PC columnist Dvorak: Wii will "dominate the future of gaming"
by Blake Snow 
{ Mar 1st 2007 at 10:15PM }
Wii media praise #2,457: The Andy Rooney of PC columns, John C. Dvorak, recently got his hands on Wii. Sure he's about three months late to the party, but that didn't stop the self-proclaimed non-gamer from predicting good things for the little white box, if on the back of Wii Sports: Bowling alone."My experience with this toy tells me that a fundamental change has taken place in game play-and it's all down to the controller," says Dvorak. He continues, "It changes all the rules and will dominate the future of gaming. You watch." Dvorak sure likes his forecasts. Still, having this little snippet of praise read by the millions of PC Magazine subscribers can only help. Nintendo, meet your Walt Mossberg. Or at least a Mini Me.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Psaakyrn @ Mar 1st 2007 10:21PM
Just a suggestion... could we just compile all these "Console X Praises/Console X Arguements" into a single permanent thread? Frankly, it's no longer really news, nor interesting.
I'm gonna bet that there'll be the usual flames, the usual defenders, the occasional thinkers who will futilely attempt to explain to the rest how this will affect the normal nongamer crowd, and the people who makes utterly no sense.
Just like every other praise/arguement post we have.
Grendel711 @ Mar 1st 2007 10:24PM
Is everyone forgetting MS and Logitech did this years ago?
jp @ Mar 1st 2007 10:24PM
and pigs will fall from the sky
David @ Mar 1st 2007 10:25PM
OMG!q!]!!!!!
HE CALLED THE WII A TOY!!!@!312!!!
OMG!!!@!@@##$v$#@!!!
mo @ Mar 1st 2007 10:32PM
okay this is like the third one of these prediction things in a row
i think joystiq just likes laughing at fanboys
Josh Anderson @ Mar 1st 2007 10:44PM
I personally think this is pretty cool. I mean, I listen to Dvorak on both his "Cranky Geek" podcast and on "This Week In Tech," and I can tell you that the guy's pretty sharp, and not one for BS. If he doesn't like something, he'll come right out and say it.
Also, I don't know when this declaration of support was made, but I remember Dvorak commenting on the Wii and his approval thereof not too long after it came out on one of the podcasts. Who knows. The internet can have a weird time-delay effect.
-Josh Anderson-
-Man In A Box Cartoons-
Fatass of Kickassness @ Mar 1st 2007 10:43PM
Now its time for the stupid Ninty fanboys to rant on and on while the equally stupid Sony fanboys yell at the Ninty fanboys for being so stupid, as the MS fanboys watch from the sidelines and completely explode when their system is mentioned.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Mar 1st 2007 10:45PM
Anywhos, I wouldn't trust this 'analysis' for shit simply because he called the Wii a toy and said it would dominate gaming in the same sentence. Simply calling any game system a 'toy' instantly signifys a complete lack of knowledge about the gaming industry.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Mar 1st 2007 10:46PM
Also, my pokeymans... I'm definately NOT showing them to him.
Dave Silva @ Mar 1st 2007 11:03PM
Didn't this guy blast gaming consoles a few years ago?
scepia @ Mar 1st 2007 10:56PM
"Simply calling any game system a 'toy' instantly signifys a complete lack of knowledge about the gaming industry."
Of course, there are those of us that actually want to have fun. I suppose we must be in the minority...
StevO @ Mar 1st 2007 11:02PM
One must beg the question, what else should we call a game console? A media center? Our own little supercomputer? C'mon, it's a toy.
NeverSage @ Mar 1st 2007 11:05PM
"Anywhos, I wouldn't trust this 'analysis' for shit simply because he called the Wii a toy and said it would dominate gaming in the same sentence. Simply calling any game system a 'toy' instantly signifys a complete lack of knowledge about the gaming industry."
Methinks some people take video games a wee bit too seriously. (I had to force myself not to make a wii pun right there)
Ibrahim @ Mar 1st 2007 11:16PM
Ugh, but everyone who knows Dvorak's type of predictions knows that they are usually stupid and wrong. I think hopefully he's trying to make a safe guess this time, but usually in the PC geek world he's a bit of a laughingstock. Hope he didn't curse the Wii with that.
bmac @ Mar 1st 2007 11:14PM
That's the same guy that wrote this, right?
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1925239,00.asp
Or maybe this one? Just wait, it'll happen...
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1745930,00.asp
mushiking @ Mar 1st 2007 11:23PM
come back in two weeks and make this comment. that's all i have to say. GDC's gonna be a megaton this year.
bootsielon @ Mar 1st 2007 11:28PM
Nintendo has already made a profit. Sony and Microsoft need to recoup the profit not being made by their gaming divisions. True, Nintendo could want more, and Microsoft and Sony could say they've had enough... but given the current situation, it's too early for Microsoft and Sony to surrender, and probably the same for Nintendo. Hell, look at DS versus PSP: While DS keeps winning accolades, lately PSP is getting more and more attention; Sony is indeed fighting.
