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View Full Version : The Wii Balance Board: the possibilities

Angrist
07-11-2007, 03:19 PM
As probably the biggest fan of this new thing on this forum, I present you the newest step (no pun intended?) in gaming: the Wii Balance Board.

Pictures!
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/07/dsc_0982.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/07/dsc_1025.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/07/dsc_1020.jpg

What does it do? It not only measures weight, it measures your gravity point. It knows when you're leaning to the left. Right. Front, back.

It comes with the game Wii Fit, which is probably the game that we knew as Wii Health. Wii Fit gets you to do aerobics on the Balance Board. Balance games, muscle games, etc.

Now this may not excite you, the core gamer, but don't dismiss the Balance Board just yet. Rather think of what it can do for 'real' games.

Do you know how the Segway works? Well, I don't, but I do know that when you lean forward, you move forward and so on. That is what the Wii Balance Board can do. It's a step closer to virtual reality.
If you want, in the future you can move in first person shooters by simply leaning. Use the Wiimote+nunchuck to aim and shoot.
There will probably be a snowboard game where you steer as if it's a real snowboard. For fighting games, the balance board can probably measure how high you kick. The possibilities are endless.

People have suggested strapping Wiimotes to their feet. This is better. Keep it up Nintendo.
DarkMaster
07-11-2007, 04:09 PM
I really dont want to step forward to move forward in a FPS, or any game. I can see this being cool for the game it was designed for.
GameMaster
07-11-2007, 04:14 PM
Hopefully developers will use this to produce a kama sutra game for gaming couples and curious single gamers.
Bond
07-11-2007, 04:18 PM
Does anyone think this could be used for a surfing game? Because I'm not so sure it would work...
Crash
07-11-2007, 04:23 PM
I think it only recognizes left and right pressure doesn't it?

I wouldn't mind seeing an ice skating/racing game, snowboarding game, skateboarding game, or even a tour de france biking game.


Think about it, the fitness opportunities are great.

Does anyone think this could be used for a surfing game? Because I'm not so sure it would work...


Hold the wiimote level to keep balance, and turn board sideways to control speed and direction. It could be done.
Angrist
07-11-2007, 04:26 PM
Didn't the movies show that the Board also registers front/back pressure? Remember the dot that was flying all over the screen? Not just from left to right. :) But we're sure to get more info from Ninty soon.
Typhoid
07-11-2007, 07:24 PM
First of all, the technology is hardly revolutionary, and I don't see it as mind-blowing at all, to be honest. It's a board that detects which side the pressure is on, mixed with angle, and a scale for weight.
Way to go Nintendo, you just ripped off every Virtual War arcade game from the early 90's, but made it compact.

OooOoo.



And I don't think this would do well for any type of game, other than an aerobic one.

Since it measures angle, and weight, for a surfing game (for example) the learning curve would be a lot harder than actually going out, surfing, and getting real exercise.

I don't see it as anything useful, in any aspect.
Jason1
07-11-2007, 08:05 PM
I like the idea, I think its a neat idea, but based on the video I watched, how much real excercise am I going to get by slowing steping on and off this thing?

Just dosent look like you can get actual excercise on it, which seems to be the main point to me...maybe it will help old people with their balance?
Bond
07-11-2007, 08:08 PM
I think this is designed for the morbidly obese consumer group.

Nothing can really replace running outside and going to a gym for me.
Typhoid
07-11-2007, 11:03 PM
I think this is designed for the morbidly obese consumer group.

Nothing can really replace running outside and going to a gym for me.


I don't know, I'd trade fresh air, self awareness and confidence for slowly stepping up a gentle incline.
Angrist
07-12-2007, 02:23 AM
Yeah, we're young and pretty healthy, this won't work for us that well, but there are millions of people who sit on the couch all day.
Dylflon
07-14-2007, 01:35 PM
If they want Wii players to stop being fat, why don't they just release a Wii DDR?
Dyne
07-14-2007, 02:03 PM
If they want Wii players to stop being fat, why don't they just release a Wii DDR?

They have DDR: Hottest Party coming out.