Wii takes flak for slow hardware

Nintendo continues to get complaints from developers who say that the Wii simply doesn't have the horsepower to run their games. Most recently, the company behind Haze are saying they won't be releasing the title on the Wii because the technology they require just isn't there with the Wii...

[BIadestarX]

Is it me, or all the hype abou the wii is slowly dying?

[andy capps]

The pre-launch hype seems to be dying down and I'm personally waiting to see how it all turns out. I still think it's going to be more of a niche console that may or may not be a household item like the Ipod. I think a lot of it will depend on their marketing, Apple has mastered that with the Ipod. It will also depend on how user friendly it is. Ipod is not the best mp3 player, but it is probably the simplest, the software is simple and well integrated, etc. I have one of the 30g video Ipods and have liked it overall, but wish that I had waited for Creative's new video/mp3 player.

Back to the topic, I think that Wii will have games like the DS has, games like Brain Age, Mariokart, etc. Those are all great, but definitely not my cup of tea, but apparently there are many people out there that like casual games like that as the DS has done very well. The Wii may be the same way.

[DC RID3R]

just like the ds!?!?!

[Gh0stDrag0n]

Most developers do not want to make a game for only 1 system. They want 1 game for 2 or 3 systems. Wii games will be best if they are made just for the Wii, not some crappy port from 360, PC, or PS3. Hmmmm........let me make a crap game I can sell for 2 to 3 systems or a really good game for the Wii. They will always opt for the biggest number of sales. The Wii will have to outsell the 360 and the PS3 before developers make alot of exclusive games for it.

[Marriot VP]

Yah nintendo will be third place....again. I told you guys that the hype and excitement for the Wii would die out by launch time. This console's only gonna last a year or two.

[wakkiwakko]

It’s not dying at all. It’s being overshadowed by the idiotic fanboys of both X360 and PS3. They want their console to completely abolish the other one that they will join into any conversation and steal the topic. It’s saddening.

The hype for the Wii is still very strong. People are talking about it. People are fantasying about it. News hype for the Wii might be dying. But people are still as ambitious about the Wii as they were pre and post e3-06.

As for the article. It’s rubbish. As, Gh0stDrag0n has said. Devs are more greedy than creative. They want money rather than fame. It’s sick and disturbing. Nintendo will get its share of first party games. Not as much as its share of shoddy third party games. But it will get its share. :D

As nintendo have said many times; Wii is meant to be a 2nd console in the household. Buy a PS3 or an X360. Wii does look well beside each of those. And it’s cheap ;). How can you say no to a slick/stylish dirt-cheap innovative console?

[andy capps]

I could say no, but I may say yes eventually after some price drops. I could say no to a console that is essentially a slightly updated Gamecube that is marginally more powerful than the Xbox, but throws in a new control scheme. For the new control scheme and better designed console, they're asking you to pay $199-249. That may be enough for gamers, and myself, to pass on it.

This is in stark contrast to the Xbox 360 and PS3 which are both leaps and bounds beyond their previous console efforts in the area of CPU's, GPU's, etc.

[wakkiwakko]

So, you’re saying gamers, such as yourself, want power and graphics more than they want innovativeness and essentially new/exciting gameplay?

[shotty]

To 4.3,
Well ya isn't that why we replace our computers aswell every few years. We can read emails and type documents on a pentium 3 running windows 2000. More Power = More innovations. Look at Saints Row (no loads, so very much detail i.e the dice in the car actually move according to the car movement, you can hear what others at listening to in their cars when they drive by, etc)

[wakkiwakko]

That really isn't detail. That's just more data coming to the end user. It looks cool, but does it add to the gameplay? It adds the realism. Yes. But not to the gameplay. I don't care for graphics nor gameplay physics... I just want enjoyable games. Mario has always given that. It's what I adore about Nintendo. Even now gamers play Snes/Nes/N64 on their pcs. Long lasting gameplay.

Sure ps2/xbox emulators are long away, but it's where Nintendo is still alive at. That and aracade systems.

It may not give them any money, but it still has given fans something to enjoy. :D

[andy capps]

That's exactly what I'm saying. I don't care for gimmicky gameplay. I don't care for the DS either. I have an NES system and really don't enjoy the old games enough to play them, because once I've played something that looks better, it's hard for me to go back.

