Nintendo Wii

[AugustWest]

My point is, I suppose, that I don't want to have to put that much work into something that's supposed to be fleeting fun.

When it is that complex, it stops being a diversion and starts being more like a job for me.

If you haven't yet, you really should play Katamari Damacy.

[littlefallsmets]

If you haven't yet, you really should play Katamari Damacy.

Hm.

It may violate my strict policy of never playing video games where I don't understand any words in the title.

(Arkanoid is the exception that proves the rule.)

[jay-ell]

I got one, as I mentioned in the Thanksgiving thread.  I got in line at Best Buy at 6 AM and I was number 55 out of 63 people who got a unit. 

Worth.  Every.  Penny. 

And every minute of the five hours I spent in line to get it.  Wii Sports was included, of course, but I picked up Super Monkey Ball and the Marvel heroes game as well, plus a second controller.  So far, Wii Sports has gotten the most playtime by far.  SMB comes in second with Marvel a surprisingly distant third.  Marvel looks and feels a lot like X-Men Legends and the other games do a much better job of integrating the new controls. 

Wii is a system to bring non-gamers into the fold.  Even my 63 year old grinch of a father bowled ten frames with us on Thanksgiving.  My cousin's eight year old daughter beat me three out of five tennis matches, and I didn't let her win.  My six year old nephew p0ned at boxing and tennis and my four year old niece rocked bowling off its balls.  My aunt, who had a stroke three years ago, played golf without letting go of her cane.  My 59 year old mom hit a double and pitched a no-hitter in the same baseball game. 

For people who already love games, though, the Wii offers new challenges.  The new controller is intuitive and easy to learn, which means that you can stop focusing on memorizing button combinations and start focusing on playing the darned game.  It virtually eliminates repetitive and dull "tutorial" levels and lets you get right in on the action.  And the games are designed to be more family-oriented, more inclusive, and more social.  There will still be single-player FPSs, no doubt, but most games play at least two if not four (provided you can get your hands on extra controllers). 

Wii Sports has the same feel as Donkey Konga, in that it's fun by yourself but the fun increases exponentially the more people you have gathered around drinking (root) beer with you.  So, get one if you can.  Especially if you have kids.  Especially if you love games (of any kind).  Especially if you want a console you can play with friends. 

Or, come visit Raleigh and we can all play mine. 

[theinevitable]

don't tempt me, JL. My holiday break is awfully long.

[jough]

Yeah, I'm debating whether or not to even buy a TV to watch movies on (the PC monitor is okay, but from across the room it's a little small and harder to control than a DVD player and TV) but now with these game systems I'm torn - I haven't owned a console game system since the NES (Super Mario Bros. represent, yo) but if I were to buy any of them I'd probably do the PS3, since it would also effectively be a Blu-Ray player while the BR players are still $1000.

Also, does anyone own a PSP?  It has its own screen and would solve the problem of playing video games without a TV.  Is it any good?

[linnea]

Yeah, I'm debating whether or not to even buy a TV to watch movies on (the PC monitor is okay, but from across the room it's a little small and harder to control than a DVD player and TV) but now with these game systems I'm torn - I haven't owned a console game system since the NES (Super Mario Bros. represent, yo) but if I were to buy any of them I'd probably do the PS3, since it would also effectively be a Blu-Ray player while the BR players are still $1000.

Also, does anyone own a PSP?  It has its own screen and would solve the problem of playing video games without a TV.  Is it any good?

I've heard that the PS3, if you can get one, is a much better Blu-Ray solution than buying a separate BR player.

I really want a PSP, but I hear that it's murder on your thumbs when you're playing Katamari Damacy. So I probably won't get one.

[Ben-San]

What I have heard from friends with PSPs does not at all favor them as a system.

[KeithHernandez]

My roommate had one and hated it, now he has a dual screen (whatever the nintendo version is) and loves it, but does not play it at all.  He is more of a nintendo guy though.  Another friend has the psp and loves it.  just depends I guess.

