Anybody Interested in a HUGE Spoiler Leak?

If so, leave a comment. I just happen to know where to find the entire cast of "Super Smash Bros.: Brawl." Anybody want to know? Leave a comment and I'll throw you a link.

I need to run to school, but before I go, I wanted to also volley the reader a question: is anybody hurt by the lack of PS3 coverage here at BTVG? I often give much more attention to the Wii, mostly because I have access to one. Opinions? Biases either way? What about the 360, etc.? Please let me know. Thanks, all.

NOTE: IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T CLICK "COMMENTS." That is all.

Wii-itis: Worse Than Meningitis?

No. And now for the rest of the entry.

As I was browsing around my favorite publication, The Herald-Dispatch, I came across this story from The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal. Check it out.

Prolonged, improper Wii use can lead to injuries small and large

By LINDA STAHL

The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal

Sweat popped out on the reddened faces of 12-year-old Jakob Njos and 15-year-old Emily Njos, evidence that they had raised their heart rate while holding remote controls and punching the air as they stood in front of a television set.

The siblings had just finished a round of virtual boxing, one of several Nintendo Wii Sports games they got for Christmas. Onscreen, customized Mii cartoon figures representing each of them "fought" until there was a knockout. Sweat flew from the faces of the virtual characters, too.

"They don't take any rests when they play these sports so it's an endurance thing," said their mother, Siri Njos.

She is a physical therapist and knows that making video games physically engaging has its pluses. But she cautions it may have its minuses, too, if players don't use proper form and common sense.

From friends and family, she has gotten reports about pain and soreness among both adults and children who play Wii Sports.

"Adults get hit the hardest, but even kids are complaining of pain," she said.

Wii Sports includes bowling, baseball, boxing, tennis and golf.

Imagine punching the air as if boxing or sweeping the air as if hitting a tennis ball hundreds and hundreds of times.

"You may hit a thousand tennis balls in a given period of time, something you'd never do on the tennis court," said Dr. Mark Klion, a sports physician and orthopedic surgeon at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "This is repetitive activity you clearly wouldn't do in a regular sports activity."

Last year, when Wii Sports came on the market, a doctor in Spain wrote a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine describing shoulder tendonitis caused by playing hours of tennis on his Nintendo Wii console. He dubbed the condition "Wii-itis."

People can play virtual tennis for inordinate periods of time because "unlike the real sport, physical strength and endurance are not limiting factors," Dr. Julio Bonis wrote in his letter.

Klion has encountered patients with shoulder, elbow and wrist strain from Wii overuse.

He said what they injure is soft tissues - muscles, ligaments and tendons. There is microscopic tearing of the tissues, which causes pain and inflammation.

Symptoms may not appear for 24 to 48 hours, Njos said. The shoulder is particularly vulnerable because it is a big, mobile joint but the least stable of our joints, she said.

"I have nothing against these games, I'm just wanting to send out a buyer-beware message," she said.

Njos preaches good form, not swinging or punching full-out and not playing the games for hours at a time.

Research published last month in the British Medical Journal said children who play video sports on the Nintendo Wii burn more calories than they would playing regular video games. But the research also said children who played actual sports burned more calories than Wii Sports players.

Klion said his family couldn't resist getting the popular Wii gaming console, which was one of the hottest gifts this holiday season.

"I'm an active user myself with my kids," he said. "It's not as good as running outside and playing imaginary games, but it's much more active than PlayStation and Xbox and sitting on your rear end doing nothing."

More physically engaging, interactive games are on the way from Nintendo. The USA debut of Wii Fit games is expected during the first quarter of the year. Wii Fit includes a Wii balance board attachment and fitness games such as the balance game, yoga and muscle training.

HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES WHEN PLAYING THE WII

To prepare for playing Nintendo Wii Sports, warm up by walking around or doing some jumping jacks. Then do a little stretching.

If you're a beginner, rest after the first 10 to 15 minutes of play. Once you're a seasoned player, rest after 15 to 30 minutes of play. Moderation will help you avoid injury.

Avoid aggressive, vigorous or exaggerated movements. Smaller movements will still make the handheld controllers work to hit a ball, throw a ball or throw a punch.

When bowling, don't swing your arm high into the air. A small, controlled swing will do. When boxing, keep your elbows close to your sides and keep your hands in a thumbs-up position.

IF YOU GET WII-ITIS

Apply ice to the sore area.

Take an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen.

Lay off Wii Sports until you recover.

