This week, former WWE Diva Trish Strataus spoke to gaming website GameDibs.com about Stratusphere Yoga, a yoga video game in development that is set to hit Nintendo Wii consoles in Q2 2010. Trish talks about about how she got into yoga, her WWE career and more. You can read the entire interview at GameDibs.com. Some highlights:
GD: Will your likeness be rendered in CG for the game as a coach/trainer?
Trish: This is the part I’m most excited about! We are taking a completely different and totally new and innovative approach for the video rendering of my likeness that is going to guide you through the sequences. We wanted to be able to give the players, or ‘students’ an experience that is as close to a real life experience as possible, as if they were in my studio. The type of video capturing and rendering that we are going to use will make that interaction truly feel ‘real’ and to my knowledge, this type of presentation has never been done on the Wii platform.
GD: How much content will the Wii owners have to select from?
Trish: Players will be able to customize their workouts based on their abilities and skill levels and also be able to track their progress. They will be rewarded as they reach goals and be provided with motivational tools that will encourage them to stay on track. They will also be able to choose different environments to workout in. So, if you don’t live in Toronto – you may still be able to do yoga in my studio – catch my drift?
GD: Will your game be packaged with the Wii Balance Board, or as a standalone title?
Trish: The balance board is not included with this game given that most of the population who would use this game already own one.  However, based on a workout method that I have been doing for years – we developed a Wii peripheral to be used with this game that has yet to be introduced with any other Wii game.
GD: Fitness games are becoming increasingly popular, especially on the Wii. How can we expect Stratusphere to stand out among other Wii fitness themed games, such as Wii Fit, Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum, and Your Shape?
Trish: Using motion captured video and never before included Wii peripherals, I am looking to give the players the most comprehensive and thorough workout that has ever been attempted on the Wii. With this state-of–the-art video capturing, being able to select and customize your routines along with a custom branded yoga experience that only Stratusphere can provide, players will feel like they are literally in my studio with me getting their sweat on … or getting their Zen on – whichever they choose! And, they can definitely expect 100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed!
GD: It was great seeing you on Raw last week in Montreal. Will you and Beth Phoenix ever have a program together, or was your appearance as guest host just a one shot?
Trish: Actually Raw was in Toronto, which was part of the reason you saw me as guest host … as far as Beth Phoenix goes – we seem to keep finding ourselves fighting each other, interestingly enough whenever the WWE comes to Toronto (in December 2007 I was in the main event in a tag team match with John Cena versus Beth Phoenix and Santino Marella).  I definitely feel we have great chemistry in the ring and frankly I quite enjoyed delivering Stratusfaction to her!
