The Wii opened up a world of possibilities and creativity for many developers, and one, in particular, tried to jump on the creativity train with a unique video game that would be controlled with a soft toy.
Zoink Games, known for developing unique adventure games with distinctive art styles such as Lost In Random, Flipping Death, and Fe, were in the process of creating Wiiwaa (or Weewaa) for the Wii. This unusual toy caught the attention of the video game media in 2009 when it was first shown off, as it was a game that you played by inserting the Wii Remote into the mouth of a specially designed toy. Then you would play the game by moving the plush toy around, shaking it about, or pulling at its ears, for example.
This extremely adorable toy has all of the hallmarks of Zoink's creativity and unique visuals, with bright orange colourings on the toy and unusual worlds for the character to explore. But the game simply disappeared in 2009.
Now, DidYouKnowGaming?'s Liam Robertson has done a deep dive into the history of Zoink Games' title that once had the attention of the media, only to completely vanish. From gaining enough funding to simply create a proof of concept to finding an unlikely rival in Cooking Mama, the video covers it all, including a once-lost trailer that shows where the Wii Remote was originally meant to be inserted.
You can watch the full video below, which includes insights from the founder of Zoink Games, Klaus Lyngeled. And while we're extremely sad this unique concept never saw the light of day, we're at least glad it's being remembered by many out there.
What do you think of Wiiwaa? Would you have picked this up if it had been released? Let us know.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 19
There was Babysitting Mama on Wii with Baby plushie to simulate babysitting. (Insert the Wiimote inside the baby plushie)
@Anti-Matter That is disturbing, especially as you INSERT the Wiimote in the baby
@Bunkerneath
This is how to insert Wiimote into Baby plushie for Babysitting Mama.
Literally you just open its back, insert the Wiimote inside the plushie and keep the Nunchuck controller outside while being connected with Wiimote.
Ick. What a nightmarish design, much like the terrifying HR Pufnstuf before it.
But I loved how inventive some developers were with the Wii Remote. I especially miss the speaker which I hope makes a comeback in the next console.
@Anti-Matter Yeah, I discuss that in the video.
Can see the Klaymen inspiration in spades, and I love it.
@Anti-Matter your perfect game!
I'm not saying I'd want it myself (I was already in my 30's when the Wii came out), but it's too bad this didn't materialize. It's so creative. Thank goodness this was made by Swedes and not Norwegians. If you think the main character in the prototype looks disturbing, Norwegians probably would have based it on trolls... Their hideous, nightmare-inducing trolls.
Oh yeah, leave it to Kotaku to look at a child's game and turn it into something perverse.
April 1st just called, it wants its article back.
This looks like a "Don't put it in your mouth" PSA from Canada. (Thanks a lot Nostalgia Critic, now I cannot get some of the commercials you've shown out of my head)
@Anti-Matter I was literally about to comment that exact thing myself XD
@Orokosaki
Thank you.
I will try to get the game.
@Anti-Matteri thought about u when reading article. I’m Happy for you man. Enjoy your game
I found this very interesting and I would consider buying it myself if it ever came back
@Anti-Matter I almost bought one of those. It was so strange. I both wish I had and am glad I did not.
This was a great watch, and I like to see Liam's videos whenever they release.
Always fun to see how so many games make it so close to release, but trip at the finish line.
So it's pretty much just a fuzzy steering wheel. I'm not against gimmicks but they need to have a purpose. Even Rob the robot, as useless as he was, at least pushed buttons and stacked objects, so the gimmick was justified, if poorly executed.
Actually now that I've brought up Rob, I would kinda like to see his comeback. I'm sure that with today's technology, it could be quite fun.
Klayman inspiration is just chef's kiss 👌
This woukd have been hilarious to play and, tbf, it is a creative idea. My kids were younger back then so I bet I would have bought it, lol
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