THQ jumps on Wii balance board

All Star Cheer Squad will be first-ever US-developed game to support Nintendo's peripheral; DS edition also planned.

Another Thursday, and another new game from THQ coming to Nintendo's platform. Though the publisher took last week off, recent Thursdays have seen THQ announce original properties Battle of the Bands (nee Band Mashups), Deadly Creatures, and Big Beach Sports, all exclusive to Nintendo's Wii. Today, the publisher continued its focus on bringing new franchises to Nintendo's platforms, revealing All Star Cheer Squad for the Wii and Nintendo DS.

Billed as "the first-ever cheerleading video game," All Star Cheer Squad will be developed by Florida-based Gorilla Systems and will give players a taste of competitive cheerleading. Hoping to lend some real-world credibility to the virtual game, THQ has signed on Bring It On choreographer Tony G as chief consultant for the project.

Players will assume the role of a cheerleader, where they must learn "the latest cheer action and top routines," with the ultimate goal of becoming cheer-squad captain. THQ also promises a highly customizable experience, with players able to define the look and style of their character as well as create their own cheers.

In addition to the obligatory Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the Wii version of the game will make use of the Wii Balance Board. It's the first US-developed game to do so, and it's only the second non-Nintendo title compatible with the peripheral, after We Skui. The Wii Balance Board will be packed in with Nintendo's anticipated fitness sim Wii Fit on May 19. All Star Cheer Squad is currently slated to arrive this fall.

47 Comments

  • gamecubepad

    Posted Mar 9, 2008 3:31 pm PT

    This sounds cool. Hopefully there will be more support for the Balance Board. This game is obviously directed at young girls so if you are not a girl and find yourself not wanting this game do not be surprised. I'm looking forward to Deadly Creatures. I hope I can sting or bite a human and cause them pain.

  • monty_4256

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 2:36 pm PT

    HA!

  • Fake_Sketch

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 11:41 am PT

    damn, and i once liked wii..what a shame

  • Neilo_

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 10:51 am PT

    in response to d3vilg0d, i think , i hope the Wii will come out with more titles than those. I along with probably any other Wii gamer am shocked at the lack good sports games. hockey is pretty much nixed for wii. but many series have been out for all three systems. what about bond? mario tennis, golf? i am waiting for the star wars title to be awesome. i still ahve hope in the Wii

  • necronaux

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 10:37 am PT

    It's bad enough kids are talking on their phones all over the place... now they'll be cheering into their DS's. Grreeaatt!!!

  • the-bat-child

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 9:46 am PT

    All Star Cheer Squad for the Wii !!!!
    I just sold my wii last week!!!!
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • mikewalsh69

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 9:36 am PT

    its git aaa written all over it[sarcasm]

  • Nirvana0511

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 7:25 am PT

    I won't be buying All-Star Cheer Squad, but am going to buy Wii Fit because of the Balance Board. I think that will open some possiblities in terms of gameplay, I never thought I'd see a cheerleading game come about because of it, but it is what it is. I' like to see them make a game like that Arcade Police Shooting Game (I can't remember the name of it), the one where you have to duck and kneel to take cover from enemy fire. If they use the balance board and the Zapper to make a game like that, then this thing will really take off into the Mainstream here in America. It probably will anyway, because Gyms will buy it and use it for their members. But that's what I hope to get out of this Balance Board, is new ways to play games. Even something simple like when you're playing a mario game to jump you actually jump. Or in a Baseball game to pitch, you use the board as a mound to step off and if you do it wrong it's a balk. Or to lead from a base. If these things could be accomplished and made well of course, then I think Nintendo would be able to stay on top this round of gaming or at least make it even harder for Sony to have a big year (but Sony does have some monster games coming out and Blu-Ray will be booming at Christmas time with the price drops).

  • harrisi17

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 7:22 am PT

    why don't developers make good games? I don't care if they look good, actually I love the cartoon look of many Wii games, just make fun games, not cheer simulations, wtf?

  • decrot

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 6:17 am PT

    thats it, im selling my wii.

  • curua02

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 5:29 am PT

    All Star Cheer Squad doesn't interest me in the least... But wouldn't it be awesome if this technology inspired an Ouendan/EBA spin-off? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

  • Slash_out

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 5:20 am PT

    Wow. Finally, I was waiting for this blockbuster...
    Or not.

  • 02sfraser

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 1:41 am PT

    oh dear haha

  • d3vilg0d

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 11:56 pm PT

    LoZ Oricina of time = LoZ Windwaker = LoZ Twiligh Princess
    super mario64=super mario sunshine = super mario galaxy
    pokemon stadium =pkm colesseum = pkm battle revolution
    super smash bros =SSBmelee = SSB brawl
    mario kart 64=mario kart double dash = Mario Kart wii
    Star fox 64 = star fox adventures = last title for the wii

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 11:15 pm PT

    This game will be HUUUGE with younger female gamers. I can definitely see my daughter wanting it.

