GeekSugar

Hot Holiday Item to Pre-Order: New SMB For the Wii

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:33:19 -0800

I'm not gonna lie, after getting a sneak peek of New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii back in June at E3, I've been secretly counting down the days until I can pop this game into my shiny white console.

In less than five days (this Sunday!) SMB for the Wii ($50) will be released across the country, and I can tell you this much - it's going to be on many wish lists this holiday season - heck, it's already getting rave reviews.

There's no denying that Super Mario Bros. games have staying power - SMB3 did win our best video game ever bracket challenge! And with this game you can experience multiplayer fun (Mario, Luigi and two toads are playable characters), use the new propeller suit, and shake and tilt your wiimote to do fun things like tilt seesaws and transform Mario into a penguin.

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6 Creep-tastic Video Games to Play on Halloween

GeekSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:15:34 -0700

I have to admit - I sometimes like watching scary movies and playing creepy video games in the dark! It just adds to the already cringe-inducing nature of the games, and with today being Halloween, it's the perfect time to freak yourself out with one of these six scary video games. Round up a few of your friends and play on . . . if you dare!

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Get Your Game On: October Releases

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:33:51 -0700

Gaming season is here, and after all the sneak peeks we got at this year's E3, I'm more excited than ever to start playing. October means we're well into game-release mania - so it's only fitting that I list for you my top ten picks for the month of October. Check 'em out!

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7 Games to Work Your Brain

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:05:01 -0700

In case you missed it, President Obama spoke directly to school children last week, asking them to stay in school and study up for the future. I thought the speech was inspiring, but he did kind of diss my beloved video games. Obama asked the youth of America to not "spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox." This could be sound advice, except for the fact that there are plenty of brain-challenging games out there to improve your coordination, smarts, and problem-solving skills. Everything in moderation, people! Check out a few of my favorites here.

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Rumble Wheels For the Wii Are Now Available to Purchase

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:05:09 -0700

I'll admit it. Sometimes I feel silly when I'm playing Mario Kart on the Wii because I'm turning corners like a madwoman with this tiny plastic Wii wheel. Move aside Danica Patrick because now I'm really going to get my race-on with these rumble wheels for the Wii ($20) which just became available on Amazon today.

Unlike the standard plastic wheel, the rumble wheel is made with safe material and makes you feel like you're driving a real race car. Color options include pink, blue, white, and black. Probably best to get more than one if you play with a partner - don't think they'd want to get stuck with the plastic one when you're looking all pro.

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Taylor Swift Joins the Band . . . Band Hero, That Is

GeekSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:05:39 -0700

If you just can't get enough music games in your life (what, like Rock Band, Guitar Hero and all those DJ games weren't enough?), then make room for Band Hero. Activision's answer to all those other hero games ups the ante by including a motion captured country superstar, complete with three hit songs (along with a few other pop favorites) to rock out to. Taylor Swift makes a cameo in the latest band-centric game to hit the market, and she wasn't just emulated in Band Hero, she was duplicated. Taylor spent hours in a motion capture stage to get her performance just right so you can play along as if you were on stage next to her.

Check out the labor intensive process of capturing Taylor's movements for the game, and look for Band Hero to hit the shelves just in time for the holiday shopping rush this November.

Daisy Fuentes Pilates: Coming to a Wii Near You Aug 4

GeekSugar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:09:57 -0700

Still riding the exergaming high from my EA Sports Active challenge, I was pumped to hear that Daisy Fuentes Pilates for the Wii ($28) will be released on August 4.

The program is said to offer varying degrees of difficulty and you can select from five pre-set routines that will target different areas of your body. . . you can also customize your own routine to mix things up a bit. As excited as I am to check it out, I'm a bit worried about how the wiimote will be incorporated into the game (the wii balance board is optional) since I had some issues with wiimote/wii communication during Sports Active. The game is supposed to provide instant feedback on your movements, so I'm assuming it is constantly monitoring your actions via the wiimote - something a regular workout DVD doesn't provide. The star of the game, Daisy Fuentes, also provides exercise and healthy eating suggestions for an overall holistic approach to health.

Lucky Japan Gets Its Hands on Sexy Black Wii August 1

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:44:45 -0700

Although I was all over the white gadget craze awhile back (and still kinda am), I gotta say, you can never go wrong with a sexy black gadget. Or in this case, a sexy black Wii console. And guess what, you guys totally agree. Finally getting a Japanese release date of August 1, the black Wii comes with the standard nunchuk, and a bit more mystery with the darker hue. Also, I think the glowing blue light looks amazing against the shiny black console.

Although I'm smitten, I don't know that I'd throw down for a whole new gaming console since it's essentially the same product, just in a different color. But I guess I should hold my tongue until they hit the states - you may just see me waiting in line like the gadget hound that I am.

Shia LaBeouf Dislikes the Wii, Plays PS3 and Xbox 360

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:44:41 -0700

Turns out that Pop fave and Transformers star Shia LaBeouf is something of a console snob!

In a recent interview, Shia was asked if he'd gotten a chance to test out the Transformers game on the Wii, and he had some choice (and colorful, as per usual) words for Nintendo's console:

"I haven't been able to play the Wii game because my hand is broken. I've just been playing Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. I would imagine that the Wii experience will be like . . . I don't mess with the Wii, to be honest with you. It's kind of an amateur console. I'm not into the Wii thing."

Then, when the interviewer asks what's wrong with the Wii, LaBeouf fires:

"This is how in a simple way you can find out if it's a gamer you want to play with. Ask them if they have a Wii. If they say yes, get the f*** out of there."

Check out the rest of Shia's interview with Big Download to find out his favorite video games of all time and why he considers himself a "real" gamer.

Which Is Cooler: The Black Wii or the White Wii?

GeekSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:37:26 -0700

After declaring white to be the in vogue color for gadgets, I may have to eat my words. After being crisp white for two years, the Wii is going to debut this Summer in black.

The bad news? It's not coming to the US quite yet - the new colors will first only be available in Japan. That's a bummer, but then, anticipating something is always half the fun.

Let's talk about the more important implications of these colors: It's black, baby! I've just gotten used to lightening up my media center, and now we're heading back to deep, mysterious noir? I'm not saying I can't get behind it, it's just an adjustment.

So tell me, when it comes to gadgets - particularly this new Wii - do you prefer them to be in clean, Apple-esque white, or sleek, chic black?