I completely understand why this story is relevant and should be heeded. Of course, you should take great precaution when playing an excess of "Wii Sports."

However, I will advise something. If you're playing the Wii for exercise, invest in the upcoming "Wii Fit," which I covered in a previous blog entry. If you're playing "Wii Sports" for fun, do it while sitting on the couch using simple wrist movements. Trust me, I do it all the time (and have maintained the high score in bowling, mind you).

So please be careful when playing the Wii. Stick to actual fitness when aiming for exercise and stick to laziness when gaming. It works for me!

Smaller Blu-ray Hardware = Cheaper PS3?

Sony recently released a statement saying they will soon be producing smaller laser diodes in Blu-ray equipment.

Translation?

Smaller laser diodes = less parts = less expensive to make = can sell more cheaply = perhaps can ultimately lead to a cheaper PS3.

In related PlayStation 3 news, there's still no word on the cancellation of the 80 GB PS3, although thanks to very low sales and the unit being pulled off of shelves left and right, that is also a succinct possibility.

So in other words, I have no actual news for you today. Just two PS3 rumors. Yeah!

Intro film to "Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed"

Obviously a throw to the Big Boy franchise, here comes another installment of the horrible "Destroy All Humans!" games. Upon first reviewing the original, I couldn't recommend it. However, the game is a big success and is now heading toward the Wii.

Here's the opening video to the game, but it's for mature audiences only. After all, it is rated T for teens. Viewer's discretion is advised.

The goal in the game is to, well, destroy all human beings, and also utilize a giant mascot, the Big Willy character (obviously modeled after Big Boy) to terrorize the masses. This game will take place in the '70s, since the first two took place in the '50s and '60s.

"Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed" will hit shelves on February 25 for the Wii and the PSP (a PS2 version was announced, and then abruptly canceled). I can't say that I'll be reviewing this one, mostly just because I don't really care for the idea of killing hundreds of people for no reason. It was forgivable in "Stubbs the Zombie," but I attribute that to having Ben Kweller and the Flaming Lips in the soundtrack.

"Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity" Review

When I heard about the "Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity" game, it was hard to comprehend exactly what to think. I mean, almost every video game character with a memorable name has had their own racing game. Mario, Diddy Kong, Crash Bandicoot, and many others have received this treatment. It's a very smart way for the developers to make some money. Grab a well known character and throw them in a racing game.

And now we have "Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity," the Wii's Sonic-clad response to "TrickStyle" for the Sega Dreamcast. The difference between this and the Dreamcast's hoverboard title? "Trickstyle" was actually sort of fun.

This game falls flat for me. I was really rooting for it. Heck, I even drug my friends into playing the multiplayer version with me. This game could be so much more user friendly. The control system is far too sensitive for ultimately very little pay-off. The underlying story is really very inane and unimportant to the rest of the game (so that video that I posted earlier is really the only thing that holds any sort of lazily written plot).

Playing "Zero Gravity" makes you ache for a number of things: a good script, a better soundtrack, better voice-overs, and over all, more attention to the quality of the game itself. Even the graphics are sort of haphazard, but it's hard to notice since the game moves so unfortunately fast.


Yes, here's less than half of a second of the game. I guess the graphics don't need to be perfect when you're going that fast. But then again, it's hard to appreciate any of the game to begin with if you're going that fast.

There are a lot of available characters and a lot of possibilities for a good time, but it just doesn't seem to work on this game. The maps are even pretty cool looking, but it doesn't hold up in this world of "Burnout" and "Mario Kart 64."

This game just doesn't cut it for me. It's a shame - there are really very few games for the Wii that are worth the time or energy. I was hoping this would be one of them. Unfortunately, it looks like Sonic strikes out again.

Grade: C-

You can't ride a hoverboard over water, McFly! You gotta have power! - Biff, "Back to the Future"

The Michigan Post About the Delay

Hey folks. Thanks for checking for updates. Unfortunately, I'm away from my element (i.e. I'm among non-high-speed Internet) and it's been difficult to post this weekend. However, I'll jump back on the frequent posting train tomorrow. Again, thanks for reading.

On the plus side, however, I'm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'll be sure to stop in and see everybody's good buddy Rich Rodriguez before I skip town.

"Rock Band Stage Kit" Announced and Hilarious

Do you have a copy of "Rock Band" yet? Here's an idea of what watching the game played looks like.

That one was chosen at random. Trust me, there are probably thousands of videos of people playing "Rock Band."

