Hudson was kind enough to send us a Deca Sports demo disc that features four of the ten total games featured in the sports compilation. We played everything that was available and have a detailed rundown of the controls and options built into the game.

The demo did not feature any of the single player modes planned for the final version of the title, but multiplayer modes were on hand and could be played against only computer controlled opponents. While Miis are not supported (at least in the demo), one of eight teams can be chosen before a game. Each team consists of five players, each of which have slightly different characteristics. When less than five players are needed, the participants can be chosen based on the skills required for the game. Some of the teams are co-ed, while others consist of either all girls or all boys. Each one also has an overall theme to their skills. For example, Team Thunder is a power-based team.

The final version of the game will consist of ten sports. Those being badminton, cart racing, curling, snowboarding, archery, motocross, beach volleyball, figure skating, basketball, and soccer. Of those ten, badminton, motocross, beach volleyball, and figure skating were playable on our demo disc. While literature on the game states that two different control options will be available in the final game (beginner and advanced), the demo only featured a single set of controls for each game.

Badminton is played using only the Wii Remote. Serving is done by simply swinging. No button presses are required. If you swing the remote upwards, you will perform a short serve. If you swing downwards, you perform a long serve. Volleying the shuttlecock is always done with a downward swing. The speed of the swing will determine how far the hit will go. You can also swing down and to the left or right to determine the direction your hit will go. While playing, the shuttlecock will occasionally glow red for a moment. If you swing just when this happens, your character will perform a smash.

Based off of the demo we played, badminton is limited to one-on-one matches only. Rules mimic that of standard badminton games closely. Players take over service whenever they score a point. Games can be played to either 5, 11, or 21 points over both one- and three-set matches.

Beach volleyball is also played using only the Wii Remote. Serving is done by first swinging the remote upwards to mimic tossing the ball, and then downwards to mimic hitting it. The speed at which it is swung upwards will determine whether or not it is a jump serve. You can also change the direction of the serve by swinging either down and to the left or right. Receiving and setting the ball is done with an identical upward swing of the remote. Whether or not you set or bump it will be determined by the computer, presumably based on how many times your team has hit it already and where your teammate is positioned. If the ball is set to you, you must swing the remote in a downward motion when the ball glows red to spike it. You character will automatically jump into position. Spike direction is determined by whether you swing down and to the left or right. Spike distance is determined by the speed at which the remote is swung. While on defense, you can attempt to block a spike by swinging the remote upward when your character is in position.

The rules and game options of beach volleyball are very similar to the ones used for the badminton game. Games can be played to either 5, 11, or 21 points over both one- and three- set matches. Points are scored whenever the opposing team fails to return the ball or the ball is hit out of bounds. Service alternates whenever a team that didn't serve scores a point.

Supercross is played using the Wii Remote in the sideways position. The 2 Button accelerates and both the 1 Button and D-Pad applies the brakes. Turning is done by tilting the Wii Remote, not steering it. To clarify, while holding the remote with the buttons facing the ceiling, you would push the left side down and pull the right side up to steer to the left. This is unlike how the official Wii Wheel that comes packaged with Mario Kart Wii performs steering. While airborne, the Wii Remote can be tipped forward or backwards to adjust the riders balance.

The demo featured three courses, classified as beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Race length can be set to either one, three, or five laps. Eight racers participate in each race and up to four of them can be controlled by a human player, with computer controlled opponents filling out the rest.

Figure skating is the only game on the demo disc to make use of the Nunchuk attachment. Skaters are controlled using the analog stick on the Nunchuk while a simple shake of the Wii Remote at the proper time will cause a trick to be performed. Before beginning a game, each player must choose one of three programs; Madame Butterfly (one star difficulty), Carmen (two star difficulty), or Violin Concerto (three star difficulty). Performances are then done in a turn based fashion, where one player is playing at a time. A line of yellow dots appears on the ice, prompting the player to know where to go. Occasionally, in place of the yellow dots will be larger colored circles.

These are the moments when the Wii Remote must be shaken to perform a trick. More points will be scored if the trick is initiated in the center of the circle. There is also a time line at the top of the screen with two marks on it. One represents where the skater is currently at relative to the entire performance, and the other represents where the skater should be given the current point in the music. Therefore, while performing tricks, it is important to stay in time with the music so the entire program can be performed before the song ends.

While that covers everything that we have played, the final version of the game will also include four single player modes; Open Match, Tournament, Deca Challenge, and Deca League. Medals and trophies will also be awarded in these different modes and kept track of in an in-game locker room.

Deca Sports will ship in North America this summer.