Wii officially $250 on Nov. 19

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:29 am

I've been going back and forth on the Wii for the past several months. I know I'd have some fun with it but my biggest fear is that it will end up being the same for me as the N64 and Gamecube were. I had a blast with those systems for about a year and then there were crickets chirping every Tuesday as no third-party games were released and first-party games were being pushed back. Every indication as of now shows poor third-party support again. Hopefully that improves. That's the biggest thing holding me back right now. Though, as Xbox Live Arcade has shown, playing some old-school games can be very cool on a big-screen tv. The virtual console might just be what Nintendo needed.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:54 am

ScoopBrady wrote:I've been going back and forth on the Wii for the past several months.

Not a good way to start the post...

Sorry, couldn't resist. As if there haven't been enough jokes on the Wii name already.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:03 pm

I am really torn right now between the Wii and a 360. I'm only going to get 1 new console in the immediate future, so both is not an option.

Hearing that the Wii is BC with the Gamecube, and reading about older games being available via the virtual console is a big plus. Is there a list of what is currently available? How conprehensive is this supposed to get?

My other big question revolves around sports games. Seeing Madden getting rave reviews so far is a good sign. Will all of EAs sports titles make it over? What about the 2K games? I would think they would support the Wii, but I haven't seen any announcements about it.

My biggest fear is similar to Scoops. Not enough support and games from developers. Especially in the realm of simulation sports titles. I don't want Mario golf & baseball, I want 2k7 and Tiger Woods.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:20 pm

Yeah, I'm prety much in the same camp as Scoop. I've got a natural excitement about a new Nintendo system, but the Gamecube was such a dust collector outside of a couple choice titles. The one game I really want to play is Zelda, but in a month I'll be able to play that on the Gamecube that's currently up on a shelf in my closet, so why bother? So I can swing Link's sword, so to speak?

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:26 pm

On another note, I feel like the costs of both newly released systems are sneakily higher than the advertised price point, due to necessary accessories being sold separately. These 'nunchucks' sound pretty necessary to me, but they're not included with the base system. And I heard somewhere that the PS3 doesn't come with component cables? Or a headset? At least with the 360, I felt like I had everything I needed with the Premium package, outside of games, of course.

maddoc1979 · Post by **maddoc1979** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:32 pm

The Wii comes with 1 nunchuck and a remote, so you do have everything to play any game out of the box.

Doc

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:35 pm

I'm going to get one whenever I can find one for two main reasons: Zelda, and the new control scheme. I just can't resist the pull that this new, innovative control scheme has on me, and I am dying to try it. Sure, the titles that will use this system to its fullest will be few and far between, but I want to play them too much to let it pass by. Zelda looks like it's the real deal, with a very long playtime and lots of big dundeons (after the disappointing number of true dungeons in the Wind Waker).

Rayman, Elebits, and Monkey Ball seem to be all about the new control scheme and it looks like parts of Zelda are greatly enhanced by it (like shooting things while riding the horse). And this driving game from Ubisoft intrigues me as well, with it's weird steering wheel cradle for the remote, a steering wheel with no base! Could fully suck, but it seems to be getting good response. I'm also very curious about FPS games, though CoD doesn't seem to be a very good choice for this. I'm sure something will come along soon that will work very well (maybe Metroid will do this?).

I don't need the Wii to dominate my gaming time. It should complement my 360 very well, with me just playing the real top notch Wii titles. There are too many great 360 games right now and coming down the pike for me to feel disappointed if the Wii line up isn't the most robust. If I could only have one machine, the lack of a flood of titles for the Wii would concern me, but right now that looks like a bonus for me, since I have all these 360 games to play. And talk about back-compat, not only can you play GC titles (still haven't finished Eternal Darkness for the third time; very close to the end!), you can use GC controllers and memory cards for GC games as well.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:13 pm

maddoc1979 wrote:The Wii comes with 1 nunchuck and a remote, so you do have everything to play any game out of the box.

Doc

Oh! Hot. Thanks. Sorry, Wii.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:19 pm

The more I think about the controller possibilities for sports titles the cooler this becomes. Winning Eleven with sensors strapped to your feet and head? Supposedly Seabass is very interested as well...

Actually the Wii doesn't come with component cables either, and they seem to be very very hard to find at present.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:05 pm

I think I need tommy john surgery after pitching 3 innings last night

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:23 pm

Went to a Toys R Us today since I was at the store next door and asked if they had anymore Wii's and the guy gave me such a dirty look it was incredible but they didn't have any!!!

