Wii Play: Motion

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Wii Play Motion is the sequel to Wii Play.  Wii Play was initially released as an introduction to the controls for the (then) newly released Nintendo Wii.  With the release of the MotionPlus add-on a few years ago its no wonder that Nintendo released another game that demonstrates and teaches the capabilities of the MotionPlus controller.

The game itself is a collection of 12 mini games and is generally sold bundled with a new Wii MotionPlus controller (the game is available individually - see below).  Up to 4 people can play the games at once, although you'll need extra controllers for some.  A couple of titles are familiar from Wii Play - the Pose Mii Plus and the Teeter Targets and more complex versions of

Cone Zone - This game requires the player to hold the controller so that it points in the air, as if it were an ice cream cone.  The game starts when a scoop of ice cream is place into your cone, initially slowly then increasing in speed.  As the scoops get added you have to control the balance of the cone by moving the WiiMote forwards, backwards and to either side.  As the tower of scoops increases so does the sway of the cone and scoops combined.

Veggie Guardin' - Remember 'Whac-a-mole'?  This game works on a similar idea.  The player uses the WiiMote to hit moles as they try to steal fruit from the baskets at the bottom of the screen.  The MotionPlus comes into its own here requiring precision of the 'hit' in order to 'whac' the moles who, initially, try to steal from three baskets but in later stages increase to five baskets.  This game requires reaction speed and the ability to point the WiiMote in the direction of the mole.

Skip Skimmer - A clever and simple game that is made more interesting than it might have been.  The game requires the player to choose a stone to skim across a lake, then perform a 'stone skimming' action to release the stone.  The player has to hold the B button down whilst holding the controller as horizontal through the skimming action.  Speed of the skimming action is also taken into account and affects the final skim.  Once released, the player watches the stone skim across the lake, counting the bounces.  After the skim there is an option to see an analysis of the skim which offers some good feedback and clues as to how to improve.  This element could also be used as an outcome measure if used in therapy.

Trigger Twist - Similar to Shooting Range in Wii Play, this is a slightly more advanced point and shoot target game.  The MotionPlus allows the targets sometimes be 'off screen' requiring the player to point the WiiMote to the left or right to scroll the screen around (indications are given on screen to prompt the player to do this).  This modification of the game takes it from being fairly static, as it was in Wii Play, to being dynamic with a 360 degree stage.
This feature does make it more difficult and a little confusing to start with but the game can be played without  pointing the WiiMote left/right to scroll the screen - you just won't score the higher points.

Pose Wii Plus - A surprising return of the Pose Mii game in Wii Play.  It wasn't hugely successful as a game previously and whilst this upgrade still requires good pronation and supination as the player rotates the WiiMote, it just isn't very interesting and lacks the ability to motivate the player to have another go.

Jump Park - This is a 2-dimensional platform game and doesn't really hold much potential to be used constructively within therapy.

Teeter Targets - This game could be considered to be a combination of 'Breakout' and 'Pinball'.  The WiiMote is held in a horizontal position and tilted from side to side in order to keep the ball in play and hit all the required points.
This game is quite difficult but would be suitable for use either to encourage bilateral hand co-ordination or dexterity and fine control.

Spooky Search - This is one of the better games on Wii Play Motion.  As a ghost hunter you use your WiiMote as a ghost catching device.  The ghosts are all around you and to catch them you must point your WiiMote in their direction.  When you are pointing the WiiMote in a ghosts direction the WiiMote makes a beeping sound.  By pressing the B button you catch the ghost, then guide your caught ghost (holding the B button) to the ghost trap.  The game also requires the player to flick the WiiMote to encourage the ghosts into the trap and they don't always go in first time!  There's a time limit on the game but its long enough for anyone to get the hang of the controls and enjoy trying to track down the ghosts.

Wind Runner - The Mii character in Win Runner is wearing roller skates on a windy day whilst carrying a brolly.  The player controls the direction of the crazed roller skate wearing Mii by the angle at which the brolly is being held with the WiiMote being the umbrellas hand grip.  Its a fast paced game that requires good reaction speed and an understanding of how the wind will fill the umbrella, if given the chance.  Pointing the WiiMote left and right (at whatever angle is needed for the wind to catch the umbrella) will steer the Mii to the respective direction.  Whilst its reasonably good fun there are other games in this collection that require better control of motor function and dexterity.

Treasure Twirl - In this game the WiiMote becomes a line with a diver on the end of it.  Holding the WiiMote horizontally the player has to roll/twist it away or towards you to let the diver and line down or to pull it up.  Tilting the controller to the left or right steers the line down to the treasure at the bottom of the sea, avoiding fish, rocks and other obstacles that may be in the way. The tilting/steering can be done without the twisting of the WiiMote, although the game is against the clock or more specifically against how much oxygen you have to perform the dive.
This is a good game for getting both hands working together and promoting dexterity and grip combined.

