Nintendo Wii Information, hardware, games discussion

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

I buy gaming devices(handheld or console) for the games. The Wii looks very promising on that front. I could care less what other system it looks like, but if it has to be brought up I have no problem with a souped up xbox. The best looking xbox games like NGB and DOA:U hold up extremely well.

I have a HDTV, and still see why they aren't supporting it:

1. It cuts costs for developers, and assures they don't do work 90% of the audience won't appreciate(see #3).

2. It makes sure everyone is on a level playing field. The mainstream audience that Sony got last-gen won't be playing on a HDTV.

3. Also keep in mind the 360 has a good amount of games that look like xbox "plus" games on SDTV, the most notables ones I saw are Saints Row, DOA4, NBA 2K6 and PGR3. Nintendo avoids this issue altogether.

4. Nintendo has the highest kid audience of all the manufacturers. You can't expect them to have high-end TV's.

Don’t get me wrong that there are XBOX 1 titles that still hold up to some next gen titles almost 1 year later. It might be ok that the Wii is running at a higher processing speed than the XBOX, but building 480p and 16:9 into games is not that high of a cost. It allows for both HDTV and SDTV customers to enjoy the hardware to it’s fullest potential. It sucks trying to play 4:3 games on a 16:9 TV. Again, the kid audience may be playing on an SDTV, but there is no reason that these games don’t have widescreen and progressive scan support.

The mainstream audience last gen may or may not be playing on an HDTV. There are more and more people jumping on the HDTV bandwagon. Not only is the PS3 going to push the BluRay format further SONY hopes, but it will also push the purchasing of HDTV’s further also. There are many people that bought HDTV’s just to play the 360 on. There are more people heading towards that route as HDTV’s are getting cheaper and cheaper. Come December/January, LCD’s are are going to be 20-30% cheaper due to technology meeting and surpassing demand.

I hear that 360 games on an SDTV look ok, but not too close to what an XBOX 1 game even looked like via component hookups on an HDTV.

I’m ok with the processing power, but if moving forward these games aren’t supporting features like 16:9 and 480p, their really lagging behind. It's not about expecting everyone to have an HDTV, but Nintendo must realize it's time to support both our SDTV and HDTV users.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

The system is non HD. Made for and designed for non HDTV's.......so it would not make any sense to make 16x9 or 480p mandatory. I'm buying one. I could care less about the numbers game. The games I have seen look really good. ANd most important, they look extremely fun. I'm not going to not buy one because of what the system specs look like on paper............If that is the menatlity, you need to sell your 360 because the PS3 is more powerful on paper.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

Well said Candyman. I don't mind the graphics compared to the 360/PS3 but I do mind that they aren't making 480P mandatory. 480P adds a crispness to the graphics that I really love. I do not want to be playing Wii games in 480i.

I must admit the $300 for the system (because I would need to buy a memory card) seems a bit much. I would have liked a memory card to be included.

I was really gung-ho for this machine, but today surprised me. I also think it is a good point that Nintendo is going in a strange direction with these multimedia features. If I want to edit photos I am going to do it on my PC. If I want the news I will watch regular TV.

[dbeth]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

p.s. I don't think you need an iPod to download music to your computer from iTunes. Once it's on the computer you can transfer it onto any players that use Apples format and everybody pretty much does that since they dominate the industry.

Just to clarify (but not to get too far off-topic): iTunes songs come in m4p format (protected AAC) and will ONLY play on an iPod or authorized iTunes computer in that format. That's been the sticking point for all of the lawsuits against Apple: trying to open up that DRM.

Okay....back on topic:

I think it's great that the Wii will come with a collection of games...BUT WHERE'S THE 2ND WiiMOTE?!?!? $199 = jackpot, $249 = iffy (for me)

[Heelfan71]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

Well said Candyman. I don't mind the graphics compared to the 360/PS3 but I do mind that they aren't making 480P mandatory. 480P adds a crispness to the graphics that I really love. I do not want to be playing Wii games in 480i.

I must admit the $300 for the system (because I would need to buy a memory card) seems a bit much. I would have liked a memory card to be included.

I was really gung-ho for this machine, but today surprised me. I also think it is a good point that Nintendo is going in a strange direction with these multimedia features. If I want to edit photos I am going to do it on my PC. If I want the news I will watch regular TV.

so you went form being gung ho about it and having a system that the family can sit down and enjoy, to not wanting one. I'm sure your kids will be saying "Daddy, this isn't progressive scan!!".

Also find it strange people are complaining about the multimedia features. Personally, I like the idea of a web browser. I can browse the net from my tv ! Every game console being launched has internet/multimedia features.

