E308: Wii Music this year, with Balance Board support [Update 1: Screens]

by Candace Savino { Jul 15th 2008 at 1:28PM }

Wii Music has finally been (roughly) dated, and it looks even better than we expected! The game, which will include more than 50 instruments and Balance Board support, is set for release this year.

During the E308 conference, it was announced that the game would be available without the Wii MotionPlus add-on, but will still translate motions similar to those used to play real instruments. Therefore, how you move the Wiimote and Nunchuk, along with the timing in which you press the buttons, will affect how you sound. You can also use the Balance Board for certain instruments, like the drums (where it's used as a pedal). That's probably good news for those of you who were worried about more Rock Band-like peripherals clogging up your homes.

Wii Music was made with people who can't play instruments in mind, so that they can "experience the joy of making music," too. Since Miyamoto wanted this game to be accessible to the music illiterate, it doesn't require any note reading and won't rate your performances.

Also interesting is that songs can be recorded and made into music videos (starring your Miis). Furthermore, the game supports up to four players (per Miyamoto), but we were slightly confused when it looked like five were performing the Super Mario Bros. theme on stage.

Being the competitive music junkies that we are, we're a little bummed that the software doesn't even give you the option of performance evaluation. Even so, this looks like a pretty rad piece of kit.

[Update 1: Screens added! See the gallery below.]

Gallery: Wii Music

Tags: balance-board, e3-2008, e308, miyamoto, music, rhythm, shigeru-miyamoto, wii-music

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mike @ Jul 15th 2008 1:31PM

The dad in me who integrates video games in his family time says: awesome!

Shogan @ Jul 15th 2008 1:35PM

This game looked HORRIBLE. It sounds good on paper, but the presentation... absolutely awful.

harry @ Jul 15th 2008 1:37PM

Wow, this game looks awesome! ever since they first announced it, I've been excited to play. Now they finally show more of it, and a rough release date! Should be sweet for Christmas parties this year.

Johnny c. @ Jul 15th 2008 1:36PM

"Pretty rad piece of kit"? Are you fuckin' kidding me!? Twilight Princess 2 would be pretty rad, not this stupid ass game......

Joe H @ Jul 15th 2008 1:38PM

I was confused too. I think it might be like what I did with my younger brother when we were kids.... hand him a disconnected controller and let him think hes playing.

John Rios @ Jul 15th 2008 1:38PM

I thought it looks retarded at first, but couldn't help warming up to the idea after seeing them play the Mario theme. It kinda makes GH and RB looks a bit too RIGID now. You're just playing a predetermined sequence of notes on those. But here, you can go nuts and play like you want. Sounds neat to me.

bombtrak @ Jul 15th 2008 1:48PM

Pretty sure it was playing the correct notes for them, just to their own (lack of) rhythm.

John Rios @ Jul 16th 2008 12:35AM

Yeah, but it'll still allow for lots of variation on how you play the song. Especially if you go with some really bare-bones rhythms. Them you can create any number of different songs with how and when you play the notes. Drums especially!

nicolas @ Jul 15th 2008 1:41PM

ugh so pissed about this, it looks so lame. :(

bombtrak @ Jul 15th 2008 1:47PM

You must have had very, very LOW expectations...

crazypenguin @ Jul 15th 2008 1:48PM

very intresting, yet i would like to understand how they do music exactly. did they choose the mario theme song, or did they just play the melody THEMSELVES?

bombtrak @ Jul 15th 2008 1:50PM

The song is probably one of many that you can choose to "play." Since Miyamoto himself said you don't need notes to play songs, it seems as though you just have to hit the buttons at the right time to make it play the notes.

sn1per @ Jul 15th 2008 1:53PM

They picked the mario theme song, and every time they pressed a button, the game would play the right note for that given instrument at that point in time.

HPFFE @ Jul 15th 2008 1:49PM

I'm already loving this.