I want one now I think

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:35 pm

bdunn13 wrote:I think I need tommy john surgery after pitching 3 innings last night

LOL. I feel the same way. Actually, I feel like I pulled a rib cage muscle.

I gave up a double to some girl who tied the game. The score ended in a 1-1 tie.

I sit down to pitch, and stand to bat. A couple swings I thought I got all of it. I do know we don't need to mess with the foul ball slider. I've hit many of those.

I'm sure everyone has noticed, but the skill level does go up as you win a tennis match, win a baseball game, etc.

Has anyone tried the Wii fitness tests to gauge your fitness age? What I was tested on was batting practice (10 swings), different levels of difficulty in bowling (different pin positioning), and 50 tennis ground strokes. My fitness age score was 35. I'm 33, so it wasn't all that bad a score.

I'm struggling with my backhand in the tennis game. I tend to hit the majority of my shots wide. Man, tennis is going to be excellent on the Wii!

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:45 pm

By the way, I didn't think I'd really take to the Mii's but they're actually kind of cool. It's neat that they automatically get included in to the baseball lineup, in a doubles match, or in bowling. You can decide whom you want to play with if desired.

I've got to think that within six to twelve months, Nintendo will drop their price on the console to $200, and perhaps sell the Wii Sports Package separately.

reeche · Post by **reeche** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:58 pm

Just got my Wii

Holy s*** this thing is awesome. Nintendo was completely on the right track with their control angle and that being the future.

I got more fun and innovation out of that Wii Sports baseball than I have out of any true baseball sim title in years.

Just sitting there at the plate waggling my bat is the coolest thing ever. I'm sold. Amazing potential.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:50 pm

reeche wrote:Just got my Wii

Holy s*** this thing is awesome. Nintendo was completely on the right track with their control angle and that being the future.

I got more fun and innovation out of that Wii Sports baseball than I have out of any true baseball sim title in years.

Just sitting there at the plate waggling my bat is the coolest thing ever. I'm sold. Amazing potential.

Glad to hear your initial impressions are positive. Pitching could be a bit more immersive, but I think they have the batting down pretty well. I'm telling ya, a deeper baseball game on the Wii would be a dream come true.

Templehorn · Post by **Templehorn** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:45 pm

So is Wii is like GC which was like DC?

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:28 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkA-BZpVT1Q

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:14 pm

sportdan30 wrote:
bdunn13 wrote:I think I need tommy john surgery after pitching 3 innings last night
LOL. I feel the same way. Actually, I feel like I pulled a rib cage muscle.

I gave up a double to some girl who tied the game. The score ended in a 1-1 tie.

I sit down to pitch, and stand to bat. A couple swings I thought I got all of it. I do know we don't need to mess with the foul ball slider. I've hit many of those.

I'm sure everyone has noticed, but the skill level does go up as you win a tennis match, win a baseball game, etc.

Has anyone tried the Wii fitness tests to gauge your fitness age? What I was tested on was batting practice (10 swings), different levels of difficulty in bowling (different pin positioning), and 50 tennis ground strokes. My fitness age score was 35. I'm 33, so it wasn't all that bad a score.

I'm struggling with my backhand in the tennis game. I tend to hit the majority of my shots wide. Man, tennis is going to be excellent on the Wii!

So your motion or form has a lot to do with what happens on screen?

It's not just reading some gestures which get translated to a precanned animation on screen?

Can you try to do top versus back spins, drop shots, overheads (and miss because it's not a lob)?

If it mimicked good form for the real life sports, that would be cool. Like getting the racket head ready early to have power.

If you two-handed the backhand shots, does it show it that way?

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:51 pm

wco81 wrote:So your motion or form has a lot to do with what happens on screen?

It's not just reading some gestures which get translated to a precanned animation on screen?

Can you try to do top versus back spins, drop shots, overheads (and miss because it's not a lob)?

If it mimicked good form for the real life sports, that would be cool. Like getting the racket head ready early to have power.

If you two-handed the backhand shots, does it show it that way?

You can definitely do lob, topspin or flat shots by swinging the remote differently. You also have to do backhands and forehands.

Getting the racket ready early will do nothing except help time your swing. Wii Sports is not meant to have depth like that. The whole point is so anyone can pick up and play by just swinging the thing.

And about the twohanded backhands, how could the Wii possibly tell how many hands you have on the controller?

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:27 am

Well, I rented Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz and Madden this evening.

