The Public's First Look at Wii 282
isaacklinger writes "Time Magazine reports how it feels to play with the Wii. Overall it's a very enthusiastic review." From the Gamespot coverage: "Grossman traveled to Nintendo's headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, and was shown the Wii by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. The reporter was especially impressed with the Wii's controller. 'It's part laser pointer and part motion sensor, so it knows where you're aiming it, when and how fast you move it and how far it is from the TV screen ... There's a strong whiff of voodoo about it.'" Update: 05/08 16:50 GMT by Z : Ran into a registration screen when I tried for the original article, but eldavojohn had more luck than I. The original Time article is available for reading.
The Article for the Article (Score:5, Interesting)
For those of you who wish to read the original Time Article [time.com] I was able to read every page without a log in. Why that wasn't linked in the story, I'm not sure.
Unlike the hollow Gamespot article, this one offers a much more thorough and deeper look into games such as: And: There's a lot of good original information inside that article that Gamespot doesn't seem to think is interesting.
Frankly, I enjoy the idea of the controller changing. I feel that the industry has been plagued with bad hardware and also the fear to step away from the norm. The name and design of this system both do that
I feel similarly about the music industry and that's why enjoy bands like the Arcade Fire that introduce instruments like the accordion with straight rock music to escape the guitar + bass + drums = band template. I like to think of myself as open-minded and I'll remain that way until I can experience the Wii first hand.
Furthermore, I'm shocked that Slashdot had the courage to post something that wasn't only making fun of the Wii for it's name! Could it be that we're actually going to get to read about its performance and abilities instead of just griping about its poor name choice? That's outlandish!
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:3, Insightful)
You got that right. The controller is completely central to gameplay, and it has undergone essentially zero changes since the PS1, and only evolutionary changes since the original NES. One or more Dpads, optional analog sticks, and 2 or more buttons.
The controller defines what games you can play. I think we can all agree that Street Fighter 2 was a good game. But it was impossible to implement in any reasonble way on any machine except the SNES, bec
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:3, Insightful)
I agree that the Wii-mote looks interesting, I'm trying not to pass judgment until I get a chance to spend a few hours with the thing but I'm skeptical at best. Having used controllers with similar ideas in the past (SideWinder Freestyle, Essential Reality P5 glove) the motion sensing is either too inaccurate and buggy (like the P5) or too accurate to use (like the Freestyle). In all cases having to keep your arms afloat instead of resting on your
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
Sometimes things are just plain fine for awile and don't really need any adjusting. The bicycle has had the same design for at least the last 50 years. Would you be willing to try one from a company that decided to be "innovative" and rotate the handlebars 180 degrees?
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
Um, recumbents offer many advantages over the traditional diamond bicycle are are probably not what you are thinking of. Unfortunately, recumbent bicycles are banned from most competitions [wikipedia.org]. I don't know too much about them and have never ridden one, but my avid cyclist cousin says you can put more power into the pedal stroke, and they have obvious aerodynamic advantages..
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
It's a substa
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:5, Insightful)
And yeah, the article is well written and full of smart observations. One of my favorites:
I don't agree with Iwata on many things, but customers don't give you your vision. You present it to them, and they either buy it or they don't.
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:5, Insightful)
Finding what the customer wants, really isn't that hard, despite the troubles some companies have at doing it.
Divining what the customer needs, as opposed to what he wants, is on a higher plane. It's all the more difficult because of the temptation to convince yourself that the customer really needs (as opposed to what he wants) just happens to be what you're ready to supply.
Finally, there's figuring out what the customer will need or want - let's face it, what the customer is ready to repeatedly plunk down $$$ for, when the customer doesn't currently realize that for himself and isn't asking.
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
Good product design, that is.
Think of the iPod. Before its release, if you asked people what they needed, they might talk about different folder layouts, or better search interfaces, or whatever. Appl
Re:The Article for the Article (Score:2)
-1 Obvious Joke (Score:5, Funny)
Re:-1 Obvious Joke (Score:2)
My predictions. (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't mean to sound negative but I don't see Nintendo changing it's stripes any time soon...