With the most recent announcements for PS3, and whatever Microsoft has to counter with should give the Wii a lot of competition. In fact, price alone won't do it for Wii just like it didn't for gamecube. In fact, I think maybe the Wii could end up being run over by the 360 and PS3 if both get significant price drops.
Nintendo also needs more games and to wear off that kiddy image they've always gotten. Besides, even if they do, they'd have to make 3rd parties want to develop for them, which is a problem since every 3rd party ends up competing with them. So there's no way it'll be a PS1 or PS2 kind of success. I know there's the Nintendo DS, but again, the portable space has always been Nintendo's territory, and again, developers are competing with them on that front too. Hell, other than Square-Enix games, and one or two Capcom titles, there's little else besides Nintendo.
Analysts have forcasted that PS3 will win. Others that 360. And others that Wii. And for every gamer, there is an analyst anyway. The only conclusion I can arrive now, which I think is the best for gamers and the industry, is for console makers to be even on installed base, and I think that is the most likely scenario at this point, given everything we know up til now.
Freelancepimp @ Mar 2nd 2007 8:44AM
I HATE THE WIIIII UUUUUUG! IT DOESN'T HELP ME FEEL LIKE A MAN AAAAAAAH! IT FAILS TO GIVE ME A FALSE SENSE OF MY SEXUALITY UUUUUUUH! THE WII REMOTE TAUNTS ME BECAUSE OF THE LIL NAME IT IS STILL BIGGER THAN MY PENIS WAHHHHHHH! IT MAKES ME FEEL INSECURE RAHHHHH! (words spoken, or yelled, by all sony and Xbox fanboys!) LOL
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Mar 1st 2007 11:39PM
You know, I was really on the fence about Wii before. Part of me thought it was a revolution, part of me thought it was a novelty.
But now that Dvorak says it's a revolution, I know for sure it's a novelty.
michael h. @ Mar 1st 2007 11:59PM
...i miss techtv
REUYL @ Mar 1st 2007 11:59PM
Dvorak is the main reason that I hate my free 12-month subscription to PC Mag.
murc @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:06AM
I watch cranky geeks...and I think the show would be better if they kicked Dvorak to the curb. He constanly changes the subject to some anti-bush statement (how oh so typical of the left).
The show's 2 people should be Sebastian and that indian guy (he sounds like he's from india anyway)...Dvorak always thinks he's funny, he'll say something stupid...and then he leaves a pause for people to laugh...and no one does.
NintendoFanbot @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:21AM
So how's the progress on that 'Great Gaming Ghetto Migration'?
Kevin @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:22AM
You guys don't understand.
You look at development costs for the PSP or PS3 and compare them to the DS or Wii and you'll see the difference between light and day.
It doesn't matter if the PSP or PS3 is going to pick up steam. Nintendo Execs are swimming in the bank and wiping their asses with c notes. Almost literally like that animated Nintendo DS .gif that everyone uses in posts that says 'It Prints MONEY!!!'
Einhanderkiller @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:35AM
He gets no spam!
joe smith @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:43PM
Well, I would have agreed to a point, but since Dvorak is the one saying it, I think Wii is doomed. He hasn't been rigth about anything in about 20 years. The man is a fossil.
GhaleonQ @ Mar 2nd 2007 1:11AM
Gawd, I love that man.
samfish @ Mar 2nd 2007 1:36AM
I love the Wii, but Dvorak really is a moron.
Scott @ Mar 2nd 2007 1:41AM
Dvorak was also the guy who said the United States should nationalize Microsoft and predicted Microsoft would kill the Xbox because everybody would start using them as cheap Linux computers, thereby undermining Windows. Dvorak might know the PC industry but he doesn't understand gaming.
Gavin @ Mar 2nd 2007 2:27AM
Agreed about Dvorak not knowing the gaming industry. In fact, he makes loads of bad predictions all the damn time. I've been reading his column for years, and even listened to his NPR show back when it was still on the air and he is wrong more often than he is right.
He is spot on about one thing, and that is the fact that the Wii is pretty much a "toy".
hehehhehe @ Mar 2nd 2007 3:04AM
I still can't understand why a jackass like Dvorak still gets a few pages in PC mag. The guy is like a dinosaur trying to keep up. Everybody seems to hate him too.
Vince @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:29AM
this is bad news for the Wii. a guy named Dvorak introduced one of the first typewrites and claimed it was better than the QWERTY setup we use today. needless to say, he lost.
Eric @ Mar 2nd 2007 4:36AM
The key word there is "toy". That is what the Wii is: a toy. It is NOT a serious gaming system such as the 360 or PS3. Unless you think the SNES still looks good, I have no idea how anyone can not see the Wii for the crap that it is. It is yet another novel Nintendo idea like the Virtual Boy, Super Scope, or Power Glove (yes, I'm aware that was actually mattel, but still). Cute for awhile, with no real lasting value. Hopefully it will die as quickly as those did. I know it probably won't, but that would be nice. If more people would just start referring to it as a toy, as they should be, instead of a gaming system, I wouldn't be so irate. I just don't see how anyone who has played a video game since Pac-Man can see all three systems and choose a Wii.
ss @ Mar 2nd 2007 4:58AM
Come on Joystiq, you surely know Dvorak likes to stir up shit, he admitted it himself, he posts stuff to incite the fanboys; he's got no journalistic credibility whatsoever ;)
NintendoFanbot @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:18AM
@ Eric
Yeah, because the NES, SNES, N64, GC, GAMEBOY, GBA, or DS had no lastability WHATSOEVER.