Flutter Fly - For this game the WiiMote becomes a leaf that you have to use as a fan to guide the Mii and balloons through the hoops along the course.  As you turn the WiiMote the leaf also turns correspondingly, allowing the player to control the direction of the fanning and therefore direction of the Mii and balloons.
This game is quite difficult, but for someone who is working to improve their grip strength combined with wrist flexion and extension it may have its place within therapy.  A great deal of perception is required to know where and how hard to fan the balloons in order to direct them successfully through the course.

Star Shuttle - Possibly the most difficult game in this collection and potentially the most boring.  The player controls a shuttle as it docks into the mother ship.  The weightlessness of space means that any slight movement will deviate the course of the ship which then needs to be counteracted by additional control movements.  It requires patience and fine motor control coupled with an understanding or appreciation of the quality and direction of the movement created by the player/WiiMote.

The following is a 3d party youtube review that will demonstrate the games. (10mins long)




Summary of potential usefulness of games within therapy:
Good:
Veggie Guardin' - reaction speed, grip, co-ordination, perception of direction, upper limb
Skip Skimmer - upper limb, grip, control
Cone Zone - bilateral hand control, steadiness, perception of required movement

Spooky Search - upper limb, co-ordination using audible and haptic feedback
Treasure Twirl - bilateral hand control and co-ordination, grip, fine control
Pose Wii Plus - pro/supination, reaction to prompts on screen
Trigger Twist - grip, fine motor control, dexterity, reaction speed
Teeter Targets - bilateral hand control, dexterity, reaction speed, planning of movement   


Questionable:
Flutter Fly
Wind Runner
Star Shuttle
Jump Park





The following games could be played using external WiiMote buttons.
Skip Skimmer
Spooky Search
Trigger Twist


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Marbles! Balance Challenge / Kororinpa : Marble Mania

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Marbles! Balance challenge is the sequel to Kororinpa (also called Marble Sarga in some regions).  The principles of the game are the same - roll a marble around a puzzle platform using controlled and precise movements with either the Wii Remote or (new for the sequel) the Wii Balance Board.

The ability to use the Wii Blanace Board for game play is an excellent feature when considering rehab.  The original Kororinpa game was excellent for fine control, dexterity, perception and reaction speeds.  The sequel, with its choice to use the balance board now offers balance in both standing and sitting with valuable real time visual feedback based on the movements created by the player.  This game play offers balance awareness and motivation to correct movement intuitively in order to play the game, with the levels all being unlocked at the start and progressively getting harder through the numerous levels.

The Wii Remote controlled levels are different to the Balance Board levels - requiring more specific and sensitive skills that would be nearly impossible to control in standing.  There are two main categories - easy and normal to choose from offering plenty of variety and opportunities to progress as co-ordination and dexterity skills improve.

Unlike other games of this nature the visuals are clear and uncomplicated without the risk of confusing orientations and unhelpful points of view.  The simplicity of this game is one of the features that makes it therapy friendly.

The game is easy to navigate but when in the Wii Remote game play the puzzles are based on an unlocking system whereby the more you play the more levels are unlocked meaning play is limited initially.  As a solution to this it is possible to download the Save Data file here.  For more information about how to use save data files click here.

The game can therefore be played in a sitting position or can be made more difficult by using a Real Balance Board adaptation.  More information about working on different levels of balance can be found here.


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Wii Party

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Wii Party is a family orientated game with numerous approaches to game play.  The board games and family activities that the game suggests need upwards of 15 minutes to play are not therapeutically friendly and probably do not have much place in a rehab session.

By navigating through the menus it is possible to play each of the mini games in isolation of any others - meaning that individual games can be chosen and played on their own.

To find the mini games follow:

Menu Screen :  Mini games (bottom right/yellow box) : freeplay : (choose category of the mini game you want to play) : Game (choose the game from the selection)

These games are all unlocked so do not need endless play in order to unlock them.  A full list of the mini games, controls and value during therapy sessions can be found by following this link

Some elements of this game can be played using adaptations, especially the use of a controller with external buttons for those who do not have the control to hold and press the Wii Remote buttons.
Other adaptations could be the use a wrist strap to support the controller on the back of the wrist or ankle to create the movement needed for some of the games. Alternatively the controller could be used with this Fit Board adaptation for the games to work on balance.

This game is similar to Wii Play but with much more too it. There are some basic 'pointing' games that allow for development of upper limb/hand control without the complication of using buttons.

As with most games there are some very useful and therapy friendly elements to Wii Party. The numerous minigames offer a spectrum of short activities that have the potential to help patients regain some co-ordination, reaction speed, dexterity and general upper limb skills.

Never the less Wii Party offers some basic and fun games that can successfully be used and incorporated within a therapy session.

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With a Wii Remote          


or Without Wii Remote    

Balance Training - PhysioFun

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PhysioFun Balance Training is a WiiWare game using the WiiMote and balance board, available for purchase and download direct from the Wii Shopping Channel for 2000 points. The game concerns itself solely with balance and simple exercises relating to balance, mostly on one leg which immediately creates a criteria for successful use - persons/patients using this game must be able to stand on one leg to get the full benefit of balance training.