You know what? Wii (we) are all going to gobble it up this time just like the last two systems.
Re:My predictions. (Score:2)
Re:My predictions. (Score:2)
Re:My predictions. (Score:2)
And now with the controllers, there's obviously a load of potential there. Will it be fun? Too tiring? Gimmicky? THATS the $64,000 question
Re:My predictions. (Score:2)
less of an issue if the nunchuk controller is bundled/standard, but yeah, most games that require optional controllers end up in a bit of a ghetto...
Re:My predictions. (Score:2)
The only way I will buy a one game controller accesory is if it comes with the game for free and the game in question is actualy worth playing and I don't think I am alone on that one.
I am sure the Wii will be a huge sucess or at least a profitable console, but the question in my mind is will it be worth putting up with Nintendo's shenanagans to own one?
Link to Time article. (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,
Re:Link to Time article. (Score:2, Funny)
A couple weeks later... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:3, Interesting)
"Looks like Billy is playing something on the Nintendo."
What it appears Nintendo is aiming for is to abstract themselves away from the standardized video game console moniker. I think that was their goal for years. I know too many people that called their NES, SNES, gamecube, and even their DS simply as Nintendo. Few people called their Dreamcast or Genesis their 'Sega,' and almost nobody calls their PS1 or PS2 their 'Sony.' .
I real
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2)
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2, Funny)
The jokes practically write themselves
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:3, Interesting)
I know it the name is supposed to appeal to the non-hardcore gaming population, but all of my coworkers (who own video game consoles, but I would not call any of them really hardcore gamers) think the na
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:4, Insightful)
Now, you aren't the only one. I think it may turn out to have been a brilliant name for Nintendo. They get a *massive* media blitz covering the name, without having to actually do anything. Very shortly, everybody gets bored of the one or two jokes that are possible in the local language, but has still heard the name a lot. So, because they hard the name so much during the initial name-calling, people just get used to the name.
I do think that parents will still feel a bit silly, when they go into the store to ask for a Wii. But, I'm not sure that silly is bad. You get a Wii, feel a bit silly, and then get some game where purple migit puppy aliens dance in tune to your swinging a remote around or something. You feel a bit silly playing the game, just like you did buying the Wii. So much of the industry is so focused on being uber-Hardcore that a little bit of feeling silly in some key markets may be very good for Nintendo.
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2)
Most non-gamer parents feel silly asking for a PlayStation. Imagine a parent trying to get their kid [em]-eNCHANT-aRM. All games are ridiculous to those who don't play.
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2)
As someone's sig recently remarked, asking us programmers to name a console/flagship app is about as intelligent as asking the marketing guys to program it.
It sounded ridiculous to me, too. But I think they might know what they're doing.
Generally, people get used to absolutely ridiculous names. I'm reminded of a Boondocks strip, where Huey calls up Puff Daddy's studio an
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2)
That's for the people who say that "people from everywhere can say wii naturally" or such non-sense. No Portuguese word starts with that sound.
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2)
Re:A couple weeks later... (Score:2)
Re:Hey, Wii ain't that bad. (Score:2)
I hate console games... (Score:3, Insightful)
Not flamebait... (Score:2)
Aerobics (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Aerobics (Score:5, Insightful)
It's called "exercise". If Nintendo creates a really interesting video game that little Bobby exerts himself on, drops a few unnecessary pounds and increases his cardio-vascular system, how is this a bad thing? This is not raising another barrier, but adding another challenge to a game. Instead of finding the blue key, the player has to burn another 5 calories.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure one or two children will throw fits and go back to their "easier" consoles that don't require more than a flipping of a thumb, but the Dance Dance Revolution crowd alone has proved that there is a following for this time of system, and that children have a natural energy the Wii can assist in depleting before bedtime.
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Of course, I tend to have a fatalist outlook sometimes.
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Because Billy, Tommy, and Frankie might not take to it. Nintendo's whole opinion on the matter seems to be "If you like it so far, just wait and see what else we can do!. If not, fuck you."
