Wii Sports wins TIME's game of the year
Wii Sports edged out Gears of War, even Zelda: Twilight Princess, for TIME's 2006 "game of the year" award. More fascinating, however, is the apparent split when dubbing a best game of 2006. Some say Wii Sports FTW while others (including the Joystiq consensus) say Gears FTW. Could you compare a more different approach in making games?
Calling a spade a spade: Wii Sports is simple -- almost caveman like -- fun, slim on features though it effectively leverages motion-based play. Strangely, it keeps pulling people in as existing owners continue to play the "tech demo" as some call it. Gears, on the other hand, is a proven shooter short on originality. It could be considered a case study on how to make an engaging shooter for a core gaming audience (dependable gameplay, jaw-dropping visuals, multiplayer, etc).
So if this isn't good ole fashioned subjectivity, it's almost as if the non-gamer line is being drawn right in front of our eyes. "It freaks me out, baby! Yeah!"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jon @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:04PM
expect a wii sports 2 in the future with more sports, more features, and more detailed gameplay... nintendo won't pass up the opportunity on an almost guaranteed success... and let the "tech demo" evolve into an absolutely stunning game
Vince @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:05PM
maybe, just maybe, the cultural phenomenon known as the nintendo wii will usher in some much needed originality into the stagnating industry.
vidGuy @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:09PM
A choice fit for a non-gaming audience. Wii Sports isn't going to win any best-game-design or tearjerker-storyline awards, but it does its job of pulling in non-gamers extremely well. The disc has guaranteed at least 20 new gamers from my circle of friends alone.
College-age girls, parents, grandparents, lost-gamers and hardcore-gamers, anyone and everyone can love Wii Sports. I was surprised when I found myself playing it with friends more than I played Zelda by myself.
rodney @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:16PM
I am not a gamer, and never owned and Xbox, or PS2.
I camped out and got a Wii for the kids, and have had so much fun with it!! And, i rented 6 games for them to play, and they kept favoring the Sports game....
Jake @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:19PM
I know some non-gamers that are addicted to Wii Sports. I prefer Gears but enjoy both Wii Sports and Gears quite a bit. It is obviously impossible to really compare the two. It doesn't surprise me that Time chose Sports, though, because they usually have a more "non-gamer" slant since they aren't a gaming news community.
When it really comes down to it, Wii Sports is the most influential game of last year, because non-gamers really truly do get into that game. Trust me, I have witnessed it several times. Whether they are still into it and buying their own systems over the next few years is anyone's guess. But you throw a non-gamer onto that game and their chance of enjoying it over anything else in all of gaming is very high. Actually, I see Wii Sports as our (gamers) secret weapon in converting the masses to the dark side (people who play video games more than watching TV).
For me gaming is what I do when there is nobody around. In that scenario, I would much rather kick back and hop online in Gears on my HDTV with surround headset playing with "friends" than stand there and bowl a few frames. ;)
Earl @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:20PM
This is HUGE for Nintendo! Yes, Time magazone is not a "gamer's magazine." I am willing to bet that Time has more subscribers/readers than any gaming magazine. This is just going to keep the Wii momentum going.
Jake @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:27PM
Game reviews do nothing to get non-gamers to drop $300 to get set up Wii style. Much like crack, they need to try some at a friend's house first and get hooked before they open the wallet and get their own.
ill trooper @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:31PM
Yes, I liked Gears of War more, personally, and Vegas more than that. But there is no denying (in my mind) that Wii Sports is a more important release in the scope of things - everyone that stops by wants to play the Wii, friends that don't know a 'gear' from a 'war' on any other system are texting me on my phone saying they want to go find a Wii, and the Wii that we got my girlfriend's mom for Christmas is seeing a lot of use as a 'tennis workout machine' by her every night since the 25th.
