We’ve joked about Wii injuries and accidents here in the past. But, seriously, you can actually get hurt playing and it is something that you should be aware of. The Nintendo Wii has become one of the most popular gaming systems, due to the variety of active games it offers. Unfortunately, with the popularity of the system comes the possibility of overuse. If you own one, you might want to be aware of Wii injuries.

How are injuries received?

Injuries can occur whenever you’re active. If you run, and fail to stretch first, you can receive shin splints, sprains, strains, or tendonitis. Even if you’ve been active all your life and run regularly, you can still be injured.

In most cases, injuries from Wii use occur because of similar reasons. Either a person is not normally active, or they’ve failed to warm up prior to use. They could strain a muscle by moving the wrong way, develop tennis elbow from overuse, or be injured due to a fall.

What types of injuries can you expect to see? Here are some of the most common ones:

• Cuts
• Bruises
• Knee injuries
• Eye strain
• Fractures
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Sprains
• Seizures
• Stroke
• Heart attacks in extreme cases

Of course, if you read and follow the instructions in the Wii Safety Manual, your chance of injury is lessened.

Who is affected most?

It seems there is no age limit for those who receive injuries. The amount of time one spends playing the Wii will determine the possibility of and extent of injury. Young or old, male or female – injuries can happen in any walk of life. Level of fitness may not prevent injuries; even professional athletes have received injuries while playing the Wii.

What can you do about it?

Limiting play time is one way to help you avoid injury. Properly using the straps on the controllers will keep the controllers from slipping from your hand while in use, even if that won’t keep you from being injured.

Remember your reason for purchasing the Wii. It encourages users to become more active. It is unlikely that any injuries would be any more severe than normal sports injuries after a week of being sedentary, or what a child would receive in a game in the backyard with friends.

One thing everyone should do before playing is take into consideration how active you have been. Try not to do too much, stretch before beginning play (much like you would when playing a non-Wii sport), and try to be careful.

It is possible to have fun playing the Wii and avoid injury. You can be aware of Wii injuries and do your best to avoid them. Read the owner’s manual and follow their express directions. Don’t forget you bought the Wii to have fun, but be careful in the process to avoid being hurt.

The Wii game console may have overtaken similar systems in popularity. Why, you may ask. One of the main reasons is that there are Wii games for all ages rather than having them geared for a specific age group. The following are some examples of Wii workout games that nearly the whole family can enjoy.

Parents often dislike computer games and gaming consoles because the only muscles that get a workout are the thumbs. Nintendo, in creating the Wii, has changed game consoles into an interactive system that can everyone can play from grandparents all the way down to preschoolers. And, instead of merely sitting and holding a controller, Wii games simulate sports such as bowling, baseball, soccer, yoga, and golf.

When you purchase a Wii system, it comes with a Wii Sport game. Included in this game are tennis, baseball, golf, boxing, and bowling. As an added benefit, these games can be set to multiplayer as long as each person, up to four, has their own remote. Wii Nunchuk Controllers will also be required for boxing.

Playing the Wii is a great alternative in inclement weather. Your whole family can still get their exercise because the Wii is played indoors. Choose one of the Wii Sport games or try the relatively new Wii Fit.

Wii Fit is a breakthrough in gaming consoles. It comes with a Wii Balance Board that can be used for doing aerobics, strength training, yoga, and balancing games. This system does so much to encourage its users to be active. The Wii Balance Board is also a scale and is calibrated to notice subtle movements for each game.

You’re not limited to using the Wii Balance Board with the games that come with the Board. There are new games coming out to be played with the Board. If this is a system you think you might enjoy, you’ll want to keep an eye out for them.

Maybe someone in your family really loves to dance more than play sports to get a good workout. Why not purchase a copy of Dance Dance Revolution? Of course, you’ll need a Wii Dance Pad, but playing the game could allow you to learn some new dance moves as well as burn calories and increase stamina.

The Wii games, whether sport-related or not, encourages movement. Children can find games, such as anything with Super Mario (gotta love Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel), which they’ll enjoy playing and will find it hard to keep still in their seats. Senior adults may enjoy the more leisurely games like golf for fitness but also games that challenge their mind.

If you’re looking for a game console that everyone can enjoy, you might want to look into the Nintendo Wii. With Wii games for all ages, skill, and activity level it’s no wonder it’s so popular. You can also expect the company to continue to make family-oriented games the whole family can play together.