  • IHeartCloud

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 9:17 pm PT

    oh haha. That sounds awful. It would be really funny if the game turned out good. I might buy it to keep my cousin entertained, because I'm sick of her singing the same 4 songs over & over again. x_x

  • LINKloco

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 8:46 pm PT

    Finally!

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    Cheerleading? AHHHHH!!!!

  • meinink2y

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:40 pm PT

    Not interested in the least, but I'm sure a lot of people will be; should help bring even more fans to the Wii.

  • shredicalous

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 6:54 pm PT

    LoL, well i guess this continues with nintendo's recent trend of appealing to a more broader audiance,
    but with that said i can say i wont be picking up 'All Star Cheer Squad'.....

    *sigh* what is gaming coming too.....

  • Trindris

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 6:15 pm PT

    I hope it's rated mature.

  • lotsofgunfire

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 6:10 pm PT

    I would expect japan to think of this long before THQ. guess looking stupid infront of a tv is still in.

  • halosniper52

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:58 pm PT

    OFMOGMFOGM lawlalwlwala lollawlawla how dumb lawlalwl

  • -jumpman-

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:56 pm PT

    writer should try spell check sometime
    >nee
    >Skui

  • renger6002

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:49 pm PT

    lol there was a hiking game for the dreamcast?

  • motionxsickness

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:37 pm PT

    my god... stupidest sh*t EVER.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    Should I ever buy the "balance board," I won't be testing it's durability by jumping on it repeatedly. This game is probably designed for little girls whose weight couldn't hurt the balance board anyway, so it should make a few sales at least.

  • ansem_man

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:21 pm PT

    this is almost as bad as the hiking game for dream cast.

  • Dudeman480

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:20 pm PT

    O_O.............................................................yaa ok good luck with that

  • darthnate1

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:17 pm PT

    Ummm yeah, I'm not even gonna buy the Balance board anyways. Nintendo needs to STOP making all this innovative crap. Balance board,Zapper, the Wheel thing, All these "toys" are a waste of time, money, and plastic.

  • CreepyBacon

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    oh dear god

  • muffinmanjedi

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:09 pm PT

    this is possibly one of the worst videogame ideas ive heard in a while

  • Vexx88

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:00 pm PT

    Eww...

  • Timbydude

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 5:00 pm PT

    Though there's no way you could get me to buy this game, I hope it does well so we get more Balance Board titles.

  • roll450

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:50 pm PT

    hhhmmmm Lets just see how this game turns out.

  • VenomRitual

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:47 pm PT

    lol nintyfreak. they're really trying to find out whose playing the wii. cheerleaders? come on.

  • Nintyfreak

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:46 pm PT

    Come on realistic graphics with special boob physics...

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:37 pm PT

    Wouldn't jumping on the balance board break it?

    *ba dum tsh!*

    Sounds good. At least the board has a growing number of titles for it.

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:27 pm PT

    THQ gets first shot with third party support with Balance Board? I think they'll do a good job.

  • OtterX

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    Geez... when are they going to use the board to make a skating, surfing, or snowboarding game.

  • PS2Dude89

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:24 pm PT

    This sounds very umm, interesting? We will definitly have to see how this one plays out.

  • Dr_Corndog

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:22 pm PT

    Whoohoo! Cheerleading! Actually, I do hope this is good. I won't buy it, but there are people who it will appeal to, and I always like to see the Wii get another quality game, even if it's one that doesn't appeal to me.

    Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to plug Deadly Creatures; it looks freakin' sweet.

  • MrStreetFighter

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:18 pm PT

    I think even EBA was cheerleading to some extent.

  • 2p4eva

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:17 pm PT

    I think a different activity would have been better suited, because mainly women and girls from North America and Canada will play it. But that said, it is a huge market. People shouldn't be so quick to dismiss these types of games, we will have to see in a preview if it is anything worthwhile

  • AngelCage

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:08 pm PT

    The snow ball keeps rolling downhill... yeah sure the wii is unique and casual and 'awesome' but... a cheeleader game? come on!!!!

    Pitty the developers who are milking the inexplicable needs of the nintendo fanbase to buy crappy games.

    Oh well, maybe in the game wee will see some nice cheerleaders legs... legs in skirts.... but without graphics a-la Dead or alive that will not be very good.

  • DragoValmon

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:07 pm PT

    Cheerleading? Hmmm... Its gonna sell MILLIONS!!!!!!(sarcasm) I wonder how many guys are gonna buy this. How many fingers do I have?

  • jjr10

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:00 pm PT

    Ahem.. wasn't the Japanese version of Elite Beat Agents about cheerleading?

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