Nintendon't: The Case Against the Wii.

[Aikouka]

It's also worth mentioning that a console review does not include every single game available for the console. Also, reviews are only opinions from someone that we're inclined to trust .

A console review is designed to display the ups and the downs of the console from the vantage point of the person playing it. Usually based on the games they choose, we can get an idea of whether or not we should take this review with a grain of salt or follow it word for word. This is usually a much easier thing at launch since there's only a handful of games anyway.

I think the DS was meant to be a low-priced entry just like the Wii is in the stationary console market. The thing is, you can add all the features you get with the PSP, but you end up paying the same price for a worse experience (sorry, the PSP's larger single screen and extra horsepower is better for overall video viewing and the superior speakers (if you use speakers) are better. It all depends on what you want in a portable console . Like I've said, I own both and I use my PSP much more than my DS, because I like the games more for it and instead of spending another $250 on a music player, I simply use my PSP. The only feature I lose is being able to throw every song I own on the music player so in the obscure chance that I get the desire to listen to a certain song, I know I'll have it .

 

[VIAN]

Originally posted by: homercles337

There's also the suggestion that its intuitive game play could eliminate the steep learning curve that tends to repel both "casual gamers" and people who've never held a joystick before.

Gawd damn it. Steep learning curve means you learn a lot over a short time. A shallow learning means that it takes a long time to learn the same amout. What is wrong with these dopes?

Cliffs:
Steep learning curve == EASY to master
Shallow learning curve == HARD to master

Everyone says it the other way around. Maybe it depends on how shallow the water is. Maybe time is goes vertical instead of horizontal.

And yes, the Wiimote does "seem" to have a really shallow learning curve compared to gamepads.

It seems like a obvious thing that the Wiimote would be easier to shoot people in FPS compared to a gamepad, but one dude in this thread spent over 1 hour without hitting anybody in Red Steel. Sounds like a gamepad is easier to shoot people with. Here is an interesting comparison with Gamespot reviews:

COD3 for 360; score = 8.8; learning curve: 30 minutes
COD3 for Wii; score = 7.2; learning curve: 2 hours

And the learning curve is the reason for the lower score. The game didn't give enough training time to learn how to use the Wiimote, so the game because super difficult. If it isn't proof, Idk what is.

The Wiimote might be better for other types of games, but not for FPS.

 

[xboxist]

My friend bought a Wii and 4-6 of us must have played Wii Sports for about 15 hours over the holiday. It was damn fun. I don't know what kind of degenerates you know... but we're not afraid of standing up and flopping around all over the living room while emulating swinging a tennis racket. (omg with our girlfriends no less -- I'm worried that she might dump me now for lowering myself to the Wii's standards) Did we need to? No. Did it make it more fun? You bet. Why else get a Wii?

Personally, I'm pessimistic about the future game releases. But there's at least Zelda, and as many people know... that title is usually worth the console price alone.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
It's also worth mentioning that a console review does not include every single game available for the console. Also, reviews are only opinions from someone that we're inclined to trust .

A console review is designed to display the ups and the downs of the console from the vantage point of the person playing it. Usually based on the games they choose, we can get an idea of whether or not we should take this review with a grain of salt or follow it word for word. This is usually a much easier thing at launch since there's only a handful of games anyway.

Curious, who are you inclined to trust?

And yes, console reviews don't need to review every game, but if you are going to showcase a game where you felt the stylus didn't work well, you might as well mention one where it does work well. The stylus on it's own isn't broken. If a game utilizes it poorly, it is just that, a poorly utilized game.

But, VIAN did state that it was only what burnt him on the console, and I had forgotten that because it read SO much like a review of the unit.

 

[VIAN]

Originally posted by: skace
And yes, console reviews don't need to review every game, but if you are going to showcase a game where you felt the stylus didn't work well, you might as well mention one where it does work well. The stylus on it's own isn't broken. If a game utilizes it poorly, it is just that, a poorly utilized game.

