Wii Balance Board
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 The Wii Balance Board, attached to a Wii Fit demo at the Leipzig Games Convention in August 2007 |
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| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game controller |
| Generation | Seventh generation era |
| Retail availability | JP December 1, 2007 EU April 25, 2008 AUS May 8, 2008 NA May 19, 2008 |
The Wii Balance Board is a balance board accessory for Nintendo's Wii video game console.[1] It was introduced on July 11, 2007 at E3 2007, along with Wii Fit.[2]
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[edit] Design
The Wii Balance Board is shaped like a household body scale, with a plain white top and light gray bottom. It runs on four AA batteries as a power source, which can power the board for about 60 hours.[3] The board is wireless and contains multiple pressure sensors that are used to measure the user's center of balance—the location of the intersection between an imaginary line drawn vertically through the center of mass and the surface of the Balance Board—and body mass index. In an interview conducted by gaming web site IGN, Shigeru Miyamoto stated that the Balance Board's ability to measure weight is probably more accurate than that of a typical bathroom scale.[4]
Although the Japanese packaging states that it is designed to support people weighing up to 136 kilograms (300 pounds) and the "Western" Balance Board up to 150 kg (330 pounds), they are actually the same board. The packaging differs due to regulatory differences between Japan and the United States. The sensors on the board can accurately measure up to 150 kg (330 pounds). The actual physical structure of the board can withstand much greater force equivalent to around 300 kg (660 pounds).[5]
Due to the similarities between the two products, the Wii Balance Board has been compared to the Joyboard, a peripheral released for the Atari VCS in 1982 by Amiga Corporation.[6] The technology in the Joyboard was less advanced than that in the Wii Balance Board,[6] however.
It is noted in the manual that the Balance Board should only be used on a hard surface or thin carpet, as thicker or softer surfaces can cause the board to fail to behave correctly. A set of feet extensions is included to allow the board to be used on softer surfaces. The extension feet are not included in the European versions of the balance board but may be purchased by the consumer at a cost of GBP£8.50.
The balance board must be used barefooted for it to work. Socks do not properly grip the hard surface and can be dangerous. Members of Club Nintendo were able to receive novelty Wii Fit non-skid socks, which use small rubber pads which stick to surfaces.
[edit] Development
The balance board's development was tightly coupled with the development of the Wii Fit game. Nintendo initially contacted manufacturers of normal bathroom scales, but ended up building the board without their help in an effort to keep down costs. In early development models, the balance board was a simple scale with one pressure sensor. However, the developers realized that a simple scale was not useful as a game accessory and expanded the number of pressure sensors to two, then four. The idea to use multiple sensors was partly inspired by how sumo wrestlers weigh themselves (using two scales).[7] The shape of the balance board was initially a square, but it was decided that it was too hard to use for the exercises.
For a long time, the board was an extension controller to a normal Wii remote.[7]
[edit] Software
Wii Fit was the first game to make use of the Wii Balance Board. Shigeru Miyamoto noted the potential for other uses, however, noting that "probably the simplest and most straightforward [idea] would be a snowboarding game".[8] Miyamoto has also stated that Nintendo has received "many inquiries" from third parties following the announcement of Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board,[9] as well as receiving interest from the physical fitness industry.[9]
We Ski by Namco Bandai Holdings was the first third-party game to make use of the Wii Balance Board, in conjunction with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment.[10]
[edit] Released
| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release date N. America | Release date Europe | Release date Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Star Cheer Squad (All Star Cheerleader)[11] | Gorilla Systems Corp. | THQ | October 27, 2008 | March 30, 2009 | TBA |
| The Incredible Maze (WiiWare)[12] | Digital Leisure | Digital Leisure | October 20, 2008[12] | October 24, 2008 | TBA |
| Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009[13] | 3G Studios | Majesco Entertainment | October 21, 2008 | 2009-03-20 | TBA |
| Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party[14] | Ubisoft Paris | Ubisoft | November 18, 2008 | November 13, 2008 | TBA |
| Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip[15] | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft | November 16, 2008 | November 13, 2008 | TBA |
| Skate City Heroes | Midway Games GmbH / Zoo Games | 2008-03-10 | |||
| Skate It | EA Montreal | Electronic Arts | November 19, 2008 | November 20, 2008 | TBA |
| Snowboard Riot (WiiWare) | Hudson Soft | Hudson Soft | February 2, 2009 | February 27, 2009 | February 10, 2009 |
| Tetris Party (WiiWare)[16] | Hudson Soft | Hudson Soft (Japan) Tetris Online (NA, EU) |
October 20, 2008[16] | October 24, 2008 | October 14, 2008[17] |
| We Ski (Family Ski)[18] | Namco Bandai | Namco Bandai | May 13, 2008[18] | June 13, 2008[19] | January 31, 2008[20] |
| We Ski & Snowboard (World Family Ski: Ski & Snowboard) | Namco Bandai | Namco Bandai | March 3, 2009 | February 27, 2009 | November 13, 2008 |
| Wii Fit[21] | Nintendo | Nintendo | May 21, 2008[21] | April 25, 2008[22] | December 1, 2007[23] |
| Wii Music[24] | Nintendo | Nintendo | October 20, 2008[24] | November 14, 2008[25] | October 16, 2008[26] |
| Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge(RTL Winter Sports 2009)[27] | 49 Games | Conspiracy Entertainment | November 25, 2008[27] | 2008-12-04 | NA |
| ?(RTL Biathlon 2009) | RTL Games | NA | 2008-12-19 | NA | |
| G1 Jockey Wii 2008 | THQ Entertainment GmbH | NA | 2008-09-26 | NA | |
| Babysitting Party | Ubisoft | NA | 2008-11-27 | NA | |
| Imagine Fashion Party(Imagine Fashion Idol / Sophies Freunde - Fashion Show)[28] | Ubisoft | January 20, 2009 | 2009-02-05 | NA |
[edit] Unreleased
| Title | Release date N. America | Release date Europe | Release date Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don King Boxing | March 31, 2009 | ||
| Hula Wii | TBA | TBA | |
| Marble Saga: Kororinpa | March 17, 2009 | TBA | |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games [29] | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 |
| Punch-Out!! | May 18, 2009 | May 22, 2009 | |
| Yoga Wii | Q2 2009 | Q2 2009 | |
| EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer | May 19, 2009 | May 21, 2009 | |
| Gold's Gym Cardio Workout | March 31, 2009 |
[edit] References
- ^ "Wi Fit: How To Stay Balanced", GamePro 235 (April 2008): 19.
- ^ "Stay fit with Wii Balance Board". Console Watcher. 2007-11-12. http://www.consolewatcher.com/2007/07/stay-fit-with-nintendo-wii-balance-board/.
- ^ "GDC 2008: Sawano on Wii Fit". IGN. February 20 2008. http://wii.ign.com/articles/853/853708p1.html. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ Shigeru Miyamoto (Interviewed). E3 2007: Shigeru Miyamoto Video Interview. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
- ^ Game Informer, Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto: Different weight limits in different regions for Wii Balance Board
- ^ a b Bogost, Ian (2007-07-15). "The Prehistory of Wii Fit". Water Cooler Games. http://www.watercoolergames.org/archives/000823.shtml. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ a b "Iwata Asks: Wii fit". http://us.wii.com/wii-fit/iwata_asks/vol2_page1.jsp.
- ^ "E3 2007: Nintendo Developer Roundtable". IGN. 2007-07-12. http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/804/804397p1.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
- ^ a b "Miyamoto Roundtable full transcription". 2007-07-13. http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8258756&publicUserId=5379721. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Bandai Namco makes an excellent decision - Family Ski supports Wii Fit board". GoNintendo. 2007-11-16. http://gonintendo.com/?p=29590. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
- ^ All Star Cheer Squad at Nintendo.com
- ^ a b The Incredible Maze at Nintendo.com
- ^ Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 at Nintendo.com
- ^ Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party at Nintendo.com
- ^ Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip at Nintendo.com
- ^ a b Tetris Party at Nintendo.com
- ^ Tetris Party at Nintendo.co.jp
- ^ a b We Ski at Nintendo.com
- ^ Family Ski at Nintendo-Europe.com
- ^ Family Ski at Nintendo.co.jp
- ^ a b Wii Fit at Nintendo.com
- ^ Wii Fit at Nintendo-Europe.com
- ^ Wii Fit at Nintendo.co.jp
- ^ a b Wii Music at Nintendo.com
- ^ Wii Music at Nintendo-Europe.com
- ^ Wii Music at Nintendo.co.jp
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ Imagine Fashion Party at Nintendo.com
- ^ [2]
[edit] External links
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