A Wii Workout

For all the gamers out there who would rather spend their time killing off monsters and saving the world from an impending doom then hitting the gym to work on their physique (and I admit, I'm one of them too) there is hope! It's called the Wii Workout. It has been proven that playing the Wii for just a short period of time each day can actually get rid of that extra weight you've picked up over Christmas, or any weight for that matter.

Six weeks ago, Philadelphia resident, Mickey DeLorenzo decided to start what he would call the Wii Sports Experiment to track any weight gain or loss by playing Wii sports. The idea came to him just after finishing a really intense bout of boxing with his fiancee (Wii boxing not the abuse type). The two of them were sweating like pigs which lead to them wondering about how many calories are burnt by playing this "physical" game.

Mickey, being an avid Netizen, then decided to start a blog tracking his progress. The blog soon became hugely popular amongst other gamers and fitness professionals from around the world, "Could gaming really be a form of loosing weight?" they all asked.

The program soon started to show results. The Wii Workout was working, and now just six weeks after starting the training Mickey has lost 4Kgs. He claims that he has changed nothing else in his life, he still ate the same (even packing in food over Christmas) and did no other additional fitness workouts. All he did was add in 30 minutes of Wii Sports each day and the results have shown.

So all you Wii gamers out there, get ready to shed a few pounds! And with all this documentation I think it's safe to say that Nintendo gamers are healthy gamers.

My First Time & A Metal Slime

Ahh, Dragon Quest is sill holding my attention. Yes, I'd like to say it's because of the intense battling and the in depth item creation that I've just stumbled upon, in the form of the "Alchemy Pot", but mainly because of the lovely new addition to my party. Jessica. Ok and all the other stuff too such as the ever growing epicness of the story and the humorous comments of Yangis! To finding rare monsters and stealing their monster coin.

Onto Jessica (lol, that came out wrong). Shes there to literally whip the monsters back to the place they belong... in the ground. She's pretty good with magic too, but way behind in the leveling compared with my now level 13 Hero and Yangis. I'm sure with a lot of training she'll make a mighty fine warrior.

Also today I came across my first, illusive, metal slime! I was so excited when I saw it that I wanted to get my camera out and take a picture (sad isn't it). The metal slimes only have 4 HP but their defense is something like 100 making it very hard to do any damage. Of course being the little scoundrel that they are, the bloody thing ran away before I had the chance to lay on my second rounds of attack... sigh* For those that don't know, killing a metal slime gives each one of your party members 1000 experience points (a lot at this stage of the game). I have one thing to say... Little slime, a storms coming your way, next time you're going down!

Wii sex? This clip is hilerious!

Ok, the contents of this clip were so funny that I just knew I had to share it with you guys. It does have some sexual connotations so if you're offended by that then do not watch, simple as that. It is very funny though and you'll be missing out if you don't watch.

PS3's everywhere but not a Wii in sight

Over the past two weeks I have noticed something different about the gaming shops that I frequent. Yes, they have PS3's!!! Now I know for some of you reading this you might think, "Well, whats new about that?" and all I can say to you is, you havent experienced the South African gaming industry, or more correctly the timing of the games industry in South Africa.

It is because they are not readily available here that all the import shops have them, and you guessed it, they are trying to milk it for all it's worth before the console gets officially released here. But for the hardcore gamer that doesn't have to worry about cash, they can go right now and pick themselves up one of these beautiful looking machines. Just make sure your willing to fork out a bit of cash.

Today was my first time actually laying eyes on the console itself, not just oogeling at the box, and it made me realize two things. This machine is, and it does not matter what anybody says, beautiful. It really looks like it should be in a gallery somewhere, the sleek shiny black exterior with the crisp chrome PlayStation 3 lettering gliding over it... yeah baby. The other thing is that I finally got to see for myself just how HUGE this thing is! It's massive! Like put two of the original PS2 consoles together and you still don't get an accurate depiction of the size!

Currently they are selling between R5,500 and R10,000 ($770 and $1400) so even you overseas guys can see just how they are trying to rip us off. In my opinion, I can wait for a PS3 as there are no mind blowing games that I feel I HAVE to play right now (Never mind the price tag).

Virtual (Console) Reality

If If I cast my mind back to the days when I was just a little spud, growing up in a world of neon striped stockings, big hair and those really over-sized sunglasses, which seem to be back in fashion nowadays, I cannot recall much. In fact I sometimes think is it a bad thing that I can’t remember anything from when I was that young, is there something wrong wrong with me? Ok, I’m talking about when I was like four or five years old here, maybe there is some leeway to remembering things from that long ago.

