Video of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam for Wii [Update 1]

Joystiq, if you take your job seriously don't post youtube videos of games in action. I saw the IGN version, and although it was a lot slower to load, the graphics really impressed me.

For all of you nitwits out there saying "it doesn't seem responsive," take a look at the video again.

The controller is recognizing the tilt as soon as the angle of the controller breaks a certain plain. If your character moved every time the controller shifted just a little, you'd be zigzagging all over the road. Have you ever noticed while driving (for those of you old enough to) that the car doesn't start turning the second you move the steering wheel just a little?

There is "play" built-in on purpose.

I guess Nintendo knew what they were doing when they came up with the slogan "Playing=Believing." They must have known that a bunch of ignorant gamers would criticize what they're SEEING without even TRYING to play. Nintendo has you morons figured out by (ex: they released the final name of the Wii BEFORE E3 because they knew you idiots would focus on that instead of the item itself).

You fanboys (all of you) need to expand your horizons and give something different a chance.

"why do so many people care about graphics?"

Are you saying we should be content with Pong? That color TV is overkill? That hi-def is sheer silliness?

If so, strange.

Looks fun if the controls are engaging rather than frustrating. It all hinges on that.

American Wasteland was sold on free roaming over a huge level seamlessly. The tradeoff for that, as in the GTA games, is graphic quality surrendered for the sake of level size and depth. Give developers the same platform with a gig of RAM and they'll be able to do more. You can never have too much memory so long as the time to fill it doesn't become unendurable.

As for the size of the Wii-mote (yes, I will continue using that phrase no matter how much a certain site detests it) there are ways to fix it for those of us who like a bigger device. I'm one of those who liked the original Xbox controller and bought some extras to insure I'd always have one. The GBA was too small for my hands without cramping, plus it Lacked a rechargeable battery. I killed two bird with one stone by getting the Intec rechargeable battery add-on that also adds some PS1-ish wings to the GBA. Worked great.

"Joystiq, if you take your job seriously don't post youtube videos of games in action. I saw the IGN version, and although it was a lot slower to load, the graphics really impressed me."

Well they post that b/c that's all they can post. Unlike Joystiq, IGN is a real media site with a reputation and has the resources to makes high quality videos and the storage for it.

"Are you saying we should be content with Pong? That color TV is overkill? That hi-def is sheer silliness?

If so, strange."

If you are going to go that far back just to TRY and make your point then that means you have no counter-argument. Plus if you're trying to say that, then I can go an say you make it seem like spending $500+ on a CRT widescreen TV (or $1000+ on a flat screen TV) & $300+ for a good surround sound system makes sense.

"Are you saying we should be content with Pong? That color TV is overkill? That hi-def is sheer silliness? "

I really can't stand when people go to extremes. Seriously, Pong? Colour TV? Give me a flipping break!! When people ask about the importance of graphics, they are talking about the use of graphics as the ubiquotous determinant of whether a game is good or not.

The graphics don't have to be super amazing for a game to be good, that's basically all folks are saying. And we're talking about Tony Hawk for crap's sake! The game itself is not about graphics, and these graphics are very appropriate. Good god, the people at Joystiq, including the author of this blog entry are really starting to piss me off.

The stupidity of people's comments and ignorance baffle me sometime. I've already said this before, but people *DO* have negative preconceptions of anything related to Nintendo and such. This is the same attitude people had towards 2D games when 3D games were gaining popularity, and where are those 2D games now?!

We all lose thanks to ignorant attitues that persist in the gaming community. We've seen some great gaming companies and genres go down the toilet because of the narrow-minded, cool-factor, arrogant attitudes that many gamers possess today. This game looks fun, has decent graphics, with a nifty new control scheme that feels different to the tired-old joypad. We should be excited to see the efforts put into making new games. Instead, people reinforce the same stuff that comes out time and time again. Don't get me wrong, supporting remakes and sequels are fine and all, especially for a good franchise, but I get the feeling that people have lost the passion that got them into this hobby in the first place.

I mean, why do you play videogames? To show off or to have fun?

Toys for Bob should stop making stupid games like this and get working on a sequel to Star Control 2.

