Nintendo Wii

Summary: I will first start to say that I am a poor college student. Ok, not VERY VERY poor but I am extremely thrifty. I do not buy video game systems. ...

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Summary: I will first start to say that I am a poor college student. Ok, not VERY VERY poor but I am extremely thrifty. I do not buy video game systems. I do not buy video games (I am convinced that I have video game ADD and can not finish a game). With that said, what do I do? I play games with my friends. What do I look for in a game then? Do I really care about HDTV capabiillities? Or if the lighting effect of System A is better than System B? No. I care about playing games with my friends, being able to learn quickly, and having fun. What many of you fail to realize is there are a lot of people just like me. The market of "extreme gamer" isn't that large (my personal speculation, no numbers to back this up; hey, i'm honest). And by "isn't that large," i mean there's no way most of you, who I would classify as "extreme gamers" take up even 40% of the video game market. This results in two very interesting results:

1) price is extremely important. I can't imagine having to drop $50 + tax for each game that i really want, let alone having game prices raise to ~$80 and more. Why will this raise so high? developers need to adapt to new technology, spend more time working, etc. Furthermore, I need HDTV to truly enjoy any of this so called super-duper-graphics-that-none-of-you-can-live-without. Suddenly, if I don't have an HDTV, which I don't, nothing really matters anymore does it? You can't compare graphics on the three systems when you're using a tv that takes the red, white, and yellow plug-ins.

Nintendo is working hard to lower costs. They anticipate a lower costing system and lower costing games.

2) Someone mentioned how Nintendo is becoming a niche company that will only focus on kids and junk. If Nintendo is really going to revolutionize the way video games are played, I would imagine that it could appeal to so many more groups of people. I know people who don't play video games, yet have a PS2 just because they can play DDR. They like to excercise, it make sense. If you can expand your market and bring in people who don't even consider themselves gamers, you have so much more power at your hands.

3) Nintendo will use a developer kit very similar to gamecube. What does that mean? Nintendo has a huge advantage over developers for PS3 and Xbox 360. Why? Developers for Nintendo already know how to do everything. Not only that, but it's a given that as developers use a package longer, they are able to optimize everything a lot better. Best example? God of War on PS2. I mean MY GOD! That game is just gorgeous. Clearly Xbox level graphics on a ps2! Someone else said to expect true PS3 level graphs 1.5 years after PS3 initial launch. Revolution won't be hindered by this problem.

4) Nintendo is finally taking advantage of it's huge history. I just started playing Contra 1 on an actual NES that a fraternity brother brought from home. Still amazingly fun. Has anyone noticed that these games are harder to play now than when you were younger? I had no trouble when I was 9 yet now when I'm 19, I'm struggling (when you'd think I'd play games better, although I still dominate in Halo 2, I die twice on the first stage of Contra...).

Nintendo says they will revolutionize the way the game is played and I believe them. They change the game in so many ways. Each system did its part to change the way games were played. NES was the beginning of home console entertainment (ok, not THE beginning, but it was a huge beginning in commercial home video game ownership), SNES was all about the RPGs and side-scrollers. Nintendo 64 had the amazing 3-D environments, not to forget GOLDENEYE. No one can deny the perfection of Goldeneye. Gamecube, however, did feel more like an extension of Nintendo 64 for me but you know what? That means Nintendo Revolution will be that much better because they had the time to think things up.

One last note: a lot of you serious gamers are too caught up on the specs. "Oh...I'm worried for Revolution because it'll only be 2-3 times as powerful as Gamecube while Xbox 360 is 15 times more powerful than xbox." That doesn't mean squat. There aren't many must-have games for the xbox. The good ones are on gamecube as well (first to come to mind is Madden 2005). I am extremely excited to see what Nintendo has in store for us and like the guy at the conference said, 2 (or 20? the number escapes me) billion copies of games sold. That is more than any of the other companies can say.

It's not the size of the whale but the motion of the ocean, my friends.