Nintendo NEVER made any serious games.
Yeah.
snapper @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:43AM
Finally, someone just out and makes a bold prediction. No if this then that kind of prediction. It's just his opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
All this really shows is how impressed he is with the Wii. Some people get it, some don't.
I tend to agree with him, though. What the future holds, nobody knows, so guess on analysts!
Gavin @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:44AM
Actually, the Dvorak keyboard was introduced by August Dvorak. It was a totally different person. Still doesn't mean that John C. Dvorak is wrong on MANY occasions.
S7-R @ Mar 2nd 2007 8:40AM
@#25 You made my day.
whosmav @ Mar 2nd 2007 9:12AM
Its the 'in' thing to say the wii rocks now. Duh it will win, just look at the numbers. Its winning, and by a long shot. Look at Japan. I mean holy crap.
And I'm sorry but I don't believe 10 million people are gonna buy a ps3 for FF.
Yeah, the wii wins.
Crono @ Mar 2nd 2007 9:15AM
All game consoles have been "toys" up until very recently, when PS2 also played DVD's. Then it was a toy also played DVDs.
Seriously, if its interactive, and used primarily for entertainment purposes, its a toy. That means you PS3 and 360.
Anyone who says otherwise is diluting themselves into thinking they're doing something other than "playing".
Mode7 @ Mar 2nd 2007 9:52AM
Yeah games consoles are toys. It's time we all just accepted it for what it is and stopped pretending like it's a cool thing to do. It's the gamers that take these things really seriously that make the rest of us look like losers.
Almack64 @ Mar 2nd 2007 10:11AM
I know, we all just need to face the reality of it. Video games are toys and adult swim are cartoons, nuf' said.
yay @ Mar 2nd 2007 10:21AM
This is horrible....horrible news for the Wii. 9 times out of 10 this guy is wrong.
matriculated @ Mar 2nd 2007 10:46AM
Someone should compile all of Dvoraks "predictions" into a webpage with checkmarks indicated which ones have come true.
epobirs @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:27AM
This would be encouragin for Nintendo if weren't that Dvorak hasn't been right about ANYTHING for over a decade. And I can think of a lot of nonsense he wrote in the decade before that, too.
Morale @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:46AM
@ 30, Eric:
"The key word there is "garbage". That is what the PS3 is: garbage. It is NOT a serious gaming system such as the Wii. Unless you think the antiquated controls are still fun, I have no idea how anyone can not see the PS3 for the crap that it is. It is yet another novel Sony idea like BetaMax and UMD. Cute for awhile, with no real lasting value. Hopefully it will die as quickly as those did. I know it probably won't, but that would be nice. If more people would just start referring to it as an expensive, bloated, uninnovative piece of hardware designed to force Blu-Ray into people's living rooms, as they should be, instead of a gaming system, I wouldn't be so irate. I just don't see how anyone who has played a video game since Pac-Man can see all three systems and choose a PS3."
Fixed that for you.
arrrgh @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:55AM
30. Eric
Are you kidding me? I play Wii more than I've played any console...you know why? because it's the EXACT POLAR OPPOSITE of everything you just said. The thing never gets boring. Once Wii sports starts to seem stale, you switch to NFS Carbon, and all of a sudden you have a racing wheel as a controller. Throw in CoD3 and you have an FPS pointer, Wario ware, and you've got random madness...The controller becomes like a tiny arcade, adapting for different tasks in different games. (and the controls are improving with every wave of games)
Bored of all that? check out the weather, news, and votes channels, which have a lot more to them, than first glance would suggest. Surf the net and play some Wiicade flash games, then hit the VC and play some mothafuckin Bonk! or some gunstar heroes with your buddy. All without changing your controller, but TONNNNSSSS of modes of play.
This thing is a living room arcade.
arrrgh @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:51AM
Morale
Good, I was confused by Eric (30)'s post for a while, thx for making sense of it :)
eugaet @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:59AM
"I just don't see how anyone who has played a video game since Pac-Man can see all three systems and choose a Wii."
I've been playing videogames since before Pac-Man, and trust me, choosing the Wii was an easy decision to make. No regrets, whatsoever...just lots of fun.
d-dove @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:40PM
I really believe all these old farts are getting their panties in a bunch simply because they don't understand games. They see strong holiday sales, and something mildly innovative - I see a Gamecube rehash with lackluster graphics, iffy controls (Wii Sports & Red Steel), and kid oriented software. Its a wonderfully designed system, but alot of work has to be done before I'd call it the "future"