How does tilting the controller, as opposed to moving your thumbs, make the game more fun?

Because it helps you get more involved in the game. You all know that when you play racing games your body sways all over the place and when you play fighting games you twitch around with your characters moves.
Now the wii lets you turn all those natural responsive movements into actual gameplay.

Also, everybody watch the video again. Is it just me or does he look like he's using shoulder buttons?

Truth: The Wiimote will either be too sensitive or not sensitive enough.

It's the big problem with this kind of controllers, they are impossible to get right for more than a few games.

But, hey, it's a revolution. (circa the '80s, when this kind of control scheme was first tried)

Probably already been answered but just in case.

The controller had a wire because Wii dev kits use wire for controllers. Why ? We use them 8 hours+ a day when we make games, so using battery wouldn't be smart.

The controller seemed smaller because, it seemed like one of the first Nintendo sent to game developpers. I work for one and saw two types of controllers. One was like the one in the video, gray and small, the other one was black and the same size has the white one we saw everywhere.

Looks lame... *yawn*

Maybe I expect too much.

What an abysmal looking experience, yuk!

If graphics really dont count why does new consoles come out. they couldve easily made a wii mote for the GC and just continued with that...Im sick of people whining that graphics dont matter. This damn generation!... When SNES blew NES graphics outta the water we all clapped and on up to now, Now all of a sudden graphics dont matter. Thats a slap in the face to games like ninja gaiden and god of war....im sorry but i dont miss playing madden with pixels for feet and flat crowds. I feel good that the audience claps independantly....Hmm i guess i dont need this 7800gt or X2 in my pc either...I couldnt believe my eyes when the 1st DOA launched /w xbox the graphics were mind blowing.....Oh and joystiq bashes every console, i keep hearing this whole bias thing, funny thing is sony nintendo and mfst fanboys are ALL saying it. We need someone who dont buy the hype of anyone....I want someone giving me info to KEEP IT REAL!!!! Tell me that the graphics suck and that controls are wonky if this is a launch title there isnt much time to fix this at some point they will have to stop development and start pressing it...

I was waiting for bugs bunny to jump out......Thats probably how its gonna look

@55
I saw this video originally from 4colorrebellion. They directly linked to the IGN site. I think that would have been the best thing for Joystiq to do also.

BTW 4cr rules so much!

"why do so many people care about graphics?"

Yeah, that's exactly right. On the same note, why do people always expect new digital cameras to have a higher megapixel count? I mean, come on... 3 megapixels was fine. Unless you have a PC with over 800 x 600 resolution, you can't really tell the difference anyway.

If you paid $300 for a camera that took 3 megapixel quality photos 2 years ago, you should be perfectly happy paying the same price for a camera that takes 3 megapixel quality photos now.

"If graphics really dont count why does new consoles come out"

New technology is a whole lot more than just better graphics my friend. As stated before, I am pissed at the whole focus on graphics and such that today's gamers have. You mention SNES? It introduced shoulder pads, extra buttons, and a much more ergonomic controller which games benefitted from. It introduced battery saves, better audio, more memory and such. Yes, there were even graphics improvements too. What did all these improvements do? Allow better games. By ignoring all the improvements of the SNES and focussing on how the snes blew the nes away because of "graphics" is just so narrowminded. The SNES blew the NES away because the games were better, not just the graphics. Everything was improved: how you saved, how it sounded, how it controlled, how it looked, New genres, etc.

Seriously, nowadays many gamers focus on graphics and content, but the fun factor of gameplay has taken a back seat. What do we get when people focus on graphics only? Customization, unlockables, integration and regurgitation. All we are getting is either realism or some gotta shoot/collect/unlock/level-up them all games. There are times when games seem as uninspiring as TV shows. Seriously, I can't help but relate lots of games of today to Reality television shows. Many are just testosterone exercises than anything else.

Anyhow, back to this game. I am not a Tony Hawk fan at all. No matter how good they make the graphics, I will not purchase these game. It's the gameplay that would change my mind on such games, and this game looks much more interesting than those of the past. I'm still not at all sold on it even though it seems fun, but it definitely is an improvement over the other games from my perspective.

