Wii Sports Club Swings with Golf

Wii-GolfIt might be too cold in much of the country to hit the greens, but you can still tee off from home with the Wii U as golf has joined the lineup of Wii Sports Club titles, and is available from the Nintendo eShop. It utilizes the unique controls of the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers. With the GamePad on the floor players can actually see the golf bag as they look to make their swing.

Wii Sports Club – Golf joins currently available spports Wii Sports Club – Tennis and Wii Sports Club – Bowling. All five classic sports froom the original Wii Sports are being released individually as downloads in the Nintendo eShop, and feature high-definition graphics, controls via Wii MotionPlus technology.

Wii U owners can download Wii Sports Club and get a free pass to play any sports for a 24-hour period, and then can purchase day passes for $1.99 per sport or permanent access to individual sports for $9.99.

Wii Sports Club Official Website

The World is Ready to Party With Zumba

ZumbaCan nearly 10 million people be wrong? When it comes to fitness video games we don’t think so. The Zumba Fitness franchise is still going strong, and that is something to celebrate. This month saw the arrival of Zumba Fitness World Party for Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Wii U. The game will also debut later this month as a launch day title for the Xbox One. Continue reading The World is Ready to Party With Zumba

Wii U Sports – It’s in the Game

Wii-Sports-ClubNintendo is offering gamers a chance to download Wii Sports Club and get a free trial pass that will let them play any available sports for a 24-hour period. Once the trial period ends, players can purchase two types of passes exclusively available in the Nintendo eShop: a Day Pass for $1.99 to play all available sports for a 24-hour period, or a Club Pass to gain permanent access to individual sports for $9.99 each.

This includes the five beloved sports from the original Wii Sports game including bowling, tennis, baseball, boxing and golf. These make the jump from the original Wii to the Wii U.

The sports are being released individually as downloads in the Nintendo eShop, and feature HD graphics, enhanced controls via Wii MotionPlus technology, as well as a much-requested online multiplayer versus mode, so users with broadband Internet access can face off against friends and family members online. Players can choose to associate themselves with various state or regional clubs and can send messages to one another via Miiverse. People can play casually against members of their own club, or take on members of rival clubs to increase their club rankings.

Wii Sports Club Official Website

Nintendo Gives Wii Fit U to You

Wii-U-FitOwners of the Nintendo Wii U who own a Wii Balance Board accessory and have access to a broadband connection can now download a trail version of Wii Fit U from the Nintendo eShop. This promotion will run from now until the end of January, and will work for 31 days from when it is first played. That should be enough for users to decide if the Wii Fit U is right for you.

Wii Fit U Official Website

An Object in Motion

Motion-TennisWhile the Wii was a huge hit with casual gamers – including those who wanted to get off the couch – the Wii U hasn’t exactly delivered for Nintendo. Instead it could be that Apple TV could fill the void with games such as Motion Tennis, which utilizes an iPhone for a controller. The game takes advantage of the iPhone’s magnetometer, gyroscope, and accelerometer to accurately interpret your movements.

For those who want to go from Mii (the onscreen characters on the Wii) to I – as in the iPhone, then Apple TV might get you there.

Motion Tennis Official Website

Next Generation of Zumba

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The party won’t stop – the video game fitness party that is. Majesco Entertaiment Company announced today that Zumba Fitness World Party will launch in October for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii U and Wii game systems. This fitness game will also arrive later this year for the upcoming Xbox One from Microsoft.

The new game promises to deliver more than 40 high-energy routines with an international soundtrack featuring Lady Gaga, Pitbull and Daddy Yankee, and allow gamers to burn up to 1,000 calories per hour. Continue reading Next Generation of Zumba

Zumba Goes to the Core

This week Majesco Entertainment announced that Zumba Fitness Core has arrived for the Nintendo Wii and Kinect for Xbox 360, delivering 40 new songs and routines with 33 international dance styles from the around the world. Plus there are new fitness goals, more nutrition tips and more gameplay that will help players get in shape. Launch trailer after the jump

Game Time: Hollywood Workout

Ever notice how celebrities often seem in excellent shape? That’s because they have a professional trainer to help them on the way. If you can’t afford one but want to work out like they do in Hollywood a new video game might just be the thing.

Majesco Entertainment Company announced this week that Harley Pasternak’s Hollywood Workout will be available in stores on September 18 for Kinetic for Xbox 260 and for the Nintendo Wii. This upcoming title will give players access to the 5-Factor Fitness program, which is used by Hollywood’s A-list to stay in shape. The game was developed by Heavy Iron Studios and requires 25-minutes a day, five days a week. Continue reading Game Time: Hollywood Workout

E3 2012: Wii Fit U Announced

While not the first in the space, Nintendo was one of the pioneers to bring fitness to the video game platform with Wii Fit, and now at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this week Nintendo has announced Wii Fit U for its upcoming Wii U platform.

In addition to announcing the game, Nintendo revealed the Wii Fit U Pedometer, and announced that the device will work with Wii Fit U specifically. The Pedometer will be able to count your steps, track your altitude, and estimate your calories burned during your exercise sessions. You’ll also be able to generally track all of your physical activity while you’re not directly in front of your television as well. Trailer video after the jump

Hollywood Workout Coming to Xbox 360 and Wii

“Going Hollywood” usually doesn’t have the best connotation, but that could change with the newly announced Harley Pasternak’s Hollywood Workout. This upcoming exercise video game from Majesco Entertainment will arrive this fall for Kinect for the Microsoft Xbox 260 and Ninteno Wii, provides gamers with access to the fitness program used by many in Hollywood today. To help players get fit best-selling author and celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak arrives in digital form with the 5-Factor program that promises to make it easy to get fit.

While we doubt it will transform the average gamer into a Hollywood super star it should beat another round of Halo or Mario Kart!

Majesco Entertainment Company Official Website

President’s Council, ESA Join to Promote Active Video Games

Several forces recently joined together to promote the Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) Challenge. Those forces include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN); the Entertainment Software Association (ESA); and leaders from the U.S. video game industry.

The Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge aims to highlight active video games as one way to help Americans lead more active lives. Continue reading President’s Council, ESA Join to Promote Active Video Games

New Study Finds Fitness Video Games May Not Be So Fit, After All

We have written a few stories about the fitness video game trend (in fact, we just posted one the other day), but one new study has found that such games don’t offer kids any benefits, according to a HealthDay report, and questions whether using video games as a way to get kids active is appropriate or not

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, examined the physical gaming activity of two groups of kids (78 children between the ages 9 and 12) over a three-month period. Each child was given a Nintendo Wii system (none of the kids had ever owned one) plus accompanying accessories. One group of kids could choose from a selection of five fitness-based titles such as Wii Fit Plus, while the second group played “non-active” video games like Mario Kart Wii. Continue reading New Study Finds Fitness Video Games May Not Be So Fit, After All