Showing posts with label Wii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wii. Show all posts

Saturday, May 15, 2010

What, Another Linkdump?

What women REALLY want.

Terry Pratchett says Doctor Who isn't Science Fiction. Well, duh. It's always been fantasy, maybe even science fantasy.

Toughs and Toffs and what happened to the boys snapped in that 1937 picture.

Cat and Wii Fit. *sigh*

Message in a bottle.

And yet more Comic Book Legends Revealed:

  • #249: Bruce Banner, Watchmen, and Mike Sekowsky.
  • #250: Suing for credit, Sentry, and Venom.
  • #251: X-Men vs. Avengers, Captain America, and Earth Day.
  • #252: Frank Frazetta, EC Comics, and Dreadknight.
  • #253: The Phantom, Sappho, and Jack Kirby's Thing.
  • #254: DC Comics Presents #97, Steve Gerber, Spectre, and Howard the Duck.
  • #255: Teddy bear, Translation Confusion, and Modesty Blaise.
  • #256: Black Panther, Kirby Horror, and Spider-Man.
  • #257: Robotman, Deadman, and Arnold Drake's Doom Patrol.
  • #258: Alias #1, Captain Wonder, and Barb Wire.
  • #259: Sid Greene, Sergio Aragones, and Renamed Characters.
  • #260: Doctor Droom, Magneto, and Gen13.
Incredible pictures of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano from Mid-April. Bonus Video, how to pronounce it (ay-uh-fyat-luh-yoe-kuut):


Be sure to watch until at least 2 minutes in! Eyja (ay-uh) = island, Fjalla (fyat-luh) = mountain, and Jokull (yu-kuut) = Glacier. Now you know.

Moron sues his neighbor because moron thinks Wi-Fi made him sick. Best comment: We had something similar happening here, where people started complaining about the electromagnetic field from a cell repeater tower. PR statement from the telco: "Gee, wonder what it'll be like when we turn it on in a few weeks..." Needless to say that the court tossed the suit without a hearing.

Animated Oil Spill, in case you didn't have a good enough sense of the disaster.

For the in-laws: Muppug, Sad Pug, Faked out Pug, Inflatable Pug?, and Pug with an alien problem.

LOLCat Theology: Basement Dog wishes to corrupt you, Ceiling Cat protects you from evil, Basement Kitten Infiltrates Heaven, Basement Cat disappoints Dog, Basement Cat doesn't taste evil, Basement Cat's Mom, High Calorie Souls, Baptism? Cat?, and a Basement Cat request.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Deep Thought

Hubby-Eric thinks that somebody should make a version of Lemmings for the Wii.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Wii Fit Plus Game Review

I've only had the new disc for a few days, so I hardly can give you a genuine review of all the features. I will say I was pleased at how quickly it transferred my old data over, and that what little I've played with in the new features I've enjoyed. But this is a more focused review. I'm going to tell you about the fifteen new games in the Training Plus section of the Wii Fit Plus.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Wii Fit, the exercise screen had four sections: Yoga, Strength Exercises, Aerobics, and Balance Games. Wii Fit Plus added a new section called Training Plus. There are actually only twelve new games, along with three advanced/different versions of older games.

Perfect 10 is a body movement game that involves math! I've only played the first level, but in that level you have to move your hips to bump the numbers that add up to ten. Sounds simple? Well, once I figured out what the heck I was doing, yes... but then the negative numbers showed up and I nearly lost it laughing. I think math teacher hubby-Eric will be amused by the game, and I hope to watch him play it some time.

Island Cycling is a steering and stepping game. You hold the Wiimote vertically horizontally in front of you as your handlebars and step to peddle. Your goal is to hit the flags and return to the start as quickly as possible. I enjoyed it, but I'm really very bad at it. This one I'll play again. Lots.

Rhythm Kung Fu is an all over movement game. You need the nunchuck along with the balance board and Wiimote. And the goal is rhythm. My poor Mii got bonked on the head by falling things repeatedly before I figured out some of the tricks.

A note on the nunchuck: I don't like it. It doesn't seem to have as much sensitivity as the Wiimote, and I always feel like half my misses are due to the fact that it just doesn't register my movement, not because I missed. Is this a common problem, or unique to me?

Driving Range allows you to practice your golf swing. You have to turn the board sideways for this one. And I found it really boring.

Segway Circuit is hilarious. You are driving around on a beach trying to pop beach balls that are being deflated and/or stolen by giant mechanical moles. I lucked out on my first run, getting a solid score and finishing the course quickly. Let's not talk about my second run. I'll probably play this one a few times.

