What good is a doll that can't hook into a video-game console?

Nintendo is taking the concept of doll play to a whole new level with the upcoming release of Baby and Me, a video game where you hook a doll up to the Wii console. The blogosphere has been buzzing about the game, which will reportedly launch in Australia this December. Baby and Me is meant to measure how good of a parent the player would be, and judging from the packaging, it's targeted at young girls. By strapping a Wii remote to an existing doll, or purchasing an already enabled Wii doll, players can use the "baby mode" to take care of the doll (rocking it to sleep with the help of motion sensitive rocking movements, for example), or have a little fun using the "play mode." The remote allows the doll to respond by giggling, crying and making other typical baby sounds. I think the classic baby doll (the one without the remote) does a fine job of satisfying the needs of little girls, who don't necessarily need to learn about parenthood at age 5. I can, however, see these dolls being used in high schools to teach teenagers the importance of safe sex.

—Posted by Elena Malykhina

Nintendo Wii great for playing games and also mowing the lawn

The year 2001 didn't pan out the way that Stanley Kubrick had envisioned, but the age of the Jetsons may be upon us. In this video, a scientist at the Southern University of Denmark shows off a previously unknown use for Nintendo's Wii: as the brains for a lawn mower. As rigged up here, mowing the lawn is as easy as playing a game of Wii Tennis, only possibly more fun. For those who think rigging up a Wii lawnmower is too much work, there's AutoLawnMow, which appears to be sort of an outdoor Roomba. Unfortunately, you have a live in Ireland to get the AutoLawnMow.

—Posted by Todd Wasserman

Get out the Wii Fit and have an extremely overpriced good time

Now that Christmas and New Year's are over, lots of people are digging out their Nintendo Wii Fits in an attempt to work off those holiday pounds. But others don't see the value of the $129.99 device. This parody commercial has gotten almost 3 million views thanks to its sarcastic pitch for the "little white thing you stand on" that lets you "explore exciting new exercises like leaning side to side. ... And don't miss sticking out your leg." Then, the announcer suggests, "when you're tired of that, try sticking out your other leg." In case you miss the point, the mock ad asks, "Don't want to invest $3.19 on a hula hoop? Why not pick up a Wii for $300 and enjoy the same fun but in the comfort of your living room and without that annoying plastic hoop."

—Posted by Todd Wasserman