Wii: the most "violent" console of them all?

by Blake Snow { Jan 11th 2007 at 3:23PM }

EA released a new trailer today (embedded after the break) for their upcoming Godfather Wii remix, The Godfather Blackhand Edition. As you can imagine, the motion-sensing version supports elbow throwing, pimp slapping, choking, and other popular terrorizing techniques used by the mafia in 1940's New York. You can even throw an empty beer bottle at some pitiful mug's head. The game's senior producer, Joel Wade, hypes the controls to IGN:

"The Blackhand combat system feels so natural and intuitive on the Wii controllers-- people are going to have a fantastic time "convincing" shop owners to pay protection money, and delivering beat-downs to rival family gangsters. If people think Wii Sports boxing is a blast, imagine taking out a baseball bat to "un-even" the odds... or even grabbing your opponent by the lapels and throwing him through a window."

So good ole fashioned button pressing rough-ups and homicides have now become a physical affair. Oh this is going to turn out well ... "This sort of thing used to be civilized. You'd hit a guy, he'd whack you, done." Not anymore, says EA.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

alexanderwales @ Jan 11th 2007 3:28PM

The question is, will it be tacked on or not?

Dumdum @ Jan 11th 2007 3:40PM

Well this shows that wii is no kiddy console

pandlcg @ Jan 11th 2007 3:49PM

Here is a trailer for it on the Wii. Jack Thompson is going to love seeing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJhmzCtCJzg&eurl=

Sidepocket @ Jan 11th 2007 3:51PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNUBJlnHvQA

See for yourself. :)

Jonathan Tran @ Jan 11th 2007 3:43PM

Next thing you know id a Japanese series called "Involuntary Erotic Encounter"

tack this @ Jan 11th 2007 4:02PM

it's dumb when people use the phrase "tacked on"... what does "tacked on" controls even mean... whats the difference between tacked on and not tacked on... people who always talk about tacked on controls are pretty gay in my opinion, they're the pessimists of the world that automatically assumes games are bad and then the game has to prove itself to be good... instead why not take the optimist view and say that this game is gonna rock and NOT have tacked on controls and then if the game is bad then let the game show that and dont just assume it will be bad with "tacked on" controls... EA already showed they have a good grasp of the wiimote with their madden game... people who say "tacked on controls" are either sony/microsoft fanboys or are just really pessimistic and probably hate themselves and everyone else

crono141 @ Jan 11th 2007 4:21PM

Oh yeah, "he who shall not be named" is going to be all over this one.

Get ready for an injuction against Nintendo and EA.

Patrick @ Jan 11th 2007 4:01PM

Next thing you know id a Japanese series called "Involuntary Erotic Tentacle Encounter"

Fixed that for ya there, Jon.

Duscrom @ Jan 11th 2007 3:57PM

Yes it will be tacked on.. and made for some people. It's something.. much like Wii Boxing, you either get or won't as every person's motions and range of motion is different.

Szu @ Jan 11th 2007 4:13PM

Why is everyone putting links to the trailer when there is already a video link embedded here?

religiousjedi @ Jan 11th 2007 4:03PM

NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!! NO VIOLENT GAMES ON KIDDY WII!!!!!!!!!!

...I can imagine the Sony and Microsoft fanBOYS (those who are afraid of the competition, not FANS!) saying this...

...Godfather, huh? Seems interesting...

razer @ Jan 11th 2007 6:56PM

Well the "MicroSOFT FanBOYS" as you call them have been playing this piece of junk game for 6 months. So I think they would know a little more about the game then some Wiitard (religiousjedi). So have fun, the game sux but hey you can now flap your arms while you play a crap game. And you will love the DLC EA will tack on.. Like buying game money for real money is just a joy!

bounchfx @ Jan 11th 2007 4:11PM

wow this game looks like shit

Seriously... @ Jan 11th 2007 4:30PM

Wii is STILL for kids... Kids who don't care how shitty the graphics are, and enjoy paying for a SUBPAR game on a gimmicky system because it says Nintendo on it. Shake your spongebobs, children! Its fun! Grammy likes it too!

nick @ Jan 11th 2007 4:15PM

just gotta say, props to the guys that did this trailer. It's really a smart thing to have your game trailer clearly depict how the control scheme works for wii games. I hope we see more and more wii trailers like this.

Gogo @ Jan 11th 2007 6:25PM

I actually saw the trailer and it seemed really violent. Looks like EA have spent alot of time in making the awkward yet very violent motions in the game. Overall the game looks okay but i bet itll get mauled by reviewers.