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Summary: the following concerns only game geeks. the smart ones.

so like me you probably read everything there was to read about this year's E3. from wha i hear it

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Summary: the following concerns only game geeks. the smart ones.

so like me you probably read everything there was to read about this year's E3. from wha i hear it was the worst ever. there was barely any games playable, no big suprise, and the 2 big console unveilings were all hoaxes. running on unfished hardware, showcasing pre-rendered animation of what they wish they'll pull out with the actual machines.

and then nintendo absolutely underwelmed the world by showing us only a work-in-progress version of the revolution. no controler, no game, no specs no NOTHING! we do get a gameboy small enough to swallow accidentaly tho.

so nobody talks about the revolution because theres nothing to talk about. speculations run wild about whats so revolutionairy about it, but no one knows. first it was that it might be somekind of hologram machine, or that it would display stereoscopic images. whoever said that must have been 12 years old and i hate them for making me imagine, even just for a moment that it might be real.

now theyre saying that its all about the controler. its gonna be gyroscopic, its just gonna be a big touch screen, its gonna plug right into your brain.

but something no one talk about is this:

for pretty much ever, all consoles had some sort of screening process for games. you cant just make a game and have it published on ps2. sony has to aprouve it first. and they reject tons of games for tons of reasons. making the concept of indie console gaming almost impossible.

also, if you add up all the hardware sony sez theyre gonna have in the ps3, it comes arund to something like 4000$. but then again. its 35 times more powerful than the ps1. they even say that its now 1% as powerful as the human brain.

and what does nintendo say? «the revolution is gonna be twice or even thrice the power of the gamecube»

gee...3 times better than the gamecube? how underwhelming. that should make it something like 33 times less powerful than the ps3? cmon!

but what i think the strategy here is, is that nintendo is gonna release theyre little machine at a price so ridiculously low that every mom in the world is gonna buy that one at x-mas instead of the 400$ ps2 or xbox 360. whats probably gonna happen too is that nintendo wont be selling theyre machine at a loss. i think that for every xbox sold, microsoft lost a 100$. something that probably wont happen with the rev (im callng it the rev from now on).

so thats good.

but what the real revolution will be about is this.

nintendo wont be screening games for quality. anybody in the world will be able to code for it and release theyre game one way or another. probably on the internet. this will make for tons of crap games, but it also means tons of great games based on simple but effective ideas. return to the source. gameplay before holywood-like production values. where EA will take 3 years to develop a 200-million$ game, some team of bedroom coders will be able to spend theyre free time on a good idea and have it playable on a home console anywhere in the world. and the bedroom-coded game is probably gonna be tons more fun than MADDEN UNDERGROUND 2008.

thats the revolution. theres less money to be made that way, but better games to be played. and thats what nintendo as always been about. GAMEPLAY.

this is an idea i beleive so much in. the current state of the industry is simply depressing to me right now. i dont want to beleive that ill be spending the rest of my life doing splinter cell sequels (ubisoft has 3 more sequels in the work as we speak right now).

what i want to beleive in is 3d artists and games designers everywhere getting tired of working on crap games for giant publishers. artists wanting to make something new, something original, something fun again. if the revolution does happen, theyre gonna be able to.

wow...what a messed up post this is. im sorry. i founf out about this last night and since then life is good again. nintendo is gonna save the universe from itself. i want this to happen so much. cheap machine, cheap hardware, cheap games, new ideas.

i love you nintendo.

[Edited by: admin]

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Summary: (Written 2/24/07)

If you are seriously looking for an un-biased review of any of the 3 next-gen consoles, be prepared to shift through a lot of uneducated, ?fan-boy?

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Summary: (Written 2/24/07)

If you are seriously looking for an un-biased review of any of the 3 next-gen consoles, be prepared to shift through a lot of uneducated, ?fan-boy? nonsense. Fist off, the Wii and PS3 just came out in November ?06, so it?s too soon to put a definitive score on either at this point. The Xbox 360 had a year head start, so it currently has a much bigger library of games then either Wii or PS3. But nobody can claim a ?best console? title until a year or so from now when all three had time to bring out quality software.

With that in mind, I?ve been a gamer for about 20 years and got my start with the Magnavox Odyssey2, Atari 2600, and the original Nintendo (NES). I currently own both an Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii (as well as all past equipment from Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony). I?m planning on getting a PS3 as soon and more exclusive titles come out for it. But I?ve had experience with all three with at least 6 months hands-on time each.

