Wii games.
Wii sports, Free with console.

This game contains five mini games.
Tennis, golf, baseball, bowling and boxing it also contains a fitness checker and a training program.

Tennis:
Players - 1 to 4.
You take control of your Mii and play doubles matches against the machine controlling two people with no lag.
Incredibly responsive when using forehand, backhand, over or underarm shots this is a fantastic game that can be played while leaping around your living room or sat on your sofa, but where's the fun in that.

Golf:
Players - 1 to 4.
It's Golf, You need to stand up, strike the pose and hit the ball.
Sounds easy doesn't it.
It's not! The Wii picks up your angle, power and therefore you will need to spend a little time adjusting your golf game. The only area this game falls down on is the putting which can sometimes loose sensitivity.

Baseball:
Players - 1 or 2.
Very responsive when batting or pitching, on one player mode you play your whole team while batting and then become pitcher when you switch sides with the Wii taking control of your fielder's.

Bowling:
Players - 1 to 4.
Adjust your stance, adjust the direction, swing that arm and bowl.
You will get the hang of it in no time and start learning some tricks.

Boxing:
Players - 1 to 2.
This is the only Wii sports game that requires both the wand and the nunchuck.
The basic idea is to hold both controls (one in each hand) and beat up the opponent with vigour. This is a great game but go easy, my shoulders were sore for about two days.

Health and fitness:
A little series of tests that give you a health age. Errrr i wont tell you mine but needless to say Bognar may be calling me.

Summary:

Graphics: 10/10
fantastic, nothing over complicated and in Nintendo's typical style.
Gameplay: 10/10
great fun on your own but better with mates. Loads of room to improve and build up your stats.
Longevity: 10/10
This is one of those games that you will keep playing on and off, it will come out at Christmas or when you have mates round.

Overall: 10/10

Conclusion:
A cracking good game for all the family and one that is a great way to kill 20mins.
- posted by J @ 13:57

 
while away some time.
A New ipod hits the market, set to be a real winner.

If the guy next to you on a long hall flight is really pissing you off open your laptop and click on this link. (don't blame me)

The following are a round up from A welsh view.

Insane but OMG Japanese man. I doff my cap.
This sort of puts my stereo to shame.
For me it's the people revving there engines still trying to drive after sliding sideways for 200 yards.

Cheers for those matey.

Nutter.
PS3 Vs Wii i will take peppe.
- posted by J @ 14:00

 
Wii for all.
The Wii.
The unit is smaller than expected, about the same size as an external hard drive. Connection to the Tv is done via composite or via a scart converter depending on your telly.
The only other connections are the power cord and the sensor bar which needs to be placed level with the front of the screen if placed on top, however it does come with a little stand that means it can be placed below the screen.
The Wii also has ports on the front (hidden) to attach either the Wii classic controller or the game cube controller and a memory card.

The wand & nunchuck.
The wand is very nicely balanced with all the buttons comfortably accessible as well as very comfortable to hold. The internal vibration and speaker are fantastic additions.
After there initial issues with the wrist strap the new ones already come with a stronger version, so no more risk of Tv damage.
The nunchuck is very comfortable to hold and surprisingly natural to use.

The menu.
The opening menu system is very simple with various channels that you can access.

The disk channel: Access to your games cds.

The Mii channel: This is where you build your little representations of you, they are then used in the party games such as Wii sports etc. and build up stats, you can then upload your Mii to your wand and take it to a mates place and whop him at tennis.
They also have the ability to travel via the net to other peoples Wii's.

The shop channel: This is a direct link to the Nintendo shop where you can buy and download all the back catalogue games from the nes, snes, n64 and a selection of sega genesis games.

The forecast and news channels: Exactly as they say the weather forecast seems to be fairly accurate but the news channel is not activated as yet.

The internet browser channel: An opera internet browser, which is very easy to use. Clicking on search boxes or enterable fields brings up a keyboard, links set off a vibration in the wand and it is fairly quick at loading pages. The browser will cope with images and flash but struggles with video formats this is however a trial version at the moment so this may change.

The internet:
One of the nice aspects of the Wii is it's wi-fi ability which is very easy to set up, it detects the connection fairly well and updates it's self 24/7 (this feature can be switched off). The Wii also has it's own message board which enables you to mail other Wii users, you do need to enter there wii code into the address book (and yours in there's) before you can start chatting but once you do the messages are nice and quick.