Roflmon @ Jan 11th 2007 4:36PM

I'm so getting this.

pandlcg @ Jan 11th 2007 4:39PM

@szu,

It wasn't there before.

Darkness @ Jan 11th 2007 4:34PM

"wow this game looks like shit"

How can you tell? There isn't enough footage of the game on the screen long enough and the quality of the video is pretty horrible.

I'll have to look into this game. I loved Wii Boxing and being able to slam some guy into a wall would be pretty fun. Who knows, they have have an option to map motions to buttons.

unimental @ Jan 11th 2007 4:46PM

Why isn't this simply the "Backhand" edition? Seems rather appropriate, no?

Mr. Khan @ Jan 11th 2007 6:10PM

lol at "Involuntary Erotic Encounter"

But seriously, this looks interesting, but if ANY violent videogame EVER causes people to embrace violent activity, it will be this, and others like it that may or may not appear on Wii, cuz the intuitive nature will cause you to get used to associating violence with motions, as it really is, as opposed to button taps, as it is not

It seems to me like EA is better at "tacking on" wii controls than Ubisoft, either way

Dumdum @ Jan 11th 2007 4:32PM

Fanboys... I mock you!

sheppy @ Jan 11th 2007 4:44PM

tack*ed on, slang, adj.

1. Reissuing a previous item with a small addition in hopes of drumming up sales of an item that was previously a huge fucking wash.

2. Reissuing a revious item at a premium price because of said item being included.

Incidently, I snagged my copy of Godfather for Xbox recently for $10. EA, meanwhile, has since added two new godfather SKU's to future lineups. Godfather Wii (Blackhand Edition) and Godfather PS3 (Don Primo edition, or some crap).

Having said that, I do have the following to offer on the WiiMake of Godfather.

Wasn't the whole point of Wii to make controls simple and intuitive? Do you really think someone whole coming down from WiiBowling will be like "Ahh, so to swing the bat, bring both hands together in a linear fashion and swing rapidly."

Aren't projects like this taking a very counter productive approach to WiiControls? I mean, seriously, who else here actually tried playing that DBZ game with the "easy" controls? I can tell you this much, if more and more of these projects keep coming out where I have to remember gestures and stances and hand locations instead of buttons, then I'm afraid my Wii collection will become limited to things like Warioware. I want to game, not hokey-pokey.

vidGuy @ Jan 11th 2007 4:37PM

I'm also disappointed they aren't going to up the visuals (the Wii is capable of much more), but cmon, guys. The main part of this game came out less than a year ago and got a 7 in graphics on the XBOX (still not a great score, but not trash either). http://xbox.ign.com/articles/696/696740p4.html

Rare Hare @ Jan 11th 2007 4:39PM

@ tack this (#8):

I hear you, but what most people are referring to when using the phrase "tacked-on controls" is whether or not (and how well) the controls are integrated into the gameplay.

Translation is as follows: is this a new way to play and a valid reason to choose the Wii version of the game, or is it simply a gimmick?

In my opinion, a crucial ingredient to a good game is whether or not the game was built around the controls. Aside from Final Fantasy games, most critically acclaimed games are heavily based on how they are controlled. Halo, Prince of Persia, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario..

Games with "tacked-on" controls tend to ignore this,and it's definately noticeable.

Monkeydud137 @ Jan 11th 2007 10:38PM

In between the punches looks dull ;)...

meddow @ Jan 11th 2007 4:48PM

soon as i heard about the wii version, i skipped the xbox 360 one, cant wait for this :D

Up the Graphics? Wii? @ Jan 11th 2007 4:53PM

"I'm also disappointed they aren't going to up the visuals (the Wii is capable of much more), but cmon, guys."
Um sorry chief, but the Wii isn't capable of upping any graphics. On par at BEST, with original Xbox/Cube....maaaaybe. RE4 on the GC was incredible! Seems like at least ONE Wii game would approach this in terms of quality. Ninten-DOH!

Aex @ Jan 11th 2007 4:54PM

Lots of interesting points in this one.

I must say this type of control implementation looks interesting! I've always loved mob movies, and if the control implementation doesn't suck balls, titles like this could get me purchasing a Wii way before I thought I would. Lets hope it plays as well as is imagined, the story doesn't blow and that it is the start of unique control ideas to come.

