Wii Rally

Have you gotten your copy of Wii Fit and balance board? Then you may want to pick up this starter kit later in the week. It comes with a yoga mat and a protective case for your balance board.

Thinking about buying a Wii balance board? Here are a few quick facts about the balance board to help you make your decision.

Weight Capacity 300 lbs.

Batteries 4 AA batteries that last up to 60 hours. A rechargeable battery for the balance board will be available soon from NYKO.

For use on hard surfaces or thin carpet.

Video games that will use the balance board Wii Fit, We Ski, Don King Presents: Prizefighter, Rayman Raving Rabbids(no title yet).

For Christmas, I received some Wii points as a stocking stuffer. Eager to use those points to buy a couple of virtual console games, I fired up the Wii and selected the Wii shop channel.

I received a message that a system update was available and that I must download it before continuing. No problem. So, I start the process, accept the user agreement, and the download begins. About 30 seconds pass when I receive an on screen error code 32004 and a little message that the Wii can’t proceed and to try again later. After digging up the error code on Nintendo’s support page, I learn that possibly the Wii servers are receiving a high amount of traffic and to try again later. It also gives advice on router channel settings. I try that out but still get the error. I decided to try to update another day.

Since this was right after Christmas, I thought that all those folks who got a Wii for Christmas must be updating their system. In a few days it wil be better. Boy was I wrong.

After a month of trying to update, tonight it finally worked. I was beginning to think that I would have to take my Wii somewhere to have it download since I had read mixed reports of the Wii update working with satellite Internet. In fact, Nintendo even says on their support page that the updates do not work with satellite Internet. But it updated before with no problem, so I wasn’t sure what the culprit was.

I guess the new Christmas Wiis might have been the hold up after all. Now I can finally spend those Wii points.

A few weeks ago, I wanted to purchase a Wii game, so I chose one that was around $30. It was Red Steel, and it was bought at Toys R Us. Well, it was almost bought.

Anyone who has ever bought a video game at Toys R Us knows that it is one of those items that you have to take the ticket up front to pay for it. Once you’ve paid, an employee will retrieve the item from a holding area. Apparently the system showed they had Red Steel in stock but they couldn’t physically find it. I chose another Wii game instead and quickly forgot about Red Steel until today. While shopping at Wal-Mart, I noticed that Red Steel is now selling for $19.97. I tossed it into the shopping cart.

One trend I have noticed is that more Wii games seem to be dropping to the $19.99 price point. There are always at least a few Wii games for under $20 available. It makes me think that maybe I should do a weekly Wii games under $20. The list is growing every week as more Wii games fall to that bargain price.

While new Wii games are so very tempting to buy, holding out a few months can save you a lot of money. Most games I can wait a few months for but there is occasionally one I will buy on its release date.

It is nice to see a price drop of Wii games even if they are some of the older Wii titles.

There are some must have Wii accessories that should, in my opinion, just come packaged with the system. They are really useful and quite handy to say the least.

5.Wii Zapper will be compatible with several games plus it comes with Link’s Crossbow Training and is a downright bargain at under $25. Crossbow Training will give you plenty of practice with the zapper.

4. Wii Classic Controller or the GameCube controller can be used to play virtual console games. The classic controller will give Wii gamers that sense of familiarity when it comes to button mashing. Besides, even though the Wiimote is a very cool controller, nothing compares to the classic style for certain games.

3. Wii Controller Glove will not only help your Wiimote stay clean but will also help you grasp it. Plus gloves comes in a wide variety of colors, making it easy to distinguish which one belongs to whom.

2. Wii Organizer Stand makes it easy to organize everything Wii. The stand has a place for the Wii itself, cords, games, and controllers. Once you’ve spent 30 minutes looking for a Wiimote, an organizer stand will look better and better.

1. NYKO Wii Charge Station will ensure that you can always have battery juice. There’s nothing more depressing than wanting to play the Wii to learn that the batteries are dead. The NYKO charging station comes with two rechargeable batteries designed for the Wii and can charge two Wiimotes simultaneously.

Honorable mention would have to be a Wii carrying case because it’s so much fun to play Wii with anyone. The Wii makes great entertainment for a party or a night with friends. A carrying case can help manage all of those wires, Wii stand, and sensebar. I prefer the slingback-type of Wii carrying case compared to the messenger bag.

While the Wii itself is a great video game system, a few added accessories wil ensure that you get the most playing fun out of your Wii.

Did anyone catch the first few minutes of Boston Legal? It featured Denny and Alan playing Wii Sports, more specifically, Wii Tennis.

I was too busy to try to grab my camera to get a picture. The game was Wii Tennis that is part of Wii Sports that ships with the Wii. They played a two-person game that I believe Alan(James Spader) won. The Denny Crane(William Shatner) Mii was spot on. Maybe ABC will share it through the Check Mii Out channel.

It’s fun to see video games pop up in prime time.

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

Hello everyone in Rally land things are starting to change here at 451 press specifically the gaming channel. I would like to take this time to welcome the new Gaming Editor you may already know him. BB from 1pstart is now going to be supervising all the gaming blogs so welcome to our new head honcho. On another note Wii Rally will be getting another writer, who it is, I do not know. When they will start again unknown but I do know that Wii Rally will continue to be THE place for all you Nintendo Wii goodness.

Hello everyone I would like to be serious for a moment. The literary world lost a great man and a brilliant author. Kurt Vonnegut the author of Slaughterhouse 5 and God Bless You Mr. Rosewater has died. Kurt Vonnegut was my favorite writer and one who inspired countless game designers and film makers to push the edge of creativity. He taught me to look beyond the printed word and find the message behind the text he will be surely missed. Kurt Vonnegut was 84.