"If graphics really dont count why does new consoles come out."

Because consumers and younger gamers are spoiled and want the latest multimedia features and advancements in FMV?
That said, I don't think any of the consoles are worth their prices at the moment.

Getting the Wiimote to do a D-pad's job is lame.
I bet money comes into having Downhill Jam as an exclusive.
It's that obvious that this game, can, and SHOULD be played on something precise instead on something that filters your movements.

Amped 3, or Project 8 owns this, which isn't even from Neversoft.

@V1L3
"Yeah, that's exactly right. On the same note, why do people always expect new digital cameras to have a higher megapixel count? I mean, come on... 3 megapixels was fine. Unless you have a PC with over 800 x 600 resolution, you can't really tell the difference anyway."

Maybe this will come as a shock to you, but image quality on a camera is No1 priority in most cases. Here's the reason: it's because its job is to take photos, you know images. Try and mull that over in your mind for while. This not apply in the same sense for a console, its first priority is to offer fun.

Nambits right, we're dealing with a bunch of idiots here.

It's just like a game you might play in an arcade. It looks fun.

The sensitivity of a controller is mostly a software issue, thanks to input accelerators. There are 2000DPI mice available for the PC, but some FPS games are twitchy as hell (Half Life 2, for example). Why? Because developers compensate for lag between graphic frames by "guessing" where the controller will be before the next frame is rendered. It will take a while for developers to make the Wii controller "feel" right, but I doubt sensitivity will be a major issue.

What really bothers me about this video, is that this game just sucks -- regardless of the controller. It's sluggish and uses bog-standard design. I'm also not sure why they are using the Wiimote as a steering wheel, instead of an upright balance. That's the same thing as hitting D-pad left and right. It hardly utilizes the controller to its potential. Next game, please.

BTW, at what point did graphics and playability become mutually exclusive? The reason why Wii is underpowered is because Nintendo wants a higher profit margin on hardware. Deal with it.

* "Though, honestly, it looks no worse than Tony Hawk's American Wasteland on the 360. Judge it all for yourself."

People are judging the quality of graphics based on a badly compressed Internet video? Come on, Joystiq.

that does not look like a brilliant innovation to current gaming, nor does it look anymore 'fun' than any other similar game, and nor does it have nex gen graphics. i dunno, but a game like that i would prefer to use the analouge stick.

the ds has better graphics than gba, the generation gap is there with the graphics. the wii however does not have nex gen graphics, and is effectively a gamecube with a new controller. graphics have always been the key defining factor of a nex gen console, otherwise why did people buy ps2 after ps1, or snes after nes etc. and when it is placed next to the ps3 in shops in november, people are going to notice the difference in graphics. after playing ps2, gamcube and xbox for 6 years, they are going to witness similar graphics on the wii.

i personally do not see the appeal of jumping around the room after a hard day playing tennis, or tapping the controller to play wii golf. i might play these for around 7 minutes and then get bored. however, i do see myself playing gran turismo 5 after a hard day, in a relaxed sitting position. i can do that for hours, and have been doing.

no the snes didnt sell because the games were better, it sold because it was a new product, a better product, a far superior product to older version.

currently, to this date, the best selling game is super mario brothers on the nes.

'BTW, at what point did graphics and playability become mutually exclusive? The reason why Wii is underpowered is because Nintendo wants a higher profit margin on hardware. Deal with it.'

- that is a respectful statement and i would like to add to it.

gran turismo is a game which recently mainly focuses on two things, realistic gameplay and realistic graphics. gran turismo 3: a spec is the best selling console 3d game and the best selling game of the last generation. gran turismo 5 has a chance of doing something similar, a gran turismo launching close to after the launch of a new console and 'should' utalize the power well. what this tells me is people do want graphics and gameplay, and also they are satisfied with what is happening. nintendo fans are almost arguing the wii will have 'better' gameplay than ps3. graphics are a part of gameplay, gran turismo 1-2-3-4 all have similar gameplay but very different in graphics.

"On the same note, why do people always expect new digital cameras to have a higher megapixel count?"