What I do remember though is the classic games that my two older brothers used to “force” me to play. Looking back on it now I realize that it was the two of them that sent me down the path of video game corruption, heck they should be the ones supporting my habit today. I really need a Wii, you did this to me! Now you’ve got to pay up!

As if almost bestowed by God himself, the classics from that era have reappeared on the new gaming system from Nintendo. Playing games like Golden Axe, Ecco the Dolphin and even the great Super Mario Bros, are sure to send me into a place of nirvana, riddled and oozing with nostalgia. I can’t wait.

With the current Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console Line Up I would be pretty satisfied, but I know there is still a lot more to come as the big N is making more and more games available on a weekly basis!

A Primal Need for Speed

Has it ever occurred to you why it has come to be that video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Bully (Canis Canem Edit) and many other games of that genre have taken the blame for violence, anger and even in some cases murder, whilst car racing games that promote breaking the speed limit and "Taking Down" other racers are never blamed for the hundreds of road infringements that occur each year? It's something to think about isn't it?

The reason why this has just come to mind is that no more than just a few minutes ago, whilst flicking through my daily mail did I come across the dreaded, ghastly green envelope that could only contain one thing... If you're thinking it's a "You may have already won" letter you'd be wrong (and shame on you, have you not been following?) it was, indeed, no other than a speeding ticket. The unexpected toll had made my heart drop, and naturally I started to look inside and ask the question "Why is it that I drive above the speed limit".

If I were American (and please don't take this wrong) I would sue EA for making games such as Burnout or Need for Speed, because these games have "taught" me that I will be rewarded for beating other vehicles in a close proximity to me (usually in front of me) to a designated point or line (usually the traffic light that has just turned amber). Alas whilst it may shave a few minutes of my traveling time I have to admit, is it worth the increased chance of a traffic fine, or worse an accident?

New Years Resolution #1: Play less racing games*

*This excludes Mario Kart

Pacing Myself

Very much like Peter talks about in his review of The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker, the game that I have just started playing (and when I say just, what i'm trying to say is I'm 11 hours in already) Dragon Quest XIII requires one to look within and slow down their gaming, or rather slow down what they have become used too...

Level grinding is a totally new concept to me mainly (I think) because I have never played one of these epic, square enix games before. Yes I know, shock shock, horror horror. Laugh it up, it's just that I've always been the type that would lean towards more "action" types games or even games like Warioware that require very little, how should I put this, mental capasity? No, I think dedication is a better word to use. Games that require a little less dedication. I usually stop playing a game if i feel even just an iota of boredom. But Dragon Quest XIII seems to be holding my attention.

Well this game is something new and exciting to me anyways and I adore the art style, in fact i'd go so far to say that I think cell shaded graphics have been way overlooked by game developers. It's so beautiful without being to processor hungry... like a living comic book! I'll keep posting my experiences with this game, heck it'll be exciting to find out if i actually finish this game or not. Like I said though, for now it's awesome.

The Rhythm is Going to Get You

I'm a man who loves his rhythm games, yes indeed. There is something about rhythm games that I'm intrigued about. Maybe it's just the hyperthetical holiday from your "normal" console games that gets me, esspecially when there is a modified controller involved. I can't even conceive how much time I put into Donkey Konga on the GameCube, what is essentially a fairly quick and simple game to create can become a game that is most played in an entire collection of games (Even when there is Zelda and Smash Bros.) Which leads me to the game I've just come to "finish", Guitar Hero for the PlayStation 2. It is probably one of the quintessential games that all PS2 owners must just simply have.

My review of Guitar Hero is up on EL33TONLINE so click here to read it.

P.S. Your fingers will hate you even more if you buy this game, but it's worth it!

The Anatomy of Mii

It seems that something that may have started out as an innocent way to create a user profile for oneself on Nintendo's Wii gaming console, has now become a global art-form. Mii mania has spread far and wide just like peanut butter spreads from one side of the slice of bread to the other.

Wii users have manipulated the features of the Mii creator to come up with immpressions of Storm Troopers, Opera, Bill Clinton and even Batman. Who would have thought?

You can check out www.miiplaza.com for loads of different Miis, and then if you actually own a Wii you can invite them to come live on your system.