Official Nintendo Wii thread

[Saint of Killers]

If it's the same title being shown on the kiosks (eg, Madden or COD3), the graphics will matter. If the games are different (eg, Prime 3 vs. COD3), I don't think it matters so much. As long as it's "different" instead of "less of the same," the Wii should do okay.

It will be painfully obvious to everyone that Metroid Prime 3 looks like crap compared to COD3.

[Glitch]

Controller.

That's gay.

[Diff-chan]

With the exception of people like us who are on the internets talking about games that haven't come out yet for months before we play them, does anyone really give a damn about how powerful the system is? Is Bob Commongamer going to care if Console X is more powerful than Console Y if the both look good and play fun games?
The PS2 answered that question with a "No, no one really cares" last generation, I think the Wii will answer it the same way this generation.

Anecdotally people were always interested in the power of the system in my experience. The Ps2 was close enough to the Xbox graphically that it was able to make up ground because it had a huge number of games people want to play. The Wii isn't close to the 360 or PS3 and it doesn't have the games people want to play - well it does in vastly different/inferior forms. As much as TNL is loathe to admit the Maddens, WW2 FPS, GTAs, etc., drive sales and that stuff is all prime on the PS360.

Of course the Wii has other games, but are people going to want to play Trauma Center on their TV? Maybe, maybe not, but if we've all learned one thing the past half-decade it's that the handheld and console markets are totally different. The strategy that worked for N in handheld may not work in console.

To sum it up, I think many people are gonna go to the store and find out not only does the Wii not have the games they enjoyed on PS2 but power-wise its far more inferior to the competition than the PS2 ever was. So they'll buy something else. But who knows.

[Geen]

I know, it's wiidiculous. I just hope that if I ever have to take the thing in for wiipairs the tech guy doesn't start using such wiitarded language, or else I'll just have to ask to wiiturn it for a wiifund.

Anecdotally people were always interested in the power of the system in my experience. The Ps2 was close enough to the Xbox graphically that it was able to make up ground because it had a huge number of games people want to play. The Wii isn't close to the 360 or PS3 and it doesn't have the games people want to play - well it does in vastly different/inferior forms. As much as TNL is loathe to admit the Maddens, WW2 FPS, GTAs, etc., drive sales and that stuff is all prime on the PS360.

Of course the Wii has other games, but are people going to want to play Trauma Center on their TV? Maybe, maybe not, but if we've all learned one thing the past half-decade it's that the handheld and console markets are totally different. The strategy that worked for N in handheld may not work in console.

To sum it up, I think many people are gonna go to the store and find out not only does the Wii not have the games they enjoyed on PS2 but power-wise its far more inferior to the competition than the PS2 ever was. So they'll buy something else. But who knows.

Diff, you're fantastic because you can disagree with me with intelligence in your reply. Thank you.

As for this whole graphics debate -- My belief is that people are making a bigger deal of this than necessary. The Gamecube still puts out great graphics. As two random examples, RE4 & Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles are fantastic looking games that, in my opinion, hold their own graphically even with what is being done on the majority of XB360 games right now.

My belief is that style and graphical presentation are more important than just pure graphic power.

Now, if the topic is the "mainstream GTA/madden loving" variety -- I don't think the Wii was for them to begin with, to be honest. Sure, maybe these sports games and the other crap they put on it will be enjoyable, but I would imagine the majority of multi-console releases to be better on another machine since I'd assume it wasn't made with the Wii Controller in mind. I think the controller change would be much more shocking while playing than the graphic change, though (This is also why I'm hoping that ports to Wii are at a minimum and that the content that is released for it really tries to be unique or rots on store shelves).

Just to sum this all up -- I know I'm part of the minority, but I've been playing Majora's Mask for (really) the first time over the last two weeks and have been having a blast with it. The gameplay is awesome, I love the ideas that it brings to the table, and the style all clicks together wonderfully. Graphically, it's primitive compared to what I could be playing on the newer machines, but while playing I don't even think about it because I'm having such a great time. This is the type of feeling I am thinking that Nintendo is going for with their games -- all of their games. I'd much rather play a Majora's Mask than another Call of Duty or whatever that looks about as interesting as pealing paint off of the wall with a spoon.

[Diff-chan]

But yea, we already knew what you wanted. You're different from, like, 99.9% of people buying consoles.

As for graphical power, yes the GameCube and xbox 1 and even PS2 can still put out solid looking stuff. But in 2008 the norm will be the PS360's 1080, hi-res, surround sound, 30000x30000 size textures or whatever. Solid developers will be injecting their PS360 games with style too, you know. The Wii will look like ass next to those games no matter what. Like it or not, that will hurt it to most. Not to you, but to most. Your argument that the controller change will pick up the slack is debatable, as I said above. Nintendo is using their handheld strategy in the console market and there's no evidence it will work.

And I think you're underestimating the CoD experience. CoD2 is the most viscerally intense and atmospheric game ever. Its presentation is stunning. Its one of the best examples of what better hardware can bring imo. If Infinity Ward keeps it up CoD3 will be jaw-dropping. If immersive experiences like that are what we can expect from PS360 I will be happy.

[Schlep]

I think you're both wrong in that Nintendo isn't targeting the same market as Microsoft and Sony. That 18-35 age group is really the only one that cares about graphics. What Nintendo's shown in their marketing and the majority of the games they're showcasing is that they're aiming for everyone above and below that age range, and of course to satisfy their core fans that kept the GC from being an utter failure.

[Diff-chan]

I think you're both wrong in that Nintendo isn't targeting the same market as Microsoft and Sony. That 18-35 age group is really the only one that cares about graphics. What Nintendo's shown in their marketing and the majority of the games they're showcasing is that they're aiming for everyone above and below that age range, and of course to satisfy their core fans that kept the GC from being an utter failure.

Yea, and like I said I'm not convinced that strategy will work. buying a $100 game boy is different from a $250 console, in a lot of ways, especially for kids. We may have all bought the NES en masse but kids like portable shit today.

I don't know, I just think a lot of Nintendo fanboys believe Nintendo has this brilliant fail-safe strategy going in. I think they're taking a gamble they know can fail and are prepared for that. If the Wii fails hard like the GC did they at least have the DS/GBA2/whatever

[Geen]

And I think you're underestimating the CoD experience. CoD2 is the most viscerally intense and atmospheric game ever. Its presentation is stunning. Its one of the best examples of what better hardware can bring imo. If Infinity Ward keeps it up CoD3 will be jaw-dropping. If immersive experiences like that are what we can expect from PS360 I will be happy.

My biggest beef with stuff like COD is that it does not interest me at all. If faced with playing CoD for an evening or doing nothing, I might very well do nothing instead of playing it. I know there are people out there that dig it, and more power to them.

[Diff-chan]

My biggest beef with stuff like COD is that it does not interest me at all. If faced with playing CoD for an evening or doing nothing, I might very well do nothing instead of playing it. I know there are people out there that dig it, and more power to them.

How much CoD2 have you played? be honest.

[Geen]

I think you're both wrong in that Nintendo isn't targeting the same market as Microsoft and Sony. That 18-35 age group is really the only one that cares about graphics. What Nintendo's shown in their marketing and the majority of the games they're showcasing is that they're aiming for everyone above and below that age range, and of course to satisfy their core fans that kept the GC from being an utter failure.

I completely understand this and completely agree with this. There is no reason to make this generation like the last were all three machines were so similar it was painful.
The industry is too cramped right now as it is. I couldn't be more thankful for Nintendo trying to broaden it and I hope they succeed.