While game magazines and hard-core gamers might go the 'Gears of War' route, Time picking 'Wii Sports' is a better indicator of the broad splash the Wii is having, and what it means to the average person. Wii: Can't Knock The Hustle!
bigd7387 @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:32PM
This is a Great example why people can buy a 360 & Wii, better game play & less money than a PS3.
kiwi @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:33PM
It's interesting because this is really the first time there's been two distinct gaming systems (well, three, but two are similar)
Before, all the systems did basically the same thing... and focused on the same people...
Now, you have two systems that still appeal to those people, and one system that's branching out to those "non gamers" or "casual gamers" or whatever else you want to call them. It's a lot less intimidating a system, so it's easier for them to pick up.
It all depends what you're looking for. Of course most of the people who read joystiq or other gaming sites will probably favor the "traditional" systems... after all, they're visiting gaming websites, so they're obviously fairly serious about gaming.
But, to the common person, the person reading Time, for example, the Wii is more appealing...
Blackmoon @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:34PM
Well this clearly proves the people at TIME magazine are utter wiiboys.
FrankTheCrank @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:46PM
"almost caveman like"
I don't think the Geico Caveman would appreciate that comment.
crono141 @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:48PM
LOL at Blackmoon. Good one.
Unless you weren't being sarcastic. In which case: get therapy.
David004 @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:51PM
What the hell does Time Magazine know? They named me person of the year.
mykie @ Jan 2nd 2007 3:54PM
History definitely repeats itself, and Nintendo knows this.
Previous Game of The Year awards have been awarded to Super Mario World (SNES) and Sonic The Hedgehog (Genesis) by certain media outlets, and both of those games were pack-in titles.
Bundling Wii Sports with the hardware is about the smartest thing Nintendo has done in over a decade.
Certainly a better pack-in than a badly transferred copy of Talladega Nights.
JAC @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:02PM
It might be simple, it might not look nice, but it's fun as hell and that's what games used to be all about: having fun. The other day I played Wii sports from 8pm until 5am with a bunch of friends, we had a great time, I don't think I've ever spent even half that much time playing any other multiplayer game.
Darkness @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:03PM
I find this extremely interesting. The lines between the hardcore and casual players has not been so easily visible as it is with this situation. I know some hardcore guys who are all over Gears of War, but people who aren't really into games at all find the simplicity of Wii Sports to be right up their alley. Just goes to show that these are two entirely different markets with different needs and expectations.
Of all the games that I've played this year, I'd throw bowling up there as one of the best. That game sucks me in and won't let me back out for hours on end.
FrankTheCrank @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:08PM
ARE YOU F-ING CRAPPING ME???
THE WII???
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH GAMING???
THIS IS INSANE!!!
480P GRAPHICS SHEEPLES!!
peej @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:10PM
I would say that my entire extended family, who did more wii bowling this holiday than baking or eating, is the most important game of the year, hands down. Gears of War is impressive, but only for the 360. However, it can be argues that both cement their respective consoles as they tote themselves to be.
driven2sin @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:12PM
@ 15 - umm how about touch screen portable, w/ wifi and mic, etc etc, you know that little DS money machine- Big N did everything right the past few years
if you have a HDTV it is wise to get a 360, Wii and DS.
Sorry sony, you are a little ahead of your time with your macho machines..
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:15PM
Wii Sports is a Game For and By Coconut Monkeys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Coconut_Monkey.jpg
typo @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:16PM
@ 18 (taken at face value)
What's going on with gaming?
It's realizing that pixel shaders, HDR, high-resolution, and photo-realistic texturing are no match for fun, intuitive design.
Nobody's telling you that you're not allowed to prefer Resistance or Gears -- you should just realize that many folks are going to have a lot more fun playing Wii Sports.
Vexorg @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:18PM
Another WiiSports would be nice, but I'd like to see refinements of some of the existing games as well (for example, I'd love to see a WiiSports Golf game with multiple 18-hole courses, a full set of clubs and possibly even online play and tournament formats.) A full-fledged WiiSports Tennis would be nice too.
number40one @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:32PM
When my 65 year old father (whose never even touched PONG) literally jumped across his living room to perform a backhand, I knew that something had truly been hit upon by the folks in Kyoto.
