Look Out Fireplacing, You've Got Competition

SICKENING! How dare they steal such an ingenious concept from Fireplacing!?

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

In a previous lifetime, I must have murdered a Pope.

There's no other explanation.

Coming next: My Virtual Flamethrower. It gives you the cozy warm feeling of home.

This should be its own genre.

This isn't the current state of gaming. This is just the current state of Nintendo's digital platforms... I.E. Pathetic.

Why the hell are we making Virtual Fireplaces? What's next a Virtual Diaper changing game? Some of the crap that gets released just boggles the mind.

The future of gaming burns brightly indeed...

Still recovering from all the thrills and spills of maintaining a virtual console in Wii-ing on WiiWare? Well you might be in for a second thrilling installment of Wii action, as the ESRB has rated a new title: Virtual Wii.

In this non-stop action adventure you must tend to virtual Wii. With a massive six different coloured consoles, plus all the excitement of configuring switchboards to keep the Wii running, you're sure to have a thrill a minute with Virual Wii. Stay tuned for more exciting Virtual Wii news.

Virtual Wii
Platform: Wii
Rating: Mature
Content descriptors: Imitable behavior
Rating summary:
This is a simulation game in which players tend to virtual Wiis within their Wii. Players can choose from six different colours, and must periodically manipulate switchboards to keep each Wii in operation (which, if practiced in real life, may result in possibly fatal electrocutions, hence the Mature rating).

I wish this would be released as DSiWare. I would love to be able to enjoy a relaxing fire while on the go.

Fireplacing is in the top ten current WiiWare games last I checked. So its making a profit despite its low score. Its a sick sad world.

let me know when they rate a game where you watch grass grow or paint dry, then I'll get interested.

I just can't wait for another fun and new adventure to come out, like ummmmm.........watching paint dry!

Interested to see who wins this flame war.

I NEED... THIS GAME..... SOOO.... BAAAD!!!
I like the part where you change logs to keep the fire burning.

@11:
You owe me for the keyboard I just spit coffee all over.

Pre-order from Gamestop and receive a handsome miniature plastic log with purchase!

People like the fireplace on their TV. What's the big deal?

It's funny to imagine it as being sold in competition with other games, but of course it's not a game. Nintendo introduced their own channels that weren't games, so there's precedent set there.

Nintendo really needs to improve the shopping experience in future consoles, but at least some non-hardcore gamers seem to be finding it. This sort of thing brings awareness, so it's good for everyone in the long run.

Plus, if you hold up your hands to the Wii, you can actually get some heat from it.

Unfortunately My Fireplace did really, really well in Holland.

At least Fireplacing has a better name...

It should be a box release. At something like 10£. It's exactely the sort of this that parents will notice while shopping, read the back of while waiting in line, and buy because they don't care to return it to the rack.

(image of a head exploding)

'Game over, man! Game over!'

Oh no! Flame war!
I can see the heated debates on which one is better slowly rising. Afterall, where theres smoke, theres fire. Though this one may be better as we all know how terrribly the last one crash and burned (I'm going to assume that the game designer got fired for that one.) I guess these guys just thought it would be smart to strike while the fire is hot.

Can I throw someone into the fireplace? You know, just to make it more interesting?

@25 Wood you care to repeat that?

It's not the 1st of April, so this thing should be true.

Just checked ESRB site, it is.

Man.

@28: You mean you weren't board after reading it the first time?

Can. Not. Wait.

I should keep a log of these terrible puns for my future articles.

Please don't, James. I'm burnt out on them already.

Tsk tsk tsk... usually you can run rings around everyone else when it comes to this kind of thing, but that one's already been used, Phil. I wooden've expected that from you.

aaronsullivan has this one right.

This "game" isn't for gamers. It's to have on your TV during winter parties, when you don't have a real fireplace. The issues with fireplacing is it didn't even seem to do that very well - but you have to figure who's going to actually read a review for that before purchasing? People just see it on the shop and think - oh, that would add some ambiance to my holiday party. That's why it did so well. It's not meant to be an actual game - so it shouldn't be judged on those merits. It's a screensaver for your TV.