The main elements of the software are - the Balance Test, Fun Mode and Physio Mode. The balance test requires the user to stand on the balance board for 30, 60 or 90 seconds. During the test the image of a balance board is displayed with a black dot that moves indicating centre of balance. Once the time is up the results are displayed in the form of a graph showing the area of balance board that the COG was during the time, horizontal shift of weight and vertical shift of weight. These results are then comparable to earlier measurements taken. There is no way of extracting the data through the program for printing or recording purposes - a pen and paper is needed for that.

The Fun Mode is a progressive sequence of 6 balance exercises (all of which are on one leg) that gradually gets harder and harder as you work your way up through the 'student belts' (as in martial arts). The Fun Modes 6 exercises are as follows:
Water: Stand on one leg and maintain balance
Desert: Stand on one leg and raise then lower arms
Forest: Stand on one leg and move arms in a circular motion
Eternal Ice: Stand on one leg and move arms forward and backwards in a running motion
Volcano: Stand on one leg and raise arms above head to block
Temple: Stand on one leg and abduct the opposite leg

Points are awarded for how well the exercise is performed, with a small image of the balance board indicating centre of gravity. Circles on the balance board indicate when balance is excellent, good or not good enough. Time outside of the green 'good' section causes low points and eventual premature end to the activity. Being able to maintain COG over the centre dot on the balance board accelerates the points earned to enable a high score to be achieved.

The progression to the exercises is in the early levels an increase in the length of time these exercises have to be performed with other reviews reporting that the levels extend to 90 seconds each.

The Physio Mode also uses the 6 exercises from the Fun Mode but allows individual training schedules to be created. The exercise can be chosen, the leg to balance on, the length of time the activity is for and the difficulty. There does not seem to be a limit to the number of exercises that can be added to the schedule but only 4 individual schedules can be created at any one time. A calender through this option allows sessions to be recorded by date and retrieved at a later time.

One nice feature of the Physio Mode is the Ongoing Measurement option. This consists of an image of the balance board with the black dot showing where COG is and can be used as a prompt or visual feedback during balance work for as long as is needed. It is just a tool with no time limit, scoring or other distracting element. In my option, it is what Wii Fit has been lacking and I envisage it being a useful aspect of this software.

This software is a good attempt at offering therapeutic use of the Wii and balance board. It is aimed at people who what to improve their existing balance, rather than working to establish fundamental and bilateral balance and therefore aimed at higher level persons/patients.

There is definitely a place for this kind of software and its success may support the development of a broader range of activities.

If you have used this software, please comment below.


More info from Kaasa Health Website

Purchase from WiiWare: Click the image

Links Crossbow

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Links Crossbow is a shooting game relying on aim and co-ordination.  The game does use both the WiiMote and Nunchuk, with the Nunchuk joystick being used to control the direction of the player.  It has a progressive level aspect as well as practice modes making it easy to dip into and find an appropriate level to work at.  Games and tasks can easily be repeated to help with learning and familarity, allowing time to be spent on the development up upper limb control.  This game has been used within therapy sessions, although not regularly.

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Blazing Angels

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Blazing Angels is a flight simulator game that requires complex use of both WiiMote and Nunchuk.  The game is based on a storyline making it difficult to access different levels of the game to suit the user.  The games requires high levels of dexterity, quick reaction speeds and control of movements, along with a good ability to remember the button controls in order to play the game.  This game is rarely used in therapy.

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Endless Ocean 1

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Endless Ocean is a deep sea exploration game that allows the user to dive into the deep waters and swim around, viewing creatures, landmarks and becoming familiar with the ocean. It predominatly a story based game whereby you are given tasks to complete such as recording all of the fish that you see in your log book. Its a very relaxing game that requires the use of one remote and reasonable dexterity (pressing the A button and B button in combination with movements. The Wifi aspect allows you to meet up with friends online and dive with them, exploring the seas together.

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Wii Sports Resort

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Wii Sports Resort offers 12 activities and games two of which are from Wii Sports - Bowling and Golf. Nine of the games use just the Remote with five games only requiring simple use of the buttons (A and/or B). It requires a little more control of the Wii Remote that Wii Sports with the games requiring more accurate control of movement. The new games and the variety of games offers great potential for sustained interest amongst those using the game. Like Wii Sports this game offers opportunities to exercise arm movements, co-ordination, dexterity and work on general fitness.

Elements of this game can be used with adaptations.

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Wii Play

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Wii Play is an excellent starting point for anyone learning how to use the controller. It usually comes with a Wii Remote, to add a second controller to the Wii Console. It consists of 10 mini games that all require reasonable grip and control of the Wiimote along with the ability to press the buttons.

Wii Play offers a great opportunity to work on control of fine movement, pointing and pressing buttons, reactions speeds depending on game, grip and dexterity along with others.

Elements of this game can be used with adaptations.
More info

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