It looks very likely that this year’s must have Christmas gift is the Wii Fit. It’s virtually sold out everywhere, or at least the Wii Fit without a Wii is. My sister has been trying in vain to get her hands on one. Sure, she can get one from eBay if she’s willing to pay over the odds for it.

I don’t see the appeal of the Wii Fit personally, but I suppose the kids will love it. Interaction at it’s best possibly?

I remember last year (and the year before) when everyone was trying to get hold of the Wii and it was out of stock. Nintendo are certainly doing well out of this. Is it good marketing or just lack of products? My money is on good marketing and hype generation.

Nintendo have certainly got it right with the Wii and the Wii Fit. There are better games consoles out there. Ones with better graphics and better games, but people seem to love the Wii…. I don’t know why that is. Simplicity of game play perhaps?

It’s certainly true that there will be a lot of disappointed kids all over the country come the morning of the 25th when Father Christmas fails to deliver the goods. I don’t understand why people don’t buy these things when there is plenty of stock in the summer. Oh well, you can bet that the same thing will happen next year too, but with a different gadget.
I’ve searched PriceGrabber for the Wii Fit, but alas to no avail. Even they can’t find any. They do have the actual Wii Console and other accessories though.

I’ve not blooged on here in a few days, my apologies for that. I do have a good excuse though. I recently started sorting out old disks that I had lying in various drawers around the place and found what has got to be one of the best games ever. Transport Tycoon Deluxe! This was a game that I was mad about playing over 10 years ago, so the chance to visit it again was one I could not pass on. To be honest, I didn’t think the disks would install the game on my Windows XP Home edition PC. I was right to be sceptical, although the files installed they wouldn’t run. So a quick search on the internet came up with a solution in the form of OpenTTD.

OpenTTD enhances the original game by adding patches to it, enabling the playing of the game on an XP or even Vista PC.
It also adds some extra functionality to the game.

So what is Transport Tycoon Deluxe I hear you ask… Well, the aim of the game is to create your own transportation empire. You can use road, rail, air and sea to achieve this. The game starts in the 1950’s and you have very limited funds available to start off with. There are subsidies to be had if you build links between various industries and towns. The game grows as you play too, so you need to think about things. The placement of airports is a nighmare because you need to remember to keep space around it for expansion.

If you get the opportunity to get a copy of this game I highly recommend you do so. You’ll lose hours of your working day playing it. It’s such a joy to have found it again. I’ll be back tomorrow with a proper gadgety post.

If you want some retro toys, then have a look here.

Owning a real helicopter can be an expense most of us can’t afford. So the PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter is the next best thing. Small enough to fit in your hand, the PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter is one of those gadgets that you’ll love straight away. The PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter is made from strong foam so those little accidents you may have whilst learning to fly it won’t damage it.

The PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter is controlled via infra red. This might not be the ideal solution in my opinion, but it works well. Charging the PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter takes about 30 minutes and in return you’ll get approximately 10 minutes of flying time.

The PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter has an impressive range of up to 30 feet! More than enough to chase the cat around.

Costing under £20, you’re hardly going to break the bank buying the PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter, and buy it you should.

You’re going to absolutely love playing with the PicoZ Apache Micro Helicopter because of its simplicity. Once you’ve mastered the controls you’ll be zooming around the living room like a pro. Planning your imaginary raids on the sweets on the coffee table, and swooshing over your mates’ heads.

Today I received a Nintendo DS Lite. I had reservations about getting it to be honest, having owned a Sony PSP in the past. I used the PSP for a while, then the novelty wore off.

The Nintendo DS Lite will be different I hope. The ability to play Nintendo GameBoy Advance games on it is obviously an added bonus. Incidentally, I got the black version of the Nintendo DS Lite.

When I get a new gadget through the post I’m like a child at times. I get really impatient waiting for the post, then there’s pure joy and elation when the gadget arrives. Today was no different. The postman was late this morning too, prolonging my torture. But, when he did arrive, it was pure joy. The Nintendo DS Lite is a beautiful gadget, and I’m sure I’ll make a lot of use of it. Obviously in order to use the Nintendo DS Lite to its full advantage you need some games. I overlooked that minor point, but have place an order for the brain training games. I also have GameBoy Advance games, so all it not lost.