[robot_god]

I hate PSP.  The screen is ok, but it has no good games.  PS3 doesn't have any good games either.  Also, don't get PS3 if you don't have an HDTV.  Also, HDTV is a scam.

If you buy only one series of games for the rest of your life, make it the Monkeyball series.  Ballin'.

[jough]

But, but... Grand Theft Auto "Stories" games - how else will I play them?

Also, is it possible to like, *rent* a PSP for a little while?

[V-Adore]

A question re: portable consoles, while we're on the subject:

Does anyone know just how small/unwieldy the Game Boy Micro really is? I am considering getting a Micro (as part of a package with some other stuff), but I have sort of short, stubby hands, and I want to make sure I can actually play this system.

[Ben-San]

That thing is smaller than my wallet. I don't trust it.

[Lister]

Basically, you can't really comprehend how small the GB Micro is unless you touch one yourself.  I had the opportunity once, and it fit entirely in the palm of my hand.  I was physically unable to use my thumbs for the face buttons and use my fingers for the shoulder buttons at the same time.  I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has passed puberty.  Also important to consider with the Micro is that it will not play many games that have not already been released.  Most development is going to be for the DS from now on.

The PSP has a beautiful screen, but aside from that I don't really like the product.  It's too fragile and has too little battery life for me to consider it as a truly portable system, and it's really murderous on the hands after an extended period of time.  Anything that makes extensive use of the analog "stick" will cause you serious pain.

I've played extensively on the PS3 (it was my job for a while).  You're not going to get anything out of it that you didn't get out of a PS2 except better graphics.  Currently the online features are so inconsistent between games that they're not worth considering as an advantage.  If you don't have 720P available (and ideally 1280p), do not even think about the PS3.  Also important is that a system is only as good as its software, and the PS3's current lineup is weak at best.  Once game companies have figured out how to freaking write code that can actually take advantage of the supposed speed advantages the system has, it'll be something to consider.  Right now, no.  God no*.

I haven't personally played the Wii, but the experiences I hear mirror JL's: It's a great system to play with friends.  Like the PS3 it doesn't have a great lineup of titles to consider, but at least with Wii Sports and Zelda there are two solid offerings that will show you some of the system's potential.

*Insider information: cross-platform programmers hate the PS3.  The superamazing six-core graphics chip requires its own compiler, and apparently the memory available to each process is so little that most people can only fit shaders on them.  If something isn't figured out relatively soon I expect there to be fewer cross-platform titles available for the PS3 -- it's much easier (read: cheaper) to develop for the 360 or Wii.

[robot_god]

I got the Wii.  I just played Wii tennis for two hours.  My right arm became naggingly sore, so I learned to play tennis left handed.  I look forward to becoming completely ambidextrous.

The system connects to the internet using WiFi.  Pimp.  If you have no router, a USB Connector is sold separately.

In the Wii shop, you can buy a few NES games for 5 bucks each, a few Turbo Grafix, Genesis, and SNES games for 6 or 8 bucks, and there is Mario 64 for 10 bucks.  The Wii weather forecast channel is not yet running.  After I buy the points to spend on games, I will probably pick up Legend of Zelda and original Mario Bros. (not the Super Bros., the one before it) tomorrow.

As usual, the system comes only with the three pronged RCA A/V output cable.  An RF adapter is probably 30 bucks, but it could be less.  Gamecube/SNES/NES RF adapters will not be compatable.  The real scam is in the controller.  System comes with one.  The controller retails for about $35.  The second piece of the controller is called the "nunchuck."  Ironically it is the piece that is not in the shape of nunchuck.  This piece retails for about $31 but in Wii Sports, it is only required for boxing.

[KeithHernandez]

Best.  (Wii.)  Video.  Ever.




http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8658065268222085253

Make sure to watch it all, with sound.