Summary:
Design: 10/10 very compact, light and easy to set up and tuck away, the ability to place it on it's side or flat means it will fit into most spaces.
Menu system: 10/10 nice layout with everything being able to be seen and very easy to find what you are looking for.
Internet: 9.5/10 easy to set up, easy to update although can loose connection while doing so, good access but minor issues with browser.
Control: 10/10 simple to use, very accessible, incredibly efficient and back compatible options.

Overall: 10/10

Conclusion:
Nintendo have achieved what they set out to achieve, a new way of gaming.
Going away from the contemporary game pad and creating a system that is ingenious in it's design and ability was a master-stroke.
While still retaining there childish fun aspect of previous consoles they have produced something more advanced and adult than the gaming world has seen in a while. Nintendo have also, in a time where Christmas for your kids will bankrupt you, achieved all this for a great price tag. All in all The Wii has shown that Nintendo are still after all these years ahead of the competition.

keep watching as I will review the games in the next few days.
- posted by J @ 18:37

 
211 Things a bright boy should know..
The Sprout on a sheet.

Of 1001 party games that have been devised over the years, the sprout on a sheet is one of the most enjoyable and exhilarating.
The rules are simple, the props are to hand, and any number above three can play. The game is suitable for children or childish grown ups.

• Clear a big space and two teams of around four or five to line up opposite each other. Hand out a laundered sheet and instruct everyone to grasp the long edge nearest them. When they all have hold, and the sheet is hanging between the opposing players in a loose U, throw a sprout into the middle.
• The Aim of the game is for each team to snap the sheet so that the sprout is sent flying over the heads of the opposing team, thus scoring a point. It's a lot more difficult than it sounds, and also more vigorous. Be sure to clear away your Ming pots and take the turners down.
• In an emergency, or for very muscular players, a champagne cork or ping pong ball may substitute the sprout.
• A referee is essential - Thats you.
  

Enjoy
- posted by J @ 23:04

 
Child for sale......
No seriously does anyone want to buy a small child.

Now poppy is 2 1/2 we decided it was time to move her out of her cot and into a bed. That was our first mistake as she now has the ability to get out of bed.
Our second was doing it before Christmas.
Unfortunately added to this poppy has had a perpetual on/off cold for the last 4 weeks. All this means that Vic and I (more Vic if I'm honest) are living off about 3 hours sleep a night while still trying to function during the day.
Adding insult to injury is the discovery of the word 'No' by poppy for use whenever being asked to stop doing something or the phrase 'don't like it' whenever being asked anything.

I wonder if it legal to sell your child on ebay.

On a more interesting note the UK seems to have hit it's gale season and everything is either falling over or being blown off, this has however given me a good story to post as I was hit in the back today by a six foot piece of facia board that had been ripped off a building while I was out shopping with poppy. Luckily I only have a large red welt and accompanying bruise and at this stage no other damage.
I am also very glad I hadn't allowed poppy to walk with me rather than being pushed.

In other news my Wii has arrived and well................., watch this space as I shall be posting a review soon.

When I stop playing it and turn my computer on to post. :)
- posted by J @ 11:23

 
and breath...
Sorry for the brief halt to my posting but this has been due to christmas, work, 4 bouts of ilness from various members of my household, New year and general lack of time to do anything. I am however now back brimming with new ideas and things.

Well christmas was a fine affair and went down well with poppy especaily who had a great time with my gran and being spoiled rotten. My Wii still hasnt arrived but i am assured that it will be with me at the start of feb, I have been lucky enough to have a go on one and all i can say is OH MY GOD!

I was a little dubious, despite devouring all info i could get my hands on, about the technology. Sensor tech has always been a little clunky, pointers zooming off at odd angles that sort of thing but Nintendo have done it proud, it is flawless. Playing tennis and Bowling was great, it will work with just the flick of your wrist or, if you are like me, while you are bouncing around like an idiot.
The games are looking stunning and i am looking forward to reciving it.

New year's eve passed with it's usual grace of vic asleep, me sat on the sofa drinking somthing alchibolic, watching a movie, completly ignoring its existance. Bliss!

But that is all past, decs are saftley back in there box and the world is returning to normality or is it........................................................
- posted by J @ 17:33