If you haven’t got one of these, you really should get one. I know it’s going to be extremely useful for me on my long train journeys.

The Beijing Olympics got off to a flying start yesterday with an absolutely fantastic opening ceremony. The Chinese have set a very high standard for any future games. I wish all the best to the Great Britain team.

Fancy having some Olympic fun of your own? You need to get your hand on Sega Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.
Developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii and DS systems, it includes all of your favourite characters from Nintendo and Sega.
Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi and Tails all make an appearance plus many many more.

This game will keep you entertained for hours on end, whether it’s running the 100 meters, swimming or taking part in the high jump. Compete against 3 of your friends, on both systems, and the games really do begin.

Will you get the coveted gold medal?
There’s only one way to find out. Sega Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is a game for all the family and is highly recommended, receiving 3.5/5 from the reviewers on pricegrabber.

Hopefully Sonic and Mario can team up for many more games in the future and I’m sure they will. The success of this game has been amazing and for under £30 you can’t really go wrong.
It’s a must have game for the Nintendo Wii and with the Olympics on the television you too can pretend to take part.

Sega Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has flawless graphics and the gameplay is amazing. Highly recommended

So if you have even the slightest interest in video gaming then you will be well aware that the latest game in the Grand Theft Auto series has landed. GTV IV is available for both the PS3 and the XB360. This is the first time the genre has been available on the next generation consoles and it does not disappoint.

I actually picked it up on the XB360 yesterday (launch day of course) and managed to get a few hours (okay more than a few that took precedence over a certain important thing called sleep) after the football last night. My first impressions? I have to say I agree with the numerous reviews that are out there. This is a title worthy even at this early stage to be crowned game of the year.

The great thing I love about these games is the sandbox environment that you are placed into and this open-ended feel to the game has been continually improved upon each new release. This time around it really does feel as though you are a real citizen in the Liberty City world, and in fact the ability to complete many missions will rely on you roaming the streets simply trying embrace all this pulsating city has to offer.

Some of my highlights so far. I came across a smartly dressed woman on her cell phone and upon knocking it out of her hand she ran off, however the person on the other end was shouting Hello? Hello? down the other end. Then how about cruising around the city at dusk, listening to some serious house music, simply taking in the atmosphere. Or how about at the end of a hard days grafting taking in a comedy show, or using your mobile phone to arrange a night out. Yup this game has it all, and I’ve only just scratched the surface.

The main decision I guess for you isn’t if you should pick this up, that’s a given. It’s if you own both an XB360 and PS3, which console to pick it up for. One thing for sure however - you need this game in your life !

On Friday, Nintendo’s new exercise based game, Wii Fit, was released in the UK and they have been flying off the shelves over the course of the weekend. For a game that is not even really targeted at the gamer it may come as a bit of a shock that sales are through the roof but what is even more surprising to me is that us, “Europes Fattest Nation”, seems to have taken to Wii Fit more than any other nation. Why? Maybe we have finally gotten sick of topping every “Europes Worst” list that has been created and decided to do something about it but it’s most probably down to that Nintendo have given us the option of getting ourselves fitter without having to leave the house. Which is great! I mean, going jogging outside isn’t everyones cup of tea, especially in this country where the majority of the time it is either freezing or raining and all these fancy health clubs we have are quite expensive.

With Wii Fit, you have it sitting in your living room or bedroom and you can exercise anytime you want, before work, after work, before bed, hell, you can do it all day if you wanted to and you won’t ever see a bill from a monthly subscription health club or pay for yoga classes or whatever. So what is the point i am trying make with all this rambling then? I guess what i am trying to say is, Wii Fit is so in demand in the UK because we all want to get fit but we are too lazy to go out and do it and Wii Fit is the lazy way to get fit that we have been looking for. If that doesn’t appeal to you then nothing will.