Also, we'll see how innovative it is in several years, if third party developers are still making games for it and if people think that it is worth paying $200-250 for a new control scheme. If you want to buy the Wii and enjoy the whole "retro" gaming thing, then that's cool. I will probably take a pass for a while until I see if Nintendo can keep any third party developers this time around in the console cycle, and until the price drops enough for me to consider buying it.

And 4.3 is spot on.

[kewlkat007]

some games will be exciting for 30 mins then youll be poofed..Nintendo has always been innovative, but the last 4 years its been catering to 12 year old which is fine cause I remember playing nintendo in the past with SNES, when they were more variety of games. I got the N64 when they had Goldeneye and zelda. I got the cube well lets see Mario cart, zelda yet again.
With that being said the Wii is looking the same ,I might get it and play like 5 oldschool games unless the remote thingy works well and developers be creative with it, but I can't see Hardcore games on the Wii. Not enough Power exactly. Just just party games and oldschool titles. Yet with the cheap price I def will have one...why nota...

[wakkiwakko]

it's been "catering" to youngsters becuase it's what others want you to belive. Nintendo has always been catering to true gamers. Not gamers that want graphics and realism. Gamers that want true innovative and enjoyable game play. That's all. Sure it may seem kidish or childish but it can be enjoyed by adults around the world. :)

[wakkiwakko]

-

[andy capps]

wakkiwakko- I have absolutely no problem with you, but I can tell that you're a big fan of Nintendo. That's cool man, but I completely disagree with you in almost all aspects of this discussion, so I'll agree to disagree. I hope you enjoy the Wii and all the games that come out. :)

[wakkiwakko]

I will enjoy my wii. :D

[FeralPhoenix]

I have a soft spot for Nintendo, I have owned all their systems, and they're probably the biggest reason Im a gamer today, back then I loved Mario....unfortunately Im a little upset "Big N" because in my oppinion they didn't grow up with me, they didn't evolve....listen Mario was great when I was 10 and he's still great, he's an icon, of course they should continue making Mario for kids to enjoy today, I got no problem with that, but what the hell about the older fans like me that don't enjoy playing those type of games now...yeah I know some older gamers still do, but I don't know any of them....and it seems as if Nintendo is saying if you don't want to play with our lil Mario and friends then ha, ha you know where you can go! Either way its cool, Im not judging anybody, all Im saying is Nintendo has very few offerings that appeal to gamers like me who prefer more mature themed games. I have supported Nintendo through thick and thin, because Im a gamer, I've owned every console they made...I was disappointed with the Gamecube, and now with this new strategy of "Wii are not competing with M$ and Sony" and then the "Wii" being so underpowered, well I just don't see what gamers like me will get out of it. Also Im not trying to be funny but why would they go from a great name like Revolution! to something so comical and childish as "Wii" (sorry but I still hate it) and how can any videogame company show so much weakness by saying: "Wii is meant to be a 2nd console in the household." come on if that doesn't say "Wii have, no balls" what does? Its seems a little naive to say that you dont care about graphics nor gameplay physics because they both enhance the gameplay experience, yes its definitely possible to have great gameplay with bad graphics but adding detail can only help. If nobody liked graphics like you claim, we would be playing Mario, Halo, and MGS with Atari graphics with great gameplay. OK, I went a little overboard, but you know what I mean....excuse me but Im trying to hold back the tears...sniff!, [wipe eyes], sniff!

[wakkiwakko]

Heh.

Mario went from a fantastic sidescroller to a fantastic 3D platformer. The theme hasn’t changed only the view has. I’m a mature gamer as well. I enjoy walking down the beaches of Omaha. I like reading alien texts aboard a living space ship. Y’know? But Mario is still a platformer. A well designed platformer at that. Mario may appeal to youngsters more than it will now to grown gamers, but he’s still that little bugger you fell in love it when you was a tiny tyke. Y’know? If they changed Mario into someone gritty, brutish and burly then the world would be in an uproar. “What have you done to my Mario?” – “What happened to you, Nintendo? Mario used to be so adorable!?”

Y’know? There are gamers that want absolute change but often when they do get it, they’re skeptical. I can give the WW2 shooters scenario. Everyone nowadays is tired of the whole WW2 genre. There’s too many of them. When a non WW2 game for PC comes hauling its ass in, people are going nuts, “What the hell is this? Looks like garbage! Plays like garbage! It’s worthless!” Without actually giving into the mechanics of the game. People first play the game with their eyes. They have to like what they see to enjoy what they’re playing.

