Nintendo Wii is a medical miracle, PS3 XBOX just makes you fat

The Nintendo Wii is in the hands of millions across the globe and is one of the best selling consoles of all time, making it hard to get, even now. The Wii is popular with just about everyone but is cropping up in places you might not have expected, hospitals, rehab centers and retirement homes.

The Wii’s unique controls make it the perfect companion for rehab centers, teaching patients how to regain control of their arms and letting them have fun at the same time. Walter Rowy suffered a stroke and after only a week at the Riley Rehab Center, is mastering Wii sports thanks to the motion controls.

The Meridian Star spoke with Ben Rucks, director of rehab services at Riley, who said that Dr. Janet Coyle was responsible for adding the Wii to the rehab program for stroke patients.

"Dr. Coyle got one (Wii) for Christmas and after playing on it for awhile, she realized that it would be wonderful for our stroke patients," stated Rucks.

He also said, "Unlike other video games — which only use the thumbs — the Wii requires use of the whole body, balance and hand-eye coordination.” “This is especially ideal for stroke patients in their recovery."

So far the Wii has been credited for helping patients lose wait and is being used to treat children who suffer from hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that paralyzes one side of the body.

Stroke support groups are also purchasing Wiis to allow people that can’t acquire or afford the console to continue therapy after leaving the rehab centers.

There is one problem; it seems women aren’t taking to the games as well as men have so additional games are in the pipeline that will hopefully make the Wii (more) enjoyable for all the patients.

In addition to rehab centers and hospitals, retirement communities are also snatching up Wiis where elderly residents use it to play virtual golf and bowl. Another title that should be considered by these centers is Big Brain Academy which will help keeps minds focused and sharp.

While some hospitals do have the Xbox 360 and PS2 on offer for most children’s wards, neither have been shown to offer the medical benefits of the Wii since those don’t require you to get up and move around which is required for most types of therapy involving everything from broken limbs to strokes or more serious conditions.

This gives Nintendo another claim to fame with the Wii, it is doctor approved, Sony can’t claim that and neither can Microsoft.

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World in Conflict to Bring World War III to Xbox 360 This Fall

Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, today announced that World in Conflict, the upcoming action-strategy game that blurs the line between traditional strategy gameplay and fast-paced shooters, will be available for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this fall. The game is being developed for Xbox 360 by Sierra's own Swordfish Studios, in conjunction with Massive Entertainment, also a Sierra-owned studio, to optimize gameplay for the Xbox 360 controller and implement a new heads-up-display (HUD) that is more functional and appealing for console gamers.

World in Conflict represents the next-generation of strategy games, pitting Cold War-era superpowers against one another with completely destructible 3D battlefields, blistering visuals, and a narrowed gameplay focus that removes traditional resource-gathering and base-building in favor of non-stop combat, tactical decisions and an FPS-like addiction to intense action.

"World in Conflict is the natural fit for Xbox 360, as it effectively blurs the lines between strategy, action and first-person-shooter, making controlling units and issuing orders quick and easy on the console controller," said Al Simone, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Sierra Entertainment. "With the game coming to Xbox 360, next-generation console gamers will be able to enjoy the next-generation of strategy games. Fans of action games and strategy fanatics alike will find that World in Conflict's unique gameplay and advanced multiplayer combat will provide a fresh game experience not yet available on consoles."

World in Conflict presents a chillingly authentic Cold War scenario where the Berlin Wall never fell. Created by Cold War authority and best-selling author Larry Bond, the story begins in 1989 as the Soviets, fearing certain collapse, boldly advance into Europe. NATO responds in force only to be met on a second front -- a full-fledged invasion of the American homeland. Players take on the role of field commander, leading the era's most powerful military machines in the campaign to retake America's cities and suburbs.

Features in World in Conflict include:
-- Super-Powered Warfare: Unleash the arsenals of the great military
superpowers in the gripping single-player story created by Larry Bond
-- Bleeding-Edge Graphics - The latest version of Massive's proprietary
Masstech engine allows for a full 360 degree range of camera control
and features advanced lighting and physics effects
-- Complete Destructibility - As the battle rages, the world environment
pays the price -- every object in the game will crumble under the force
of war, including cars, buildings and forests
-- Deep Multiplayer Modes: World in Conflict will support up to 16
players for head-to-head and team-based battles in Domination, Assault
and Tug-of-War gameplay styles
-- Real World Units: Players will take control of the most devastating
arsenal of military weaponry ever created, including Soviet, American
and NATO tanks, planes, trucks, troops and helicopters as well as
nuclear weapons
-- Player Roles - Players will choose to play as Infantry, Armor, Support
Forces, or Aerial specialists; multiplayer teams will need to master
each role for maximum effectiveness


World in Conflict is expected to be available at retail stores worldwide this fall for the Xbox 360. The game will also be available on personal computer in September. For more information on World in Conflict, please visit http://www.worldinconflict.com/.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Wii, Xbox 360 sales decrease, PS3 gains

Sales for Nintendo Co.'s Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 decreased, while movement for Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3 increased in the latest sales data from Ebay.

In the latest sales data at the auction website, Wii held a sharp 16 percent decrease in sales, down from zero percent increase the week prior. While sales fell, the console remained the No. 1 Most Popular home console status on Ebay. It carries an average sale price of $418.22.

The Xbox 360 experienced a two percent decrease in sales, down from a 20 percent increase one week ago. The console is the No. 2 Most Popular video game hardware on Ebay and carries an average sale price of $346.84.

The PS3 experienced the largest sales gain in the period at 13 percent, up from an increase of four percent one week prior. The hardware ranks as the third most popular console and held an average sale price of $587.07.

Wii is the No. 1-selling home console in the U.S., moving 338,000 units in the month of May.

The Xbox 360 moved 155,000 units, followed by the PS3 at 82,000 units in the same period.