We've actually done studies in this country that show people will sometimes resign themselves to a so-so tv show if the remote con
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Aerobics (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
All they need is custom "Wands" to emulate the feel of real items. I could see designer controllers that come with games; a
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Sounds like a recipe for broken lamps and terrified housepets
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Re:Aerobics (Score:5, Informative)
We're used to button-pressing because alot of other devices require the same movement. We've adapted. Suddenly throwing in a new, repetetive movement that you like enough to perform for hours on end might just be interesting.
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Now, if this somehow forces Nintento to release only good games with no boring repetitive segments, well everyone wins. And maybe the console will be filled with unicorn giggles.
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Re:Aerobics (Score:2)
Wii will work.. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:2)
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:3, Interesting)
1) drop it, causing the car to do something completely unintentional
2) shift position (I often change from sitting up/lying down multiple times during a gaming session)
3) have trouble initially calibrating it (anyone who's ever played a space combat sim knows about "shopping cart wheel syndrome")
4) damage it (it may prove to be useless if you can't turn off the motion-sensor) 5) try to play in motion (isn't a big selling point of GB that you can play in the car/on a plane?)
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:2)
2) Got to give you that one, though I usually move in the breaks, like cut scenes, and not during gameplay.
3) No one knows what you are going to have to do to calibrate it, if anything. So this one is on hold.
4) Can happen with a "standard" contoller.
5) The Wii isn't a portable device, so you should never be in motion. And if you are, then assumably the sensors and tv will be as well, at the same rate, making it all relative, or more to the point, irrelevant.
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:2)
*blink blink* Ummm.... I'd be more worried about hooking up the power and video input cables on a car or plane than the motion of the controller.
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:2)
Inquiring minds want to know....
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:5, Interesting)
To be fair, no controller can escape this fate. Heck, one of my peeves about the PS2 is that the shoulder buttons control which chapter you're on when watching a DVD. More than once, the controller fell, landed on the shoulder buttons, and completely screwed up what I was watching.
"2) shift position (I often change from sitting up/lying down multiple times during a gaming session)"
E3 may tell a different story tomorrow, but from what I've read so far this will not be a problem. Granted, if you're using the remote to point at the screen, that probably will not change. As for positional data, though, it's fairly clear they're using a gestural system (not unlike Opera or FireFox's scheme) to perform movement. A sword swing, for example, wouldn't require that you use an arc of the same distance every time. It's probably just looking at the pitch of the remote to work out if you're swinging or not. To put it a little more simply: I don't think the system is looking at exact spatial distances to work out your movement. You'll probably be able to twirl the remote in between your fingers to get a similar result. (At least this is what reivewers who have tried the controller have stated.)
"3) have trouble initially calibrating it (anyone who's ever played a space combat sim knows about "shopping cart wheel syndrome")"
Mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, I can see this exact problem happening just as you've described it. On the other hand, I cannot imagine it being that big of problem. Let's say you 'calibrate' it by pointing the remote at a cursor on the screen three times. Okay, no prob. From then on, when you point at the screen, you see a cursor indicating where it's aiming. At that point, you're not trying to align the remote, but rather you're gesturing for where the cursor should go. In that sense, you could miscalibrate the controller, but it doesn't seem that likely that it'd be the sort of problem that plagues everybody.
"4) damage it (it may prove to be useless if you can't turn off the motion-sensor)"
Erm, you can damage any controller. Lose one button on the PS2 and you're boned. I'll concede, though, that a replacement controller/sensor will likely cost more than a PS2 controller.
"5) try to play in motion (isn't a big selling point of GB that you can play in the car/on a plane?)"
Huh? GB vs. Wii? I'm genuinely confused by this point. There's no mention of playing this system on a plane or in the car. But, I'll take it at face value: The remote is being measured relative to the sensor. The nunchuck uses an acellerometer that would probably be affected by the car turning, but that should be just about it. (Except for the bumping...) I dunno that I'd want to play this system in a moving vehicle. I'll grant you that.
WarioWare Twisted (Score:2)
I love WarioWare Twisted (the one with gyroscope that senses rotation). It's so fun that I play it while driving. As long as the roads are wide and and free of other cars I always win!!! - although I once got pulled over for excessive swerving.
