Wii Balance Board Games List

It's amazing how quickly things change in the world of gaming. When I first published this hub at the end of April, Wii Fit had not been launched yet (outside of Japan) and the hype surrounding the game was still building. There wasn't too much online chatter about the Wii Balance Board itself and it was mostly just speculation on dedicated gaming sites about possible future games.

Two months on and everything has changed. Now everyone is talking about Wii Fit, from stay at home moms to gaming enthusiasts and the Wii Board itself has started to gain more attention.

The purpose of this hub was always to provide a quick snapshot of available or upcoming balance board compatible games and that's how it will remain. But the Wii Balance Board has developed a life of its own, so much so that I've created a dedicated Wii Balance Board Blog with loads more information about the Wii Board including game rumours, hacks and everything else related so check it out.

Wii Fit is the latest example of an exergame, combining the benefits of exercise with the fun of gaming. Aimed at the entire family, Wii Fit comes with a range of games and exercises spread over four categories: balance games, yoga, muscle workouts and aerobic exercises. All of this is made possible by the Wii Balance Board which is able to work out exactly where your balance and body mass are placed and allows the game to determine whether or not you're doing an exercise correctly.

When you first get started with Wii Fit you will need to enter your height which together with your weight calculates your BMI (Body Mass Index). You then do a quick balance test to determine your current Wii Fit Age. This information is then stored on your profile (up to a maximum of 8 users) and as you use Wii Fit, you can begin to track your progress. The better you get, the more exercises and activities that are unlocked.

Originally titled Family Ski for the Japanese market, We Ski is scheduled for launch in the United States on the 13 May. This family oriented multiplayer game (up to 4 players) takes you to the Happy Ski Resort where the powder is always fresh and there are never any queues to get to the top of the slopes. There are 14 courses with runs from beginner to advanced and of course, like all good resorts, a ski school where you can familiarize yourself with the gameplay.

In terms of characters, you can use an existing Mii or create and customize your own character and kit them out in gear that you unlock as you play the game. Game control is via the Wii Remote and Nunchuk and of course the Wii Balance Board which allows you to control the skis with your feet.

All in all this looks like great family fun. The only thing missing for me would be snowboarding but I don't think it will be long before we see a full-on snowboarding title.

Nintendo DS users will most probably have heard of Imagine Babies. Well Babies Party by Ubisoft is an upcoming Wii version of this game. Babies party will include 30 mini-games based on a baby and carer's typical day and feature memory games, puzzles, colouring and cutting up activities. The game is also said to include Wii Balance Board support although for which activities is unknown.

Scheduled for release in the United States on June 9, Prizefighter on the Wii is said to make use of the Wii Board although not for actual gameplay (which is a shame) but for the associated training exercises. Detailed information is still scarce but you can visit 2k's official Prizefighter website for more details.

This horse racing title from KOEI has been available on Wii for some time but the upcoming release scheduled for September in the UK/Europe will now include Balance Board support.

By assuming a jockey crouch position while standing on the Wii Board, players will be able to leap fences and steer their horse to victory. What's more, the game will include a career mode, allowing you to work your way through the ranks and breed horses to develop thoroughbred winners.

So, if you're a Wii-owning horse racing fan, this could just be the one for you.

While the overall response to Wii Fit was positive, it didn't take longer for people to want more from their Wii Board in terms of fitness. If that sounds like you then this title may just be the ticket although you'll have to wait until the end of the year.

And if the name Jillian Michaels sounds familiar (assuming you're not a fan already) you would have seen her as the no-nonsense fitness trainer on NBC's hit show The Biggest Loser.

The game itself won't have any tie-in with the TV program but Jillian is said to be closely involved with the games development. A press release from the games publisher, Majesco, had this to say:

"Players become new recruits in Jillian's boot camp where they enroll in a unique training program composed of challenging fitness tests and an ever-changing series of workouts".

Those Raving Rabbids have been around for some time now and this next version (release date still to be confirmed) looks to be as wacky as ever. Although complete details of the game have not been released yet, one of the Wii board mini games demo'd is called Beestie Boarding and involves sitting on the Wii board as you steer a wildebeest down a ski slope. No, it doesn't make any sense but then it doesn't have to - that's the whole point of Raving Rabbids.