The Wii is Nintendo?s ?Hail Mary Pass? in the home console market. While they dominate the portable market, their last two home consoles (the N64 and GameCube) have performed terribly in sales compared to the competition. Why does that matter? Because most titles that come out for a console come from 3rd-party publishers, and many have lost money in supporting Nintendo the past 2 console generations. Nintendo?s biggest hurdle is convincing publishers to support them this time around so they have as much compelling software as the competition. They are so far succeeding in this by offering a console at a great price point of $250 with a pack in game, currently outselling the competition in monthly sales (bigger audience = more people to sell your game to).

But the Wii?s other hurdle is also one of its major selling points ? the new ?remote-style? interface. Nintendo has always pushed innovation; releasing new features to only have the competition mimic later, such as rumble feedback and analog control. But this new interface, while easy for anyone to pick up and play (including first time gamers), may not translate well to all genres of games. Being ?so- different from the competition can pose an issue for any developer trying to release a game on all consoles (as many do). Many early cross-platform games have already been given better reviews on either the 360 or PS3, not just for improved graphics but control as well. Weather this means less cross-platform games and/or more unique titles for the Wii remains to be seen.

I personally love my Wii. I think the new interface will jump-start some much-needed creativity and original thinking the market desperately needs. The current library of games is great with some very exciting exclusive titles on the way in the next year. But would I buy a Wii if it were the only next-gen system I could own? No. This all adds up to an undeniable fact that the Wii is aimed at a different audience then the competition. And while even Nintendo itself says they are not competing directly with Microsoft or Sony, consumers are, and will compare them when making a purchasing decision.

So who is the Wii for? Nintendo fans, those looking for a way to get back into gaming, or serious gamers that can afford to support more then one platform. Anyone else curious should hold off until the system proves to have a more solid future then the company?s previous consoles.

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Summary: I used to be a real playstation fanatic until I heard about this little amazing console. I just can't wait until they realease the revolutionary part of it (the ...

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Summary: I used to be a real playstation fanatic until I heard about this little amazing console. I just can't wait until they realease the revolutionary part of it (the controllers)... Something we have yet to see!! This will be by far the coolest (and only real) GAMING machine out, plus I will get Nintendo made games, the only good ones anymore, I am sooo bored of shooters and useless blood. I don't want to pay for a "media centre" either haha, one of the many things it has over the other consoles, you can only expect the best gaming experience from this...

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Summary: I don't understand why Nintendo's getting bashed for making a better console.

Here's the arguments I've seen so far.
-No HD support, not as good graphics/


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Summary: I don't understand why Nintendo's getting bashed for making a better console.

Here's the arguments I've seen so far.
-No HD support, not as good graphics/speed as other consoles.
-Kid-based design and games.
-Downloadable library can be replaced by PC Emulators / XBox Mod chip; $ needed?
-Overused games?
-Retro ideals; A generation behind; Not as much of a 'WOW' factor as others.
-Controller issues ('It looks like a remote')
-Not going to be a 'hub' like PS3 and MS XBox360
-Typical 'This is gonna suck b/c Gamecube sucked.'

