Why a Wi?

I'll try to refrain from all the middle school mindset jokes that come to mind.

Throughout the history of home video game consoles, Nintendo's offering has been the least interesting to me. The new offerings not withstanding, I currently play on an X box.

What usually drives my decision is the games that I will play. Can I get Golden Axe or Gauntlet on it or similar for two players? My use of gaming system is to waste away a weekend with a friend every now and then. I don't play any game on my own time.

With my career ambitions in mind, I could justify buying and playing any of the consoles and wasting away a ton of hours the "Dungeon and Dragons" Online, a MMORPG from Turbine Enterntainment in Westwood, MA.

Why do I want a Nintendo Wii? It doesn't have the newest graphics. It doesn't have the fastest processor. It doesn't even have a DVD drive in it.

Well, I have always loved the classic Nintendo games: Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda. That's a big reason right there.

The Wii is the least expensive of the next-gen consoles (Playstation 3 and XBox 360). In addition, the basic console *comes with a game*!!! This is something that most major console got away from - I mean why actually *give* anything away when you can sell it to the gamers?

I also like the idea of Wii's Virtual Console. Nintendo is actively porting alot of it's gaming catalog to the Wii. Right now you can download (through the Wii) the original Zelda or Super Mario Brothers 3. I like this bit of nostalga - it will make certain that I don't get bored too quickly.

The biggest reason is the new Wiimote controllers. They are two pieces - which is interesting. Look at what you do everyday - how often do you use both hands to do one task (other than typing)? Often you can be writing something with one hand, and talking with the other (at least I do). Why not game with each hand doing something different.

Also, the Wiimote is motion sensitive. I don't mean little twist and turn things. I mean when you play Wii Tennis, you feel like you've actually *played* tennis. There is some movement there - and that is *not* a bad thing for the couch potatos of America.

Some people will welcome the change. I see this happening in families with children. The Wii could become something that Mom, Dad, and the kids can pick up and play a quick game -- rather than only little Billy figuring out the complex control movements to get past the dragon to the next level.

Gaming can become a family event - rather than a solitary one. I, for one, welcome this. I remember my Dad bringing home our first Atari 2600. I would play a game with Dad, and my sister would play the winner, and Mom would watch. When we played a few games, Mom would get to play the game with the cool noises (which happened to be Super Break-Out with the funky paddle controllers).

Much like board games of the past, I welcome a new electronic game that can bring the family together.

All in all, I don't think Nintendo is competing on the same field or playing the same game that Sony and Microsoft are. Nintendo is (again) redefining what it means to use a console to play a game. The experience is now drastically different.


Hopefully, that answered your questions. If not, let me know :)

--b