...because some people like to make prints. Sensor resolution only matters when you want to make large prints (8x10 and up).

its funny that people still believe you have to be all around the room when playing wii. i mean, thats ps3s job isnt it? we all saw it at e3. didnt see anyone playing wii do that.

anyway, you can relax just as much when you are playing wii, since you can relax both hands in your lap, and do smooth moves. you can ofcourse run around the house if thats what you want, but its not necessary at all.

New Wiimote Buttons Being Used In Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Video?

http://digg.com/gaming_news/Wii_New_Wiimote_Buttons_Being_Used_In_Tony_Hawk_s_Downhill_Jam_Video_2

-->"Getting the Wiimote to do a D-pad's job is lame."

So you've played the game then right? Oh wait...you haven't.

I played the demo for Excite Truck at E3 and it plays basically the same way and guess what? It was MORE fun to play the game that way. Just b/c the status quo has been "use the d-pad (or analog stick)" for years doesn't mean it has to ALWAYS be done that way.

First Sonic now Tony Hawks.... both using the Wii controller EXACTLY how the PS3 pad will be used.

How Ironic.

Is it possible that Sony have a more REALISTIC idea on how games on a FLAT screen should be controlled?

True...except that is ALL the PS3 controller will be able to do. The PS3 conroller doesn't have the ability to be used in various styles like the Wii remote can.

holy shit i saw two games and now i know nintendo will be teh d00med! ps3 is way better and the controller is supzorzcool! YEAH!

So playing a crappy game, but using the wiimote, makes it more fun?
What about folks (like me) who have no problem sitting still why playing games? How does moving the controller (as opposed to my thumbs) make the game more enjoyable?
You are still playing the same game, just controlling it a little differently.

I may have not played this exact game, but i have playeamped, ssx, rippin riders, and tony hawk, so i have a pretty good idea of how the genre plays.

There may be some genre's where controlling your character/movement with physical motions might increase enjoyability. But assuming that integrating physical movements into all games will increase their enjoyability is ridiculous.

@ nambit

I agree with you 100 percent with the exception that I'm excited about the game. I'm a big SSX fan and when I first saw the game I thought, "SSX on concrete? Nice!"

Graphics-wise, I'm fine with what is presented in the (IGN) video. Like many others have stated (yourself included) it's more about the controls and track layout. Graphics are great and all but I've seen too many 360/PC games that have awesome graphics but are horrid to play.

One thing I noticed from the trailer and IGN video is that game is running at a smooth frame-rate with a great draw distance. This is important to me as well.
Gaming for too many people isn't about having fun any more. It's more about trying to compensate for shortcomings and personal issues. How else can you explain the constant mentality that a game isn't good unless it's uber violent? Or the belief that a game isn't worth playing if it doesn't have blood in it?
We live in a generation of idiots that have forgotten why we play in the first place.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this an early build of the Wii controller playing an early build of a game on an early build of the console hardware? And what are we trying to learn from this?

- Graphics: Tony Hawk games have NEVER been a good measure of a system's graphical ability. This game looks to be just shy of the 360's American Wasteland, so I'm content with graphics. Go watch the IGN video if you disagree. 8/10 for visuals

- Gameplay: It looks okay. Maybe it'll be fun. Arcade-style gameplay, fast paced, fluid motion. Worth a try. 6/10 in gameplay as it stands now.

I don't see the problem here. It's pretty much par for the course for a Tony Hawk game.

SilverDogg,

Whats your problem? Do you have a speach impediment?

My point if you couldn't see wasn't to bash Nintendo and be a Sony fanboy. I'm looking forward to trying the Wii as much as everyone. But if all we are going to get from thirdparty developers is a simple tilt control, then whats the point? Its starting to get how I expected. Only Nintendo will TRUELY use the full capabilities of Wiimote.

My other point is how the Wiimote seems designed for use within a truely 3D immersive environment. i.e. Virtual Reality style. For example, Your playing Zelda, you fire your arrow and hear the noise next to you as if you are really holding the bow..... but what you can SEE is on a screen 6'+ in front of you on a flat screen! so you hear and act in real 3D space... but the execution appears on a flat screen in front of you. Its just not right. Having a more simple tilt control is less enthusiastic, but more realistic to the limitations of screen visuals at the moment.

