Rather than going broke on the usual Valentine's Day dinner for two, why not stay home, cook a meal together, and play a few video games? Not only will you save some cash (and calories), but you'll also heighten the mood with a bit of playful competition. Check out five of my favorite games, perfect for couples.
Over the Christmas holiday, we had a truly groundbreaking event in my house. For about two hours, the entire family came together without fighting, stress, or family drama. The reason? A brand-new Nintendo Wii. I'm telling you, that thing is a peacemaker.
This side of my family isn't particularly into video games like the other side is (it obviously took them long enough to jump on the Wii bandwagon!), so I decided to start off simply, teaching them Wii Bowling. My grandmother has been bowling maybe twice in her entire life, but she knows how the game works. I figured it wouldn't be too hard to teach her the motions since it requires pushing only two buttons and a nice, easy arm movement. I was right! After a 30-second lesson, Grandma was bowling strike after strike, and finished with an impressive 153 — ahead of both me and my tech-savvy sister.
The rest of the family got in on the sports action, too, including my 3-year-old niece. While she didn't quite understand bowling (though it was easier once we let her stand on the couch to get a better view of the TV), she was a whiz kid at MarioKart, which is coincidentally one of our favorite games from growing up.
I'm not sure who I'd say learned how to play faster, though Grandma totally impressed us all with how quickly she picked it up . . . and now my niece won't put it down! I guess we know what everyone else in the family is getting next year.
Are your parents or grandparents as tech-savvy as you? Do you have a funny story to share? Then tell us about it by posting to our Funny Tech Stories group! You (and your fam) could end up on GeekSugar.
I don't have to tell you that I'm a big time Nintendo fan, what with my DS always in tow, and all my Super Mario Bros paraphernalia that litters my bookshelves . . . oh, well, you probably haven't seen that, have you? Anyway, yesterday afternoon, the Nintendo stork dropped a sweet little box on my desk, and I didn't even have time to tell you since I literally "raced" home (get it — raced?) and started playing my copy of Mario Kart Wii! Yes, racing fans, I got the scoop on one of the hottest games to hit the shelves this Spring, and I just had to test it right away. Who wouldn't? As you might be able to tell, I was totally stoked to get the chance to play MKW early, since there is a special place in my heart for racers. But seriously, Mario Kart Wii is just as fun as you'd imagined.
When I first opened the box, the first thing I noticed was that the Wii Wheel was smaller than I expected, but still fits nicely into your hands. It might even fit into your eight year old's hands, if you'd let them have a turn, that is! But unfortunately, the pack only comes with one wheel, so you should keep an eye out for additional ones so you can play nicely with others. After popping in the disk, inserting my Wiimote into the wheel, and doing a little Mario jig, I was ready to race. Isn't it funny how starting up a new Wii game for the first time always brings out the kid in you? To find out more about Mario Kart Wii, and to see more pics, just read more
With Mario Kart for the Wii hitting store shelves April 27, I'm already getting my engine revved up and am dying to get my hands on a Wii Wheel (which just so happens to come with the game!). A wheel is a wheel is a wheel right? Not exactly. When Mario Kart Wii creators were asked about the development of Mario Kart Wii, they said that there were 30 different prototype Wii Wheels before they got just the right wheel design. . . as some were not white, and some were not perfectly round. For more interesting Mario Kart tid-bits, check out the full interview!
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For those of you waiting oh so impatiently for the Wii edition of Mario Kart, you'll have to hold your breath for only another month. Mario Kart Wii will be hitting shelves on April 27 here in the states, but lucky Japanese Wii fans can get their hands on it a whole two weeks and some odd days earlier. I hope we don't have a repeat of the delayed Super Smash Bros. Brawl release where it gets pushed back at the very last minute! I just don't know if my little heart could stand it.
Thankfully, Mario Kart Wii is coming stocked with the Wii Wheel (cause who would want to drive with the Wiimote? Not me!), although there's already sightings of some pretty impressive third-party steering wheels out there. Plus, this time we can race motorcycles and compete online with up to 12 players worldwide. Can't wait for some sweet Mario Kart action? Check out the trailer below when you read more
We are in the home stretch for our three part series giving you a taste of the coolest games scheduled to drop in the next 12 months. In this final installment, it's all about size. One game making a move from a tiny touch screen to a roomier home, a huge silver screen box office buster downsizing to something more modest, a series with an extra large following that will surely grab even more attention, and a little known charmer that just might make it big. Check out parts I and II if you haven't already, and keep your eyes peeled each month for new releases so you can get your game on all year long! 
Mario Kart Wii
What's better than racing classic Mario Kart style? With a Wii wheel, of course! The new Wii edition offers the usual online multi-player action but now you can race motorcycles! Will Princess Peach ride side saddle? Find out in early 2008 on the Wii.
Need more? Of course you do so read more
