Wii's Zelda charms non-gamer, Wii Sports, others fail

> - you talk a lot about which games suck, which are lame, etc... in all honesty, have you played any/all of these games you seem to be such an expert on?

OMG

ONE JOURNALIST DIDN'T LIKE SOMETHING

IT MUST SUCK

"...narrative lifted her veil of skepticism; a sense that her movements and the characters on screen were combining to create a coherent story."

Please note that it was the fact that her movements being tied to the games action created the strong narrative. Most of the anti-Wii comments above are stating that it was just the strong storytelling that she like and not the controls at all. Wrong, read it again.

This game is going to be fantastice regardless of whether who play the GC version or the Wii one. But, they will be different. It's dumb to suggest otherwise. We all want to feel more immersed into the story, whether we're reading a good book, watching a movie, or playing a game. Motion sensing tech that is well applied will do that for a lot of people. Some people, however, will feel more immersed by a more realistic environment granted by the extra HP of the Xbox 360 or PS3. So what. You know neither Nintendo, Sony nor Microsoft have ever given me (or anyone else here I'd wager) a dime. Brand loyalty I understand, but this hating of the competition is just stupid. I like Nintendo's systems, always have. I also play my friend's X360 and I'm sure I'll play another friend's PS3. Who cares which one wins, as long as the competition keeps them all working their hardest to get my dollars.

"People Enjoy One Of The Most Popular Gaming Franchises Of All Time"

It seems like a no-brainer, but I suppose in this "include everyone" world Nintendo wants to build, that obvious fact can get lost. Perhaps we've forgotten that gamers aren't some rare sub-breed of humanity, but rather just normal people who had the time/energy/money/geekiness to pick up a once-eclectic hobby. If WiiSports and WarioWare can bring non-gamers into the fold, great. But it will ALWAYS be the truly great titles like Zelda that keep them here.

The very fact that she picked up the controller in the first place proves to me that nintendo are moving in the right direction. I think it shows that the way the Wii is being marketed is every bit as revolutionary as the system itself.

It's not about the controller; the controller is just a product of Nintendo's new business model. Nintendo have done all they can to set the Wii apart from the competition and in doing so have managed to dodge the stigmas that non-gamers have always attached to game consoles.

As Nintendo's new plan begins to take shape I really am beginning to think that Nintendo are about to spark somthing that goes far beyond simply selling more consoles than its competitors. If Nintendo succeed we're in for a fully fledged cultural phenomenon.

why the hell did i say Nintendo so much in that last post? I gotta start proof-reading...

Nice to hear. Let's hop that Nintendo hear that, and stop making or heading down the "Wii is a party game machine witih stupid damn graphics, and dum kiddie themes". It's fine in small amounts, or when I'm partying with mates on occasion, but Wii NEEDS big titles- both 1st and third party. The ones on other platforms, shooters, RPG's, adventures!

Ohhh, I thought she was just a random person on the street. Aparently she is a journalist for the BBC News site. That makes more sense.

I think Nintendo is missing the mark. They want to reach out to non-gamers with their, what was it called? "blue-ocean" strategy?, and it isn't looking good. Nintendo gave up on the people that play games are wants to go after those that dont. All they got from this non-gamer was "she wont be so quick to turn her nose-up to her little brother when he askes her to play a game" That isnt a new customer.

It just looks like the whole gamecube scenario is comming back. Where they have a few Great AAA Awesome Games, and little to nothing else. I keep hearing GREAT 3rd party support but I dont see it. Ubisoft is supplying some large number of games! What about the other companies? The Wii has been riding the hype train since it hit in E3, what a horrible time to derail... right before release.

Mode7,

I think you're right. There is a totally different feel to this launch as opposed to previous ones. I've spoken to a lot of people who traditionally play M rated games that are looking to pick this up as a second system. The 80 year-old President of the company I work for asked me to order him one. He thinks it will be a great way to play with his grandchildren. The price is right to be placed as a second system because it offers something totally different at a radically lower price than its competition. That's a pretty good model. I often wondered about the wisdom of having three systems that all have pretty equal abilities. Offering different systems gives people a reason to buy more than one, outside of just getting one for exclusives.

Perhaps the appeal of Wii Sports and Warioware is best felt in a group - playing and also watching, which would reduce it's appeal to a solo non-gamer, and could be quite off putting.

As for Zelda - well that's just a magical fairytale in the very best sense of the term.