Who said that there was an age limit on fun? Apparently not England’s Queen! THQ, in an attempt to build hype for their new game coming out, called “Big Family Games, has given Queen Elizabeth her very own Wii. The kicker is, the Queen’s Wii is gold plated–that’s right–gold plated!!

No chance of her getting hers confused with anyone elses, huh? Anyway, they’re hoping that the Queen, who found herself admittedly “addicted” to Prince William’s Wii last Christmas, will publicly endorse the new game. It’s supposed to be, from my understanding, a bunch of games in one, all targeted towards the entire family, as opposed to limiting themselves to one demographic. What better way to test that than by giving it to the 83 year old Queen of England! Let’s hope it works out for them and they haven’t made a “royal blunder”!

Now I know that I said that I would post more on the rest of the new games from Activision, however they haven’t released any more info on them thus far-so we will have to wait on that. But don’t worry, I have just as fun topics until then. And today is no exception! Onwards to today’s post.
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This Winter (2009), a new type of gaming console will hit the stores in time for the Holidays. Something that has never been done before-or at least never been done before successfully. It’s called OnLive and it is a new type of gaming console.

Now you are likely wondering what exactly is “OnLive”? That is a good question. OnLive is a on demand video game console(much like TV on demand), that is connected to a serve(like cloud computing for video games) and can stream the games onto your computer for you to play.

Unlike with the Wii, DSi, PS3 or the Xbox 360 will require either disc or cartridges, you cannot lose the games of break them. You can buy the games, rent them and also play the demos online. They also will be able to offer new game releases far faster than stores can offer.

Though it works best with high speed, it can also be used on low end computers. But it should be kept in the mind that the lower the internet speed, the more choppy the game play will be.

Along with the console, they will offer a online game subscription along with the console and controller kit.

The real question though is, will it take place of the classic game consoles? Or will it flop, like when AOL back in the 80′s tried such a type of console? Only time will tell about if OnLive can change the gaming console experience.

What are your opinions on this?

Guitar Hero’s has released info on what will be one of their newest releases this year-which will included Guitar Hero Smash Hits
(I will post the rest of their upcoming releases for this year over the next week  ), which will be released in June 2009. This game is equal to their version of their greatest hits! The set list includes some of their songs from all previous versions of Guitar Hero, though their will be a option to in a band format and not just solo guitarist.

Here is the total set list for it-

 
Guitar Hero 1 Songs

Bark at the Moon-Ozzy Osbourne

Cowboys from Hell-Pantera

Godzilla-Blue Oyster Cult

Hey You-The Exies

I Love Rock and Roll-Joan Jett & The Black Hearts

Killer Queen-Queen

More Than a Feeling-Boston

No One Knows-Queens of The Stone Age

Smoke on the Water-Deep Purple

Stellar-Incubus

Take It Off-The Donnas

Take Me Out-Franz Ferdinand

Thunder Kiss ’65-White Zombie

Unsung-Helmet

Guitar Hero 2 Songs

Beast and the Harlot-Avenged Sevenfold

Carry On Wayward Son-Kansas

Cherry Pie-Warrant

Free Bird-Lynyrd Skynyrd

Freya-The Sword

Heart-Shaped Box-Nirvana

Killing in the Name-Rage Against The Machine

Laid to Rest-Lamb of God

Message in a Bottle-The Police

Monkey Wrench-Foo Fighters

Mother-Danzig

Psychobilly Freakout-Reverend Horton Heat

Stop-Janes Addiction

Them Bones-Alice In Chains

Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart-Stone Temple Pilots

The Trooper-Iron Maiden

Woman-Wolfmother

YYZ-Rush

Rock the 80’s Songs

Nothin’ But a Good Time-Poison

Electric Eye-Judas Priest

I Wanna Rock-Twisted Sister

Play With Me-Extreme

Round and Round-Ratt

Guitar Hero 3 Songs

Barracuda-Heart

Cult of Personality-Living Color

Hit Me With Your Best Shot-Pat Benatar

Lay Down-Priestess

Miss Murder-AFI

Raining Blood-Slayer

Rock and Roll All Nite-Kiss

Through the Fire and Flames-DragonForce

It has also been rumored that they will have a Aerosmith song in it, though on their official site for the game, they do not list it in the set list.

Guitar Hero Smash Hits will be released in June 2009 for Sony’s Playstation 3, Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Another Guitar Hero Rumor I heard was that they are releasing a Pearl Jam set soon, and I’m really looking forward to that!

View official site here.

Have you always wanted to save the earth? Thought you can do better than your own Government about going green and making life more eco for your people? Well you may be able to test it out-virtually that is and not in reality!

