Round Rained Out? Tee-It-Up with Wii

This summer, gamers were chomping at the bit to get their hands on the new MotionPlus component of the Nintendo Wii gaming system. For three years now, the Wii has entertained old and young alike with motion-sensing, wireless remote controllers that allow users to act-out the movement of your arm in video bowling or the swing of a club in video golf. It’s been all the rage and, in my opinion, far exceeds the fun from conventional “sit-on-your-couch” video game controllers.

But this year, Nintendo announced a new device (MotionPlus), which attaches to your existing Wii remote and greatly enhances the sensitivity of the controller – thus making your swings and movements more realistic on screen.

Much to my delight, one of the first games to take advantage of the MotionPlus adapter was Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10. The game, from EA Sports, gives users the ability to create themselves (fairly realistic looking) and then play their way from the amateur tour to the PGA Tour while competing against the likes of Tiger and other Tour pros – all on more than 20 realistically-rendered courses from around the globe (including Torrey Pines and St. Andrews).

I’ve been playing PGA Tour 10 on-and-off for about two months now and must say I truly enjoy it! In fact, it’s about as close as you can come to a golf simulator in your home. I stand in front of the TV holding my Wii controller in an “addressing the ball” position and swing my normal golf swing. The Wii does the rest. It senses the speed of my swing, and if I turned my wrists in or out (resulting in a hook or slice), then simulates your ball’s flight path.

Putting is just as realistic! Unlike many large golf simulators where you don’t putt, PGA Tour 10 lets you putt like you would on the course. The MotionPlus is so sensitive, it will register a simple “tap-in” motion with ease. And one of the cooler features is the course weather. Since the Nintendo Wii has built-in Wi-Fi, Wii connects to the internet and simulates the weather conditions at the course you’re playing. That’s right! I was playing at Banff Springs in Canada on my Wii the other day and it was raining on the course (which actually shortens club distances and makes putting harder in the game). I checked the weather in Alberta, Canada on my computer and sure enough, it was raining there too! Should note this feature can be turned off.

If you own a Wii, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 retails for $70 (MotionPlus adapter included). Trust me it’s worth it – since you’re not swinging an actual club, I can usually get three or four 18-hole rounds in without much physical fatigue. Best of all, when it’s dark or raining or snowing outside, you’ve got a tee-time anytime inside. Plus, you’ll never have to yell fore (unless you want to enjoy watching the neighbors duck for cover)!

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