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Atlus opens up old wounds with Trauma Team for Wii

by Jason Dobson { May 29th 2009 at 8:30AM }

Just days before the real life trauma of E3 takes hold, Atlus announced that it will localize the recently revealed Trauma Center successor, Hospital, as Trauma Team for the Wii in North America. As previously noted, the game will feature gameplay across six different medical fields, as players play as a general surgeon, diagnostician, E.M.T., orthopedic surgeon, endoscope technician, and medical examiner.

Atlus hasn't yet sewn up all of the details, However, the game is expected to be among the publisher's titles on display during next week's show and we look forward to finding out more before Trauma Team scrubs in next Spring.

Gallery: Trauma Team

Atlus goes beyond Trauma Center for new Wii game 'Hospital'

by JC Fletcher { May 27th 2009 at 3:55PM }

In this week's Famitsu, Atlus has revealed a "spiritual successor" to the Trauma Center series that expands the game's scope beyond surgery. Hospital, created by the same development team as the hit surgery games, stars six different medical practitioners, each with a different specialization. Only one of the six is a Trauma Center-style surgeon -- Prisoner CR-SO1, a convict whose sentence was reduced in exchange for his surgical expertise.

The rest of the group include a diagnostician, a paramedic, a cosmetic surgeon (who performs non-life-or-death procedures like hip replacements), an endoscopic surgeon, and a forensic examiner. Each character features a different style of play.

According to 1up's translation of the article, producer Daisuke Kanada told Famitsu that the game "completes one of the goals for a medical series that we've been striving for before, and it's also a wholly new title, not a sequel to Trauma Center. It's not just a surgery game, but an entire hospital in game form.

Wii fans' wish come true: Nintendo Fun Center in action

by JC Fletcher { Sep 17th 2008 at 12:42PM }

WiiHacks forum moderator ModderMan recently took his kid to the hospital for a broken leg, and discovered one of the Starlight Foundation Fun Centers made specifically for hospitals. We're sure he paid appropriate attention to his son and all, but the calling of, uh, someone who cares a lot about the Wii cannot be ignored.

While he was unable to figure out how to open up the unit, ModderMan took video footage of the device and its interface instead. The selection of games ranges from the expected Nintendo hits to things like Elebits and Zack and Wiki, whose release Nintendo apparently noticed!

He also inspected the inside of the unit with the aid of a flashlight. The biggest revelation here is that since there are 20 games on the device, and since one of the USB slots was occupied, there's probably a hard drive at work here. In a Wii. But this probably has as much to do with the development of retail Wiis as those hotel systems did with other Nintendo systems.

[Thanks, Eoin!]

Hospital puts Wii to use, surgeons praise it

by David Hinkle { Jul 10th 2008 at 2:00PM }

We all know about the relationship between surgeons and the Wii. No, we don't mean Trauma Center, we mean real-life doctors using the tech behind the Wii to train them for surgery. This piece from ABC7 news in California shows one hospital where it's being put to work.

Surgical resident, Jeff Henke, commented that "this does really help." He further added that it "prepares you to enter the operating room." Now, we may be a bit biased, but we're not surprised that the Wii is such a diverse system. it's used to doing what no video game console could in the past.

[Via Codename Revolution]

Hospitals now less boring -- Fun Centers on the way

by Phil Larsen { Jun 25th 2008 at 11:00AM }

Sick kids are in for some fun, thanks to Nintendo and the Starlight Foundation. The Wii is heading for hundreds of hospitals in North America and Canada, all bundled up in Fun Centers packed with awesome stuff. Rehabilitation seems to be the Wii's favorite word, as Nintendo manufactures 1250 Fun Centers -- with 500 to be in place by the end of the year.

The Fun Centers come with a Sharp flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a Wii with a bunch of games including Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports and Mario Party 8. What, you were expecting Resident Evil 4?

Paula Van Ness of Starlight said "Our Fun Centers transform the hospital experience for children, bringing enjoyment and laughter to an otherwise daunting experience." Yeah, damn straight it's daunting -- and what did the friendly hospital staff bring this blogger when he was down and out with appendicitis? Battletoads. Yeah, the most ball-breakingly difficult game ever conceived didn't make the hospital stay any more fun.

