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The Wii - Is the Magic Gone?

Computer And Video Games asks the tough question: is the Wii's magic gone? After the flurry of excitement around the launch, lackluster ports and a persistent inability for Nintendo to keep units on the shelves has made it hard for gamers to sustain their enthusiasm for the system. It doesn't help that most of the good games slated for this year won't be out for months. In some cases, there's doubt they'll even make it out this year: Reggie Fils-Aime appears to be backpedaling on Metroid Prime 3 by Christmas, which would be a shame. GigaGamez has additional commentary. Are you still as excited about the Wii as you were when it launched?

9 of 492 comments (clear)

  1. Imposter!!! by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What have you done with the real Zonk!!!!!!?

    Seriously, even as I like the Wii, I can see some "cracks in the armor". It's missing out on a lot of potential. Here are some things it needs:

    a) Real calibration. Actually be able to tell it where your screen boundaries are located so that where you're pointing is a lot closer to where the dot is, enabling shooters that don't show your crosshairs. Preferably in the OS.

    b) The Wiisaber. That alone will double sales.

    c) Games that involves holstering the wiimote to one or more limbs. E.g. a dancing game or a bounty hunter type game where you have to hit a button on your arm to launch a rope. (I know Konami has a DDR like the former coming up, but sooner would have been nice.)

    d) Online play.

    Also, Zelda should have required you to pull back to load an arrow, so it's more realistic.

  2. Have we given up on the Wii? by squarefish · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hell no, I'm just patiently waiting to get my hands on one where it doesn't require me to sell my soul.
    I want one as much as I always have, but there is no way in hell I'll get it through walmart.
    So I wait.....

    --
    Creationists are a lot like zombies. Slow, but powerful and numerous. And they all want to eat our brains.
  3. Re:Store Shelves by Phantombrain · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If the excitement were gone, would stores still sell out within days of recieving a shipment?
    Where I live, it's hours after a shipment.
    --
    echo YOUR_OPINION > /dev/null
  4. Yes and no.... by DrEldarion · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Wii could quite possibly end up being the best local-multiplayer console of all time. TONS of fun has been had at my place playing Wii Sports, Rayman, and Warioware. At the same time, though, I've found single-player to be somewhat lacking, partially because when I'm playing games alone I just want to sit down and relax, not be flailing around. It's going to be hard to find Wii games that don't force you to use the motion-sensing, though, since that's the only "special" thing about the console.

    That pretty much relegates the Wii to party-console for me. Not that I have a problem with that, I suppose. The PS3 looks like it will be (and has been) able to handle my single-player needs fine. Each console has its place.

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. Re:Store Shelves by spxero · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'll second this- Wal-mart recieved a shipment, announced it over the speakers. I was able to get my hands on two within 10 minutes, and all 10 Wii's were gone within the half hour.

    I don't know if the magic is gone, but the sales are still up (three wal-marts, two targets, a best buy and circuit city in town are all out of wiimote's/nunchucks)

  7. Re:Store Shelves by Emetophobe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A video game console being sold out is only rarely a good thing. Being unable to meet demand only means bad things for Nintendo.

    That's true. I was really excited about getting a Wii last November, I've been trying to find one since then with no luck. Let's just say I'm starting to get severely annoyed with the lack of supply, an xbox 360 is looking more and more appealing every day. I am really loosing my patience with Nintendo, I wanted a fucking Wii pretty bad, but now I'm just fed up and annoyed that I can't find one, and that turns me off it altogether. I wonder how many other people will buy another system instead because Wiis are no where to be found.
  8. Why do I want one? by edmicman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm not aiming to troll, so hear me out. One of my friends really wants one, and I know a couple others that have one. Both of those that have it rave about Zelda. The one that wants one wants it for the multiplayer games. They piqued my interest, so I went to IGN to see what games are out, etc., and to read up on it some more.

    What are the "must have" games for the Wii? Seriously. I'm aware of Zelda, but ehh, I don't have much time to actually *play* a lot, so I'd probably get bored of it. My game playing time during the week is limited, and even on the weekends I might not have much time. On IGN half or mor of the reviews were for VC games - reviews of Mario 3 and the like. While that's cool and all, I don't want to spend $250 so I can download my old collection of Nintendo games, and I already know what those old games are like - I played the originals. There are the party games, but I'd only have a use for them maybe once a month or so - whenever we have a bunch of people over. The woman isn't interested in watching me play through a single player game, and she's not much into gaming anyway. Maybe if there were something she'd be interested in....

    I could always go with the sports games, but that only lasts awhile, and why get a Wii if I'm just going to get Madden or some NCAA game? I'm interested in the potential of a Wii, but when I got right down to it, I had to ask myself - what would I get it for? Is it just the novelty and then it'd wear off? What are the must-have games everyone is talking about?

    Ahhhh, it doesn't matter anyway. In my medium sized city, not one of the area stores has any in stock, let alone knows when more might come in. Bah. Maybe I've outgrown video games - that's depressing...

  9. Re:Store Shelves by djtachyon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Calling 10 Best Buys in the area (Jersey/NYC) I found 3 stores with Wii's in stock. Put some effort into it.

    --
    "What's the use of a good quotation if you can't change it?" - Doctor Who