It's some goofy little kiddie game where you control the cutesy character by waggling the wii mote in motions that correspond to his move set, walking, jumping etc.
The twist is that you shove the wii mote down a creepy plush toy's gullet to do so. The vid has some kid who looks a little too old to enjoy bouncing and walking around a giant stuffed toy demonstrating how it works. In my opinion it's a really creepy looking stuffed animal and the carrying case opens kind of like the egg from Aliens. I can see it being popular with kindergarten age gamers, but the action on the screen and the variety of moves makes me think it will be too hard for their demographic, and too gay for slightly older gamers.
Ky-Guy
Title: Obscure Nintendo Gamer
Joined: Jul 19 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1418
Posted:
Jan 02 2010 02:13 pm
Yeah, it would be cool, except that you're shoving the Wii Remote down its throat. Why couldn't we just shove it in a zipper pouch on the back of it?
Also, the music is pretty catchy. I kinda want it on my iPod.
Edit: For those who want to know, I found that song. It's "D.A.N.C.E." by the group Justice:
Boonjovi
Title: Electric Sex Pants
Joined: Dec 30 2009
Posts: 199
Posted:
Jan 02 2010 02:50 pm
The game looks fun, if only it didn't have that stupid-ass peripheral, it would be great.
"If you try to fix violence, with more violence, all you do is create violence" - Tom DeLonge.
pineapple
Joined: Nov 11 2009
Location: Cajun Country
Posts: 1511
Posted:
Jan 02 2010 04:58 pm
Nice find Ky. The only good part of the video was the song.
Ky-Guy
Title: Obscure Nintendo Gamer
Joined: Jul 19 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1418
Posted:
Jan 02 2010 05:08 pm
pineapple wrote:
Nice find Ky. The only good part of the video was the song.
Thanks.
I just found it because it makes me want to dance.
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
Posted:
Jan 02 2010 08:18 pm
Unless the reviews are REALLY, REALLY, INSANELY terrible, I will absolutely buy this game.
The Japanese must be horribly disappointed that the Swedish thought of stuffed animal-based video games before them.
I tried to use that one in a Cracked article I just wrote about retarded video game peripherals (should be published in the next few weeks), but the editors didn't go for it nor any of the other insane Wii peripherals being developed. Have you guys seen the weird saddle thing Nintendo has patented for use with horse riding games? It's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
Posted:
Jan 02 2010 08:34 pm
Yeah, seen the saddle. Doubt anything will come of it. I just can't imagine the saddle working on any level. The original idea was an inflatable horse.
And what kind of game would feature so much saddle time that a specific peripheral was needed? Other than a straight up horse riding game (boring) or a Kentucky Derby style game (also exceedingly boring), most other games that would have horse travel would probably focus more on the non-horse aspects. Then you'd have to haul out your stupid clunky saddle every time you had to ride five feet across the world map...
"Let that be a lesson to you, your family and everyone you've ever known..."
"Thanks to denial, I'm immortal!"
Ky-Guy
Title: Obscure Nintendo Gamer
Joined: Jul 19 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1418
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 01:26 am
I dunno. That saddle could work. We could have a Yoshi racing game.
Syd Lexia wrote:
iPhone games are what you play when you can't get at actual games. You know, like how sometimes alcoholics drink mouthwash.
Lexiabot9000 wrote:
Your love life will be happy and harmonious if you stick to masturbating.
FNJ
2010 SLF Tag Champ
Joined: Jun 07 2006
Posts: 12294
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 02:16 am
dear god, that song is catchy!
the peripheral seems like a cute idea FOR THE TARGET AUDIENCE, so long as it works the way it's supposed to.
dddddddd
Joined: Jul 06 2008
Posts: 142
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 03:35 am
wish i had a wii that looks kind of fun
Blackout
Title: Captain Oblivious
Joined: Sep 01 2007
Location: That Rainy State
Posts: 10376
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 03:41 am
Syd Lexia wrote:
Unless the reviews are REALLY, REALLY, INSANELY terrible, I will absolutely buy this game.