[Via press release]

Nintendo of Italy donates handhelds to hospital

by Candace Savino { Jan 11th 2008 at 8:00PM }

In the latest show of charity for Nintendo, the company's Italian division donated a DS to every child in the pediatric ward at San Paolo Hospital. Nintendo also gave copies of Nintendogs, New Super Mario Bros., and Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the kids to enjoy, as well as a few Wiis. Some cynics might cite ulterior motives for Nintendo's actions, but the fact is, you can't argue with a smile on a sick child's face.

Check out the video (with music that Super Mario Galaxy fans might recognize) of the event ~~embedded above~~ to get a nice feel-good start to the weekend.

[Update: The video is now after the break because of its autostarting tendencies. Be warned, if you check past the break, the video will autostart.]

Continued →

CNN explores the Wii as rehab

by David Hinkle { Jan 2nd 2008 at 9:00PM }

Considering the Wii has been on shelves for over a year, we wouldn't call this "breaking news," but mainstream media hasn't ever been all that informed about gaming. Still, it's nice to see the console being covered from an angle other than "video games turn your child into a psycho killer." That and a 30-minute session of Wii three times a week can really help in the physical recovery process. It really is a wonderful little system.

See also: Video games more effective than medication for pain?

[Via Go Nintendo]

Connecticut hospital jumps on the Wii rehab bandwagon

by David Hinkle { Oct 23rd 2007 at 4:00PM }

The mass appeal of the Wii is something we, as well as you, fine reader (seriously, you look good, are you using a new shampoo?) know full well. Retirement communities, rehabilitation centers and now, even some gyms are utilizing it. Heck, we wouldn't be surprised if the console one day cured cancer on its own (probably using Wii Sports).

The latest center to take part in the phenomenon is none other than Bridgeport Hospital's Ahlbin Centers Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. There, stroke victim Barbara Everlith is enjoying the wonders of the console, taking part in Wii Sports: Tennis and finding a new and exciting treatment option. Why, in the six weeks since beginning the program, her therapist Courtney Benedetto has said that Barbara has already gained some movement in her left hand. And, it's all thanks to the Wii.

[Via Tech.Blorge]

Confirmed at last: LifeSigns headed to the US

by JC Fletcher { May 18th 2007 at 6:02PM }

Way back in March, rumors surfaced regarding the long-overdue localization of LifeSigns: Hospital Affairs, and it looks like Siliconera's detective work was right on the button: the doctor sim is due this summer.

Now here's where it gets confusing. Our original reports had Hospital Affairs coming out this week and Surgical Unit at the end of June. Now, as of this new announcement, Hospital Affairs, based on the Japanese DS launch title Kenshuui Tendo Dokuta, is coming sometime this summer. We originally assumed, based on the separate GameStop listings, that Surgical Unit was a localized version of the second Tendo Dokuta game, but according to an interview with one of the game's producers, they're two different names for the first game.

During the interview, the producer asserted that the US-released LifeSigns game was going to be called Surgical Unit, but all the promotional material (including the website) uses the title Hospital Affairs. Yikes. We think this is because the promotional information is for the European release.

Okay, we're getting mixed up ourselves, so here's the final breakdown in bullet-point form:

There is only one LifeSigns game announced for the US so far, with some kind of subtitle.
It is coming out some time this summer.

Gallery: Lifesigns

Studies: Games help sick kids

by Zack Stern { Dec 15th 2006 at 10:25PM }

Reuters describes the impact that games can have on hospitalized kids; while test numbers are small, several studies indicate that kids experience less pain while undergoing simple procedures if distracted by games. The article also says that games give kids a sense of normalcy the foreign environment of the hospital lacks.

We've seen more of these stories and studies over the past several years, and anecdotally, we know that games can have a positive impact on kids' treatments. Child's Play, a favorite by-gamers-for-gamers charity isn't included in the coverage, but consider supporting it or a similar cause to help these kids' quality of life.

See also:
The Joystiq Child's Play charity raffle!
Posts with raffle prizes

New hospital-based game headed to the DS

by David Hinkle { Nov 30th 2006 at 9:55AM }

Following in the footsteps of the incredibly fun Trauma Center: Under the Knife, LifeSigns: Hospital Affairs from JoWood is a "hospital drama soap" with "dramatic human interactions." Screenshots of the game also show surgery segments, so in utilizing the touch-screen, you'll be aiding in the medical treatment of patients.

The localized version of Tendo Dokuta, it revolves around a young doctor who, much like the hospital-based soap operas of the past and present, must both help patients with their physical ailments as well as their emotional ones. Starting as a lowly assistant doctor, you'll move up the ranks until you finally obtain your desired position of chief physician in the hospital. The game is currently set for a Q1 2007 release.