A fairly new PC game called Eco Tycoon: Project Green
(from the hit Tycoon series) put out by ValuSoft, takes the eco movement to a whole new level! It allows you to control the natural resources and reduce CO2 levels-yet keeping your country’s population happy all the while you do this.

The game’s layout and graphics are much like the past versions of Tycoon games.-nothing too fancy or too impressive, but none of the less a fun game. You can see how other countries are doing which helps you in your quest and figure out your competition . Though the game is timed, you have two options to win. One way is to win is via staying elected or still keeping your ratings up by the time runs out as option two. I wouldn’t say that this type of game has much point, but it is fun and family friendly.

Below are some of the features.

Some of the features are:
Building Eco friendly buildings that help your population control and take care of their needs.
Earn money via by drilling, looking and exporting fuel sources.
Work with your advisors on how to save the Earth.
Connect with the people and hit the areas they want, in order to stay in power!
Create laws to protect Earth
Watch what you do and how natural reacts! Disasters can be caused by you and everything you do-has a direct reacting.

The specs needed for the game are the following-
OS: Windows Vista/XP
Processor: Pentium 2GHz or faster
Ram: 512 MB
DirectX: 128 MB DirectX 9 Video Card
DirectX Sound Card
Hard Drive: 500 MB space
Mouse
Keyboard

This classic Tycoon style game allows you to be in control of the green movement in your town. You make the big choice and changes-then watch how your public reacts.

I’m pretty sure by now that you have heard of Nintendo’s new DSi, their latest version of their hit hand held console, DS. Though this is the third version of their system, it has already sold well across the globe despite the fact that it is not much different than the DS Lite.

The new DSi is only a bit thinner and longer than the DS Lite. It also has two cameras built into it, and no GBA slot for GBA games nor for game packs like Guitar Hero. It has a built in browser to it and one can download applications or games much like the iPhone. Some of these will be free, while others cost Nintendo points. It is also capable of playing mp3 files.

Unlike the DS Lite, it is more limited in colors and game choices thanks to the lack of GBA slot. Many people have said that the DSi is a rip off and no different than the DS Lite being repackaged and with its function cut in half. Whether you buy it or not, you may want to look into which one fits your gaming needs. Because the DSi is more limited in games, it may not be the perfect choice for the hard core gamer. If you are more into a gaming system that is more like a smart phone, then the DSi might be the one you would be more happy with.

Way back in November I told you about the WiiFit and how I hoped we had managed to snag a Wii before it was available in the United States because I thought it looked fabulous. At that time I was hoping to see the Wii Fit in January or February -lol- It’s April now holey schmoley!

Anyhow Wii Fit will be a reality soon and you can pre-order for the May 21, 2008 release date here in the states. Woohoo! If we weren’t moving and pinching pennies right now I would seriously consider putting in a preorder for one. I think it’s going to be a great product for the Wii and it is definitely going to make people think differently about Nintendo.

Preorder your own Wii Fit today!!

You know how when someone falls into a deep dark pit of addiction to things like drugs or alcohol you do an intervention and you help them get through it, convince them to attend AA meetings, or get some kind of drug treatment. Ever thought we needed intervention for computer game addicts too!? Well wonder no more. There are actual treatment centers for this growing epidemic!

Video games may look innocent, but they can be as addictive as gambling or drugs — and just as hard to kick, says Keith Bakker, director of Amsterdam-based Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants.

Do you know the signs and symptoms? The experts say….

Symptoms of addiction are easy to spot, Bakker says. Parents should take notice if a child neglects usual activities, spends several hours at a time with the computer and has no social life.

Um, met any teenagers lately?! That’s got to be at least half of the teenager population these days. Of course this doesn’t apply just to kids and teens, adults get sucked into the video game world too! (glances at husband playing World of Warcraft….)

The first round of play on the Wii has commenced. I snuck around the corner and snapped a few pictures of Lucas playing Mario Party 8!

It always amazes me how they boys just naturally fall into a video game, even when it’s something new. He did really good and didn’t even really need instructions the booger head. Meanwhile here’s me reading how to work the goofy new controller LOL

Brian tried the boxing on the Wii Sports that comes with the game console. He loved it. He came into the office looking a little sweaty when he was done -lol- I guess it really can be exercise if you want it to be. I still want to the get the Wii Fit that I talked about before, and now that I actually have a Wii, I can get one! LOL Amazon says they are still unavailable, I thought they were supposed to be available in January, it looks like another long Wii waiting period…. although it looks like it was released in Japan already so hopefully soon in the US too.