Spring 2008: Curling on the Wii
For some reason, there aren’t that many curling video games. But with the growing popularity of the sport, hopefully that will change in the future.
Hudson Soft, a Japanese game developer, is planning a March 3, 2008 North America launch for a sports compilation video game on the Nintendo Wii console. The game will contain volleyball, badminton, figure skating, and. . . curling! The game has already been released in Japan under the title “Deca Sporta”, but the title for the US version of the game has not been determined yet.
The Nintendo Wii is a real departure from all previous game consoles, in that the games are not controlled solely by buttons and joysticks. Instead, games are controlled by pointing, shaking, rotating, and otherwise moving the entire controller (called a Wii-mote). The idea is to make gaming more physically interactive, and it delivers on that goal.
The Wii console should be perfect for a curling game. Below is a screenshot showing a delivery, and a YouTube video showing how the Wii-mote is manipulated to control the delivery and sweeping. I can’t wait for this game to come out!
Click the “play” button to see the video:
I picked up this game earlier this week. I was hopeful that it would be good but in the end it is a bit disappointing. Luckily is was only $29 so I did not loose too much cash. Since there is a lot bad, lets start there.
1) I do not think the programmers knew anything about curling. Ends are called “sets”. Games are 1,2, 4 or 6 “sets” long. There are 3 man teams. The lead throws stone 1, second throws stone 2, skip throws stone 3, lead throws stone 4, etc. until all 6 are thrown. It is impossible to sweep the opponents stone after the T-line.
2) The computer knows nothing about strategy. It does one of two things: it draws to the button, or if you are on/near the button it will do a takout.
3) Delivery with the wiimote sucks. You aim a line of delivery and your stone always goes out on that line, you are never wide or narrow. Weight is determined by a meter akin to that of a 1990s golf game that fluctuates from min to max and your weight is determined by the position of the meter when you deliver. this is a terrible system because if your timing is off a takeout could come out with minimum power. It would have been better if they measured the velocity of the wiimote to determine the weight (much like golfing in wiisports measures the velocity to get your swing speed).
3) There are three types of players: small, medium, and large. Small players have 3 bars of power that can be used in delivery, medium players have 4, and large players have 5 bars. I selected a team with all large players and delivered some takeouts at full power (max weight). Even with that power and constant sweeping it was nearly impossible to remove the target stone from the house if it were anywhere in front of the T-line. Similarly, a chip-and-roll is just are not possible. Conversely, when delivering with minimum power, all my stones could easily be swept past the hog.
4) Bonspiels! There is a tournament mode unfortunately each game is one end/set and the opposing team has hammer. So unless you can steal points in each match this is absolutely useless.
So whats good?
1) Two player games can be kinda fun, but you are forced to play a draw game since nobody seems to be able to make a takeout. Unfortunately, the closest thing you can come to a real game is a 6 end game with 6 stones per team. Consequently, that causes you to change up your strategy and play more stones in the house. Consequently due to the shortcomings much of curling’s depth of strategy is lost.
2) The ice curls well and the physics seems okay, except for the fact that nobody seems to be able to throw with any weight.
3) It might work as a nice introduction to non-curlers.
In the end, I recommend that you do not even rent this game. If you play the game you will end up hurling the disk across the room like I did and then be forced to explain to the clerk why their disk is shattered.
I only hope that someone picks up where this game totally dropped the ball. I would love to see options to select up to 10 end games with teams of any size. The game should have a better delivery system where skill come from delivering with the correct line and the speed in which you move your arm forward determines the weight. All the rules should be present as well. But most of all, give me peal weight and if my weight is way to low let me hog it.
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
Check out Celebrity Sports
Show Down….it has curling……available at EBGames
Comment by Jeff — November 15, 2008 @ 9:55 am
I own this game since a whlie and still play it with friends.
Comment by Kris Console Parts — February 23, 2009 @ 4:32 am
It’s not for a console, but you might also want to take a look at “Granite 2″, (from http://www.curlingworks.com) for the PC. You can download a trial version to try it out before buying a registration code. No people-type characters running around, but very realistic physics and graphics.
Comment by Chris — November 13, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
We just bought the wii curling — we’re having difficulty delivering the rock. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t — no system, just luck if it leaves your hand. Not too pleased with the game.
Comment by Jackie — December 29, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
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Pingback by Spring 2008: Curling on the Wii | CurlDuluth.com | America Most Wanted — February 19, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
playcurling.com has a decent/fun simulation. Free to play (with ads) and some good players. You can sign up and remove ads. There is player ranking, etc. Worth the visit!
I always/only play in room 5.
Comment by StickBender — March 31, 2010 @ 11:22 pm