Shaun White Snowboarding Heading For Wii

Ubisoft have beaten Nintendo's 1080 franchise to the punch, with a new Shaun White Snowboarding game that will make use of the Balance Board.

Even though the game will also be released for X-Box 360, Playstation 3 and PC, the Wii build will be built from the ground up, and possess some exclusive features.

SAN FRANCISCO - May 28, 2008 - Today Ubisoft announces the development of Shaun White Snowboarding, a title destined to break all former action sports video game notions and redefine the action sports genre. The game will appear on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Windows-based PC, and the Wii home video game system from Nintendo, and is scheduled for release in Holiday 2008.

Powered by the award-winning Assassin's Creed engine for Xbox 360 and the PLAYSTATION 3 system, Shaun White Snowboarding truly captures the action sports lifestyle. Shaun White Snowboarding is being developed from the ground up for the Wii system, taking full advantage of the Wii Balance Board accessory and featuring its own unique storyline and adventure with Shaun White.

'Shaun White Snowboarding will turn all of the traditional ideas and experiences of past action sports titles upside down,' said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. 'The combination of Ubisoft's innovation approach and the influence of Shaun's lifestyle and perspective make this gaming experience like no other.'

Developed in close collaboration with Shaun White, Olympic Gold Medalist and eight-time X Games Gold Medalist, Shaun White Snowboarding allows players to enter a world of total freedom, where they can create their own experience and choose how, where, and with whom they want to ride.

Key features of Shaun White Snowboarding for the Wii system:

* Exclusive storyline: Everybody loves a road trip! You and your crew travel the world to participate in a variety of the largest and craziest events to become a world-renowned athlete. Life on the road to success wouldn't be the same without the support of your friends, who will always be there to help you out and keep your head on your shoulders. Stand together with your friends - both in the game and in the living room - and you will be able to conquer the madness that fame brings.

* Go on a globetrotting adventure with Shaun White as your partner - Ubisoft worked in close contact with Shaun White in order to infuse the experience with the most authentic elements of his riding style, personality and sense of humor. Shaun will act as a good-natured friend and mentor to the player, hooking him up with the right friends to conquer challenges together, introduce him to new locales, or simply be around to share in a laugh.

* Wii Balance Board Integration - Get yourself into the game like never before by using the Wii Board to control your rider. Control your carves, jumps and grinds with the intuitiveness and fun of having a snowboard in your own living room.

* Everyone plays, no one waits - Engage in a seamlessly integrated multiplayer experience for two to four players, where every player is active in the game at all times.

* Get together your crew - In the world of snowboarding, it pays to have friends on your side. Your crew of friends will always be there to help you by offering you unique abilities to improve both your riding and keeping you grounded with friendly pranks; filming all the antics along the way.

* Fame and Respect - Getting your name out there by doing well as a pro snowboarder is bound to get you some recognition. As your fame grows, so too does your ability to take on bigger and bigger challenges, from new mountains to more prestigious events and competitions. Fame, however, isn't everything. You'll need to gain your friends' respect by riding with style in order to gain their support; they will help you find hidden areas, share their favorite music tracks and keep you laughing.

The debut trailer:

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