I personally believe the wiimote is too far ahead of its time. Its something that needed to come out 5 or 10 years from now with a truely immersive 3D system. Maybe Nintendo already have a plan for a virtual reality style system... well, actually maybe not... remember the Virtual Boy? So its catch 22. I hope they can be a bit more adventurous at least with their next system (And not simply take last gen tech and shove it in a new box with a fancy controller).

My fears are simply coming true. 3rd parties are playing safe. And its no good saying "But they wil get used to it!" because then its too late. People wont be interested anymore. It will be a funny gimmik that was nice to try out on the cool Nintendo games. but generally the PS3 pad will appeal more to the general masses. And yeah, its two games at the moment... but who's to say its not going to be more!? Hopefully its a really bad coincedence... but up to now, how many games HAVE actually been shown?? not many. The odds right now arent good. If it continues then people are going to say "Hang on, this machine is just like a PS3 but with incredibly BAD graphics... ahh.. thats why its so cheap, you get what you pay for". I bloody hope not, but you see my point?

GSI.

Yep, your right, but as I said, what if there are only a handful of Nintendo games that use the FULL potential of Wiimote, and the rest just use it like a PS3 pad.... its then not really a standard is it? its a novelty. I simply think that Sony have the more realistic (and admittedly more boring and conservative) approach to current limitations on visual interfaces (the flat TV screen).

Nintendo have everything to prove with this new idea (Something alot of you forget), the last thing they want is for third partys to just play safe.

Alot of you guys nark me, including most of the Joystiq staff, this needs to be mentioned... its TOO damn familiar to be ignored and passed off as "Well its only two games up to now". You need to jump off the non stop train to Wiiville, find a nice quiet grassy hill somewhere, relax, and take a look around.

Based on what I saw (and tried) at E3, there were plenty of games that tried various ways of using the Wii controller.

Based off what Sony showed (which was ONE game), all you could do was tilt and twist left/right to make your ship in Warhawk fly and land. Granted it was kind of neat (I did try it), but it didn't "wow" me like the Wii demos did.

There have been PLENTY of Wii demos shown with various types of gameplay. But based on what I saw for Sony, they've only shown ONE game that used the tilt feature.

dis-ap-point-ing

Yet another nail goes into the coffin of my once unwavering love of all things Nintendo.

...and yet another person that doesn't understand that this is on OLD development hardware with an OLD version of the controller running an OLD build of the game.

I'll state it again. One thing I notice about the video is the smoothness of the animation. Draw distance is another. The Wii-mote can probably be tilted a little bit to accomodate natural body movement before a threshold is crossed where it starts turning the character onscreen. The game looked as responsive as any racing sim I've played but with smoother animation and draw distance.

This is an arcade game. Realistic or better graphics wouldn't make this game any more fun. If they were going to go that far with the graphics, then they'd have to show all the blood and broken bones you'd have from a spill. This game is about fun, not photo-realism. That's probably why the 360 Tony Hawk game doesn't look much better. As soon as you put a realistic guy in there, some 7 year old is going to hop on a skateboard and go down the San Francisco hills and get himself killed.

We don't need him mom going on TV afterwards and saying "it's that damn Tony Hawk game that made him do this." We get enough of that crap from Jack Thompson.

I've had big hopes for the Nintendo Wii, as I'd really love this industry to change from the perception that really, expensive and new hardware is where next generation gaming is supposed to be, to fun and innovative games, and not necesarilly the best-tech for next generation.

But, honestly... after watching this video, I'm starting to lose hope. Not for the Wii, but for the developers. I'm sure the Wii has an exceptional amount of potential, but I'm not sure whether developers can unlock it, if not, they'd be using existing technology that's been around for two decades (and is present on the Playstation 3). If developers want to develop for the Wii for a 'new experience', then make it new.

I'm not saying it won't be fun, or that old technology isn't fun, but this video certainly doesn't prove either of them incorrect.

