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The Public's First Look at Wii
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.
For those of you who wish to read the original Time Article 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!
My work here is dung.
"Time Magazine reports how it feels to play with the Wii. Overall it's a very enthusiastic review."
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
You really need to think of better ways to spend your time. Maybe growing up would be a good place to start.
ugh! Remind me to check the URL before clicking from now on.
It will be cheap to produce, have enough power to run games slightly more advanced than the Gamecube, those games will include a number of rehashed titles and the controler design is going to lead to an endless stream of "optional" attachments (somtimes bundled) to even play a big chunk of the new titles.
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.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain
Kinda dumb to link a Gamespot article about the Time article, rather than the Time article itself, if you ask me.
1 191861,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,
There's a strong whiff of voodoo about it.
Hehehehe...Oh, wait, it's a 'v'...
Am I the only initial detractor who's actually getting used to the name? At first I thought it was awful, but it's sort of growing on me. And now that the press has gotten over the cheap jokes it looks like they're starting to take the device seriously as well. It may not be the best name in history, but now I don't think that the name is bad enough to sink the console, at least.
... and I'm probably going to run out and get this one. I have no idea how much I'll actually play it, but it looks too interesting to pass up.
Is anyone else worried that this system will just be too darn aerobic? It's not that I'm against moving around, but is that what we want from a video game system? The time article mentions that the reporter had to take off his jacket to play the system, and numerous E3 technicians have commented on the aerobic natures of the games playable at the expo. Why break down a barrier with the controller, only to raise another one by making people move around to play a game?
"First Look at Uss" ?
It beats some of the other names they're tossing at us... Origami, anyone?
and without hesitation or thought the hardcore flamers launch into a barrage of ignorant and cliche remarks. it makes sense. they follow the same cliche xbox and ps mold for doing the same thing countless times. come on guys... you can at least try to be original. oh, you can also wait until you've played the system yourself or you might have to eat your flaming words (take whatever way you will).
That's cute. I guess I could have made some ever-so-popular-on-Slashdot negative comments about Wii, but I was too busy reading the Time article. And if you'll read it, it really does sound exciting. But you're above being excited, I'm sure.
Just this weekend I introduced my young niece to Mario Kart. The first thing she tried to do was move the controller around in the air to drive. It's the most natural form of control, and I think people will realise that once again when it launches in the fall. I am really looking forward to it.
I can understand how motion sensors can tell the angle of tilt of the controller, but would someone explain to me how the controller knows "how far it is from the TV screen"?
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.
Hmm... I don't understand why this was modded down as flamebait. It's a legitimate comment.
"There's a strong whiff of voodoo about it."
Stay away from the voodoo!!!
Rumors say that there's a horizontal rod that you place just near your TV that does the spatial detection. We'll know more tomorrow.
I predict the average Wii controller will last 13 days before falling apart from: 1)Upset gamers throwing it against the wall, 2) old people trying to use it as a remote, getting upset and shaking it, 3) being left out and stepped on. Why is this damage worse on the wii controller? Because it has a motion sensor which requires sensitivity.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
You know you've done it. You've sitting in front of your computer or console, playing a driving sim. Without thinking, you find yourself leaning into a turn as you try to hold your line.
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.
Have you forgotten who is making this device? This is Nintendo, the king of making robust pieces of technology that can withstand a beating. Everything I've had of theirs' has been crazy hard to break. Heck my old SNES still works fine, can anybody at all say the same thing about their old PS1?
Wii is the only true next-generation system, as it is the only one with a controller that allows next-generation gameplay. The other systems have lots of power but it is wasted on last-generation gameplay.
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?
So how long before Jack Thompson jumps on Wii? After all, swinging the control to fight with a sword seems like a much easier way to learn violent behavior than just pushing buttons. And just think how much more intuitive the Hot Coffe mod would've been with this thing...
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
You don't want to be a blank-eyed joystick fondler, do you?
Well, they DO say that it'll make you go blind, but (*waves hand in front of face*) so far so good.
Yes, there was always that one idiot who'd tilt the controller, or god help us, his whole damned body trying to powerslide around in Mario Kart. He usually got the Stupid bitch-slapped out of him by whichever unfortunate bastard was to his immediate left, right, or both.
Ditching the stigma of "gaming = loser" is hard enough without having the person beside you twitching and gimping about the room like a trout on amphetamines.
natural energy the Wii can assist in depleting before bedtime
Let's hope so
In general, you're right, Nintendo stuff is indestructible. However, it's a shame they designed the analog sticks on the N64 controller with a blatantly limited lifespan. They don't always get it right.