@Dumdum
One non-kiddy game does not remove the kiddy stigma from Nintnedo. If a mass amount of the critically acclaimed titles in a system's library is kiddy, then the system will be labeled as kiddy. Look at the Gamecube, sure they had RE4, but a MASS amount of games were targeted at lower age group. Not saying the Wii is/will be kiddy or not, we wont know that for at least a year or two, but to bring it up because of a single mature title is just plain dumb.

@tack this
Tacked on is a phrase used to describe how great controls should have been but missed the mark by far. Often tacked on controls come from ports to a new control scheme, e.g. going from keyboard to controller or controller to wiimote could leave the operator wanting a better experience. Basically, when someone remarks about tacked on controls they are doing one of two things, being a fanboy asshole or complaining about the lack of time spent on programming how the controls interact with the game... occasionally both.

idioteraser @ Jan 11th 2007 4:58PM

People youtube losses 50% of the picture quality. Heck the PS3 footage looks worse.

Darkness @ Jan 11th 2007 4:58PM

Sheppy, I guess it's a matter of perception. People have an easier time remember a gesture than they do a button. Don't ask me why, but they do. So for those who don't know anything about gaming, a gesture is the way to go. For the hardcore, it will be a bit more difficult. But we have to think, what is the next generation of gaming? We've all had dreams of running around in the holodeck, and this is kind of in the same vein.

I've never believed that gesture controls would be "easier" or even more intuitive. Just a different way to play the games we've been playing all these years. People have been chomping at the bit for a Star Wars lightsaber game. Why? A button pretty would be simpler. Again, I think it's just the fact that people like to feel like they're doing something. Swinging a sword, throwing a punch, slinging a guy over the railing of a second story apartment building. Interactivity is the key, I think.

vidGuy @ Jan 11th 2007 5:00PM

@24

Hahaha, what are you talking about? Wii > XBOX in hardware. Of course it can do better. Several previews have already said that SMG, SSBB, and MP3 have better visuals than Halo 2.

Hardware-wise, at least if the specs that have been thrown around the net for a year or so are to be believed, and if Nintendo itself is to be believed, the Wii is a GCx2.

Lou @ Jan 11th 2007 5:01PM

The DBZ controls are simple. There are 6 simple movements.

Remote back then forward
wave nunchuk then remote forward
Remote from on screen to above screen to on screen
Remote from on screen to below screen to on screen
Remote from on screen to right of screen to on screen
Remote from on screen to left screen to on screen

Of these moves your character only has 3. 3 must be too high a number for some people

Any one of those is easier to pull off than the Dragon Punch or most certainly the Spinning Pile Driver in Street Fighter 2 to execute and even the quarter circle moves too, cuz today's d-pads suck compared to the Sega Genesis...

As for this game, I've seen the IGN video and all the moves look natural. That's the point of the Wii. People are so stupid and have been pressing buttons for so long that they forget how to move their hands because that's to complicated.

Only a complete retard could watch the video and call it too complicated.

Mr. Khan @ Jan 11th 2007 6:14PM

@ 24 and 28

I have long pondered as to how i could get exact technical specifications for the Wii, considering Nintendo won't release them for fear of embarrassment, and they seem to be compelling 3rd parties to keep mum, perhaps if i ran homebrew applications with increasing numbers of pixels delivered with increasing rapidity until i hit a wall, then increasingly complicated physics, again until i hit a wall, then gauge their strengths

Anyone else here REALLY curious as to the exact specs of the Wii?

metayoshi @ Jan 11th 2007 6:22PM

@ #24, Up the Graphics? Wii?:

Wii can't up the graphics? Have you really done ANY research at all? The Wii's GPU has about 2 times the clock speed of the GCN's GPU, and you say it can't up the graphics?

Have you seen any of the Pokemon Battle Revolution screenshots or videos? That game's graphics are WAY beyond RE4 in my opinion.

The only reason, I think, why most Wii games have not pulled off RE4 quality graphics is because developers are freaking lazy. I see a game like Pokemon Battle Revolution and think, "Why is it that a POKEMON game gets the better graphics, and games like Far Cry, and Call of Duty are done with pretty subpar graphics, even to Gamecube and Xbox standards?" Come on, guys... It's Pokemon (Not even Nintendo's main EAD division or Retro Studios are pulling these pretty graphics off). Just like this Godfather game, every other game on Wii hasn't impressed me as much as Pokemon in terms of graphics, but at least Pokemon is proof that great graphics CAN BE DONE on the Wii.