I dont care how old the game build is, it looks terrible and beside's nobody has said anything about how tiring that really looks... just imagine having a fever and being bed sick and deciding to play the wii... no really imagine it! lol

GSI,

How many of the Various ways the Wiimote was being used at E3 were Nintendo made games? I don't know exactly to be honest as I wasn't there. I'm going by what appears to be coming out of the woodwork online...

I'm jumping the gun a little as it is still only two thirdparty games, but these types of "Facts" don't stop people getting over exaggerated when its Sony. And you said you saw one game using the tilt control for PS3.... but Sony arent pushing their controller as the BIG thing for their machine, and it was only unleashed at E3'06 as well, Nintendo unleashed their control LAST year at E3'05 with ZERO games. Wiimote is the ONLY thing going for Wii on a technical standpoint. Of course we can look forward to Nintendo's home grown games.... but again, thats where I say they have ALOT to make up on the past TWO generations (Simply not enough games for mass market, and a hell of a lot of disappointing (Mario Sunshine), late (Zelda) and generally bad games(Starfox).

Being the kings of the Handheld market doesn't automatically make them king of the Console market. Its a whole different ball game. If Nintendo take HALF as much of the market in console land that PSP has taken from Nintendo in handheld land, then i'll be impressed. People knock PSP, but at the end of the day its come into Nintendo's 15 year domination and taken a HEFTY chunk of the market. People expected Sony to kill Nintendo in the handheld arena, but those people are FOOLS to think a successful product thats almost the standard for the market can be jousted in one generation. The same applies to Sony in consoles. They might loose market share this time around, but there is no way Nintendo will kill them.

So anyway, If third parties are just going to make lamer looking PS3/360 games that control almost the same as the PS3 is expected, then whats the big deal with Wii? Again it will be simply the Nintendo games. How many BIG Nintendo branded games come out a Year? And they are making BIG promises, but how many REALLY GOOD games came out on Game Cube in its whole life? Exactly. Never mind "But they say they are REALLY going to change that now, HONEST!" Funny, I heared that last generation too.

If it wasn't for Gameboy, Nintendo would be dead now. R.I.P. Gumpei Yokoi, you kept the big N alive. Shame your last invention did so badly, but I think your old tech will be back again one day in a more sucessful guise.

These phallocentric tweens (although I bet some of them are sadly much older) are overly concerned with what is better and what is worse. The whole concept of attacking something else comes from inner fears and insecurities about the self. It's OK people. You have big penises. No need to compensate with your console bashing, be it Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony. Wii's success or failure will be based on the "Try Before You Buy" scheme. If people like the way it plays, they'll buy it. If not, then they won't. If I were to see someone's hands playing Smash Brothers or something, I wonder if I would be like, "Man, that looks so unresponsive." Heh heh.

I think a lot of people are starting to get WiinessEnvy™.

"If it wasn't for Gameboy, Nintendo would be dead now."

I dunno about that. The N64 and Gamecube both made money...and in fact the Gamecube was making money before the Xbox and PS2 were.

Tonh Hawk 3 was the reason I bought a PS2, 4 was good (although coupled with a poor reward system that let you get what you want too easily), and after that it was mostly downhill (no pun intended) before I took a break from the series.

That said, I'm looking forward to Project 8...but not this. Sorry Wii fanboys, but while I plan on picking up the console ASAP, I'm not excited over sloppy-looking third party games like this. Stick to defending the stuff that will actually turn out awesome (like the next Wario Ware! Woooooo new Wario Ware!)

Well technically the Tony Hawk series has NEVER been about the "latest and greatest" when it came to graphics. It was always about the fun of the game and it's multiplayer value.

Any chance people can comment on the actual game instead of doing the usual 'I hate this console cos you like it' crap?

The game looks pretty lame to me. I've never been a fan of Tony Hawk games, but that never to stopped me getting sucked in for hours trying to get that last mission finished before putting it down. The fact that there was always so much to do made it great value for money, but a racer with 8 locations with pretty much defined paths sounds like its gonna have a pretty short playtime. If they go the PGR route (like it sounds) there will be more to do, but it still sounds limited somewhat.

Hope they prove me wrong, my missus can't get enough of Tony Hawk games and the idea of using the tilt in the Wii for balance sounds pretty neat to me

: D