So in addition to the $170 consumers dished out for the game and the instruments included, they're now going to be introduced to the "Rock Band Stage Kit." What is it? Nothing short of completely unnecessary.

According to some leaked information via GameStop, the stage kit peripheral will include an "Interactive Light and Smoke Stage Show."

OK, I understand maybe releasing a mic stand or a better guitar, but lights and smoke? Ah yes, because there's nothing better than a bunch of flashing lights and smoke enshrouding the room while you try desperately to look at the TV. Plus, anybody watching this should be struck by the sheer sadness of the event.

It's a less-then-impressive way to hype an already impressive game, and I think developers should be focusing on new games, downloadable content, and better controllers for "Rock Band" rather than this unnecessary peripheral. For shame.

The kit is currently priced at $99.99 and will be released on June 23.

"Wii Fit," You Fit?

Have you heard about "Wii Fit" yet? The title was announced over the summer at the E3 conference and was released in Japan on December 1. The game has been given a North American release date of May 20.

Despite its recent release in Japan, "Wii Fit" has sold over one million units. So why is this thing so popular?

First of all, the thing doesn't utilize the Wii Remote at all. The game comes with the Wii Balance Board peripheral. The balance board (seen below) calculates the user's weight, center of gravity, and body mass index. Akin to "Brain Age," the program can find your "Wii Fitness Age." Weird, huh?

The games are split up into four categories: aerobic exercise, balance games, muscle conditioning, and yoga poses. Experience all kinds of exercise, from jogging and yoga to hula hooping and tightrope walking.

So the game has sold hugely in Japan. It's aimed toward families playing this together. So why should I buy a glorified scale with wires in it? Didn't "Dance Dance Revolution" try to pull this one over me?

First of all, the Wii Balance Board will be utilized again in the future, thanks to the upcoming "Family Ski," which also utilizes the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk. Secondly, if it is a hugely popular and hugely successful game in one region, it can't be all that bad. Thirdly, it utilizes your Miis. You can watch your adorable/virtual self hula-hooping or doing yoga. Aww!

So who's interested, readers? Oh, and here's a trailer.

Very interesting, says I. It seems to me that there's a wider variety of games than I had expected.

What's WAY Cooler Than the New Super Smash Characters?

So I've been so eagerly anticipating the release of "Super Smash Bros.: Brawl" that I've forgotten an even more wonderful upcoming fighting game release this year. "Soul Calibur IV" is coming out in the summer. I LOVE the "Soul Calibur" games (pending the latest one, which I haven't played).

In "Soul Calibur II," they released three different versions of the game: one for the Xbox, one for the PlayStation 2, and one for the GameCube. With each version there was a different playable character. For the Xbox, you could unlock Spawn. For the PS2, you could unlock Heihachi from "Tekken." For the GameCube, you could unlock Link from the Zelda games. Cool huh? Well things just got WAY cooler. Skip to about 58 seconds in if you're impatient.

Did anybody else just giggle like a little girl? Because I totally just giggled like a little girl.

That's right, Yoda and Darth Vader will be playable characters. Yoda will be in the 360 version and Vader in the PS3 version. No word on any other available characters, but OH MAN this is going to be good. For the full story and more screenshots, head over to 1up.com at this link.

Thanks to Tyler Nickell for the tip.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Review

If you read the last post, you'll know that I've already done a post on a Nintendo DS game today. However, I thought that maybe this one would be a bit of fresh air, considering the content of "Napoleon Dynamite: The Game."

Well, I was correct. "Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings" is actually a great idea, as well as a pretty fun game.

- The Concept: It's a sequel (or the following chapter) to "Final Fantasy XII." This doesn't mean that you need to have played FFXII. I never played it extensively, and this game just came naturally.
- What's different?: Everything. The game moves back to that classic 8-bit Final Fantasy style from days of yore. The control system is brand new, thanks to the DS stylus. Also, it accomplishes exactly what you want a hand-held video game to accomplish: it wastes time while still making you happy. Plus, you play a band of air pirates. What could be better?
- What's the same?: Generally, the fighting format is similar in the RPG realm. The style is very familiar to any of the Final Fantasy games. It also has some amazing cut-scenes, all of which look like they did on the old PSOne format. Very cool indeed.

You should check this game out. Being a fan of Final Fantasy games dating back to FFVII, this game does what any good Final Fantasy game should do - introduce you to a fantastic dream world where you're a hero/outlaw fighting for what's right/against what's wrong.