So, I'm gonna go through and adress these as best as I can, while remaining unbiased.
----------- Graphics & HD issues
Yes, the Revolution is going to be less graphics-based, though some very good improvements have been made with the system and it WILL compete quite well against the other consoles. HD televisions start at around $2000 for the good ones that you would want to view your PS3 or XBox360 on, and not a lot of people have them yet, nor is it a real ISSUE TO THE GAMEPLAY. You can still play your Revolution on an HDTV, you just won't get 720p or 1080i, which isn't the worst thing in the world. Truthfully, I'd MUCH rather have HD possibilities rather than not, and I probably wouldn't mind paying the extra buck to get it, but it's not going to affect my decision to get it or not, and it probably shouldn't to yours. Nintendo isn't making a wise decision by doing this, but it's keeping unneccesary costs down to a kind-of-financially-damaged company.
------Kid-based games?
OK, next. The idea of Nintendo's consoles and games being kid-based... Honestly, I don't see much of a response or an argument here. Nintendo creates family games so that it can appeal to more users, and it has several games made especially for users that don't appreciate family games--the best of which is 'Resident Evil'--and Nintendo's makers and directors have said that the Revolution games will not only appeal to families but to many other genres through different games.
If you're weren't interested in Gamecube for this reason, then stick around, because the kid-friendliness has been expanded to much more.
------'Backwards Compatibility'
The 'Backwards Compatibility' all the way? Some might scoff, but I think it's part of what makes this console very interesting. Sure, you can get emulators and a gamepad for SNES games, but the N64 games are not so readily available through emulators as it will be through the Revolution. To top it off, the Revolution controller on its side can be configured to look nearly identical to the SNES controller.
But, maybe 'staying in the past' is a bad thing to some people. However, some of the best games of all time were created back then, and I think it's important to keep them with us and keep playing them. Money might be an issue, I don't know how much they're going to charge, but it's definitely not going to be a lot.
------Overused games
Overused games is a tough problem to adress. Some of the games, like Mario, might be considered overused now, but it's not like they're improving the graphics and throwing it out again. No, each time, they're coming up with new adventures and making improvements all around, and not because they want to make a buck. It's because the publishers through Nintendo /want/ to make good games, and they are.
-----Staying in the past
Miyamoto et al. have created a new foundation and ideal for Nintendo--that the age of graphics is nearly over, that we've come far enough, and now we need to start focusing on gameplay. Nintendo's definitely not going to stop improving their graphics, as we've seen in the stats for the Revolution. Graphics are cool, yeah, but think about it. Would you rather have a great game with poor graphics (think early Sonic or Mario) or great graphics and a game that wasn't fun or couldn't keep your attention?
------The Controller
Ah, the controller. Yes, this amazing, shocking, almost crazy idea that somehow got into Nintendo's head. The controller really does look like a remote, and it doesn't have as many buttons as you would expect it to. It's pretty much a gyroscopic controller that relays its sensor's readings to the Revolution, somewhat like a lightgun, except this doesn't use the scan lines on the television, it actually reads where you are in its 3D field. Many doubt that this controller is going to work well if at all. If you read the reviews of the controller at IGN, they say that it works very well as a controller, even though nobody expected it to. Recently, too, IGN has stated that Nintendo WILL make a controller addon so that you can play the games in regular gamecube-controller mode, but with one difference: you can keep the gyroscopes working.
Also, Sony and MS are sticking to the traditional two-handed controller, which limits controls and possibilities for new innovations. The EyeToy for the PS2 wasn't as big as a success as hoped, but it was a leap out there that I thought was interesting.
-----Home Networking?
No, sadly, the Revolution won't connect up to your home network (not the same as Wireless Internet), even though it probably will connect to your DS, as with the PS3 and the PSP. I have a home network already set up with media center, though, so it's not a big deal for me. For those who want/need to set up a home network with their console and share music/movies/photos, the best choice is Microsoft's XBox 360 with Media Center on your computers.
-----Gamecube Was A Failure!!!!!111
Nintendo's really making an effort this time. Gamecube was not a failure, it had better graphics than the PS2 and overall a better compilation of better games.


So, it's pretty much up to you whether you think the Revolution will be successful or not, but you can't tell me that it won't be innovative, unique, and overall a good system.

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Summary: Nintendo should be well-respected for its long, vast, and experienced history of video games. This would be Nintendo's last and its best video game system.

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Summary: Nintendo should be well-respected for its long, vast, and experienced history of video games. This would be Nintendo's last and its best video game system.

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Summary: I have to be honest, I was completely "wowed" with the possible look of the machine - it's size and the proposed capabilities of the machine. The size of ...

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Summary: I have to be honest, I was completely "wowed" with the possible look of the machine - it's size and the proposed capabilities of the machine. The size of Revolution was the "eye catcher" and what impressed me the most - it is smaller than its rivals proposed "next-gen" consoles and even smaller than the current gen consoles, and it promises to be able to play Revolution, GameCube, and DVD media.

The use of SD cards in Revolution is a smart idea, it takes the cost of making propriety storage for the game console out of the cost of the machine. USB ports allows a multitude of peripherals to be plugged in like cameras, microphones, and special controllers. And I like Nintendo's idea of WiFi for network connectivity for Revolution and using it for access to the large library of past Nintendo games.

Despite that Nintendo did not make a commitment to Hi-Definition TV, I don't believe that it's going to hamper sales of Revolution since it will take more than three years for Hi-Definition TV prices to become low enough to be in every home; current S-Video and Component video connectivity has just recently caught on.

