Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
Encyclopedia
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, known in the PAL region
as Big Brain Academy for Wii and in Japan as , is a video game released for the Wii
. A sequel to the game Big Brain Academy
for the Nintendo DS
, it too measures a player's brain's weight, but with new games and puzzles to solve. The game makes use of Mii
s and uses WiiConnect24
features, allowing competition amongst users' friends, whose codes are automatically imported from the Wii's internal address book.
, allowing the player to point and click on-screen.
), but an incorrect answer scores no grams. The difficulty of the questions adjusts based on the player's score.
Each mini-game can be played separately, and depending on the results, the player can be awarded with a medal, according to their score. There are four levels of difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert. The Expert level is not visible until gold or platinum medals are acquired on all of the previous three. Platinum Medals can be earned in each of the difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert), but the score needed to do so differs in each level.
The three multiplayer modes in Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree allow the player to test their brain against up to seven other players.
Mind Sprint allows two players to go head-to-head in a split-screened race, and up to eight players can play as two teams. If a player answers incorrectly, they are stopped for about a second and have to answer the same question. One player or team can compete against player records (a computer opponent with skills based on that player's best test performance).
In Mental Marathon a team works together (or an individual works alone) to score as many points as possible within a time limit. Extra time is rewarded after each question, based on the length of the next question; less time is awarded as the game goes on. One mistake ends the game. A maximum score of 100 is possible.
In Brain Quiz players take turns choosing from a selection of 12 categories. Each category has a difficulty attached to it, though this is hidden until the category is selected. During their turn, players must try to answer as many questions as possible within the time limit, but one wrong answer will end the turn. This mode is notable for having 5 extra games, one from each category, that do not appear elsewhere in the game.
. A player's Student Record Book contains their latest Test result and details of the medals earned in-game. Players can compete against other players in a "Mind Sprint" mode, using each other’s Student Record Books to work out how well each player would perform against each other and choose the mini-games to play accordingly.
. Gaming website IGN
gave the game a score of 7.6 (out of 10), praising it for being "both easy to pick up and really fun to play, especially with friends", but criticizing it for being short and "shallow", and also for not including a proper online mode. GameSpot
also scored the game positively, giving it a score of 7.3 out of 10. Conversely, they praised it for having a "decent number of different games and difficulties to choose from", and also for its use of Mii
s, while criticizing that many of the multiplayer modes require passing the controller around.
As of December 31, 2007, Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree has sold two million copies worldwide, with 380,000 of those copies being sold in Japan.
PAL region
The PAL region is a television publication territory which covers most of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe...
as Big Brain Academy for Wii and in Japan as , is a video game released for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. A sequel to the game Big Brain Academy
Big Brain Academy
Big Brain Academy, known in Japan as , is a puzzle video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan on June 30, 2005, and was later released in North America on June 5, 2006, in Australia on July 5, 2006, and in Europe on...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, it too measures a player's brain's weight, but with new games and puzzles to solve. The game makes use of Mii
Mii
A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the...
s and uses WiiConnect24
WiiConnect24
WiiConnect24 is a feature of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for the Wii console. It was first announced at E3 2006 by Nintendo. It enables the user to remain connected to the Internet while the console is on standby...
features, allowing competition amongst users' friends, whose codes are automatically imported from the Wii's internal address book.
Gameplay
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree includes a single player mode whereby the player uses a brain to effectively answer questions correctly. The game also includes a multiplayer mode, where the player can competitively train against other players. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree makes use of the Wii RemoteWii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
, allowing the player to point and click on-screen.
Minigames
There are 15 mini-games within Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, divided into five categories:- Identify (identification-themed questions)
- Memorize (memory-themed questions)
- Analyze (reason-based questions)
- Compute (math-themed questions)
- Visualize (visual-themed questions)
Solo modes
In this mode, the player is challenged with each of the five categories in random order. There are 12 questions per category (four for each minigame), resulting in 60 questions in total. The player is scored based on speed and accuracy; the faster one answers a question, the more "grams" they earn (which represents their scoreScore (game)
In games, score refers to an abstract quantity associated with a player or team. Score is usually measured in the abstract unit of points, and events in the game can raise or lower the score of different parties...
), but an incorrect answer scores no grams. The difficulty of the questions adjusts based on the player's score.
Each mini-game can be played separately, and depending on the results, the player can be awarded with a medal, according to their score. There are four levels of difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert. The Expert level is not visible until gold or platinum medals are acquired on all of the previous three. Platinum Medals can be earned in each of the difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert), but the score needed to do so differs in each level.
Multiplayer
Mind Sprint allows two players to go head-to-head in a split-screened race, and up to eight players can play as two teams. If a player answers incorrectly, they are stopped for about a second and have to answer the same question. One player or team can compete against player records (a computer opponent with skills based on that player's best test performance).
In Mental Marathon a team works together (or an individual works alone) to score as many points as possible within a time limit. Extra time is rewarded after each question, based on the length of the next question; less time is awarded as the game goes on. One mistake ends the game. A maximum score of 100 is possible.
In Brain Quiz players take turns choosing from a selection of 12 categories. Each category has a difficulty attached to it, though this is hidden until the category is selected. During their turn, players must try to answer as many questions as possible within the time limit, but one wrong answer will end the turn. This mode is notable for having 5 extra games, one from each category, that do not appear elsewhere in the game.
Online connectivity
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree allows players to exchange Student Record Books with friends who also own the game, anywhere in the world, using Nintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionNintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
. A player's Student Record Book contains their latest Test result and details of the medals earned in-game. Players can compete against other players in a "Mind Sprint" mode, using each other’s Student Record Books to work out how well each player would perform against each other and choose the mini-games to play accordingly.
Reception
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree received mostly positive reviews, scoring an average score of 72% on game-tracking website MobyGamesMobyGames
-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
. Gaming website IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the game a score of 7.6 (out of 10), praising it for being "both easy to pick up and really fun to play, especially with friends", but criticizing it for being short and "shallow", and also for not including a proper online mode. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
also scored the game positively, giving it a score of 7.3 out of 10. Conversely, they praised it for having a "decent number of different games and difficulties to choose from", and also for its use of Mii
Mii
A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the...
s, while criticizing that many of the multiplayer modes require passing the controller around.
As of December 31, 2007, Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree has sold two million copies worldwide, with 380,000 of those copies being sold in Japan.
External links
- Big Brain Academy: Wii Degrees official site
- http://wii.ign.com/objects/853/853779.htmlBig Brain Academy: Wii Degree on IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
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