In other words, this game is comparable to the amazing "Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass." Definitely check it out. It's a worthy companion piece to FFXII.

Grade: A-

Napoleon Dynamite: The Game: The Review

Remember the "Wayne's World" video game for the Super Nintendo? The animation was all little cartoon bodies with the actual faces of Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, and the other actors in the film. Enter "Napoleon Dynamite: The Game," a pretty hilarious excuse for a series of mini-games, which utilizes the same style of graphics.

Essentially, in the Nintendo DS version of the Napoleon game (the one in which I'm reviewing, although I doubt there's much difference between that and the PSP version), you guide Napoleon and friends through a series of mini-games all loosely based on things that happen in the film, ranging from "Rex Kwon Do" to "Dance Lessons" or "Dodgeball" - all of which are no fun and absolutely tedious.

I suppose I should explain my views on the "Napoleon Dynamite" film. When it first came out, I loved it. I laughed until I cried at the scene when he did the dance. I thought most of the film was a breath of fresh air, original, and hilarious. However, then the film got mass syndication to all of the movie theaters and didn't leave Huntington for about five or six months (this being a year after the film's original limited release). Then the merchandising reached a new level of ridiculous, the jokes were made unfunny by EVERY high school student who saw the film and repeated said jokes (probably literally) a million times, and I couldn't swing a cat in a hallway without hitting a "Vote for Pedro" t-shirt.

Granted, the hype has died significantly with the passing months. However, they decided to release this "Napoleon Dynamite" based game last December. Without the movie to support it, the jokes fall flat, the animation is pretty bad, and the mini-games mediocre at best.

I don't really know how to deal with this game. I was rooting for it. I wanted so badly to like it, but some things just don't translate into video games. Maybe given a different format or a decent set of graphics, Napoleon could truly come alive in the hand-held video game format.

"Napoleon Dynamite: The Game" doesn't serve as a time waster while on the road, on the train, in the apartment, or in the doctor's office. The graphics are somewhat amusing, considering the style of 2D animation is rarely seen these days (where art thou, Parappa). Unfortunately, this may be Napoleon's last stand. If you want Napoleon, watch the movie.

Grade: D-

Queen Elizabeth II Hearts "Wii Sports"

Who doesn't love a story about a world leader being hip to the young people's jive? This guy can't resist.

Here's a great "everybody loves that zany Queen" story from a British site, The People.

William's girlfriend Kate Middleton bought him the £200 gift for Christmas - but he now has to share it with his grandma.

A Palace source told The People: "When she saw William playing a game after lunch at Sandringham she thought the Nintendo looked tremendous fun and begged to join in.

"She played a simple ten-pin bowling game and by all accounts was a natural.

"It was hilarious. William was in fits of laughter. He was enormously impressed at having such a cool gran.

"And although she is 81 the Queen's hand-eye co-ordination was as good as somebody half her age."

Aww. Ain't she sweet? I wonder, however, why the Palace source remained confidential. Maybe the Queen didn't want this getting out. The story does go on to say that she "showed all the signs of becoming a Nintendo addict." You know what that means?

REHAB TIME.

Another Nail in HD-DVD's Coffin

The battle between Blu-ray format and HD-DVD has gotten rather tedious. When going to the store to buy a regular DVD, you don't have to choose whether you'll buy a DVD or a VHS - no, they got rid of that system long ago.

So now, it seems that companies are wising up and becoming one-or-the-other exclusive. Warner announced their move to be exclusive to Blu-ray certainly set things going in a different direction. As of late, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung have been backing Blu-ray. On the other end, Microsoft, Toshiba, and Intel have been backing HD-DVD.

However, Microsoft's name could be taken out of that bunch soon enough.

After rumors of a Bill Gates announcement of a HD-DVD supported Xbox 360, Microsoft have announced that these plans are not in motion.

We have reiterated multiple times since launching the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player that we have no plans to integrate an HD-DVD player in to the Xbox 360.

So what's up with that? Could it be that Microsoft fears the downfall of HD-DVD? Hopefully, everybody will sway one way or the other. The masses don't need to be split down the middle when it comes to the entertainment market. That's all ready happening to the video game industry. Just one format, people! It's more cost efficient.

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity Gameplay

Not much to say as of late in the video game realm. Hopefully I'll hit you up with some reviews soon. For now, here's a character and gameplay trailer for "Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity," which hits stores Tuesday.