, so there’s hope!
Wii Tennis gave me quite a workout when I had the chance to try it. Thing is, you don’t have to run around (just flick the wrist), but you’re free to swing that thing around full-on (hence the wrist strap). This could work.
Coolest Wii feature: virtual console.
P.S. You could buy a Wii and a DS Lite and a few games for the price of an iPhone.
saint kansas on July 13, 2007 at 6:34 AM
My 7 yr old and I went to a game center and played Wii sports.
While we were doing the wii bowling he asked my why we didn’t just go bowling. and so we did.
360 rulez. Crackdown, the Bigs, GR2 Guitar Hero2, GoW…
God bless mindless entertainment
coondawg on July 13, 2007 at 7:03 AM
Allah, my son and I got the 360 for Christmas, havent had a problem yet (knock on wood). I’m a FPS guy myself, though most of my exp has been on PC. But my wife got me Half Life 2 for XBox…. then yells at me for being up half the night playing it LOL. The Wii looks cool, but I think I’ll stick with the 360. And yes, they did extend the warranty to 3 yrs. Besides, my kid and I are having a blast with Rayman Raving Rabbids and Lego Start Wars II.
mrfixit on July 13, 2007 at 7:26 AM
Nintendo’s brilliant man. They’ve always made the most original and fun games.
I’m always late getting the newest console so at the moment I’ve got a Gamecube. Mario Dance is a similar concept to the Wii Fit, but the Fit is obviously the next generation up from Mario Dance.
Aylios on July 13, 2007 at 7:49 AM
Light saber battles with the Wii. Just a matter of time.
Hootie on July 13, 2007 at 8:49 AM
My wife says the same thing, she doesn’t like turn-based combat. She prefers real-time, like Zelda or Kingdom Hearts. FF games have fantastic, epic stories that pull on heart strings. Gorgeous graphics, now including voice-overs with good acting.
And btw, FF12 did away with random battles and modified the turn-based combat.
Hootie on July 13, 2007 at 8:53 AM
I thought Mass Effect was an RPG, and Assassin’s Creed was an action adventure game?
And Portal NEEDS to come to the Wii. I’d never be able to get the necessary precision with an x and y axis. Which is pretty much the reason why I hate the 360.
No. And all of the games are independent of one another. So if you want you could play FFVI and understand what Final Fantasy is about. The music is amazing, the graphics always above average, the storylines while convoluted are easily the best video game storylines out there. And there are puzzles and strategy involved.
The first three games were made in the 80’s when RPGs were all about battling a lot and leveling up. Now they are much easier on the battling and more focused on the story.
Keljeck on July 13, 2007 at 9:01 AM
The day they make a game like that for Wii is the day I think about buying one. Although the light saber thing might do it, too.
Privatestock on July 13, 2007 at 10:03 AM
The Wii gets an A for innovation, and it is fun to play….for awhile. Im happy with my 360. You guys need to post a story on Call of Duty 4. That is going to be awesome.
JVelez on July 13, 2007 at 10:55 AM
They’d probably have to release some kind of…oh boy…strap-on device in order to make the most realistic use of the Wiimote for a Next Gen Custer’s Revenge…
Kensington on July 13, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Allah –
Not sure what your pocketbook is like, but there is no need to trade a 360 in for a Wii (or a Wii in for a 360).
Both systems live in harmony – each providing what the other cannot.
I think you’re an FPS guy, and you aren’t going to get a decent FPS on the Wii at this point. They have some ports (I think Call of Duty 3 is on the Wii) but, they’re still working out the controller interface for FPS’s. We had high hopes for Red Steel, but it was clunky and awkward to use (although very promising if they just work out the movement bugs – especially with sword fighting, the motion controller will be quite awesome).
The Wii doesn’t have a strong online component yet, in fact, I don’t believe they have any games that can be played with other people online. In that department, the 360 is lightyears ahead. This is especially useful if you have odd hours (hey, your American friends might not be up, but there’s always a group of Brits or Singaporeans online playing some COD).
The Wii (at least, the aspects of it that make it vastly different than other systems) is still best for party games (i.e. having your friends over to play Wii bowling or Wii Tennis). If you don’t have other people to play with, Wii games are just going to make you feel sad and lonely.
Hope some of that input helped!
JadeNYU on July 13, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I nominate this for ironic gamer statement of the day.
James on July 13, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Hey, I do socialize with my friends with computer games, James. We’re on an MMORGP you r-tard!
- The Cat
P.S. What? No surfing, skate boarding, skiiing, etcing?
MirCat on July 13, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Either this will make people put down the chips and pick up the controller or it’ll rear a whole new generation of quasi-couch potatoes. You make the call.
Ryan Gandy on July 13, 2007 at 8:53 PM
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