What I believe will hamper Revolution sales is Nintendo's over reliance on its first-party software and almost complete lack of third party software.
It's one of the sad things about Nintendo game consoles, since after the SNES - the lack of variety in games - there is very few RPGs, few FPS, lack of strategy games, lack of fighting games, and a sparse choices in other genres; I can understand the need for quality control but the amount of content in GameCube's software library compared to either PS2 or Xbox is sad.
Nintendo, for some odd reason, does not believe that it has to cater to the general audience to succeed - that it can still get by with its dedicated hard-core fan base, where it will use its hardware to promote only Nintendo-centric content and, once in a while, get a good third party game to add variety; it's the video game market equivalent to "rose colored glasses" or a Michael Jackson POV - thinking you're still the "King of Pop" despite that it's close to twenty years since your last hit record. It's an attitude that claimed Sega and will eventually claim Nintendo some day, if not soon.

Still I believe that Revolution will be a good machine to buy - it will definately have a great library of games to amuse the family. As to hard-core gamers, unless you're Nintendo to the core, Revolution is a very good supplement when there is a lull in games for either PS3 or Xbox 360.

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Summary: I am writing this review for the fact of the totally one-sided reviews from the Nintendo Fan-boys, and the Anti-Nintendo Club.

The Nintendo Revlution will be a console that will

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Summary: I am writing this review for the fact of the totally one-sided reviews from the Nintendo Fan-boys, and the Anti-Nintendo Club.

The Nintendo Revlution will be a console that will change gaming. From the most innovative company, Nintendo, not only will the Revolution change gaming, but the way we connect to gaming; from the connection to the TV to the controlers we use.

Here is the Current Innformation on the Nintendo Revolution:

The cool look:
The new console boasts high-quality materials and a smart, compact design, approximately the size of three standard DVD cases stacked together. A variety of prototype colors are being showcased during E3. It will come with a silver stand that makes the system a welcome, artistic component of any multimedia setup, whether it?s displayed vertically or horizontally.

Backward compatibility:
The new console plays all games from the current Nintendo GameCube generation. But there's more?

The secret weapon:
The console also will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Easy expansion:
A bay for an SD memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory.

Two disc formats, one slot:
Instead of a tray, a single, innovative, self-loading media bay will play both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system as well as Nintendo GameCube discs. Owners will have the option of equipping a small, self-contained attachment to play movies and other DVD content.

The specs:
The system boasts 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, wireless controllers, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi access. A worldwide network of Nintendo players can gather to compete in a comfortable, inviting environment. Revolution?s technological heart, a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway," and a graphics chip set from ATI code-named "Hollywood," will deliver game experiences not previously possible.

The stars:
Introduction of a number of new franchise properties will add to the world?s richest stable of stars, including Mario, Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Donkey Kong and Metroid.

Wireless freedom:
A number of Wi-Fi-enabled launch titles are in development that will employ Nintendo?s newly announced wireless gaming service, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. A worldwide network of Nintendo players can gather to compete in a comfortable, inviting environment.

Freedom of design:
A dynamic development architecture equally accommodates both big-budget, high-profile game ?masterpieces? as well as indie games conceived by individual developers equipped with only a big idea.

Though Nintendo of Japan has not announced it yet, look for information on HD support and Surrond Sound support in November of 2005.

(ALL INFORMATION OF HD SUPPORT IS IMPLIED SO FAR, NOTHING HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED)

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Summary: This is how Nintendo wants it ... everyone focusing on the Xbox360 and PS3 ... then BOOM .......

All revolutions start small...then they get bigger...and bigger...and bigger...BOOM......

Nintendo has



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Summary: This is how Nintendo wants it ... everyone focusing on the Xbox360 and PS3 ... then BOOM .......

All revolutions start small...then they get bigger...and bigger...and bigger...BOOM......

Nintendo has learned from it's recent past. The GC was a definite improvement over the N64 ... And we can ALL say that Nintendo still sports the best games in the business, the most memorable games and characters, the best 4 player games ... BOOM ........

Let the REVOLUTION begin ... BOOM!

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Summary: Revolution, seemingly niche at the moment, will hit the market with a bang. Backward compatibility all the way back to the NES brings back old-school players, the new innovative interface ...

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Summary: Revolution, seemingly niche at the moment, will hit the market with a bang. Backward compatibility all the way back to the NES brings back old-school players, the new innovative interface will attract casual and non-gamers as well, and the sleek hi-tech design has the aesthetic-crowd drooling, and an affordable price point will attract anybody who can't afford an Xbox or Playstation. Clearly has the full package.

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