Either way, I have my 360 for my HD games and hard core gaming. Wii will be fun to play with my son. I can guarantee he won't mind its in 480i

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

The system is non HD. Made for and designed for non HDTV's.......so it would not make any sense to make 16x9 or 480p mandatory. I'm buying one. I could care less about the numbers game. The games I have seen look really good. ANd most important, they look extremely fun. I'm not going to not buy one because of what the system specs look like on paper............If that is the menatlity, you need to sell your 360 because the PS3 is more powerful on paper.

I guess you didn't read any of my previous posts to see the type of mentality that I have with regards to PS3, Wii, and 360.

I'm not a graphics whore, but this is 2006. With consoles becoming more powerful with each generation, not having games be 16:9 at the most is a bad decision. Try playing 4:3 games on any widescreen TV, I can stand it to a point, but games can look stretched.

At this point, I can care less of how much more powerful the PS3 is or how much better that the games look than the 360. Both systems are offering 480p and 16:9 at the least with games.

We know that they said the Wii is not HD, but 480p is not HD. HD doesn't start until 720p, so there's a difference between something being in 480i 4:3 vs. 480p 16:9. If games are made to be 480p/16:9, they will look fine on a SDTV that's on 4:3 aspect ratio, but vice versa, games without these specs don't look good on HDTV's.

Heel, again these are my opinions alone. I don't want this to be a war over HD or non-HD for the Wii. This is how I feel on this subject.

Well said Candyman. I don't mind the graphics compared to the 360/PS3 but I do mind that they aren't making 480P mandatory. 480P adds a crispness to the graphics that I really love. I do not want to be playing Wii games in 480i.

I must admit the $300 for the system (because I would need to buy a memory card) seems a bit much. I would have liked a memory card to be included.

I was really gung-ho for this machine, but today surprised me. I also think it is a good point that Nintendo is going in a strange direction with these multimedia features. If I want to edit photos I am going to do it on my PC. If I want the news I will watch regular TV.

Sponge, like I've stated, it's not about the graphics or processor. It's about getting games to run at 16:9 and 480p at the most for people that have an HDTV so that we can use this system properly on our TV's.

I think those that don't have HDTV's don't realize how systems that aren't 480p + 16:9 compatible look on an HDTV. Games can be attrocious on an HDTV if not supporting these specs for games, but would look fine on an SDTV.

My whole thing here is that Nintendo should be supporting both groups even though in the past their target audience has been kids, they have slowly been also steering into the mature audience also.

[pk500]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

Either way, I have my 360 for my HD games and hard core gaming. Wii will be fun to play with my son. I can guarantee he won't mind its in 480i

Exactly. But you're different than me: I want one console, and one console only. And after I spend what I need to get the Wii up to snuff, including a stand-alone DVD player, I'm looking at a price tag very similar to that of the Xbox 360 Premium.

I thought the Wii's big advantage would be price. Guess I was wrong. Nintendo is milking consumers dry with peripheral and download costs just as much as Sony or Microsoft.

Take care,
PK

[Crucial Mike]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

Exactly. But you're different than me: I want one console, and one console only. And after I spend what I need to get the Wii up to snuff, including a stand-alone DVD player, I'm looking at a price tag very similar to that of the Xbox 360 Premium.

I thought the Wii's big advantage would be price. Guess I was wrong. Nintendo is milking consumers dry with peripheral and download costs just as much as Sony or Microsoft.

Take care,
PK

PK...I'm with you about the DVD player. I am counting on my next console to have one...either that, or it would have to be really cheap and include a couple of controllers/games as well. Nintendo had an outside chance of winning my dollars, but looks like they might have fallen a bit short.

Still, in an ideal world I would pick this baby up...looks like fun that's for sure.

[Flawless]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

New Red Steel trailer

http://media.wii.ign.com/media/821/821973/vids_1.html

Looking better.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

The system is non HD. Made for and designed for non HDTV's.......so it would not make any sense to make 16x9 or 480p mandatory. I'm buying one. I could care less about the numbers game. The games I have seen look really good. ANd most important, they look extremely fun. I'm not going to not buy one because of what the system specs look like on paper............If that is the menatlity, you need to sell your 360 because the PS3 is more powerful on paper.

Ditto. Release day owner.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

so you went form being gung ho about it and having a system that the family can sit down and enjoy, to not wanting one. I'm sure your kids will be saying "Daddy, this isn't progressive scan!!".

Also find it strange people are complaining about the multimedia features. Personally, I like the idea of a web browser. I can browse the net from my tv ! Every game console being launched has internet/multimedia features.

Either way, I have my 360 for my HD games and hard core gaming. Wii will be fun to play with my son. I can guarantee he won't mind its in 480i

I am still gung-ho about the system I am not gung-ho about the price. Now I realize that I can probably get by on the internal memory (I hope) but it still seems a bit higher than expected. If you buy a memory card you are up to $300. It seemed like a better value at $200. Plus they said they got rid of the DVD playback to lower the price, but it doesn't seem that way.