SMBBB - I didn't find a whole lot of enjoyment with this game. This game definitely made my wrist tired from playing. It has a single player feature and 50 mini games. I guess some of the mini games might be fun, but for the most part, it feels very shallow. I don't think it's a game an adult would enjoy a whole lot, but I could be wrong. I think the kids would get a kick out of it.

Madden - This game sure is muddy looking. Those component cables can's arrive soon enough! There are so many control schemes with the Wiimote that it'll take a long while to remember them all. As others have said, passiing is enjoyable, and running is just so so. I was pretty tired when I started a game, so I didn't really put a whole lot of time in. I think it definitely shows promise, but I also think EA went a bit overboard with all the different controls.

The Wii Sports Package is a heck of a lot more fun than the two games I played this evening. Which goes back to what I said in my initial impressions. There's a lot of promise with the Wii, but I think it's going to take some time for developers to realize the potential of the system.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:40 am

A golf or Tennis game would probably be the best games for this system which is the type of games that I am looking for.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:16 am

I finally got to see a display of Wii at a mall I was shopping with my baby. There were four LCD TV's with four Wii's. Most people were playing baseball, tennis, a racing game and golf. I really had a good laugh at the golf and tennis game (especially doubles) and was quiet intrigued at how small the machine is, including the controllers.

Nintendo makes FUN games and no doubt families with children will be picking up this console no problem, especially for the price it is going. It's affordable.

Personally I don't see myself with the Wii for another 3 or 4 years until my kid grows a bit more but when it comes to Sports games I always look more for the Sim side. I am enjoying my 360, thanks. I also don't care for the cartoonish looks on the games I witnessed, but again it's perfect for families and kids of all ages looking for some FUN.

Too bad I couldn't see the bowling game which many of you have, but I guess the motion would be the same as in pitching but with a downward snap. Overall I saw the smile in adults and kids alike and that's what most people look in a game. FUN. Nintendo has that going.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:26 am

reeche wrote:Just got my Wii

Holy s*** this thing is awesome. Nintendo was completely on the right track with their control angle and that being the future.

I got more fun and innovation out of that Wii Sports baseball than I have out of any true baseball sim title in years.

Just sitting there at the plate waggling my bat is the coolest thing ever. I'm sold. Amazing potential.

Hope you iced down your arm when you were done.

reeche · Post by **reeche** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:38 am

bdunn13 wrote:
reeche wrote:Just got my Wii

Holy s*** this thing is awesome. Nintendo was completely on the right track with their control angle and that being the future.

I got more fun and innovation out of that Wii Sports baseball than I have out of any true baseball sim title in years.

Just sitting there at the plate waggling my bat is the coolest thing ever. I'm sold. Amazing potential.
Hope you iced down your arm when you were done.

Friendly word of warning for anybody considering it. Do not touch Red Steel with a 10 foot pole. That game is freaking terrible.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:16 am

Spooky wrote:Another quick question...Anyone know of 3rd party component cables for this thing?

EB has MadCatz or some brand 3rd party Component cables showing as shipping on the 15th of December.

I played a full game of Madden last night for the first time, and echo the sentiment that the 'last gen' engine is superior to that of the 360/PS3. There is definitely a STEEP learning curve to become comfortable with the controls (I think EA could've doen better in that department), but I enjoyed a great game and managed to win on a 2-minute drill drive with the Pats. Sending a long bomb when you actually 'throw' the ball is just plain cool.

I was taking a close look at the graphics, and as I said before they're pretty ugly with the standard cables. I do believe they will be WORLDS better with the component cable, since the main problem is a general 'fuzziness' and lack of 'popping' color. Component cables raise sharpness, contrast, color and hue accuracy by at least a 5x factor over composite; add in 480p, and Madden should look 'clean' if not spectacular. Hope I can find some component cables soon...

I played Wii Sports last night, including the training for each of the activities. I actually broke a sweat playing baseball. Damn, the Wii is just a ton of fun. As with Spooky, I know there will be a few 'lean' months to endure before the next wave of games hits, but hopefully the virtual console and maybe a surprise or two will carry us through.

I don't feel the least bit silly flailing around. It's so immersive that you have to ask yourself if you would feel silly if you were actually hitting a ball? Probably not. For anyone in view of the set, they'll be able to see what you're doing and likely want to join in...

Lastly, I played GEARS OF WAR (first time playing the 360 since the Wii arrived) and of course, still LOVE that game. I only mention it because it struck me how unique the Wii is and what a nice compliment it makes to the 360. I believe the Wii60 is the best value and game solution available. Forget the PS3, get a Wii60.