TGS '07: Namco Bandai embraces Active Life

Publisher working on new fitness-themed game, also shows off Soul Caliber IV, Ace Combat 6, and Time Crisis 4.

TOKYO--Developers for the Nintendo Wii seem determined to get gamers up and off the sofa while they play games.

First there was Wii Sports, although that may be relatively docile compared to Wii Fit, which was announced at this year's E3 Media and Business Summit.

And now there's an even more energetic Wii game coming to the console--with a working title of Active Life: Athletic World for the western world.

Called Family Trainer: Athletic World in Japan, the Wii-exclusive game uses a special custom mat controller, and will feature a series of mini-games for one or two players.

Namco Bandai then demonstrated some of the mini-games at the company's offices in Shinagawa. The first was called River Rapid, and gamers use the Wii remote like an oar to paddle left or right, which steers the boat through the rapids.

Other games shown briefly included a snowboarding game, a two-player log jumping game, and a barrel jumping game. Players use the mat to run on the spot, which makes characters run, jump, and move around.

Active Life: Athletic World will be released in 2008, although pricing details have yet to be confirmed.

Namco Bandai also showed off some new levels of Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, and a trailer of the weapon-based brawler Soul Caliber IV. The new Soul Caliber IV video introduced a brand new character, Hilda, who was dressed head to toe in armour. The title is being developed for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, and is due for release in 2008. Other games shown in the presentation video were DragonBall Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3, and Time Crisis 4.

For all the latest news and previews from the Land of the Rising Sun, be sure to check out GameSpot's complete coverage of the 2007 Tokyo Game Show.

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