Cheer

SuicideNinja,

Yeah I see your point but, as someone said before she's obviously gonna feel like that surrounded by a film crew.

And yeah, like you say it may be a little fantastical to believe that Nintendo is gonna save the industry but at least they recognise that the industry may well NEED saving at some point in the near future, or at the very least changing.

Even the most die hard Sony or Microsoft fan should be applauding them for at least trying something new. Credit where credits due and all that.

Mode7, I totally agree with you. I don't think Nintendo is out to "save" the industry, but the whole "blue ocean" thing is a very valid development and marketing strategy. I just think it's great to move gaming in a different direction, especially with the interface itself. The Wii complements the PS3 and the 360 very well - it will definitely be my primary console, but I can see it as a secondary console for others. Either way, it promises to do stuff totally unique from PS360.

As far as the games go, what I don't want is warmed over ports with little to no thought put into using the Wii-mote in interesting ways. Developers should see the controller as a challenge to them to use their creative juices. The potential for the wiimote/nunchuk to increase immersion is tremendous.

I think the second+ generation of wii games will have more 1:1 mapping of controller movements to in-game activity. The improvement in graphics prowess will be _relatively_ less, given that the hardware is already familiar to developers. The key will be a strong first year of console sales - a strong installed base will enable third parties to put significant resources into software development.

Maybe she's just an immature-typical-hot-girl-oh-my-god-people-are-watching-me-better-look-like-somebody-off-the-O.C.-quick-idiot. Read the interview on Time magazine. It's a much more mature article. She was embarrassed? What kind of sensible person over 18 gets embarrassed anymore? Maybe they should make a game that uses gestures to wipe the tears from your eyes to show what a crybaby you are. Holy shit. These are the kind of people I want to spit at to fully vent my frustration at their insipid stupidity. Grow the fuck up!

So, what happens after Zelda is released? A new version of Myst? Hey, knock it all you want, but Myst (ie - graphics fest with endless pixel-hunting) was a huge sales success among casual gamers.

In perfect honesty, I was a bit surprised in the beginning that a non-gamer would click for something which so much depth. But with a bit of thought, it's quite logical actually. They're not people who haven't got a clue about game mechanics but those who're willing to give a try wish to know what makes gamers love video-games so much.

Zelda is a game built to obtain a certain magnetism thanks to its universe and story (as compared to Trauma Center, where gameplay is the core of the game). Perhaps we could attribute this success with the basic concept of an RPG: a story in which you're involved; it's perhaps more familiar to the non-gamer because a lot of people like stories (like books, movies, etc).

And well, as for Wario Ware... well, it isn't any fun if there's no multiplayer involved. =P

Nintendo more than ANY OTHER COMPANY in gaming will be able to break the barriers that separate gameplayers from those who see the pastime as bizarre.

The Wiimote control is the key to unlock the door of this barrier. It is the pickaxe to chip away from that wall of separation.

But never forget it is MORE than the interface that pulls the non-gamer closer. It is the type of content Nintendo delivers that does the rest.

Those who think Wii will fail or be a moderate success or mild success or just a maintainer are foolish.

I say it all the time. Wii is the Future of Gaming.
Bar none. It will totally redefine what gaming is & who comprises its audience.

The old order is about to crumble.
In the 8th generation, the answer will be most clear as Nintendo led the 7th from start to finish due to their brainstorms with DS & Wii.

There is no middle ground.
Wii won't simply be a success.
It will be an unheralded phenomenon.
I'm one of the few who is willing to accept this reality without caution or trepidation. I don't asterisk my words with careful or half-hearted terms or sentiments. I say it before it becomes popular to say.
I am ready for the change & I welcome it with open arms.

I want gaming to expand & involve EVERYONE.
I want those who don't understand videogaming to have their minds changed with what Wii & DS will do.

Videogaming is NOT a hobby of social misfits, scraggly goateed college-aged 20-somethings, awkward obnoxious teens, or tiny kids in the playground.

It is NO DIFFERENT than card-playing, chess-playing, puzzle solving or any other type of gaming or diversion that exists with proper respect in the culture.
It is for all those aforementioned groups & MORE. Any 'race', any age, any gender, any background, any profession, any social status, any economic status.
It is for EVERYBODY & ANYBODY who wants it.

Nintendo is the only one who will make this happen.
God Bless 'Em!
John Lucas