<![CDATA[Kotaku: wii balance board]]> http://tags.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: wii balance board]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/wiibalanceboard http://kotaku.com/tag/wiibalanceboard <![CDATA[Daisy Fuentes Brings Pilates To The Wii]]> Sega is finally bringing Pilates to the Wii this Summer, and who better to present the early 20th-century German physical fitness system than the Cuban-born former co-host of America's Funniest Home Videos, Daisy Fuentes?

We've got plenty of yoga games, but Sega is the first to dedicate a title to the other popular exercise regiment for soccer moms. Daisy Fuentes Pilates for the Nintendo Wii will use the Wii remote, nunchuck, and Wii Balance Board to ensure proper positioning and monitor movements as "players" work their way through customizable workouts with fitness tracking and interactive feedback.

"This is a great way to get Pilates training that fits your schedule and lifestyle," said Daisy Fuentes. "You can start out as an absolute beginner then move into intermediate and advanced levels — all at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home, and with responsive feedback that helps ensure you're mastering core skills correctly before you advance."

In other words, this is a great gift for your mother. I wouldn't give it to a wife or girlfriend, because you never give a gift that says you could be in better shape to someone you plan on sleeping with in the near future.

Look for Daisy Fuentes Pilates to hit stores in late summer.

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<![CDATA[Wii Punch-Out!! Has Another Control Scheme: Your Feet]]> Nintendo's European arm leaks one more previously unannounced Punch-Out!! features, noting that the Wii remake of the NES classic will offer Wii Balance Board support for a third control scheme.

Seems Little Mac has a fitness ultimatum of his own to issue, as Nintendo of Italy's press release brings first word of Balance Board support, indicating that Punch-Out!! players will be able to dodge punches by shifting their weight on the Wii Fit peripheral. It sounds like the Balance Board will be used in tandem with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk motion control scheme.

The other two control methods are the aforementioned, hands-only motion control scheme, plus a classic, NES style set up, using a Wii Remote in the sideways position.

Nintendo of Europe also dropped details on the Wii game's roster last week, confirming the reappearance of Don Flamenco, putting the number of WVBA boxers at 16.

While the addition of Balance Board support certainly isn't unwelcome, it's probably only going to lead to feeling the burn, what with all that sticking and moving. And we hate the burn.

Punch-Out!! Gets Balance Board Support [IGN]

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<![CDATA[Rayman Raving Rabbids Ass Party Impressions]]> At least one Ubisoft staffer out there thinks I have a nice ass. (It's not Jade... as far as I know.) That commendation was handed out during my cheeks-on time with the forthcoming Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party, as I virtually surfed a dead cow via the Wii Balance Board.

After suffering through the rather mundane Wii-mote waggling "party" game pictured — it involved four Rabbids in a whack-duel to the death armed with toilet plungers — we plopped down on the balance board, controllers in hand.

The butt steering mechanics worked pretty well, as we slalomed down a slight grade, leaning left and right to steer our livestock, occasionally jumping off ramps to pull off cattle tricks. These were simply two-handed jerks of the remote and nunchuk. It was good for a laugh.

And if that's all you need from your Wii software, the next Rayman Raving Rabbids entry will probably fit the bill. The balance board isn't required, but will probably help make the fifty-ish mini-games feel that much more varied.

The concept of yet another mini-game collection being hastily brought to the Wii may not light a fire under you, but at least Ubisoft is putting some effort into Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party's presentation. The television theme is well implemented via micro-games within mini-games based on commercial breaks. Wii waggling in short bursts with friends and family, should that be up your alley, looks to be well represented here.

And we'll leave it at that.

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<![CDATA[Balance Board Skateboard Add-on, Bwah?]]> As posted earlier, Kotaku's own Mike "Michael" McWhertor was impressed with Skate It's straight forward incorporation of the Wii Balance Board. But for some, maybe just the regular Wii Balance Board isn't enough to get them in the mood for skating. Maybe they want something to sexy the board up. You know, like some sort of snap-on peripheral. Nothing's been announced by EA, but rumors persist Skate It will ship with something like that. When asked if such Balance Board peripheral exists, EA replied:

That's something I haven't heard. So... Our focus is just working with what is provided by Nintendo. So there's not an extra piece. You know, it's really about working with the Balance Board. So if you have one, this is another game you can play with it. It's not about fitness, it's about skateboarding and having fun.

There's a video after the jump. Watch it if you like.

EA denies Skate It Balance Board clip-on accessory [Balance Board Blog via Go Nintendo]

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<![CDATA[Ex-Rockstar Devs Making WiiWare Balance Board Game]]>
First Balance Board Blog got hold of a rather bizarre YouTube clip that features — women in jogging leotards? dudes with horrid combovers in corsets and black socks? — running to a 60-Minutes style stopwatch. Nothing in the vid suggests it's a promo for a game, much less one using the Wii Balance Board, so methinks viral marketing straight away.

But BBB got hold of the video's poster and subsequent confirmation that PheroseSoft, a seven-person team made up of former devs for EA Canada Burnaby and Rockstar North, is developing something called "WiiMove." It should be available by WiiWare sometime after October this year, Balance Board Blog reports.

A representative of PheroseSoft told BBB that "the game looks to put an unexpected slant on the Wii Balance Board." Ya don't say. The video's after the jump.


Wii Move confirmed - developed by ex EA, Rockstar staff
[BalanceBoardBlog, via ComputerandVideoGames.com]

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<![CDATA[THQ Bring Cheerleading To The Wii Balance Board]]> If losing weight balance training isn't your thing, and you find the idea of skiing fundamentally abhorrent, THQ might have a Wii Balance Boarding alternative for you: All-Star Cheerleading, a game they've got in development for the Wii. THQ boss Brian Farrell, speaking today at the Morgan Stanley Tech Conference, says it's "going right after girls", but I think he's underestimating the number of 20-something guys who own a copy of Bring It On.

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<![CDATA[Wii Fit Sells A Million]]> Nintendo proves that video games and exercise do indeed work, as their balance board and fitness software combo surpasses the 1 million units sold mark in Japan after barely over a month on the market. According to Japan's business news source Nikkei, the package surpassed the million mark on January 6th, which makes McWhertor some sort of bizarre psychic mutant freak. Personally I am looking forward to getting my hands on this here in the states later this year, as any exercise I can do while sitting in front of my television is quite welcome. I just hope that I managed to keep my 6'6" frame below the 330 pound weight limit for the North American version after two months of constant holiday dinners. *looks down at tummy* It'll be close.

Nintendo's Wii Fit Reaches Milestone Of 1 Million Units Sold
[Nikkei (registration required) via GamesIndustry.biz]

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<![CDATA[Make Your Own Wii Fit Balance Board]]> Can wait for the Wii Fit Balance Board? Neither can Game Labo! The Japanese video game hacker mag's latest issue has an article on how to make your own. There's a dialogue and a Classic Controller is involved. Good news is that this homebrew doesn't have a 300 pound limit like the Wii Balance Board. So take note, husky readers! This could be the answer you've been waiting for!!
How to Build Wii Balance Board [Hobby Blog]

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