The last time we spoke with Shaun White on The 404, he was promoting his multiplatform video game Shaun White Snowboarding. We got to sit down with the Olympic gold medal winner again this week at an Ubisoft event in lower Manhattan where he explained what's new in Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, an exclusive title for the Wii.
With the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver around the corner, World Stage focuses on taking snowboarding globally. The game will once again take advantage of the Wii Balance Board, allowing you to sway back and forth like you're actually carving down a mountain.
The title also improves on many fronts; you notice better board responsiveness in addition to more playable characters (including Shaun himself) and an overhauled graphical presentation. There are tons of new environments to ride through including one that blew us away: a surreal halfpipe stage smacked right in the center of Times Square.
Make sure to watch our full interview with Shaun where he tells us about lending his voice to the game, what we can expect from the soundtrack, and how he's preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.
- WiiWare
- Snowboard Riot (Hudson Entertainment, 1,000 Wii points): In this snowboard battler and racer, you have the option to use the Balance Board to control your character. Ride with up to four players using Wi-Fi.
- LONPOS (Nintendo, 800 Wii points): LONPOS is a very straight-forward puzzle game that anyone can easily pick up and play. The game offers two modes of play with the option to download more backgrounds and puzzles.
- Virtual Console
- Sonic Chaos (1993, Sega Master System, 500 Wii points): Choose to play as Sonic or Tails in this game originally made for the Sega Master System. Battle your way through various levels as you try to capture all six chaos emeralds.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
Be sure to check out Friday's episode of The 404 where we welcome pro snowboarder and skateboarder Shaun White to the studio. He talks to us about his new game from Ubisoft coming out on Sunday called Shaun White Snowboarding.
The title will be available for all major gaming platforms and allows you to roam freely on various mountains. Shaun talks to us about his role in the development of the game and what it was like recording voice-overs and motion capture. We talk about his other input on the game, including compiling the title's very respectable soundtrack.
Shaun also gives us his thoughts on adding skateboarding to the Summer Olympics and lets us in on his favorite places to ride in the U.S.
Keep listening to The 404 all next week to hear how you can win a copy of Shaun White Snowboarding signed by the man himself.
(Credit:
I4U News)
Microsoft may be working on its own version of the Wiimote but, until it surfaces (so to speak), another wireless controller is heading for the Xbox 360. The only difference is you use your feet, not your hands.
Qmotions has cut a deal to develop versions of its skateboard controller for Microsoft's game console, according to I4U News. The company, which also makes controllers for golf, baseball, and other games, plans to release its "Big Air" full-size board for the Xbox in the second half of this year, possibly following up with other Microsoft-endorsed products.
As for us, we're still waiting for an adult-size version of the virtual jet skis.
Just one new virtual console game graces the Wii this week. Right on time for winter, 1080° Snowboarding (1998, Nintendo 64, 1,000 Wii Points) is now available for download. This title debuted during the height of the snowboarding game era along side such classics as the Sony Coolboarders series.
In 1080° Snowboarding, you'll enjoy six different modes of play and try your luck at one of the most realistic snowboarding games of its time. Customize your board and clothes, and try to pull off some tricks on a variety of courses.
We're starting to see these Virtual Console releases begin to taper off--let's hope this isn't a trend.
(Credit:
Satski)
If it's possible for skiers and boarders to actually agree on anything other than their shared love of snow, it might be something like this. The "Satski" is a GPS device developed specifically for the slopes to provide such invaluable information as the best runs, levels of difficulty and--most important--which lifts have the shortest lines.
Like Garmin's "Edge" line for bikes, the Satski can also store uploaded information that can be shared with others, as well as record such real-time performance stats as speed, distance and altitude. And for the apre-ski lodge, Gadgetizer says it has an MP3 player and games to boot.
There's just one problem--it costs almost $3,000. Which means we'll have to stick with the brandy snifter and fake cast for accessories.
(Credit:
ACP-EP Memory)
There's something of a generation gap at Crave, but we try not to get into that whole skiers-vs.-snowboarders thing. Even those of us who have never set boot in a board can appreciate the concept behind the "Snow Drive" USB storage keys. Pclaunches says ACP-EP Memory designed the drives in conjunction with top snowboard makers, as well as endorsements from such athletes as X-Games star Eddie Wall, who has lent his name to a special signature series. But if you're not into winter sports, you can wait till summer to break out a "Surf Drive" too. Cowabunga.
Maybe this will inspire the next Olympic athlete. Can't you just see it, a Cool Runnings for the Tony Hawk set?
The VR3D Snowboard Blitz comes with a snowboard, wireless headset, and earbuds. The one 9-volt and three AAA batteries needed to operate the game are included. There are different levels of play, depending on how good you get maneuvering your balance on the board, as well as scoring and timekeeping.
The virtual snowboard is available for $40 from your grandfather's gadget blog: the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog.
(Photo: Hammacher Schlemmer)
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