Bird's-Eye Bull's-Eye makes you flap your arms. And I am absolutely miserable at any game that requires me to move my body subtly to turn, so I was horrid at this one. I may try it again, but after I get more balance practice in.

Snowball Fight does not require you to make a throwing motion with the Wiimote, but does require some quick reflexes and attention to detail. You duck out from your protective screen, aim with the Wiimote, and click to throw. It's IMMENSELY gratifying to hit someone, I think I got hubby-Eric's Mii multiple times... but he got me as well. This is fun, and I may have to play it more.

Obstacle Course makes me wave good-bye to my Mii as it falls down down down into the ocean far below. I can't get the hang of "jumping" on the balance board. I had the same issue with the tightrope game. This one is easier, but still frustrating. I did allow my Mii to get hit by one of the giant swinging pendulums and watched in horror as she flew off into the ocean. All the other times she just fell while jumping. *sigh*

Tilt City was one I thought I'd hate, but actually liked. You control tilting boards, some with your Wiimote, others with the balance board. You try to drop the balls into the correct bins. Easy, and a little hard. I did ok with this.

Rhythm Parade also requires the nunchuck. If it has the word "Rhythm" in the name, get out the nunchuck. This one brought back many marching band memories. You are the drum major of a marching squad, and you have to march in rhythm AND toss the baton at the right moments by moving the Wiimote and nunchuck. I enjoyed it, although the usual caveats about the nunchuck apply.

Big Top Juggling is another one that needs the nunchuck. The less said about this one, the better... except hubby-Eric's Mii as a circus performer was kinda hot. rrRRRrrrowl!

Skateboard Arena requires you to turn the balance board, and apparently has some secret to it to getting up speed. I couldn't seem to get the game to register when I was trying to kick off. I wonder if I would do better if I could actually ride a skateboard? The arena itself is cool, and I think I'd like to try this one some more.

And now we get into the three games that were updated, but aren't actually new.

Table Tilt Plus is more levels of the table tilt game that is part of the original Balance Games section (and is still there, so you can still play it). I stink at this. I mean, really stink. I barely got past the first level, and spent the rest of the timer on the second one making the balls fall off and getting reset. Blah. Hate the original, hate this one.

Balance Bubble Plus is a more complicated course than the original balance bubble, part of the original Balance Games section (and, yes, still available there). I'm better at this than table tilt, but only just. I probably won't spend much time with this.

Basic Run Plus is another running course, yay! This time your guide is a cat! And there's a quiz when you finish! No, seriously, there's a quiz. Be sure to count the freaking dogs when they run past. I'm actually more interested in this one because of the quiz than the original runs from the Aerobics section. I may end up playing this a bit.

So that's the new games in the new section. There are also some new Yoga exercises and a few new Strength exercises, but I tend to really work my way through those carefully, so I won't be doing them for awhile. For the games alone, this disc was worth more than half what I paid for it. Add in the rest of the stuff and I feel I definitely got my money's worth. I'm particularly happy with the calorie counter. And I'm looking forward to putting together custom workouts that I can just start on mornings when I'm too grumpy to try to figure out what I want to do. And the basic balance exercises appear to be available from the locker room, too. And... ok, I'll shut up now. More about this game later, maybe.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Wii Fit AND Comic Books

I got my new Wii Fit software today, along with the usual bi-weekly comic book shipment, so I'm pretty "busy" now. Huzzah!

Friday, October 02, 2009

Wii Users - Don't Update!

Wii Update 4.2 Bricks Some Unaltered Wii Consoles.

In an attempt to get rid of homebrew software from the Wii, Nintendo has apparently released an update that can turn your legit console into a brick instead of a video game.

People who did hack their consoles apparently had no trouble. But those of us who are honest might get hit by the bricking problem. So if you are honest and have never installed any hacks on your Wii, DO NOT UPDATE YOUR WII.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Wii Fit Plus!

Yay, there's finally an update to the Wii Fit coming out!

Wii Fit Plus

I've been using the Wii Fit regularly as part of my weight loss/general health plan. I do a body test every morning, and at least some exercises. I've often grumped about some of the less repeat-friendly aspects of the Wii Fit to people... like the annoying comments the trainers make ("Visualize your ideal body!" Yeah, I'm thinking of Eric already. "Try counting! One... two... one... two..." you just messed up my counting you stupid trainer! "You're doing great!" No, I just fell off!) over and over again during one session. I hope the update will allow you to scale down their comments, because otherwise I may have to mute them entirely more often.

The biggest change, however, seems to be a full workout option, so folks don't have to keep grabbing the Wiimote in the middle of a workout to select the next exercise. This will really help me.