My girlfriend likes the stylus, but I don't. But she doesn't play games to finish them, she plays games for the immediate enjoyment. Not enjoyment over time. So because using a tool would be more fun, I guess, the DS would be fun. Likewise with the Wii. It is totally not for me.

U fear my rhyming skittles.

For this is a casual gamer's dream and a moderate gamer's nightmare. I find no fun in interfacing with the game, like my girlfriend does. I find fun in the game itself, as a whole.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: skace
Curious, who are you inclined to trust?

I'm curious what makes you ask this question .

I don't trust "anyone" when it comes to reviews. I take what they say, evaluate it and determine with how much grain of salt I'd like to take their opinion. If I think their review is poor, then I don't take it into account much if at all, if I think they brought up some good points, I may check more reviews for the same point.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: VIAN
My girlfriend likes the stylus, but I don't. But she doesn't play games to finish them, she plays games for the immediate enjoyment. Not enjoyment over time. So because using a tool would be more fun, I guess, the DS would be fun. Likewise with the Wii. It is totally not for me.

U fear my rhyming skittles.

For this is a casual gamer's dream and a moderate gamer's nightmare. I find no fun in interfacing with the game, like my girlfriend does. I find fun in the game itself, as a whole.

Honestly, 90% of the good games on DS don't even use the stylus. It's only big if you get into Elite Beat Agents, Trauma Center or Brain Age. All unique games that can be otherwise completely ignored if they aren't your gig.

These are casual games aimed at casual gamers. (Although a lot of major gamers that were bored with other genres love the games too). It isn't odd that you don't like them, there are plenty of games for you as a medium gamer though.

 

[mooncancook]

Lucky to get a Wii over the holiday weekend. Finally this is a system that everyone of all ages and genders can enjoy. It's refreshing to see my wife and my SIL having a blast playing video games. I have to admire what Nintendo did with the controllers. I played a little bit of Zelda, the graphics are disappointing, so I'm hoping 480p will look significantly better. This brings to another point, or complaint. Where the heck are the accessories? Shortage of system is understandable, but can't they at least produce some accessories!? There's nowhere to find component cables, nunchuck controllers, and classic controllers. I have to be stuck with 480i for i don't know how long.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: mooncancook
Lucky to get a Wii over the holiday weekend. Finally this is a system that everyone of all ages and genders can enjoy. It's refreshing to see my wife and my SIL having a blast playing video games. I have to admire what Nintendo did with the controllers. I played a little bit of Zelda, the graphics are disappointing, so I'm hoping 480p will look significantly better. This brings to another point, or complaint. Where the heck are the accessories? Shortage of system is understandable, but can't they at least produce some accessories!? There's nowhere to find component cables, nunchuck controllers, and classic controllers. I have to be stuck with 480i for i don't know how long.

To my knowledge, Nintendo has never sold component cables in retail stores. I had to order one for my Gamecube from the Nintendo store, and my friend (Wii-owner) said he had to order one too for the new system.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: xboxist
To my knowledge, Nintendo has never sold component cables in retail stores. I had to order one for my Gamecube from the Nintendo store, and my friend (Wii-owner) said he had to order one too for the new system.

You're correct, you have to order Component cables from Nintendo. I know my brother ordered them already for his Wii.

 

[VIAN]

Originally posted by: skace
Honestly, 90% of the good games on DS don't even use the stylus. It's only big if you get into Elite Beat Agents, Trauma Center or Brain Age. All unique games that can be otherwise completely ignored if they aren't your gig.

These are casual games aimed at casual gamers. (Although a lot of major gamers that were bored with other genres love the games too). It isn't odd that you don't like them, there are plenty of games for you as a medium gamer though.

There are only 25 games that score above 80% at gamerankings.com.

