“DJ Hero”: Where DJs become Rock stars
Oct 28th
DJ Hero, the newest addition to the family of peripheral-based video games, makes its debut on Oct.27, 2009. If it looks like Guitar Hero but with turntables – that’s because it essentially is. DJ Hero is a single-player mixology simulator which in itself already sounds very, very cool. While Guitar Hero is focused on performing music, DJ Hero allows players to perfect their mash-ups.
The usual guitar is substituted by the plastic likeness of a turntable – the necessary tool of any DJ. Created by RedOctane, this is not some cheap plastic box – it’s solid, functional and even pretty to look at. The turntable platter has three buttons and spins freely, which allows the player to scratch and rewind tracks just like pro DJs. It spins and clicks where it’s supposed to and includes a mixer on the side that houses the fader switch and euphoria button among other features.
Whereas Guitar Hero focuses on rock songs, the heart of DJ Hero is the mash-up. These are songs that have been mixed and mashed to an almost indistinguishable track, but that’s part of its allure as a very challenging peripheral-based rhythm game.
The game’s original soundtrack is definitely one of the highlights. You get to play and listen to the work of skilled DJs like Grandmaster Flash, DJ Shadow, Daft Punk, and the late DJ AM. The tracks they will be mixing up are numerous and from artists like Gwen Stefani, Beastie Boys and Public Enemies just to name a few. The game gives the player access to more than 100 licensed songs in 93 tracks. Players get to really experience the creative mind behind the world’s top DJs. (And on a more sentimental note, DJ Hero has made their game a tribute to DJ AM’s passing since his visionary work is a good chunk of the mash-ups.)
Wii Fit PLUS: The next level of Fun + Fitness
Oct 5th
Nintendo spotlighted Wii Fit Plus this week which expands on the original Wii Fit software. Gamers should not be confused since this is not a sequel to the original, but is more an expansion pack. With Wii Fit Plus, Nintendo has responded to fan requests by updating the original Wii Fit with tweaks here and there, adding six new exercise routines and adding some creative and somewhat outlandish games. A changed aspect of the game that fans will most appreciate is how the software has been streamlined to make it easier for you to go from a 30 minute exercise routine to the rest of your day. Where a lot of time was spent wading in and out of menu systems in the original, the Plus version has cut down ceremonies, presentations and waiting time.
Wii Fit Plus has a new focus on burning calories and targeted fitness routines that achieve specific results (like reducing arm flab, trimming tummy fat, etc). This feature is very useful for day-to-day use and long term exercise goal setting. They arrive in the form of Wii Fit Plus Routines where pre-made groups of exercises have direct benefits to specific areas of the body. There are 4 categories available:
1) Lifestyle which focuses on reducing stress
2) Health which reduces tummy fat
3) Youth which helps with hips and developing lower body muscles
4) Form to tone up your body
Wii Fit Plus also provides gamers with a new motivation to exercise. Whereas the original Wii Fit emphasized your Body Mass Index (BMI) as a means for setting weight loss goals, the new updated version focuses on burning calories to drive commitment to exercise. After each time you work out, you receive 2 counters – one displays your work-out duration and the other provides the amount of calories you’ve burned. These are displayed on a graph and a Food Guide will show you what the equivalent would be in snacks and food items. (For example, 50 calories is equal to one tablespoon of mayonnaise or 1 ounce of avocado.)