BTW if you let your son browse the net in 480i they will be saying Daddy do you have vision insurance

Asking for 480P is far from being a graphics whore. I want clear graphics. I am sorry but I am tired of blur.

[pk500]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

PK...I'm with you about the DVD player. I am counting on my next console to have one...either that, or it would have to be really cheap and include a couple of controllers/games as well. Nintendo had an outside chance of winning my dollars, but looks like they might have fallen a bit short.

Still, in an ideal world I would pick this baby up...looks like fun that's for sure.

Well said, Mike. I agree.

I knew the Wii wouldn't have DVD playback. But I also expected the sticker price to be between $179-199, which would have softened the financial hit of buying a stand-alone DVD player after I sold my Xbox to fund the Wii purchase.

Oh, well. I haven't ruled anything out. But now I really need to get my mitts on a Wii controller at a Wii kiosk. If the thing was priced at $179, I would have bought it sight unseen.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

I am still gung-ho about the system I am not gung-ho about the price. Now I realize that I can probably get by on the internal memory (I hope) but it still seems a bit higher than expected. If you buy a memory card you are up to $300. It seemed like a better value at $200. Plus they said they got rid of the DVD playback to lower the price, but it doesn't seem that way.

Indeed. If you're looking to cut costs, then get rid of that ridiculous Web browser, news feed and weather feed. I would think that a HELL of a lot more consumers would prefer DVD playback than that sh*t.

Take care,
PK

[Misfit]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

When did this topic turn into an Xbox 360 advertisement?!

Anybody who thought the Wii would come in at 200 bucks was being extremely hopeful. All signs have and always have pointed to 250 so no one should be surprised. Arguing that since its not leaps and bounds more powerful than an Xbox doesn't make the machine overpriced. The R&D costs on that controller were likely pretty high and Nintendo needs to compensate for that. They likely aren't making a profit on every Wii console sold.

All the games I've read about (and I'll admit that its only been a handful) will support 16:9. Yeah no HD, but at least it will fit your screen if you're playing on an HD set.

Why are people dissing Nintendo for adding a web browser and phot viewer among other things, yet praising Microsoft (and Sony) for doing the same thing with their machines? Seems silly to me. And anyone who thinks adding a web browser added 50 bucks to the cost of the machine is delusional.

And I whole-heartedly disagree with the notion that the 360 is the machine made for gaming above the others. First of all, the statement is stupid because all three are first and foremost game machines. Companies only add other features to differentiate between the consoles since their likely is going to be little to no difference in performance among today's high-end machines. And even if one machine was more for gaming over the others, clearly it would be the Wii, which is designed specifically with gameplay in mind over everything else.

The Wii isn't a substitute for a 360 or a PS3, its a stand-alone device that offers a different experience. I personally think the Wii looks fun and I feel like I'll get more fun out of one than I would a 360 or a PS3. Those two systems will have some quality titles, but they're all games I've played before just with a fresh coat of paint. The Wii offers a different experience. It liken it to playing Guitar Hero with a regular Dual Shock controller vs the Guitar Controller. Yeah it can be entertaining on a Dual Shock, but the experience is completely different (and infinitely superiour) when played with the special Guitar Controller. I don't care about whats under the hood. Zelda looks splendid and Red Steel isn't hard to look at either. Hell I can still enjoy a Genesis game so visuals are pretty low on my list of necessities. You can pretty much sign me up for a Wii and Zelda on launch, it will be 300 bucks well spent.

[elTodd]

Re: Nintendo Wii (Revolution) Information, hardware, games discussion

Exactly. But you're different than me: I want one console, and one console only. And after I spend what I need to get the Wii up to snuff, including a stand-alone DVD player, I'm looking at a price tag very similar to that of the Xbox 360 Premium.

I thought the Wii's big advantage would be price. Guess I was wrong. Nintendo is milking consumers dry with peripheral and download costs just as much as Sony or Microsoft.

Take care,
PK

Yeah, they are milking you with peripherals and downloads just as much as Sony and MS. But the base price for the console is alot less than either of the other two.

I don't see why people are complaining about the controllers. An Xbox 360 wireless controller is $50, while the Wii is a total of $60(including the nuchuck thing.) I don't see why that is such a big deal.

The games are also cheaper, with the exception of a few 360 titles.

Even after saying all that, I have to agree with the price being a little too steep for a system with the capabilities that the Wii possess.

However, I believe the Wii will be a phenominal gaming machine. It will do for the console market, what the DS did to the handheld market. It will show people how fun games can really be.

I for one am really interested in playing Madden on the Wii. I think it will immerse me in the game like no other football game has before. And I think this will hold true for most of the games on the platform.

Also, I am very excited to see the bowling game included on the Wii Sports. I am an avid bowler, and this may help me practice.

Well, that's my take on the Wii. I hope many of you get the chance to play the system. Whether it be at a friend's house, store, or even buy one yourself. I think many are in for a treat come November, 19th.