Sorry everyone I’m feeling very ill today and I mean iller than the beastie boys so there won’t be any updates today. See you all tomorrow.

A lot of stuff happened this week. Some sad news regarding Mario Party 8. Some confusing news about Kingdom Hearts, two journalistic milestones were passed and Shigeru Miyamoto delivered a disappointing GDC keynote speech. Then again Sony’s Phil Harisson was a tough act to follow and sometimes I think people expect a little too much from Miyamoto but giving a 45 minute presentation about your wife and dog ZzzZzzZzz.

As for the journalistic milestones as most of you know I was plagiarised for the first time this week but I’m over that. The second milestone to which I am referring is the receipt of my first freebies since I started writing about video games almost a year ago. Thurstmaster has sent me some samples of their Wii accessories which I am still testing and will be posting reviews for in the coming days to keep your browser locked on Wii Rally and watch for updates.

Now on to the wrap!

Monday
Mario Party 8 Delayed
Mushroom Kingdom Hearts Announced
NA VC Update 03/04/07

Tuesday
Plagiarism is NO JOKE! [UPDATE-1]

Wednesday
More Wii Flash Games

Thursday
Video Thursday: GDC ‘07 Edition

Feature Friday
Euro VC Update 03/09/07

See everybody on Monday.

I told everyone that last week with the release of DK Country here in NA I wasn’t jealous of the Euro market anymore. Well my eyes turned green again this week with the latest Euro VC update.

Kid Icarus (NES, 500 Wii points)

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1000 Wii points)

It is widely known throughout the games industry that the market most commonly screwed on prices, release dates and content is Europe. I guess that Nintendo is trying to make amends by giving them access to one of the most widely anticipated VC games, Ocarina of Time.

What interests me is not that the game is available in Europe but that it only costs 1000 Wii points not the previously rumored 1200 Wii points. Will we see a change in the price point for the NA release of the game on the VC? That remains to be seen but I sincerely hope not. Every one’s used to getting screwed by Msoft, Sony, EA et.al but when Nintendo screws you it hurts….deep down inside.

So will we finaly see OoT hit the NA market with the coming monday update? Check back on Monday to find out.

Going off of yesterday’s press release I decided to track down some video footage for the more interesting titles that should be hitting the Wii over next few months.

I had some trouble digging up the first video. Ubisoft Montreal is developing a TMNT game to coincide with the new CG film being released this year. TMNT will be released for all platforms, but even multi-platform ports tend to play different on the Wii. Most websites have this game hitting store shelves in early March but upon doing some searching I found no mention of the game on Ubisoft’s official website Hmm. The video shows some early gameplay footage combined with kind of a behind the screens look at the development, Enjoy.

Videos are available following the jump. (more…)

Yesterday was “Virtual Console Monday” the one day a week that Nintendo updates the Wii Shop channel with new software to download for your virtual console. Normally there are a few games released each Monday; last week three games were made available. A rather disappointing number but I thought to myself “Three is better than one” well that was confirmed yesterday. I thought that there would be at least three or four titles released but I woke up to find only one available for download. Then I came across this press release from yesterday.

Wii-kly Update: Classic Zelda Game Announced For Wii Shop Channel

Jan. 22, 2007

Today Nintendo adds one of the most popular games in its library of classics to the Wii™ video game system’s Wii Shop Channel. The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ goes live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super NES®, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Return to an age of magic and heroes. When an evil magician named Agahnim begins kidnapping young maidens in Hyrule in a quest to break the imprisoning seal on Ganon, a young boy named Link is called upon to stop him. Link must venture into twisting mazes, dungeons, palaces and shadowy forests as he searches for the maidens and Princess Zelda. Traversing both Light and Dark Worlds, he must navigate eight dark dungeons, fighting evil enemies and huge bosses. Help our hero prevent Ganon and Agahnim from shattering Hyrule forever.

Is this how it’s going to be? Nintendo puts three third party games up one week but when it’s a first party game we only get one. If that’s Nintendo’s plan than I am sorry but Wii Rally does not approve. Yes “A Link to the Past” is a great game, but to be honest I played it recently on my GameBoy Advance and am in no rush to grab it. I feel the same way about “Ocarina of Time” I played it on my GameCube about a month ago. Now give me “Majora’s Mask” and I’ll be happy but as long as there are at least two other games available at the same time.

I think the real shaft here is given to Sega who had three games slated for release yesterday but they were never put online, now what’s up with that? My message to Nintendo is get your act together or it won’t be worth the ridiculous 29.99$ they charge for Wii Points cards up here in Canada.

This week Wii Parental Controls

Well everyone the first work week of 2007 has come to a close. This weekend is a good one to catch up on those little tasks that may have slipped your mind during the holiday chaos. One such thing that may have slipped your mind is to set the “Parental Controls” on your brand new Nintendo Wii. Well that’s why we have “Feature Friday” every Friday I’m going to try and go in-depth with one of the features of the Wii. Due to recent developments with the Wii Opera Browser I thought that parental controls would be an excellent place to start.

Now most parents don’t know this but for the last two console generations home consoles have come with a parental lock. Similar to those found on DVD players the Wii’s parental controls are no different from those that have come before it. The Wii’s parental controls work with the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) ratings that appear on all games so that you can restrict what game titles are played on your Wii console. To do this, simply follow the steps found after the jump (more…)