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:2)
"Hey, Bob, chuck me the controller, I want a go!" "Sure, here..." "Gottit... uh, Bob, how do I get Link's head out of his ass?"
Re:Wii will work.. (Score:2)
Hey, if a Wii could so much as make those tiny easy-bake-oven cakes while I played, I'd actually consider looking into buying it
how far it is from the TV screen... (Score:3, Interesting)
Or does it know how far it is away from the console? I can understand that - perhaps the controller gives out a signal that the console can detect, for instance.
Re:how far it is from the TV screen... (Score:5, Informative)
External sensor (Score:2)
we've all been there (Score:5, Insightful)
You're playing a FPS when suddenly, a zombie/mutant/demon/something jumps from around the corner. You instinctively duck in your chair as you jerk your char out of the way and unload a few shots.
Potentially, Nintendo has created the most intuitive, natural interface with a video game since the joystick. Well, at least it is the first new video game interface since the joystick.
Personally, I hate console games. I get bored after minutes of play and haven't purchased one since the NES (yes, the first one). Even so, I think I'll likely be getting one of these. I'm not crazy enough to camp for one, but I can see buying one. Interesting interface > same crap with better resolution.
Re:we've all been there (Score:2)
The character you're playing will do what your hands do, not what your body does. In fact, most people who instinctively duck, tend to also instinctively raise their hands to defend themselves. The character on the screen will do the opposite of ducking.
Of course, this is all in theory and we'll never know if it's m
Next-Generation Gameplay (Score:4, Insightful)
Wii also offers last-gen gameplay in the form of the classic download service, but for new games it's time to move on to next-gen gameplay.
The best part of the Time article:
It's a remarkable experience. Instead of passively playing the games, with the new controller you physically perform them. You act them out. It's almost like theater: the fourth wall between game and player dissolves. The sense of immersion-the illusion that you, personally, are projected into the game world-is powerful. And there's an instant party atmosphere in the room. One advantage of the new controller is that it not only is fun, it looks fun. When you play with an old-style controller, you look like a loser, a blank-eyed joystick fondler. But when you're jumping around and shaking your hulamaker, everybody's having a good time.
After getting a tate of next-generation gameplay, everything else seems old and busted.
You don't want to be a blank-eyed joystick fondler, do you?
Re:Next-Generation Gameplay (Score:2)
Re:Next-Generation Gameplay (Score:2)
The teaser trailer showed a dude using two remotes to play a drum game. That looked pretty slick.
Wii and violence (Score:3, Funny)
Nintendo gets it (Score:5, Insightful)
Finally a company gets it. Do not listen to the hardcore audience as they have absolutly no basis in reality (they have likely spent more time in virtual reality than actual reality for last couple years). Hardcore gamers spend so much time playing games they really can't think outside of the "these games are too short and too easy for my leet skillz" box. Games do not need to be harder to play or interface with. Games just need to be fun. Swinging a virtual sword, pump faking a virtual football and swating a virtual fly all seem like fun to me. I will gladly trade the hardcore "games are not fun unless you WORK for the accomplishment" attitude for this "new" idea of having fun while I acutally "play" a video game.
Ves
Re:Nintendo gets it (Score:2)
Don't listen to your customers.
Actually, that's not quite right either. The real lesson is 'Don't let customer run your company.' You ALWAYS listen to the customer. You don't always act on what they say.
Sadly, I am one of those they didn't listen to. (Sadly for me, not them.) I now have to eat crow and admit I was wrong. I grow interested in the idea of this controller day by day. My original thought was 'wtf are they thinking?' Now we know. They were thinking 'Games should be fun.'
The light
Controller Debate (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Controller Debate (Score:2)
I'd buy that! (Score:3, Insightful)
The wand thing sounds a little strange but it sounds fun too. If I get another console, I'll probably get a Wii instead of a PS3 or GameCube. Computer games that are fun! Who'd have thunk it?
Hold on a second! (Score:4, Interesting)
It's a great article, but the Gamecube is only placing third in North America... it runs second to the PS2 in terms of worldwide sales, and I believe that Nintendo makes waaaay more money than the Xbox or Playstation divisions. The author could have done a little more research before hand...