If other reasons we do lack, we swear no one will die when we attack
Bad mods. Bad.
Troll or Flamebait or Overrated, not Offtopic.
I feel like people are overestimating what this Wii controller will be able to do.
I'm sure the Wii controller is going to be quite good and Nintendo will release some great games for it. But I don't think it's quite as revolutionary as it's being made out to seem.
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. This Wii controller is one of many, many steps in that direction and it isn't like this sort of thing hasn't been done before in gaming.
Take a look at the gaming console produced by Xavix. The technology is different than what Nintendo is using but the applications are similar. I think all the games offered for that system are sports based, but it shows that the options for these kinds of devices are somewhat limited.
Traditional game controllers have done well for so long because they generally work well-enough for most kinds of games. The mouse/keyboard combination, while superb for FPS and strategy games has proven to be lacking in many other genres. It could be argued that the Wii's controller poses similar problems being somewhat closer in operation to a mouse than it is to a controller.
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 think the Wii will be great for simple puzzle games, like those we've seen for the DS. Beyond that I think it will be an ideal fit for party games. It might provide the right kind of action and excitement people need to be encouraged to play. 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.
Thats my ultimate problem. It's not that the controller is bad. I think it's great. I just think it's a bit too specialized and people seem to be overestimating what it can do. However, if Nintendo provides a more ubiquitous control option I think they wont have a problem.
Who else instanly pictured a WoW NPC troll and his jamaican accent?
"I only speak the truth"
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5) try to play in motion (isn't a big selling point of GB that you can play in the car/on a plane?)
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.
To those who are skeptical about the controller changing must not have been involved with games too long. I remember the first time I was shown the 'wasd' keyboard layout. This seemed awkward to me considering I had been playing with the arrow keys for so long. However when an arrow key guy came across a wasd+mouse combo he didnt stand a chance. I got to see and participate in this standard changing the face of first person shooters. Now it has become a standard and everyone knows no different (save a few non-gamers). But I see the same thing coming with the Wii controller. If it is done properly in 5 years we all might be wondering how we played games with a standard controller (at least certain type of games).
I personally think they should have called it the Nintendo Ding-a-ling at this point.
Chuck Berry would make a fortune from the commericals, since he already wrote a song about it.
The Rapture is NOT an exit strategy.
Oddly enough, I believe you were the only one.
(Excluding me, of course)
Ahem. I believe you have made an error in this article posting. Perhaps you are referring to the Nintendo Revolution.
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. This Wii controller is one of many, many steps in that direction and it isn't like this sort of thing hasn't been done before in gaming.
It's revolutionary, however, because it's actually being done. It is that necessary, middle step that everyone new was coming someday yet everyone thought was twenty years down the line.
Consider: using the technology in the Wii controllers, we could almost have virtual reality now. Put whatever motion sensing magic in the controllers into a pair of VR goggles. They can detect distance, speed and orientation, so the game can use that information to adjust the camera. Use the controllers as well (which have a primitive, rumble-based force feedback, but it's still force feedback) and you can manipulate objects in the world.
Honestly, I'm not sure if we should laud Nintendo for being insightful in their change of focus, or be angry with Sony and Microsoft for their R&D passivity.
I'm not much of a gamer. I find that new games look great but they're annoying to play because the controls seem to be so hard. I always liked Nintendo. I have a NES and a SNES. I got a playstation 2 now and I hardly ever play it. Even games like Grand Theft Auto leave me feeling frustrated. When I sit down to play a game, I want to be able to play it straight away. I want to play it for maybe an hour and then do something else. I spend enough time in front of a computer, trying to figure things out with college stuff that I don't want to do it when I'm trying to relax.
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?
From the article: in the vastly profitable home-entertainment-console market, Nintendo's GameCube sits an ignominious third, behind both Sony's PlayStation 2 and even upstart Microsoft
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...
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The other reply says it all, but I wanted to say the same thing with a different perspective.
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If you give customers what they THINK they want, you end up with something like the Homer Simpson car : http://www.kollectablekaos.com.au/images/homermob
What about analog sticks? PS1 didn't introduce them. They were sucessfully introduced by Nintendo in Nintendo 64 and only later sony launched its dual shock controllers.
find -name "*base*" -exec chown us {} \; ; ln -s
'There's a strong whiff of voodoo about it.'