DJ @ Jan 11th 2007 6:03PM

Hell yes. I'm just waiting for Hitman to make a Wii appearance **tenses Wiimote-to-Nunchuk cable as though it were fiber wire**

ackmondual @ Jan 11th 2007 7:02PM

@ #14
""Wii is STILL for kids... Kids who don't care how shitty the graphics are, and enjoy paying for a SUBPAR game on a gimmicky system because it says Nintendo on it. Shake your spongebobs, children! Its fun! Grammy likes it too!""

If it's all about graphics for you, then be sure to add last gen consoles to your kiddie systems list, namely PS2 and XB.

Darkness @ Jan 11th 2007 6:30PM

On the IGN Wii Lobby forums, there is a long discussion in a thread that has some "official" specs leaked from a dev. Looking at the specs, it apprears the Wii is better than an Xbox and at least twice as powerful as a GameCube. Apparently, the specs that leaked all those months ago were pretty close to the mark. What gets me is that it only has 91MB of RAM. Granted this isn't too shappy, but compared to both the PS3 and Xbox 360, it's pretty pitiful.

Odowla @ Jan 12th 2007 3:17PM

Just the fact that you bastard load the shotgun means Im buying this.

David Navarro @ Jan 11th 2007 7:06PM

I'm sick and tired of these choppy looking games. Something tells me Gamecube is a more powerful console

Zegim @ Jan 11th 2007 7:14PM

Looks fun, violently fun.

McTendo @ Jan 11th 2007 7:26PM

@ David Navarro

Say what you want, but it doesn't look half as bad as that god awful website your name links to. The very fact you link to a worthless site like that shows your taste in..everything is also worthless.

biggos @ Jan 13th 2007 6:51PM

Is it just me, or do those graphics look worse that Red Steel and Farcry? Why are there so many games not even reaching the Xbox's potential?

joebudden @ Jan 11th 2007 7:36PM

man, Grand Theft Auto 4 is in trouble. you get to pimp slap people in a low res knockoff with the wiimote!

oh wait...

chenry @ Jan 11th 2007 8:04PM

hm. interesting.

Falkon @ Jan 20th 2007 4:36PM

As someone who actually played the first version of the Godfather game, this looks great. The PC version was a great game, but the only problem was the controls. Mouse movements were incredibly awkward and the camera sucked. But with the Wii, punching someone will be just that. And even if the controls are "tacked on" then great! Take a good game and make the controls easier and more realistic, you just made it a lot better.

adg1034 @ Jan 12th 2007 1:19AM

What- no mention of the Ocean's 11 reference yet? Joystiq readers, you should be ashamed.

Grey Acumen @ Jan 12th 2007 12:39AM

I like the potentials this game has, even if I don't think much of the premise itself. If this is merely an attempt to create a "non-kiddie" game, I figure it'll flop, but if it's actually being done as a well thought out plotline and the controls are being used to maximize the immersion of this storyline, I see it doing well.
I don't see this really as inspiring violence either. If you want a good stress outlet, a game where you actually feel like you're beating on the people yourself could be incredibly therapeutic. If this game is done right, I can see it playing this role very easily, not inspiring violence, but providing an outlet for it.

tom @ Jan 12th 2007 8:38AM

@ sheppy:

"Wasn't the whole point of Wii to make controls simple and intuitive? ... I mean, seriously, who else here actually tried playing that DBZ game with the "easy" controls?"

No. the point was to make the controls interesting and new. For some games that means simle and intuitive.. for others it means comples and less-intuitive. Making a "one size fits all" rule about how controls shouldbe is daft when the console is targeting so many different user groups.

Pulling off moves in DBZ or Madden isn't necessarily easier or more reliable than pressing a button.. but its much more involving and fun. I know a coule of casual gamers who LOVE dbz simply for the way you pull off moves.. they find it much more interesting than having to remember a 20 button combo. They rave about it.

@14 Seriously...

Only kids DO care about the graphics.. most adults grew up years ago and stopped worrying about trying to show off in the playground by having the biggest graphics chip. sigh.

Plastikglass @ Jan 21st 2007 5:52AM

Gestures are easier than button schemes. Take this from a life-long non-football gamer, I can play Madden on my Wii a lot easier than I can on traditional systems, enough said.

On the kiddy stigma, we all know that was created by insecure 16 year olds who wanted to feel gangster by playing GTA3 on their PS2s. And is kiddy stigma any relevant these days? That is so n64/psx era, another time period with 12 year old ps2 kids trying to feel cool by taking potshots at N64. Besides, sony fanboys like playing with Disney characters these days, what's the big deal?