Shadow31 @ Jul 15th 2008 1:50PM

I'm thoroughly disappointed thus far. Sure, the Wii MotionPlus has potential, but so far all they're using it is for ANOTHER collection of minigames (even if it is a Wii Sports "sequel"). Animal Crossing is nice, but it's not enough. What else do we have on the Wii thus far? This casual game. Where are the hardcore games? I'm sorta glad I just bought a 360, because, unfortunately, Nintendo is slipping. Yes, they're doing better than ever, but they're concentrating too much on the casual market. If this keeps up, I'm seriously considering selling my Wii.

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 15th 2008 2:14PM

And Microsoft isn't? So the same man who plays nonstop GOW is going to take a break and pop in Viva Pinata or Banjoo:Nuts and Bolts or You're in the Movies?

Jason @ Jul 15th 2008 2:20PM

At least MS is diverse in their game catalog. They are trying to appeal to a younger crowd but they are keeping their core audience.

HPFFE @ Jul 15th 2008 1:50PM

I'm already loving this.

HPFFE @ Jul 15th 2008 1:50PM

Oops, sorry, double post.

RupeeClock @ Jul 15th 2008 2:11PM

Wii Music looks as though to work on the same principle as the black keys on a piano.

Hit any of them at any time in any order, and it sounds good.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/640/wiimusicfj3.jpg

Jason @ Jul 15th 2008 2:17PM

You know back when they originally unveiled the Wii and showed stuff like WiiSports I was excited, envisioning all the cool things that devs could do with the new input mechanism. But now, 2 years later, I'm seeing the same stuff (WiiSports 2), not even Nintendo is innovating with their innovation so we certainly can't expect third party devs to do it. I've all but given up on it.

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 15th 2008 2:49PM

ZOMG!!!! HALO 4 AND GOW 2 AND FABLE 2 AND VIVA PINATA 2 ARE WAY MORE ORIGINAL THAN WII Sports 2. Stop it. You're embarrassing yourself.

natrontheape @ Jul 15th 2008 2:54PM

Wii sports resort and this crap???? My Wii will continue to gather dust... I'm really thinking about selling it... This little experiment had so much potential, but no new Zelda, Metroid, Mario, or (gasp) a good third party title = no more fun with my Wii...

I really feel like Nintendo has abandoned the non-casual gamers these days. There's just been nothing out there for me since Metroid.

At least with my Xbox, when there isn't something I really want (which has been rare) I've been going back and catching up on tons of titles that I missed and actually enjoy. I haven't touched my Wii in at least a month... why Nintendo?

YAWN...

Brett @ Jul 15th 2008 5:14PM

I was VERY disappointed with today's press conference.
First off that woman was pretty annoying and came off fake to me, like she rehearsed everything ahead of time, including any flubs on her part.

I found Microsoft's, Sony's and EA's all much more entertaining. Nintendo, you really let me down today.

First the good...
* Shaun White Snowboarding (although this was not new news, it was good to see some footage and the man himself.)
* Wii Sports Resort (although, I hope it includes some better additional sports and online play)
* GTA for the DS (well it would be good news if I owned a DS).
* Wii MotionPlus (but they only give you one with Wii Sports Resort??!! At this point most people have 2-4 wiimotes and these will be multiplayer games, at least give us 2 of these, otherwise they had better be inexpensive).
* New Mario and Zelda (but when???)

Now the Bad...
* Animal Crossing (I know some people eagerly awaited this, but after seeing footage, it really does not interest me at all)
* Wii Speak might be a nice addition...if it was a headset and not a global microphone.
* Wii Music looked like a wagglefest that didn't matter what you were doing, it didn't play the wrong note.

I was hoping for more news on any of the following:
* An official wireless nunchuck.
* Possible additional storage
* Better games like Kid Icarus or Punch Out, The Conduit...anything that wasn't utter crap they showed today.

I have been a big Wii supporter, getting constant trash talk from my brother about using the Wii vs a 360/PS3. I always defend the Wii, but after today's show I just don't know. The 360/PS3 presentations were much more entertaining and showed off a much bigger variety of game types. Mirror's Edge from EA looked like it could be really good (its not on the Wii).

If it were not for a lack of blu-ray support on the 360, I would be very tempted to pick one up. I'm not that interested in the PS3 and don't want to own 3 consoles, just to get a blu-ray player.

Nintendo really blew a great opportunity today.