Shaun White Snowboarding First Look

New peripherals are a risky proposition in the gaming business, and it seems like the majority of console add-ons are doomed for failure or, at least, mediocrity. That doesn't seem to be the case with the balance board that comes shipped with Nintendo's Wii Fit. Already, EA has announced support for the Wii version of its skating franchise and, at a recent press event, Ubisoft showed off its support for the accessory with the Wii version of Shaun White Snowboarding.

Though the game is coming to the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, the Wii version will be a wholly original game, one that looks to take a different spin on the snowboarding scene from the more realistic versions on the Xbox 360 and PS3. That said, despite the arcade nature of the gameplay, the presence of the balance board will make it perhaps feel like the most realistic Shaun White game of the three. We didn't get to try the game for ourselves, but it seems that the basic motions you use when carving on a real board will be the same as on the balance board, so leaning backward or forward will steer your onscreen rider. You'll be able to pull off tricks, such as jumps, by bouncing slightly on the board and perform grabs using the Wii Remote. And while it seems that the balance board will be the best way to control your boarder in Shaun White, folks who don't have the board will obviously be able to play the game with the regular controllers.

Boarding with your buddies is a big theme in the Wii version of Shaun White--the game will allow up to four players in multiplayer (though only one can use the balance board at a time), which will include both cooperative and competitive events. In addition, the single-player game will involve you and your virtual buddies hitting the road and attacking the slopes in locales that range from Japan to Park City, Utah. The friends you choose to hit the mountain with on any given run will be important; your camera man, who follows you down the slopes and thus provides the player with a view of the action, will offer you different special abilities, while the character you choose to play as will determine your skill level.

An original storyline and a unique control scheme aren't all that will be new in the Wii version of Shaun White: The game's got a look that's all its own. While the 360 and PS3 versions are going for a more photo-realistic look, the characters in the Wii version have an appealing cartoon look. The Wii characters have expressive faces with blocky arms and legs that nicely set them apart from the other console versions. You can expect to see The Flying Tomato (aka Shaun White) in the game as well, whether acting as your mentor or introducing you to new friends and locations in the game.

While the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will undoubtedly have plenty to offer, we've got a hunch that the hardcore snowboarders out there (who also happen to own a Wii balance board) might best be served with the Wii version, if only because it will give them a chance to get some boarding in, even if they're nowhere near the slopes. The game is due for release later this year, and we'll be bringing you more on its progress in the coming months.