That’s why Mario is and always will be that cute little fat plumber who can jump 12 feet high and use his behind to destroy various “creative” enemies.

And come-on… even sunshine was a fun little title. You also got Zelda aimed for maturity. Metroid can be classified as a teen title. Wii sports can be enjoyed by a whole variety of gamers. Y’know? Nintendo has games for all ages. They just may not look it. They’re still enjoyable.

I can pick up prince of Persia (1/3) and play it, but I won’t replay it. It’s a great game with a great story, but it doesn’t really have any replay value. I can pick up my Snes and put in Mario and just play till the sun sets. I don’t know. Maybe the gameplay is just addictive. But it works. And I like that.

The Wii was actually a brilliant move. :D it got so much publicity that it strengthened Nintendo’s hype 90fold. :D And the whole 2nd console strategy? It’s true. Nintendo isn’t in a Race. Nintendo is the three legged dog in a race filled with four legged dogs. You just can’t help but feel sorry for them, but in the long run Nintendo will manage to end the race. And people will cheer for it more than they’ve cheered for the Champion. Because of the struggle it has endured. Sappiness sells movies :D Why shouldn’t it sell consoles?

It’s a secondary console because it doesn’t have the graphics. It doesn’t have the hardware. It just has games. That’s all. If Nintendo would go into the race with four legs… it’d loose and get laughed at. They’ve taken a risk. Being a secondary console it may not sell as it should. But it will sell. And Nintendo hopes it’ll sell well enough to compete with the next gen console release in 2010 or 2011. Though I don’t know where they’re going to go? PS3 can’t go further into upgrades. Neither can X360 (except to compete with PS3’s hardware.) So we could end up seeing WiiHD in a couple years when new consoles should be coming in. :)

[player 1]

Whenever they seem to show pictures of people playing with wii :-) <sorry>
They seem full of smiles swinging their arms all over the place, can you honestly see yourself dancing and prancing round the room like that,
after day 1 - yes
after 2 months - no

Unfortunatly this is the problem with nintendo, theyre probably the best games developer in the world, but theyre a bit gimmicky
Did any one own donkey konga? i thought it was the best game ive played in a long time. for a week. then i returned it.
the wii will be cool but cant anyone see this problem - when you play a game with you friends you want to win, right?
take the base ball game for example, how long do you think it will take for your buddies to realise they could hit the ball harder by holding the wii mote close to their chest and snapping the wrist quickly instead of standing up and swinging your arm full arc?
soon every ones doing it and its not as fun any more (2 player donkey konga anyone? remember you mate who used the pad while you used the drums, and got your arse totally kicked, soon you both used pads.)

Brilliant point by kewlkat007
its true. go on, name the five best nintendo games that you can think of, got them? right.
now minus the RARE games, thats golden eye, and donkey kong (yes DK, is a nintendo idea, but all they used him for is that silly barrel game, rare did all the proper games.)
now take away mario zelda and samus games.
Your number now is either 1 or 0.
This is why the wii wont win, because nintendo are great but only at a few things, like with the N64, these pretty much made up the only good games available,
Nintendo will have to pull some major 3rd party support or come up with some new IP's, or they'll have another Game cube on their hands, and sadly neither of these things will happen.
Theyre not really contenders, because think about Microsoft new IP's for 360
Mass effect, fable, Gears of war, 99 nights, blue dragon enchant arm, too human, crackdown, viva pinata. Nintendo fans will have to soon stop kidding themselves, MS are far ahead and they have RARE now who in 'my opinion' are the only developer in the world as good nintendo.
oh and stop hiding behind phrases like 'at least nintendo are innovative' you dont have to use a new type of pad to be innovative what about gotham TV, and Gears of war speech recognition.

[wakkiwakko]

True. About the idea of gaming can get repetitive and dull. But I don't see why everyone has to stand up to play. I don't see why everyone has to cheat. I mean... I play games for the fun it. With mates it can get quite competitive but that's all in the spirit of fun. What you're talking about (Kongo) ain't gaming. It's revenge after revenge. It's what children do. It's immature.

I've had fun sessions with Konga. No one cheated. No one wanted to cheat. They just played for the fun of it. And it worked. And we had fun.

Wii can be played both standing up and sitting down. You don't have to make a fool of yourself playing it. Those are just ads to entice people. Doesn't mean that's how you have to play. I'll be playing my wiisports on the couch like a normal gamer and maybe when I get a party going we'll move the coffee table and jump around.