Popps didn't want to stop playing for over two hours.
Kevin @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:45PM
here is my legit 91 pin strike on wii sports bowling. I've done about 3 times now and finally got on video. My high score is 608. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/356888/legit_91_pin_strike_wii/
MasterShake48 @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:52PM
Wii Sports is a great game in the sense that it's good to play on a casual level, or occasionally over long amounts of time (similar to SSBM, which my friends and I still play from time to time.). Wii sports attracted a lot of non-gamers to it as well as long-time gamers. It's a great game for everyone. (I do still consider Zelda TP better, but not necessarily a game for everyone.)
Rubang @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:52PM
If I could change one thing about the Wii, I would've had Wii Sports be its own channel, already installed on the Wii's hard drive, so that come November 2007, it could get a huge update for its one year anniversary. This could include more golf courses, and many more training programs for each sport. And where's an area where I can see all my training medals and fitness age all at once? And yes, it's definitely the most important game of the year.
Spence @ Jan 2nd 2007 4:58PM
Proving that TIME is sensationalist.
Mat @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:00PM
Comparing Gears and Wii Sports is like comparing Apples and Oranges. Both are fruit, and BOTH are delicious.
The best part is that if you want, you can eat... er play, both. :)
Leah @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:07PM
I'm a gamer and I love Wii sports. I love the new immersive feel to the game. This game may inspire a revolution in gaming. Wii sports deserves the 'Game of the Year' title.
Mr. Khan @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:17PM
They chose the worst of the sports for that picture, graphically
(Trust me, on HDTV, bowling will make you want to gouge your eyes out)
All other sports look better (baseball=ok, Tennis, boxing, and golf=excellent in 480p)
Just can't get over the jaggies on the pins
(Wii sports is the first multiplayer game i've ever been really good at, i usually suck against other people)
Jay @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:31PM
----
I own 2 HDTVs, a PS3, a 360 and a Wii.
Those knocking the Wii for not having HD graphics, obviously haven't played Wii Sports. I've spent more time with Wii sports in the past week, than I have with Gears, Resistance and just about any other game, combined.
----
tack @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:35PM
Its a great game for the gaming stupid. The wii is a great console for getting people that dont play games to play, but as the future will prove it will leave alot to be desired in the depth of gameplay, sound and graphics that real gamers require.
David004 @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:39PM
They aren't going to make Wii Sports two be all great. Instead you need to buy Mario Soccer, Mario Tennis, Mario Baseball, Mario Basketball, Mario Golf, Mario Bowling, ect. All for the low low price of $50 each. Why include several full games for $50 when you can charge $50 for each sport?
syco @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:15PM
Bah. I played wii sports for a while. My friend enjoyed bowling but I wasn't too impressed with it as a whole. But I wasn't expecting to be, so I'm hardly dissappointed. I would say Zelda for GOTY.
I played a little bit of GoW and it was not only just another shooter, but I remember how crappy trying to play FPS with a gamepad really was. I really can't imagine ever playing a FPS again unless it was with a Mouse or the Wiimote.
Leto @ Jan 2nd 2007 6:46PM
Is it just me or is the girl on the left missing her legs?
Paul Gale @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:57PM
Awesome news. Wii Sports is no doubt a really fun game and increasingly so when playing with friends. I'm glad to see that it got TIME's pick for Game of the Year. Wii Sports 2, come on Nintendo...make it happen.
Paul Gale
1up.com
Mike @ Jan 2nd 2007 8:43PM
Hmm... well the casuals seem to like it.
chris @ Jan 2nd 2007 8:44PM
That is the worst choice ever. I don't even consider Wii Sports a video game. Video games are supposed to bring you into a different world filled with fun. If you wanna bowl, go do it in real life! The people at NYT must not be real gamers if they consider Wii Sports to be the GOTY.