Wii Fit Plus

Anyway, the Wii Fit Plus will be available on October 4th, and I've put it on my Amazon Wish List already. I figure if I take the plunge and buy it for myself (a distinct possibility), I'll remove it from my wishlist. Otherwise I'll hope for it for Christmas or my birthday (though I'd much rather have this (in XL)).

Because the Wii Fit Plus disc alone is only $20, I'll probably pre-order it sometime in the next month. I use my Wii Fit every day, so this will be a good investment for me, especially with winter coming on.

Wii Fit Plus

And hey, I can finally play on a virtual Segway, just what I've... um... always wanted?

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Miss Piggy and the Wii Fit?

We were watching the Theresa Brewer episode of the Muppet Show today. In this one, Miss Piggy goes on a diet after overhearing Kermit state that he's canceling one of her performances because she's porky.

At one point, she starts working out to a TV fitness program. At which point hubby-Eric suggested that an updated version would have her working out on a Wii Fit. And no doubt the Wii Fit being much the worse for it by the end.

This random thought brought to you by the Muppet Show DVDs. I hope we can someday afford the Season 3 set.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Deep Thought

Why is it that every time the trainer on the Wii Fit says "you've got great balance!" I fall over?

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Unrelated to Anything Else

Today's morning weigh-in shows that I've lost 116 pounds since I started my efforts on June 10th 2006. This is my monthly check in.

As you may know, if you've been reading these posts, I've sort of reached my goal weight. I've certainly hit the weight range I want to remain in. The problem now is that I still have excess fat around my waist and thighs, and I want to tone that blubber into muscle. I've learned that no matter how much weight you lose, that stomach fat tends to stay, and only exercise (combined with a good diet of course) will get it gone.

My first step toward that goal involved walking at least 30 minutes three times a week. I also returned to swimming, despite the costs involved in getting down to the pool. I started the one hundred push ups challenge, but may be replacing that with daily training on my new Wii Fit (I will conquer the push ups and planks, darn it). Everything is a little up in the air at the moment, thanks to our move. Once we're settled in the new place, where ever it may be, I'll be able to establish a routine again. In the meantime, I'll be trying to keep up with the daily Wii Fit Channel.

Monday, July 07, 2008

Moving Forward

Not much to report today. We got rid of a few more things and made our plans for the rest of the week. Lots to do, and never enough time to do it in.

The real news is that my sister found a Wii Fit for me, so I'll have that soon and can start a proper exercise routine every morning.

Too tired to think now. Bed.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Moving Update

Things are moving really really fast. We met with our local realtor this morning and we have a date when the house will go on the market and must be cleaned out enough to show. July 7th. Eric and I have both made dents in the clutter today, but we have a long way to go to say "we've got this place ready."

If anyone in the Seattle area is looking to buy a house and doesn't mind a Frankenhaus (lots of blog fodder!), contact me and you can come over and take a look. Yes, we plan on being completely honest about everything we've found and fixed and been unable to afford to fix when we sell, even if it costs us. I don't want any other owners to deal with what we've had to deal with here.

On the other side of the mountains, we've got a realtor already looking for a place for us. We hope to head back over to the valley soon and check out some towns and communities. There's a community called "Emerald" near the school Eric will be employed at, it would be a bit of a kick to live there, I think.

This next month is going to be incredibly hard. Both physically and financially.

For extra motivation, my sister helped me lay my hands on a Wii (but not a Wii Fit yet) and I've got a rule in place that I must do some cleaning or packing before I'm allowed to play with the Wii at all. I have really enjoyed the Wii Sports package so far in the less than 24 hours I've had the game. I'll be even more motivated once we find a Fit, because I want to do a daily workout.

Blog posting may be a bit boring or even delayed while we work on moving. I'm going to try to keep it up, but the first priority now is the house, not the blog.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Thursday

It's five and a half minutes long, it's set to The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, and it's one of the best Doctor Who fan vids I've ever seen. YouTube warning.

Bill has problems with Wii Fit's attitude, which is an understandable issue with a snarky game like Wii Fit.

When Seafood Goes Bad.

I find this story to be heartbreakingly sad.

Speaking of sad, the backstory to "Tom Dooley".

Electoral Vote dot Com is up again for people who want a nice visual representation of the polls in a format that actually applies to the election.

I never realized that spaces are legit characters in passwords. My experience with filenames and passwords has always been frustrating depending on what system I was using that day, so I tend to be a tad conservative about my naming conventions.

Police in Seattle can't stop people from taking pictures when the police are making an arrest. Well, that's the goal of the new standards.