[Via DS-x2]

Get-Well Gamers Foundation Expands

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 11th 2006 at 3:30PM }

The Get-Well Gamers Foundation announced today that they've had a 25% increase in the number of hospitals participating in their program. The California-based charity brings video game systems to kids in hospitals because games are "an effective and proven pain management tool and provide needed entertainment during long hospital stays." The Get-Well Gamers Foundation currently has 41 participating hospitals in 26 states.

As GayGamer points out the expanded network increases the need for more games and systems. Moved on to better systems and your old consoles are just collecting dust? Donate it and make a sick little gamer happy. Oh, and it's tax-deductible.

The only real request by Get-Well Gamers is that the games please be age-appropriate. We think that's a perfectly reasonable request and let's make another suggestion -- get these kids newer systems than the N64 pictured. They need next-gen STAT!

See also: Child's Play Charity

After the break: Dave Chappelle visits a sick kid. Laugh once and you must donate.

Continued →

Trauma Center supply resuscitated

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jun 28th 2006 at 9:06PM }

Addictive cut-and-preserve hospital sim news now, with Atlus announcing that they'll be sending out enormous crates filled with copies of Trauma Center: Under the Knife to stores everywhere at the end of July. This should come as most excellent news to those who have experienced difficulty in getting their gloved hands on one of the best DS titles available, as well as to those who simply enjoy slashing a stranger's spleen into tiny, unrecognizable pieces.

Jim Ireton, the VP of Sales and Marketing for Atlus USA, notes that the "continued demand for Trauma Center: Under the Knife is both gratifying and overwhelming. We apologize to Nintendo fans who've had a tough time finding the game, and we hope this scratches their surgical itch until we ship Trauma Center: Second Opinion for the Wii later this year." Apology accepted, Mr. Ireton.

Rejected titles for this post:

"Trauma Center stock receives transfusion"
"Atlus bypasses Trauma Center shortage"
"Anemic Trauma Center supply cured"
"More copies of Trauma Center discharged"
"Trauma Center is a really good game"

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Trauma Center 2 for Wii launch window

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 11th 2006 at 9:45AM }

Encouraging gamers to slice people open with a scalpel and prod at their various internal organs, Trauma Center: Second Opinion (cool title!) clearly fits in well with Nintendo's all-inclusive family strategy for the Wii. Okay, so it's a sequel to last year's DS doctor sim, Trauma Center: Under the Knife, meaning that you're generally gutting people for their own good. I managed to track down Tomm Hulett of Atlus USA and, after threatening him sufficiently, managed to extract the following information:

The game should be released within the Wii's "launch window" (i.e. before the end of the year).
Two playable characters will be available, each one following a different path in the story.
Unlike Derek (the original game's main character), the new doctor will not possess the "Healing Touch", instead boasting some other, sure to be wacky power.
The game was almost called Trauma Center: Relapse.
Thanks to the wiimote, Second Opinion will be much more intricate than the DS version and allow you to use more surgical tools.
The nunchuck analog stick is used for selecting tools.
The game will not be fully voice-acted. Only a couple of voice samples will be matched to on-screen text, much like the Legend of Zelda titles.
Tomm hinted that you'd be able to use the wiimote and nunchuck as a defibrilator.

Speaking of which, the Atlus meeting rooms just happened to be situated right next to the wall mounted defibrilator pictured to the right. Must be one for the fanboys.

Trauma Center 2 for Wii launch window

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 11th 2006 at 9:45AM }

The game should be released within the Wii's "launch window" (i.e. before the end of the year).
Two playable characters will be available, each one following a different path in the story.
Unlike Derek (the original game's main character), the new doctor will not possess the "Healing Touch", instead boasting some other, sure to be wacky power.
The game was almost called Trauma Center: Relapse.
Thanks to the wiimote, Second Opinion will be much more intricate than the DS version and allow you to use more surgical tools.
The nunchuck analog stick is used for selecting tools.
The game will not be fully voice-acted. Only a couple of voice samples will be matched to on-screen text, much like the Legend of Zelda titles.
Tomm hinted that you'd be able to use the wiimote and nunchuck as a defibrilator.

Speaking of which, the Atlus meeting rooms just happened to be situated right next to the wall mounted defibrilator pictured to the right. Must be one for the fanboys.