It definitely should have been gears of war, no doubt.
Triple_Crown @ Jan 2nd 2007 8:46PM
@ 40: "Hmm... well the casuals seem to like it."
Like them or not, the "casuals" are as much of a force as "hardcore" gamers, and are the reason why console gaming has become the big business that it is today. These people infuse billions of dollars into gaming every year.
For Nintendo to develop a game that genuinely gets people interested in gaming who either haven't touched a controller in years or have never really had an interest before, that's a pretty substantial achievement. While Twilight Princess might have captured the attention of the hardcore crowd, Wii Sports had a draw to everyone else. Sure, it's not the deepest game ever created-- but more and more people don't have time to play full-featured simulations. The beauty of Wii Sports is that you and literally anyone else can pick up and play the game without much setup... simply start the game and play.
Game of the Year doesn't necessarily mean that the game has to be the best game from a technical standpoint, in terms of aesthetics or depth. Why can't the Game of the Year be a game that helped to move hardware and attracted both current gamers and consumers who either don't play games anymore or who never cared until now?
I'm fine with the award as it stands. It appeals to the masses, rather than to the snobbish elite that believes that this industry must revolve around them... and it signals a pattern shift for Nintendo away from pleasing only a relative handful of people and instead making gaming more accessible for everyone.
FoamingPanda @ Jan 2nd 2007 8:50PM
The criteria the reviewer used for calling Wii sports the GOTY makes me laugh and vomit at the same time. If having a "lol dood, look u hit teh ball acrzozz teh screen, lol. Plz pass me another cheetoz+spriate, tx" experience defines the quality of a game, we'd all better quit gaming all together and play accessible sports like basketball or golf. The function of a game does not involve the ability to entertain any dumbass friend you bring over to the house for a hour. Games have very much evolved into forms of art.
NYT chose a collection of minigames over games that resemble novels. This is what happen when casual gamers start opening their mouths and buying stuff -- the think they can redefine the standards of what makes a good game. Quite frankly, they can take their review and shove it straight back up their asses. I don't want to play with or incorporate insanely "casual gamers" (people who only play games that are little more than a direct interface between the controller and the meaningless functions timed to the sequencing of flashing pixels on their televisions) into one of my most beloved hobbies. I don't want to cater to their small minds and terrible taste.
I guess NYT also rated "FAIRYOPOLIS: A FLOWER FAIRIES JOURNAL," over books like Hannibal, as the book of the year. Afterall, we're lowering all standards to the point of mediocrity so any idiot, child, and moron can understand whatever simplistic garbage is forcefully sold down their never-ceasing consumeristic mouths.
Rubang @ Jan 2nd 2007 9:15PM
Hey man, I liked Fairyopolis. And I understand if you like reading books with more depth, but can you read the same "deep" book over and over and over again? Let me guess, your favorite 3 games are "shooter" "racer" and "adventure." How are those treating you? You like it when you get a new car or a new gun right? That's hot. That's fresh.
We somehow live in a world where Madden is the best selling game of the year. In this world, Wii Sports is the biggest breath of fresh air since Battle.Net.
Rubang out.
Vrian_Sinth @ Jan 2nd 2007 9:43PM
We're talking about TIME here. These are the guys that made "You" the person of the year. I wouldn't give those nut jobs much credit for anything. Certainly don't take it seriously.
Ryan @ Jan 2nd 2007 10:37PM
@ 43
Oh please, get off you high horse and stop insulting people who aren't videogame nerds. I'm sorry you don't enjoy party games and think the only game worthy of GOTY is one you can sit alone in a dark room with and play for 10 hours straight. I hate to use the word threatened, but that's what you sound like - you'd have no reason to go on the offensive otherwise. Nintendo is doing something that no other videogame company is able to achieve, and that is entertaining non-gamers. We have had dozens - no, hundreds - of games over the past few years that have offered novel-esque experiences. We have had none that offer the accessibility and fun that Wii Sports offers to anyone who picks up the controller. It is a refreshingly new experience - Gears of War is not nearly so.
