and All Consoles

The Nintendo Wii is truly a remarkable new gaming system which has incorporated state of the art remote controller technology. It really allows the player to get involved with the game, like it’s actually happening. However, there is a problem to this, people do… and break things!

It’s apparent that the Wii remote has handy uses: to given an enjoyable and exciting video gaming experience; and to help in getting rid of any unwanted light fixtures, coffee cups, and appliances.

The majority of the accidents and injuries tend to involve the safety strap on the Wii remote. After some intense game player, users claim that the strap breaks easily, and if you waving your arms around at the time, it likely to send the remote flying across the room in a collision course with a TV or somebody’s head.

Nintendo initially stated that they do not take responsibility for these strap-related accidents, but if you refer to Nintendo’s customer service site, a warning about the safe use of the remote had been posted.

However, Nintendo are now offering to replace the original version of the wrist straps for the Wii remote with a newer version. If you do happen to own the original version of the strap, and would prefer a replacement, simply visit Nintendo’s official site and complete the necessary online form.

Many of the remaining causes of Wii related accidents and injuries are generally down to people, and the silly things they do.

Most of the trouble seems at the moment to be related to the sports games. It you take a gamer involved in a heated game of bowling. He desperately needs to get a strike and gives the all he’s got. Unfortunately, as he swings the remote forward to release the ball, the tiny strap snaps and the remotes gone flying – fight into his shinning new HDTV. It’s a very sad day all around.

In a further bowling related incident, on this occasion the gamer is using the Wii sleeve for additional protection, as the gaming gets more and more exciting the sleeve becomes sweaty and flies off. The remote shoots across the room crashing into the china cabinet and the symphony of breaking glass brings his angry mother stomping into the room.

Baseball is also proving to be a pretty dangerous sport to take part in these days. As you can imagine, pitching can be pretty deadly. There have been reports all over the place of wild pitches sending the Wii remote into lampshades, plasma lamps, coffee cups, and basically any glass surface in the room.

Fishing is not an activity that you would imagine to be an high intensity sport, but still Wii games have been able to injure themselves and destroy items around them while trying to reel in that big score. One gamer leaned back so hard into his chair that it snapped and sent his onto the floor. Maybe the game-play of the Wii games is too realistic!

The deadliest game by far is tennis. This is especially for the taller people during serves. Some people get widely out of control from waving their arms about for there severs, and end up smashing their hands into light fixtures, ceiling fans and chandeliers. Worse then that, some tennis players have accidentally whacked friends and loved ones in the face during a high energy match.

The Wii can be dangerous not simply for the players and household items, but any other person in the same room. There have been reported cases of innocent bystanders, in some instances kids, being brained or smacked due to a golf tournament. Some children has received bruises and busted lips from their parents bowling. It shouldn’t really be that surprising, but by placing the Wii remote in the hands of little children often results in something going smash.

Apart from natural human stupidity, there are some things to take note of to game safely: make sure to hold the remote as firmly as comfortable in your hand, make sure that there is plenty of space, and certainly nothing within your swing distance.

On the other hand, you could simple take the Wii outside and play.

Published by Darren Lintern

Developed by: Monster Games, Inc.
Genre: Racing
Players: up to 2 players
Release Date: November 19, 2006
ESRB Content Rated: E – Mild Violence

The Introduction from Nintendo:

In the grand racing tradition of Excitebike, get ready for a big-air experience like no other! Players rocket their trucks across dynamically changing terrain in this nitrous-injected, high-flying racer for speed junkies. Showing the Wii Remote controller’s versatility, players tilt the controller on its side to turn it into a wireless steering wheel!

Excite Truck:

Excite Truck is the first of the launch titles from Nintendo that will require you to sit in order to truly enjoy the experience. There is no need to think of Excite Truck as a traditional racing game, as it’s quite the opposite. As it’s greatly influenced by Nintendo’s Excitebike for the NES, Excite Truck is an arcade styled racing game. Simply finishing first is not you only way of winning.

Game Play:

One of the first things that you notice about Excite Truck is its incredibly fast paced action. The game play of the races is insanely fast and will require you to stay on your toes. Having one false turn and you’re toast. In single-player mode the game is not as exciting and can be quite short. In fact, there are only really about twelve playable tracks. This does ultimately provide a somewhat unsatisfying experience. The multi-player mode on the other hand, does try to improve things, but doesn’t help quite enough to keep you satisfied.