TIME scans (Score:4, Interesting)
http://www.infendo.com/uploaded_images/timescans-7 27882.jpg [infendo.com]
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
What?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:What?! (Score:2)
Yes, but my brother didn't kick it or throw it downstairs. The SNES had that happen to it and it still works. I dream of the day where we can buy other Nintendo brand electronics. Nintendo laptop? I'd be the first in fucking line for it.
Nintendo is *usually* reliable (Score:2)
Re:Nintendo is *usually* reliable (Score:2)
The consoles sure seem to be well designed. I've had the Gamecube fall off the entertainment center mid Mario Party without any impact on the game or the system.
Re:Nintendo is *usually* reliable (Score:2)
They seem to have gotten their act together with the Gamecube controller, at least as far as guaranteed failure is concerned. As far as the 64 goes, my roommates and I are habitual
Re:Nintendo is *usually* reliable (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What?! (Score:2, Interesting)
The SNES controller cross is badly designed. Underneath the cross there's some graphite or metal powder glued on. The powder gets worn off after a while making it impossible to move the character. This has happened to most of the powergaming friends I have and I'm not sure how hard SNES controllers are to get nowadays.
Re:Controller Life (Score:4, Funny)
1)Upset gamers throwing it against the wall
Do the PS3 and XBox360 controllers have some kind of anti-throwing technology that prevents the same thing from happening to them?
2) old people trying to use it as a remote, getting upset and shaking it
Someone would have to have some serious rage issues to physically damage a device, through nothing more than violently shaking it, simply because it's not doing what they think it should. Perhaps that person shouldn't be playing video games in the first place. (And I certainly hope they never have a baby.)
3) being left out and stepped on
Again, how is this scenario magically different from a PS3 or XBox360 controller?
Re:Controller Life (Score:2)
Do the PS3 and XBox360 controllers have some kind of anti-throwing technology that prevents the same thing from happening to them?
Yes, the high prices.
Re:Wouldn't that be.... (Score:2)
Please, for the sake of the games, we really don't need yet another round of lame toilet jokes.
I need to get out more (Score:2)
Virtual reality (Score:2)
It's revolutionary, however, because it's actually being
Re:Overestimating the Wii? (Score:4, Interesting)
First of all, a truly revolutionary control system would track your entire body. Secondly, it would likely require some kind of visual interface that makes you feel like you're there. Either that, or playing a game will be like a dream. You're convinced you're actually in the game world even though you're stationary.
That's like saying that the introduction of airplanes wasn't revolutionary because they can't fly to Mars. I don't think calling Wii's control system "revolutionary" is a stretch, even if it isn't a Holodeck or anything.
Another problem is that gaming is generally a sedentary experience. Not many people are going to be able to stand there waving their arms around for several hours straight. When using a keyboard and mouse we're supposed to keep our wrists in a neutral position, and here we have a device that requires we use our wrists in repetitive motions. Your range of motion is fairly limited, which means your entire arm has to move, which increases exhaustion. Hold a remote control in the air and you'll get a good sense of what's involved.
Excercise is a great thing; anything that encourages kids to work out is good. People are too sedentary. But keep in mind, most people who game for hours on end aren't necessarily looking to move around much. But it also get's a point where you might as well just go out and play sports for real if you need to move that much.
I've also wondered how long a person would be able to play for at a time. I don't think it's going to be that much of an issue, and if peoples' physical limitations keep them from playing for more than a few hours straight, well, that's probably healthy.
On the other hand, while providing a better control scheme it will still lose every to the precision and speed of a mouse in many genres.
Are you so sure about that? We don't know much about the accuracy of the device itself, but I'd imagine that the Wii controller could be more responsive than a mouse. There's no technological reason that its precision should be less than that of a mouse. Furthermore, I'd imagine that the human brain incurs some computational cost when attempting to project movement on a 2D plane into a 3D space. I could honestly see Wii actually being better for twitch games.
It's easy for me to make sweeping, optimistic predictions when nothing has been announced yet. But I don't see any reason to focus on the system's limitations until we actually see what it can do.