Rubang @ Jan 3rd 2007 4:29AM
Actually both Hitler and Stalin were Time's Man of the Year, but don't you think they were 2 of the most important people that ever lived? Important doesn't mean "good." And whether you like it or not, Wii Sports is the most important thing to happen to gaming this decade. It's the new hotness. I don't know/care what you're playing, but it's old and busted. Good day.
hegemonyhog @ Jan 3rd 2007 7:14AM
"NYT chose a collection of minigames over games that resemble novels. This is what happen when casual gamers start opening their mouths and buying stuff -- the think they can redefine the standards of what makes a good game."
You know what? Attitudes like this are why I'm ashamed to be a hardcore gamer.
You sound like a raving idiot, the kind of people who make me never want to go into indie music stores because they're too busy sneering at whatever you buy rather than realizing that if you give them money for a good piece of music, EVERYONE WINS.
The point of gaming, at least what I thought it was, is to provide the most enjoyable interactive experience possible. A game that breaks down barriers of accessibility and welcomes new people into our hobby should be celebrated. Instead, we've got people like you who justify every negative stereotype about gamers and would rather see a dozen Psychonaut stories than a single Wii Sports story.
I'm sorry that you feel as if your inherent sense of superiority has been offended by the chum-eating masses staining gaming with their grubby, sticky hands. But, with all due respect, I don't give a damn, because I'm too busy sharing gaming with my mother, my non-gaming friends, my girlfriend for the first time in years.
Get the fuck out of my store.
Robert Jung @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:06AM
"wii sports is a really shit game. My vote for worst game i bought in 2006. Ugly, boring and shit. The wii could have been cheaper without it. Anyway, it's an impressive strategy going for the casual gamer and alienating the hardcore."
Then it must really chap your hide to remember that the casual gamers outnumber you "hardcore" kiddies by about 20-to-1. And their money carries as much weight as yours do...
--R.J.
Maylon @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:33AM
Awesome! Now ALL games will be just like this! We can now say goodbye to stupid terms like HDR lighting and Normal mapping. I say pish posh on graphics altogether, it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with having fun. Maybe Ninty's next machine will be more like a super NES, with an even more innovative controller, that equals 4x the fun!
Skwurl @ Jan 3rd 2007 12:59PM
"ARE YOU F-ING CRAPPING ME???
THE WII???
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH GAMING???
THIS IS INSANE!!!
480P GRAPHICS SHEEPLES!!"
Frank, you really are a crank...and an effing toolbox.
RyanLN @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:59PM
@33:
The "gaming stupid"? As opposed to the gaming intelligensia? Two responses:
1) Stupid people have money that is just as green as the money possessed by you people of average and above average intelligence, and dare I say stupid people part with their money sooner than the smart. I guess this is where you would throw in the obligatory quote about a fool and his money. Be that as it may, regardless of sophistication, fun is fun, and what passes for fun in my household may pass for boredom in yours.
2) Every night this week after I put my daughters to bed I'm up until midnight playing Gears of War with my friends on Live. However- I've also spent a fair amoutn of time playing (drumroll please)- Dig Dug. Talk about simple- 10 colors, one button, and a joystick. Wii sports is a goddamn Rembrandt crossed with a Porsche in comparison. But I think it's fun, and I don't give a crap about the good natured ribbing I receive at the hands of my more "sophisticated" friends.
The point is, make something that people like and they will use it, buy it, and pay for that solid gold Ferrari that you could use your riches to bring Enzo himself back from the dead to build for you. Clearly people like Wii sports, people who we might not choose to play games with or have any common interests with- and for that the entire gaming community should be thankful and elated.