In the main multi-player mode the screen is split for a 2-player race. Although this is a much appreciated addition, I feel that having a 4 player would have been a much more interested experience. With the option of only a 2-play multi-player mode, as well as only having 12 tracks to race on, makes Excite Truck replay ability rather low.

Once you’ve completed the single-player experience, there is not really much to tempt you back for a second time. One benefit to the game play is how Excite Truck enables you to import your own music into the game. The is allowed via a SD Card. The handling in the game is also rather remarkable. It does take a little time to get the hang of things, however once you have completely mastered the controls, you’ll never want to return to a regular remote again.

Using the Controls:

Excite Truck does really display how versatile the Wii remote can be. You simply hold the remote on its side and use it as a steering wheel. The control and accuracy are really fantastic. Although the control will at first take a little bit of getting used to, simply because you’ve never really played a game in this way. You also have the option a use a steering wheel attachment that is available but not entirely necessary to play. It does retail as a separate item.

Look and Appearance:

The graphics in Excite Truck are actually rather beautiful, although with the fast pace of the action you’ll never have any time to actually stop and look at them. The game does feature great textures and visual effects, as well as some excellent level design.

Sound Effects:

If you start out using the default soundtrack for the races it will rather quickly seem quite sub-par. However, as Excite Truck will allow you to import your own tunes via an SD Card. This is an excellent addition that adds that much appreciated personal touch to the game.

And the Pros Are:

+ Excellent graphics
+ Ability to import your own music into the game
+ Intuitive and accurate controls

And the Cons Are:

- Limited replay value
- Lack of multi-player support
- Low number of tracks

Overall: 7.5 / 10

Published by Darren Lintern

Published by: Nintendo
Genre: Sports
Players: up to 4 players
Release Date: November 19, 2006
ESRB Content Rated: E – Mild Violence
The Introduction from Nintendo:

This is what video games should be: fun for everyone. Wii Sports offers five distinct sports experiences, each using the Wii Remote controller to provide a natural, intuitive and realistic feel. To play a Wii Sports game, all you need to do is pick up a controller and get ready for the pitch, serve or that right hook. If you’ve played any of these sports before, you’re ready for fun!

Wii Sports:

Wii Sports is the first game that has been packed with a Nintendo console since Super Mario World was released with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is a compilation pack of 5 different sports events: baseball, boxing, bowling, golf, and tennis.
Game Play:

Each of the five sports games does it’s best to represent the sport; however they are all simplified versions. If you take tennis for example, all you are required to do is control the movement of your tennis racket. The players are automatically controlled and run where ever they are supposed to. Although these simplifications to take away some of the game play from each sport, there are still quite a few of options for each sporting event.

The most exciting of the five games in Wii Sports is the bowling game. Getting the hang of using the Wii remote can take some time, as it is very precise, even too precise for some games. Golf tends to be the game that suffers from the over-precision of the Wii remote. The least entertaining game out the compilation is the baseball. As all the fielding is taken care of for you, it is only necessary to concentrate on throwing the ball, and hitting the ball. For many this may just seem too dull. This game does however shine is in the multiplayer mode.

With the option to play some of the games simultaneously it will be necessary for more than just one Wii remote. Other games, such as bowling, are played in turn. Each player takes their own turn and then passes the remote to the next player.

This game also allows for the use of “Miis”, which are caricatures that can be created with the Wii console. Nintendo intention for this game was not for it to win Game of the Year awards; it was to offer an exciting and fun experience for the casual gamers as well as the non-gamers. They have ultimately reached their goal, as the Wii Sports is a great deal of fun, even for the core gamers.
Using the Controls:

The controls for each of the five sports are exactly what you would hope for; a throwing motion to throw a ball, a rolling motion for bowling, a swinging motion for swinging a baseball bat or tennis racket, etc. Only with the exception of golf, the controls are very user-friendly and intuitive.

Look and Appearance:

The graphics in Wii Sports are not what you could call amazing; some are referring to them as terrible. In fact, they are probably worse than terrible. However, this was intentional on Nintendo’s behalf. They wanted to create a game that had basic graphics and absolutely fantastic game play.
Sound Effects:

The sound is similar to the graphics, nothing really to get excited about. Simple music and sound effects are used throughout these games.

And the Pros are:

+ It’s FREE!
+ Fantastic for multi-player
+ Mostly intuitive controls
+ Infinite replay value
And the Cons are:

- Terrible graphics
- Some games are too simple

Overall: 8 / 10

Published By Darren Lintern