The Japanese must be horribly disappointed that the Swedish thought of stuffed animal-based video games before them.
IF you do you should post a video of you playing it to the theme song! Please try to mimic the child's expressions for maximum silliness.
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 07:34 am
What really strikes me is how pretty the game is. It looks like the company actually put a lot of effort into it, as opposed to taking a goofy gimmick, throwing together some shovelware, and hoping that alone would sell the game. Part of that, I suppose, is necessity. They don't have a publisher, and are looking to sell the distribution rights. If they can't properly impress an EA, an Activision, a Nintendo, or any other major player, the game may never see the light of day.
That will probably be the case considering it's obviously being developed for 3-8 year olds.
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 08:39 am
Well, first of all, the low end of the range would be 5-8. 3 year olds don't play video games. Certainly, no reasonable going to buy a pricy video game bundle especially for a three year old. And generally, no one markets non-educational games to children under 7. Which brings me to my next point. There are two possibly ratings this game could be going for Y7 (For Young Children, 7 And Up) or E (For Everyone). An E rating is more marketable and a publisher would likely insist on it.
What's the difference? Well, look at Mario Galaxy. Rated E. A seven year old would absolutely enjoy it. A seven year old might even beat it. But a seven year old wouldn't get all the stars. And that's the hallmark of a good E game. Easy to play, harder to master, with optional challenges for veterans.
Well today's kids suck goat at video games. Well, strike that, the attention span is the biggest issue. My 12 year old nephew had absolutely not problem beating Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime, and Fallout 3. But he has yet to sit down and beat Super Metroid, Super Mario Brothers 3, or Link to the Past even though he is halfway through all of them. Is that because the older games are harder, because the average attention span is waning, or that the newer games are just way too easy?
FNJ
2010 SLF Tag Champ
Joined: Jun 07 2006
Posts: 12294
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 12:10 pm
Syd Lexia wrote:
Well, first of all, the low end of the range would be 5-8. 3 year olds don't play video games.
My three year old plays dead or alive and tekken with me.
Pandajuice
Title: The Power of Grayskull
Joined: Oct 30 2008
Location: US and UK
Posts: 2649
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 12:53 pm
Syd Lexia wrote:
Well, first of all, the low end of the range would be 5-8. 3 year olds don't play video games. Certainly, no reasonable going to buy a pricy video game bundle especially for a three year old. And generally, no one markets non-educational games to children under 7.
You're very wrong on all three of those statements unfortunately Syd. My 3 year old loves video games and has been playing them since he could stand up by himself. He's especially fond of the Lego games on the Wii which he has completed multiple times. There are all kinds of Dora, Diego, Peppa Pig, etc games specifically designed for under 5s to play, and trust me, they are far from educational, mostly being just shitty platformers.
While you're right that parents might not buy an expensive bundle for their young kid in the range of something like Rock Band, they just might if the price isn't too steep or similar to a normal game's tag. After all, it's just a stuffed animal and not anything special or expensive really.
And clearly from the video, it's a game being aimed at a young audience.
Are you seriously saying that you (and other grown men) will buy this bundle and play the game using the stuffed animal peripheral? I find that pretty hard to believe.
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24887
Posted:
Jan 03 2010 01:32 pm
I would never let a three year old touch a video game controller. They'd fucking drool on it or something. I especially wouldn't buy them a game that used a plushie. I've seen what kids do to plushies.
As for adults playing it, one word: Japan. And by extension, otakus. Make an offbeat game, offbeat people will buy it. And honestly, that's probably a bigger market than 3 year olds. It's certainly a more reliable market. Let's say you sell Wiiwaa to five year olds and it's a hit. Okay, great. By the time Wiiwaa 2 comes out, all the kids who loved the first one are now too old to care. But if you make a genuinely good game that is fun for all ages, you can build a legitimate franchise.
I was introduced to gaming really early, I think I first played SMB when I was about 3 or probably 4, it's right up there with all my other earliest memories. I didn't drool on the controller, but I ran in to a lot of goombas and pits.
