On the subject of Wiis
just wanted to throw out my two cents on the console so far. it is really cool how the whole thing is set up. the console interface is called "Wii Channels" and you basically navigate the whole thing like you are channel surfing a normal TV. each channel is like a function or a game on the system. so far there are only a few channels, but more are in the works like a web browsing channel, weather channel, and newsfeed channel. right now there are channels for basic system functions like running the game of course. there are also a shopping channel to buy new channels and arcade games. there is also a picture browser so you can view and play with images on SD memory cards, which the console has a slot for.
the way the remote interacts with the system is really more amazing than i had realised. i guess the most surprising thing about it is how the remote has an internal memory. basically you use the console to design a digital avatar for yourself called a Mii. the Mii gets stored onto your remote, and any game that uses Miis will retain all your information on the remote. i am assuming that even games not using the Miis will make use of the internal memory for similar purposes. so all of your stats can go with you wherever you play at. even cooler, for you lefty's out there, is it remembers what hand you play with as well.
so far the only game i have for it is the Wii Sports game that came bundled with the console. I am thoroughly impressed with it so far. my only real gripe with that game is that it cannot be played over the wifi system, which i think is a huge mistake on nintendo's part. maybe they will release more fleshed out versions of the individual sports with support for online play at a later time. sometime today i plan on going to EB and getting some store cred for some old games i dont play anymore and hopefully i will leave with a copy of Zelda. i already called in advance, so i know they have a copy for me.
so overall, i'd say its a great new system. it isnt some graphical powerhouse, but they never claimed it would be. but i do think the remote technology will become a very large player in the industry as a whole. i dont expect to see another console launch completely mimiccing the wii. however, i do think the eventual popularity of the system will lead other companies to start exploring more avenues with their console than just tuning up the graphics; something i feel is a large problem with microsoft and sony's apparent take on gaming.
i think nintendo will prove to us with the DS and Wii that the future in gaming lies in innovative gameplay, and not flashy graphics.
the way the remote interacts with the system is really more amazing than i had realised. i guess the most surprising thing about it is how the remote has an internal memory. basically you use the console to design a digital avatar for yourself called a Mii. the Mii gets stored onto your remote, and any game that uses Miis will retain all your information on the remote. i am assuming that even games not using the Miis will make use of the internal memory for similar purposes. so all of your stats can go with you wherever you play at. even cooler, for you lefty's out there, is it remembers what hand you play with as well.
so far the only game i have for it is the Wii Sports game that came bundled with the console. I am thoroughly impressed with it so far. my only real gripe with that game is that it cannot be played over the wifi system, which i think is a huge mistake on nintendo's part. maybe they will release more fleshed out versions of the individual sports with support for online play at a later time. sometime today i plan on going to EB and getting some store cred for some old games i dont play anymore and hopefully i will leave with a copy of Zelda. i already called in advance, so i know they have a copy for me.
so overall, i'd say its a great new system. it isnt some graphical powerhouse, but they never claimed it would be. but i do think the remote technology will become a very large player in the industry as a whole. i dont expect to see another console launch completely mimiccing the wii. however, i do think the eventual popularity of the system will lead other companies to start exploring more avenues with their console than just tuning up the graphics; something i feel is a large problem with microsoft and sony's apparent take on gaming.
i think nintendo will prove to us with the DS and Wii that the future in gaming lies in innovative gameplay, and not flashy graphics.