48 replies to this topic

[Chad Vander Veen]

I was able to pick up a Wii this morning from Best Buy. The sports pack is pretty run. I also picked up Zelda and Super Monkey Ball. Now I just need to find a 2nd controller.

Hows the controller?

[DalOwnerX3]

I like it. It's nice to use natural motion to play a game. For example, swinging your arms to play tennis or using a golf swing to play golf. I wonder if it meses up your regular swing if one is a golfer. Since I don't golf, I wouldn't know.

Also, it takes a bit to orient the controller with the cursor on the screen. I'm not sure if it becomes easier if I'm closer or further away from the sensor bar.

[bishmasterb]

I picked up a Wii yesterday, which I've been looking forward to for some time.

I've only played it (Sports, Zelda, Red Steel) for maybe an hour or so, but frankly, I'm a bit underwhelmed.

1) The low-def graphics frankly show no significant improvement over the Gamecube. I wasn't expecting a Playstation3 level graphic experience, but I did at least want to immediately notice a difference over the GC.
2) The controller is novel, but I'm definitely not sold on it yet (admittedly this might take more time, and I'll certainly give it a fair shot)

Red Steel certainly feels like it could be exciting, but the controls are difficult to navigate. I'm sure this will get easier with time, hopefully to the point where it becomes natural.

[SacKen]

... The low-def graphics frankly show no significant improvement over the Gamecube. ...

I saw a documentary about the gaming industry a few months ago. One of the big game designers for Nintendo was on it (I think he was responsible for Zelda and many other top games). He said that they want to focus on content and experience rather than better graphics. He used games like Zelda as an example where you don't need life-like graphics to have a top game if the story and game play is excellent.

I haven't looked at the specs, but I think it is a mistake if they didn't at least make the Wii capable of better graphics if the game designer chose to make use of it. I think they will lose if another company makes a game available on all three platforms and it looks terrible on the Wii. They would be limiting their target audience to those that primarily want Nintendo-style games and would not get many XBOX/PS3 converts.

[swmr545]

I saw a documentary about the gaming industry a few months ago. One of the big game designers for Nintendo was on it (I think he was responsible for Zelda and many other top games). He said that they want to focus on content and experience rather than better graphics. He used games like Zelda as an example where you don't need life-like graphics to have a top game if the story and game play is excellent.

I haven't looked at the specs, but I think it is a mistake if they didn't at least make the Wii capable of better graphics if the game designer chose to make use of it. I think they will lose if another company makes a game available on all three platforms and it looks terrible on the Wii. They would be limiting their target audience to those that primarily want Nintendo-style games and would not get many XBOX/PS3 converts.

I also know Nintendo didn't want to do HD graphics because the bulk of the people don't have a HDTV...which leads me to ask this question: How many of you have a HDTV to go along w/ the 360 and/or PS3 or going to get one?

[DalOwnerX3]

I passed on the XBOX 360 because I don't have a HDTV and am not planning on getting one in the near future. I'll wait until the new DVD standard bottoms out before upgrading my TV.

[SacKen]

I do... but for my original Xbox. I refuse to pay ridiculous prices for a new platform when I'm still fully enjoying the first one and have plenty of games I haven't played yet. Better graphics alone aren't enough to make me jump at these prices. The old box looks pretty darn good on my 60" and I've never paid more than $20 for a game (new) in the two-years I've had it. Now I get most of them for $5-10... thanks 360!

It pays to be old and no longer require the latest and greatest to be happy

[bishmasterb]

I saw a documentary about the gaming industry a few months ago. One of the big game designers for Nintendo was on it (I think he was responsible for Zelda and many other top games). He said that they want to focus on content and experience rather than better graphics. He used games like Zelda as an example where you don't need life-like graphics to have a top game if the story and game play is excellent.

Maybe it was Shigeru Miyamoto? (The world's greatest game designer ).

I agree with that sentiment entirely. The focus should be on gameplay, not merely on pushing more polygons through the box. BUT, I was still expecting a noticeably better looking experience than the last generation, while understanding that it wouldn't be as nice looking as the PS3 or XBOX360.

Zelda and Red Steel both seem like there is a lot of intentional blurring going on because the hardware can't handle the rendering. The rendering of distant items in particular has that "Vaseline smeared on the TV" look to it reminiscent of the N64. (I am playing on a huge HDTV, so I'm sure that responsible for a lot of it too).

[SacKen]

Ew! That does sound like they just skimped on the hardware. I guess that was a sacrifice they were willing to make to keep the cost within reason. It looks like they are comfortable targeting a specific market and don't think they would snag too many hardcore Xbox/PS style gamers.

Besides the controller, what enhancements does the new console provide if graphics is not one of them? I may need to just go and compare some specs...

[bishmasterb]

It does apparently have some sort of online game purchasing component that allows you to download and play classic games. I haven't tried it yet, and frankly I don't even know if it's a launch feature or not.

As far as the graphics go, I do now recall watching footage of the Mario Galaxy demo that was given at (I believe) E3 this year. Even though it was a handheld recording of a big screen demo, the graphics were noticeably better than Mario Sunshine. So perhaps this is just a problem with the first round of software...? dunno

[DalOwnerX3]

I think it may take a year before the software takes advantage of all the hardware capabilities.

As for Zelda, I read that it was originally designed for the Gamecube and ported to Wii. So maybe the graphics isn't the best there.

[Chad Vander Veen]

I think it may take a year before the software takes advantage of all the hardware capabilities.

As for Zelda, I read that it was originally designed for the Gamecube and ported to Wii. So maybe the graphics isn't the best there.

USAToday says Zelda is a "must-own" game for Wii

[DalOwnerX3]

USAToday says Zelda is a "must-own" game for Wii

Gamespy ranked it a 10 out of 10. That convinced me. When I was in line for the Wii at Best Buy, I and other folks in line were seeing who was buying Zelda along with the Wii. After we got our tickets, we became worried that Zelda may be sold out.

[Merlin]

Tell us about it please!

Sorry, that was just a joke to most peoples reactions to getting one. Had to do it though. Oh, go to youtube and look up 'smash my ps3' 'smash my wii'. enjoy!

[bishmasterb]

I think it may take a year before the software takes advantage of all the hardware capabilities.

Of course. But initial software shouldn't be able to be confused witht he prior generation's software.

As for Zelda, I read that it was originally designed for the Gamecube and ported to Wii. So maybe the graphics isn't the best there.

Excellent point, I had forgotten about this. Zelda was designed for the GC and then "enhanced" for the Wii. So that is likely the single largest factor concerning its graphic quality.