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The Public's First Look at Wii

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the it's-named-what-now dept.

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.

32 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. The Article for the Article by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I don't really care for coverage of coverage of a device.

    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:
    Video games are an unusual medium in that they carry a heavy stigma among nongamers. Not everybody likes ballet, but most nonballet fans don't accuse ballet of leading to violent crime and mental backwardness. Video games aren't so lucky. There's a sharp divide between gamers and nongamers, and the result is a market that, while large and devoted--last year video-game software and hardware brought in $27 billion--is also deeply stagnant. Its borders are sharply defined, and they're not expanding.
    And:
    Of course, hardware is only half the picture. The other half is the games themselves. "We created a task force internally at Nintendo," Iwata says, "whose objective was to come up with games that would attract people who don't play games." Last year they set out to design a game for the elderly. Amazingly, they succeeded. Brain Age is a set of electronic puzzles (including Sudoku) that purports to keep aging minds nimble. It was released for one of Nintendo's portable platforms, the Nintendo DS, last year. So far, it has sold 2 million copies, many of them to people who had never bought a game before.
    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 ... although it may introduce a risk of failure, it sure is a breath of fresh air.

    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.
    1. Re:The Article for the Article by bunions · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Frankly, I enjoy the idea of the controller changing."

      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, because the SNES was the only machine with enough buttons.

      I am really looking forward to FPS games on a console that doesn't use the /incredibly/ awkward dual-stick control scheme.

      --
      there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
    2. Re:The Article for the Article by DingerX · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Bah, "courage to post something that wasn't only making fun of the Wii for its name"? Huh? There are enough rabid Nintendo fans around here that they couldn't let a Time article escape.

      And yeah, the article is well written and full of smart observations. One of my favorites:
      "[Wii] was unimaginable for them," Iwata says. "And because it was unimaginable, they could not say that they wanted it. If you are simply listening to requests from the customer, you can satisfy their needs, but you can never surprise them. Sony and Microsoft make daily-necessity kinds of things. They have to listen to the needs of the customers and try to comply with their requests. That kind of approach has been deeply ingrained in their minds."

      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.
    3. Re:The Article for the Article by apparently · · Score: 5, Funny

      hand a dualshock to someone who hasn't played a lot of videogames and ask them to play Halo. It's incredibly awkward. You only think it's ok because you're used to it. I'm not an expert, but the awkwardness you speak of might be due to the individual trying to plug a dualshock into their X-Box.

    4. Re:The Article for the Article by dpilot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Usually customers tell you their wants, not their needs.

      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.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    5. Re:The Article for the Article by twistedsymphony · · Score: 3, Insightful

      the GC comment was more aimed at the parent post then you.

      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 lap can be tiresome. As a fan of shooting games at the arcade Your arms can get very tired very fast holding the gun in the air in front of you. In fact most games like that provide short 10 second breaks every 30 to 60 seconds of gameplay to provide your arms with a break.

      In most cases Wii-mote type controller in the past have made interesting conversation pieces but little else. If anyone can pull it off well Nintendo can... but thinking about how I come home from a long day at work followed by a few hours at the gym, slump down and snuggle into my couch with a cool drink at arms reach and play for hours using little more then my thumbs and first finger, the idea of having to sit up or stand and waving my arms in the air doesn't seem all that appetizing past impressing people when I hold parties.

      --
      Collector's Edition
  2. -1 Obvious Joke by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 5, Funny

    "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
  3. My predictions. by GundamFan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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
  4. A couple weeks later... by Synesthesiatic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:A couple weeks later... by b1t+r0t · · Score: 4, Funny

      I deal with it by calling it the "Wii-volution".

      --

      --
      "Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
      "Open source is evil." - Microsoft
    2. Re:A couple weeks later... by tukkayoot · · Score: 3, Interesting
      I'm getting used to it, but you know, it makes it difficult for me to enthusiastically talk to my friends about the system. I anticipate the eye-rolling and dismissive snorts every time I think to say something like "Hey, have you heard about Nintendo's Wii?" or "Nintendo is unveiling the Wii on Tuesday!"

      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 name is stupid and embarassing. So does my girlfriend. My mom and sister think it's silly. Just who is this name supposed to appeal to, because nobody I know personally likes it.

      Will I get used to the name? Probably. Do I like having to double-check and rephrase everything I'm about to say about the console so it doesn't sound like a 2nd grader's penis joke? Not really.

      I can't wait for tomorrow so there will be something to actually talk and think about regarding the new console besides its horrible name.

    3. Re:A couple weeks later... by forkazoo · · Score: 3, Insightful
      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.

      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.
  5. I hate console games... by dlc3007 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... 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.

  6. Aerobics by obsidian.ten · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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?

    1. Re:Aerobics by oahazmatt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why break down a barrier with the controller, only to raise another one by making people move around to play a game?

      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.

      --
      Those who believe the Internet is private,
      find their privates are on the Internet.
    2. Re:Aerobics by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 4, Informative

      I was in ROTC in college for a semester. You'd be surprised how tiring an otherwise easy motion can be when repeated. The best example I can think of is "cherry-pickers." You stand feet-apart, arms held up at shoulder-height. Lock your four fingers together and clap them against your thumbs while keeping your arms up. It's real easy at first but gets very difficult as time goes on.

      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.

  7. Wii will work.. by saboola · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:Wii will work.. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 4, Interesting

      "1) drop it, causing the car to do something completely unintentional"

      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.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  8. Re:how far it is from the TV screen... by Gr33nNight · · Score: 4, Informative

    It comes with two sensors that you place on the top corners of your TV. This is how it detects how far away it is. According to reports they tested damn near all types of TVs on the market and even projection screens.

  9. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  10. we've all been there by dlc3007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  11. What?! by Tranvisor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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?

  12. Next-Generation Gameplay by The_Real_Quaid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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?

  13. Wii and violence by scolby · · Score: 3, Funny

    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...

  14. Nintendo gets it by Vesuvias · · Score: 5, Insightful
    But the name Wii not wii-thstanding, Nintendo has grasped two important notions that have eluded its competitors. The first is, Don't listen to your customers. The hard-core gaming community is extremely vocal--they blog a lot--but if Nintendo kept listening to them, hard-core gamers would be the only audience it ever had. "[Wii] was unimaginable for them," Iwata says. "And because it was unimaginable, they could not say that they wanted it. If you are simply listening to requests from the customer, you can satisfy their needs, but you can never surprise them. Sony and Microsoft make daily-necessity kinds of things. They have to listen to the needs of the customers and try to comply with their requests. That kind of approach has been deeply ingrained in their minds."


    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
  15. Re:Controller Life by cyber0ne · · Score: 3, 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?

    --
    http://publicvoidlife.blogspot.com
  16. Controller Debate by Krystlih · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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).

  17. I'd buy that! by Milton+Waddams · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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?

  18. Hold on a second! by Phantasmo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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...

    --

    The US Army: promoting democracy through unquestioned obedience
  19. TIME scans by dereklam · · Score: 3, Interesting
    A scan of the article pictures can be found here:

    http://www.infendo.com/uploaded_images/timescans-7 27882.jpg

  20. the Wii will increase sales of new TVs by Jafafa+Hots · · Score: 4, Funny
    You sit down with your new Wii, pop in the football disc, and start to play. The game is engaging, the action fantastic, and the control exciting.

    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.
  21. Re:Overestimating the Wii? by devnull17 · · Score: 3, 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.