No, that's just wii wii.
http://www.infendo.com/uploaded_images/timescans-7 27882.jpg
Realize the potential of the Wii strap-on controller for a go at such games as Leisure Suit Larry or Hot Coffee. Finally Nintento has come out with the truely Adult system everyone has been hollering for. The name change to "Wii" is obviously no coincidence. Nintendo is fed up with their kiddie image and is finally doing something about it in a major way. The new ad campaign will have the slogan, "How big is your Wii controller?"
The game heats up, your palms start to sweat.
You drop back to pass... where is your receiver?!?! BLITZ!!! You're going to be sacked, where's your damned receiver?!?!?!
There he is!!!! He's open!!! NOW!!! PASS NOW!!!!
you reflexively jerk your hand forward to pass - the controller slips out of your hand, and right through the fragile glass of your new plasma screen.
Two weeks later, after replacing your TV, you decide to play some Wii tennis...
This space available.
the POWER GLOVE!
Well, at least it is the first new video game interface since the joystick.
Hmmm, trackball/mouse, light gun, Nintendo glove, motion sensors for virtual boxing, bowling and golf games... (I'll grant that DDR pads and bike/jetski/whatever avatars are just scaled variations of previous controls)
Okay, I'm just nitpicking. The new controller has the potential for a revolution in game control and design. Actually I could see it being worked into TV and other remotes. Forget the jog wheel!
Just make sure they never use this to make backseat drivers have actual physical control over real cars!
Any non-gamers out there who saw the Wii and are all of a sudden getting the urges to start playing video games? People who don't play video games normally don't buy video games just because the controller changed. Its not the controller that's stopping non-gamers from joining the video game world, its most likely just the simple fact that they just don't like playing video games. Unless it's Bejeweled during work.
Can I bum a sig?
Eyetoy, Singstar, the Dance mat games... they've been a Huge success for the PS2.
They're very social & parents like them because their kids aren't just staring blankly at a screen killing things. Heck, parents can even join in.
And the kids have fun too. The little buggers like to jump about and yell and carry on.
Personally I think this is an awesome idea and I will almost certainly buy a Wii before an Xbox 360. But Nintendo is completely neglecting their entire audience who wants to use video games to relax after doing something physically exerting - not instead of. If they put out an alternate controller, even as a separate purchase, they will open the system up to way more people. Then, being able to jump around and swing your sword will give you an advantage in the game, but it won't be a requirement to play.
I think this quote is key particularly where it relates to the uptake of game-playing by girls. To generalise, boys will be concerned with how their actions look on the video screen while girls will be concerned with how they look physically playing the game. If this new controller translates into allowing players to show style, elegance and playfulness in their physical direction of the game than it could be revolutionary.
I am actually looking forward to the New Nintendo console. So far I have been looking at the first generation XBox and the PS2 and between the two I tend to like the PS2 better. More fun games (Generally less FPS gore on PS2)
PS2 also comes with interesting interfaces. Kareoke, iToy and the new Quiz style push the button thingies. These things all enable a fun gaming element that connects with the virtual worls as well as the real one.
The XBox360 is going completely past me as did the original one. I like FPS games but only on a PC using a mouse. Manipulating the two tiny joysticks is honestly beyond my capability as is car racing with a game controller. I don't enjoy it and give up well before in finally becomes "Fun". I am just not prepared to invest such effort in a game.
I don't care about the high power graphics offered by XBox360 and PS2 as I still think Wolfenstein ET is a cool PC game. I played with some XBox360's in the mall which are demonstrated on HiDef lcd screens but I fail to appreciate the enhanced graphics. I thought the idea was to get involved in your game in which case you would not see the minor flaws in old generation graphics. Hell, I recon the old Playstation 1 is fun to play. To me the gaming element should have the focus. Nintendo may well have a winner on their hands as they focus on fun and like me don't give a hoot about the specs.
This time I may actually seriously consider to buy a game console for the family because it won't turn them in to "a blank-eyed joystick fondler"
If you remain untouched by the game you are playing, then what is the point playing it?
Seriously, how much more fun will Wii games be to play when drunk than with a traditional gamepad??
I find that even when off my dial I can still play games with the traditional controllers fine because it requires so little complicated movement. Although my decision making process within the game is another story entirely. ("I thought he was friend!" "... he's covered in spikes")
But just imagine actually having to be able to point accurately at things to play the game, becomes a damn fine drinking game itself.
Newsflash: Time Magazine reports *how to play with your Wii*. New techniques have been developed for the best results.
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But I thought *everybody* called their Genesis their "Sega."