You can find out more on Wii Fit by reading our Mario Kart And Wii Fit post and our Wii Fit Update post or if you’ve heard enough and want to try it out for yourself, Wii Fit is available to purchase here.

Today is the day that the classic video game Mario Kart appears for the first time on the Nintendo Wii, it’s debut if you will. Anyone who has ever played a video game is probably familiar with the Mario Kart series but no-one is familiar with the game in conjunction with the Wii experience. The new generation of Mario Kart will be packed with more high-jinks than ever before, more characters, more tracks, more weapons and more vehicles!

There are up to 25 different racers for you to choose from with each racer having their own weight class and unique abilities which will make them more suited to certain playing styles and less suited to others. In total there are 32 tracks to race on, with 16 of them being new and never seen before and the other 16 being remakes of those classic tracks that we loved before. Perhaps the best addition to the new Wii version is the inclusion of motorbikes, something which can only add more buffoonery to the madness that is Mario Kart.

Whether you are 5 or 50, boy or girl, man or woman, mushroom or gorilla, Mario Kart won’t disappoint but make sure you are prepared for the lunacy that is about to be unleashed upon you!

Nokia have at long last unleashed their N-Gage gaming platform globally allowing millions of mobile happy gamers to get their hands on some decent games for their mobile phones. After a BETA spell of the gaming platform that was only available to selected Nokia N81 users the full version is now available across the globe and to start will be supporting the Nokia N81, N81 8GB, N82, N95 and N95 8GB phones although support is expected to be added for the N73, N93 and N93i sometime in the near future.

Users will be able to take games for a test run before they buy them and games will be available for around about 4-8 quid. Hardcore gamers will also be able to connect with other fellow button-bashers through the N-Gage Arena community to play multi player games, take part in the forums, use live chat and play against each other in tournaments.

The first set of new games that will be on offer are FIFA 08, Brain Challenge, Asphalt 3: Street Rules, World Series of Poker Pro Challenge, Hooked On: Creatures of the Deep and System Rush: Evolution. Games that will soon be following them are The Sims 2 Pets, Space Impact: Kappa Base, Tetris, Mile High Pinball, Block Breaker Deluxe, Dogz and Snakes Subsonic.

It seems as though Sony are finally starting to get their act together in regards to the Playstation 3. First and foremost, and in my opinion this is and always will be the most important factor in the console wars, the games are starting to live up to the hype. In the past week we had Gran Turismo 5 Prologue drop and believe me although this is just a taster to what’s to come with the full game it still shows off the kind of power the PS3 can deliver. Oh and just quickly while we are on the subject of GT5 Prologue if you do plan to pick this up, and I recommend you do, then you should also consider one of the many supported force feedback steering wheels. The amount of realism I’m getting by combining the two is frightening and after a long race I’m actually tired, both physically and mentally - awesome ! As well as the cross platform games the PS3 can also expect exclusive titles such as Haze, which I managed to play at last years Games Convention in Germany - again another stellar title.

On top of this Sony are also working hard at making the PS3 live up to its promise of the central hub of entertainment in a home. Just last week the latest firmware was delivered which brought additional features to the movie playback options, including Blue-ray Live, which allows for interactive access to web content. This actually made the PS3 the first to market device to support these features. Of course we now need to wait until some discs are available that support this. Sony have also continued to build up the relationship between the PS3 and the PSP, with many features, such as remote play, already available. In the coming weeks it is rumoured that the next firmware update will support the ability to copy Blue-ray content down to the PSP to view on the move - very cool !

In the coming weeks it looks like Sony are also looking at the user interface with the announcement dropping last night that the next firmware update, expected mid-April, to bring a major overhaul to the Playstation Store. It will no longer use the web browser, and promises a much faster and rich experience for the end user. On top of this we also have the promise of Playstation Home, Sonys supposed updated online experience. Personally I’m not too excited about Home, especially since the initial beta responses were so poor, and since then it seems to have gone under cover. Then again I wouldn’t put it past Sony to deliver something quite special and continue to make 2008 the year of the PS3.