Old Cranky Geezer
So E3 has come and gone, and the consensus is that Nintendo's Wii is the clear winner in the next-gen console wars. And everyone is making a big fuss about how Nintendo is doing it without being bigger or better than its competitors, but by being more innovative and "fun." Granted, the Wii is focusing on making a splash in markets seemingly untouchable by previous video game developers: the old, the female, the tech-retarded, and the gimmick-obsessed. Nintendo's current battering ram of marketing momentum is generating shitloads of hype and getting people who wouldn't normally be interested in games to rubberneck a little bit when they see the word "Wii".
Now call me a conservative, but the Wii's highly-touted innovations don't really appeal to me. When I was a wee lad, playing video games was a very intimate experience. I was Megaman, Mario, Simon Belmont etc. Controlling my little avatar was an intuitive, automatic experience. Sticks-and-buttons are just an extension of my own self really.
So when the Wii is talking about how awesome it is going to be to swing your sword or aim your gun or whatever, it doesn't feel right. I feel like my own physical limitations are going to get in the way of my enjoying these games. I imagine losing in Zelda because you are unable to physically time the swinging of a sword will be infinitely more infuriating than timing your button presses.
What's even more unnerving is how people are acting like the old joypads were utter shit and the Wii is really the ONLY way games should be played. Coincidently, a good percentage of these people admittingly "don't really play games," aside from the occasional gimmick game at a friend's place or something.
The Wii offers a different set of experiences, utilizing a different skill set and offering games with non-traditional goals. Developers for games on the Wii are not trying to challege your existing skills, nor are they trying to impress you visually. So to call it a next-generation system is somewhat misleading. As far as the real next-gen systems go, I think I'm tossing my hat in with the PS3, despite the huge pricetag. The Wii will be fun, and will be a great party activity machine. But as far as the true gaming experience goes, I don't think it's going to deliver.
Now call me a conservative, but the Wii's highly-touted innovations don't really appeal to me. When I was a wee lad, playing video games was a very intimate experience. I was Megaman, Mario, Simon Belmont etc. Controlling my little avatar was an intuitive, automatic experience. Sticks-and-buttons are just an extension of my own self really.
So when the Wii is talking about how awesome it is going to be to swing your sword or aim your gun or whatever, it doesn't feel right. I feel like my own physical limitations are going to get in the way of my enjoying these games. I imagine losing in Zelda because you are unable to physically time the swinging of a sword will be infinitely more infuriating than timing your button presses.
What's even more unnerving is how people are acting like the old joypads were utter shit and the Wii is really the ONLY way games should be played. Coincidently, a good percentage of these people admittingly "don't really play games," aside from the occasional gimmick game at a friend's place or something.
The Wii offers a different set of experiences, utilizing a different skill set and offering games with non-traditional goals. Developers for games on the Wii are not trying to challege your existing skills, nor are they trying to impress you visually. So to call it a next-generation system is somewhat misleading. As far as the real next-gen systems go, I think I'm tossing my hat in with the PS3, despite the huge pricetag. The Wii will be fun, and will be a great party activity machine. But as far as the true gaming experience goes, I don't think it's going to deliver.
posted by hojo at 3:50 PM
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