Photographers are NOT terrorists. If you do photography a lot, maybe you should get an official-looking badge for yourself.

The Backdoor Draft is taking a toll on our military. In short, people who enlisted for a time in the Army are being called back because no one in their right mind would sign up to go to the war profiteering scam in Iraq right now.

If you have a few bucks and want to fight breast cancer, please donate to support us in the Race for the Cure: Laura Gjovaag, Eric Gjovaag, or Lisa Dunham (my suggested donation is $5 to each of us, if you have $15 to spare, or $5 to one of us (flip a 3-sided coin) if you're poor like me. Of course, at the moment nobody has contributed to any of us, so anything at all would be appreciated).

Pug for the in-laws.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Tuesday Linkages

Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #157: Johnny Carson, The Blackhawks, and Crusty Bunkers.

A review of Hikaru No Go, one of my favorite comics. I use what little Amazon.com credit I get when people use Amazon links on this site to buy the latest volume when it comes out. I usually have just enough.

This is either the best thing on the internet, or the worst. It's a YouTube mash-up of X-Men and Wicked. The guy singing Magneto is no Idina, though.

John Hodgman, writing for the New York Times, reviews some comics, including Age of Bronze.

A reboot of ReBoot is coming. Fans beware. Metafilter has more.

Bully gets Beef-Cake! Cool!

Take a look at the Top 10 Unseen Google Street View Sights. I like the contrast of the scuba diver and the Segway convoy.

The Floorplan of 221B Baker Street. I want to see the floorplan of Poirot and Hastings' flat.

Guerilla Gardeners. I've often wondered why we don't use public space to grow more food and such. These people don't wonder, they just do.

Solar power beamed from space. Yes, it could happen. In our lifetimes, even.

Yet another article on Wii Fit. I haven't wanted a video game this badly since High School.

Remote tribes in Brazil are photographed from a plane. Cryptomundo has some thoughts about the photos.

More LOLCat Theology.

Pug (and not pug) for the in-laws.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Wii Fit

I finally had an opportunity to try a Wii Fit today, my sister's. I now officially want one. It isn't perfect, but it's a solid way to get people up and exercising, and I suspect it's the last piece of the puzzle for my fitness. I've already been out walking and biking regularly, I think the exercises the Fit would give me would round out my system and help me lose a few more pounds while enjoying myself. Only problem... I don't have a Wii, so I'd have to buy both it and the Fit. Not enough money in the bank for that right now. I'll have to hope I win one for the time being.

But if you were thinking about getting one, I really recommend seeing if you can try it out somewhere. There's a lot in it about balance, but that's not the only thing it uses. There's a nice variety of exercises to try. It's actually somewhat fun to watch someone else playing, as well. If you can make them laugh, you can throw them off their game a bit (sorry Lisa). I'm already wishing I could do a full 30 minute workout, instead of the few minutes I managed at the time I was visiting my sister.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Evening Lunkdump

Paul Cornell was in a car accident. Paul is a writer of Doctor Who and Marvel comics, and a friend of mine who wrote me into a Doctor Who book. He's ok, but the description of the car crash is intense and worth reading.

Seattle treasure in need of saving.

Earthquake Lights. If you see a funny multi-colored cloud, get out of the flimsy building you're standing in.

Swarming ants eat electronics. Yikes.

Marv Wolfman directs apple users to a place they can get tips on how to get the most out of their machines.

I really want a Wii Fit. I've collected some article links about it: CNN, Seattle Times Business, Seattle Times Entertainment, and Wired. Though, I suppose before I can get the Wii Fit, I need to get my hands on a Wii? *sigh* I guess I'll put them on my wishlist.

The Cthulu ride. I really like Kaja's kids' imagination.

Uh. One of the oddest hoaxes I've seen in some time.

Possibly not safe for work: Garry Kasparov was buzzed by a modified remote-control helicopter. Be sure to check the comments for a translation of how Kasparov responded.

Boing Boing rounds up stories of photographers being harrassed or questioned: LA's Red Line, Port of Los Angeles, and a Weigh Station in Spokane County.

A wedding photographer in China captured the church falling down as the earthquake hit. Be sure to look at the church before and after picture. Via MeFi.

Church in Earthquake

A note on the story... while the report says that 33 guests were buried in the rubble, a later report says that all the people at the wedding survived.

Dreams from Obama's mother, my eighth cousin and a girl who lived in the town next to the one I grew up in.

I just want to say: Scientology is a Cult, and attacking a teenager for saying that is truly cult-like behavior.

Basement Cat Arises.

For my in-laws (and my hubby this time): Pug Life.