14 DAY TRIAL // THQ is one of the most diverse publishers in the video game business and probably best known for their long running series Warhammer 40,000 and for their revolutionary RTS Company of Heroes. Less well known, but equally innovative and interesting, is the range of games THQ aims to bring to the Nintendo Wii.
All Star Cheer Squad is the name of the latest game announced by publisher THQ. The development part of the game will be handled by Gorilla Systems and the game will let you cheer your way through a number of challenges, from learning new and tough cheerleading routines to becoming the captain of your squad. There's the now usual talk about an unheard level of customization, for everything from facial features to the color off your pompoms. Yes, there will be plenty of brightly colored pompoms in this cheerleading title. But the main attraction has to be the fact that the game plans to use the Wii Balance Board as a controller.
The Balance Board is alarmingly similar to a typical bathroom scale on the outside. On the inside, the board features a wireless connection and contains multiple pressure sensors that are used to measure the user's center of pressure, the location of the intersection between an imaginary line drawn vertically through the center of mass and the surface of the Balance Board, and body mass index. Movement of the body changes the readings done by the Balance Board and can serve as input for the Wii. Developers of the peripheral expected games about surfing or snowboarding to make the best use of the board.
The prospect of overweight men jumping on fragile Balance Boards to control slim in-game cheerleaders isn't exactly appealing, but if Gorilla (there's a certain irony developing here) Systems can create a gameplay mechanic that takes clear advantage of the Wii Balance Board, then they could have another hit in their console portfolio.