Bandai Namco announced today the most unexpected of classic gaming revivals. The company will be bringing back the Family Trainer series for the Wii. The first game, Family Trainer Athletic World, will see Japanese release in 2008.
Originally released for the Famicom back in 1986, Family Trainer was notable for its included mat controller. Placed on the floor, this peripheral could detect foot movements, allowing players to get a workout as they played. The game was brought over to America under the name Power Pad.
Kotaku writes: "Namco Bandai Wii title Active Life: Outdoor Challenge (aka Family Trainer: Athletic World in Japan and Family Trainer in Europe) has sold over a million copies worldwide.
The game is bundled with a Power Pad style matt, which was also originally developed by Bandai for Famicom title Family Trainer. The updated pad and game first went on sale May 29, 2008 in Japan. It went on sale in North America and Europe this past September."
Atari today announced the forthcoming European release of NAMCO BANDAI Games' Family Trainer exclusively for Wii. Family Trainer lets all the family and friends get physical by engaging the whole body in a variety of easy-to-understand, fast-paced and wildly entertaining activities. Family Trainer is scheduled for European release in September 2008.
The original Power Pad was originally manufactured by Bandai in Japan under the name "Family Trainer," and was used with a game called Athletic World, which was licensed by Nintendo for production in the U.S. Now Namco Bandai is bringing back a classic. Originally revealed at this year's Tokyo Game Show, it's slated for a 2008 release in Japan under the name Family Trainer Athletic World, and in the U.S. as Active Life: Athletic World.
Gamasutra recently spoke to localization producer Naotaka Higashiyama and producer Sayaki Mori, who are working on the minigame-based athletic game for the Wii. It utilizes a foot mat alongside the Wii remote, and as Higashiyama points out, in a nod to the NES Power Pad of yore, players use both the Wii remote and their feet.