1. Mario Kart DS - beat it - fun
2. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - looks too much like other castlevanias
3. Advance Wars: Dual Strike - never tried it, but might be interesting
4. New Super Mario Bros. - beat it - too easy
5. Meteos - not a fan of puzzle games
6. Elite Beat Agents - stylus game - not interested
7. Kirby: Canvas Curse - beat it - fun
8. Animal Crossing: Wild World - not interesting
9. Tetris DS - not a fan of puzzle games
10. Super Mario 64 DS - beat it - OK
11. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time - gameplay looks annoying
12. Metroid Prime: Hunters - hurts my hands too much
13. Tony Hawk's American Sk8land - sports suck
14. Nintendogs: Labrador and Friends - not interesting
15. Nintendogs: Dachshund and Friends - not interesting
16. Nintendogs: Chihuahua and Friends - not interesting
17. Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime - wasn't around when I had DS
18. Sonic Rush - played it - Sucks
19. WarioWare: Touched! - stylus game - not interested, doesn't look interesting either
20. Yoshi's Island DS - wasn't out when I had DS
21. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - stylus game, girlfriend said it was short
22. Clubhouse Games - yeah, right! - not interested
23. Metroid Prime Pinball - pinball?!
24. Age of Empires: The Age of Kings - cheap version of the real game
25. Trauma Center: Under the Knife - stylus game - not interested

Maybe one game out of 25 that I would probably buy, it would last me 1 week or 2 and then what?

 

[skace]

MegaMan ZX - Great megaman game
Metroid Pinball - Actually good and comes with a rumble pack
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is actually pretty unique.
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin comes out 12/5
Final Fantasy 3
Children of Mana
March of the Minis - Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2
Kirby Squeak Squad ships 12/4
Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass ships 3/1
Starfox Command
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Rings of Fate ships 12/1
Rayman Raving Rabbids ships 3/6

You also mentioned there was only 1 game out of 25 that you'd get even though you admitted multiple of the games weren't out when you owned a DS.

Now on top of all the games you and I listed, you have the entire GBA backlog including any games currently being released. You can also choose which screen to play GBA games on and the DS Lite is a much better screen than the GBA. All on a $150 console.

 

[nweaver]

I've considered getting a DS just for FF3....

and I'm not a console (or much of a PC) gamer anymore. I do the GC with the daughter every once in a while (read, 1 day every other month, she isn't a gamer either).

I have considered getting the Wii because of the Wiimote and the innovation of it. Anybody can slap H/W together and get a console, but what INNOVATION is there in the 360/PS3? Graphics? I don't play games for graphics, I play for fun. I don't really care how uber HD graphics look. Mario has always been a bit blocky

I need to take my wife to EB and have her try the Wii (me too...haven't yet) because I think she would actually like it (and she HATES games....except Shreck 2 on the Xbox)

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: VIAN

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Which is why I could hit one-handed home runs without winding up or following through.

Seems better than hitting one-finger home runs just by pressing a button.

So you're saying a flick of the wrist is better compared to the pressing of a button. Same crap to me. No skill.

If you want skill then go play baseball. Outside.

 

[BoberFett]

I'm not sure what VIANs point is. Everything he says pretty much tells me he hates video games, at which point I have to ask why anybody should care what he thinks on the topic.

 

[VooDooAddict]

It's like WASD + Mouse gamers going to a Dual Analog Stick setup and not enjoying the experience because they are better with WASD.

Me, I'm a WASD kinda guy. Looking forward to trying the Wii nunchuk (WASD) + Wii Remote (Mouse) ... but my expectations aren't terribly high. I still expect to play my FPS on the PC. I want the Wii for party like games.

If I've got the spare $$ I'll probably pickup a 360 eventually, too. I'll already have a few 360 wireless controllers once Microsoft releases the wireless 360 peripherals to PC peripherals adapter. 360 Controllers are great on the PC.

 

[skace]

Damn Voodoo, you reading the whole Software archive?