@CB
Does Chicken Julius ring a bell? That's going to be my karmic guess for why you end up having to review this one too. But look on the plus side. You're the Wiiware fireplace sim expert!

now that's a title i bet he's been pining for all his life.

Instant buy.

As mentioned Fireplacing has been in the Top 10 for WiiWare.
So clearly people want it and are willing to pay for it.
Based on the number of responses here, perhaps that is in part due to it connecting with the public. The average WiiWare game doesn't get near this amount of attention.

3 words for you "Im still cold"

@Tasuki: Shovels imply coal, though... clearly that's a log on the fire in the image there. :3

@34: usually you can run rings around everyone else when it comes to this kind of thing, but that one's already been used, Phil.

Oooh, burrrrn.

Who would dare buy that knock-off of Fireplacing?

Reading the comments this sort of shovelware generates makes it all worth it to me.

CAMPFIRES!!??? Sold.

This is one Heated battle, of Fireplace sims.

I hope no one gets burn

if this had been released as a free Wii channel, it would be different. but charging five bucks for this is ridiculous.

Does CB enjoy reviewing terrible games or does the rest of the staff enjoy tormenting CB?

yes... and yes. :3

They should make the box out of firewood. Then it would be authentic!

This sounds better than fireplacing...

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire...

CB, I want you to give this the best review that a game like this deserves, when it comes.

They should charge 1500 points. If it then turns out to be as successful as Fireplacing, I'll laugh out loud. Or cry. Hard to tell.

I still would like a fireplace sim for Wii believe it or not... I hoped someone would try to make a "better" fireplace sim, so here's round 2 and we'll see how it stacks up. It just needs to be believable, otherwise, no thank you. Here's the poll of the day though: Which is better, Superman 64 or Fireplacing?

I wonder if the game devs behind this are aware that this game might not beat Ocarina of Times Meta Critic score...

Everybody who wanted a crappy fireplace sim have already bought Fireplacing!

@3: They made you review this piece of fecal matter? My condolences...

Fireplacing didn't look so hot to me, but Cozy Fire has definitely sparked my interest. They still have a long way to go--but they're getting warmer.

What my Wii points would scream if I used them on this(, & everybody knows what I'm about to quote,lol ):
"No! Not into the pit! It Burrnnssss!"

@5_Yoshi_2000: This does have it's own genre. Though there is a discrepancy between whether, or not the genre's official name is:
1. Shovelware
2. Nicheware
3. Wii-Points-Going-No-Ware:P

Superman 64 ± Fireplacing

Hard to see anything good rising from these ashes.

@11, if you have an iDevice you are set today!

"The FirePlace App is perfect for those wanting to relax by themselves, create instant ambiance on a date, tell creepy ghost stories with a group of friends, or whatever. "
http://fireplace.toughturtle.com/

If anybody buys me this game I'm going to return to cinder.

@CowLaunch: Oh come on... may ash well give it a shot in that case. Who knows, this could be the one game experience you'll never fir-get as long as you live!

Why don't you make like a tree, and GET OUT OF HERE

sure, you bark at me, but even if i were to leaf now that would knot change my mind -- a Cozy Fire review will be a great reed. >:3

... okay, i think i'm pretty well tapped out. maybe.
_{ahahahaha, tapped, i did it again}

Well if it's retail you could actually burn it. Download I'd need to petrol my Wii.....
But I guess we don't have to buy it so no reason to get all fired up.

Hey don't knock it until you try it! Emphasis on "YOU"! Then give us a warm review so we can be ingulfed, I mean informed. Maybe I will... Uhh, I won't.

@26 only if they are a son of a birch

_{kittens are puppies too}

I'd rather go outside and play with a real fire.

I heard that the makers of this have collaborated with Dreamworks and theres going to be a movie prequel to this, maybe even an animated T.V. series. I cant wait! You can see the preview here if you dont believe me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Kitty! Yay! Don't ask why, look at my username. KITTY!