ZoomZoomin'

I've agreed with this idea for awhile...

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/nintendo-blogger-crossed-the-line-claims-blogmate/#c2622959

...but I severly doubt it would happen for anything other than digital distribution (XBLA, VC, PS3 online). Of course, with Wii/VC being the best platform for anything cursor-based. Also, anything non-3D probably isn't going to survive the mainstream, so it would be smaller/indie studios and smaller budgets that would likely go into any attempts to bring fresh point and click adventure gaming on a console.

It would also be nice to see LucasArts and what's left of Sierra within Vivendi bring back the classic titles for the Virtual Console, but the focus of studios and the VC pricing structure don't leave me terribly optimistic that they will or it would be at a cost I'd want to pay for a flashback fix.

"Even simple things like opening a door could be represented by moving the wiimote up and down"

I would hunt down and beat the designer that implemented such a change. Honestly, there are already quite a few times in Wii games where I often think to myself, "why can't this just be a damn button press" while performing some actions. Those are the times when I really question how long I'll find entertainment in using the Wii control scheme.

Yeah, you'd think Nintendo would have engineered a less flimsy safety strap setup. That tether string is downright tiny.

For the sake of my plasma, I'm genuinely afraid to invite my friends to come over and use my Wii (I wish I could stop calling it that...I mentioned "Wii" to my sister for the first time today and you should have seen the look on her face). Anyway, I'm quite relaxed and play "toolbox" style, but a lot of my friends tend to be more animated and get really into things...and that's not even counting any alcohol factor yet. Not to mention the Wii really requires a lot of room to play it in a more animated style.

I declare that I'm one of the ppl who prefers to play like a "toolbox" rather than moving around like a lunatic. The game is supposed to be the entertainment, not me and I personally consider games a form of relaxation rather than spaz fests. However, emulating some of the movements is a bit tough on the wrist when sitting down (specifically, I'm referring to Wii Sports). I'm still working on fine tuning the motions though.

However, I can easily see how my friends would enjoy doing the full act when they're drinking or my more animated/wild friends. The Wii definitely/clearly has the makings of a great party system, but I'd much rather be able to relax on my couch and play. However, I haven't quite figured out how to comfortably emulate golf and bowling without actually standing (and doing the full motion (in the case of bowling).

I'm really hoping developers don't go too movement-crazy with games and keep in mind a relaxed form of gameplay for non-party style games. The motion aspect an interesting control mechanic, but I'm not totally sold yet on its superiority or usefulness compared to analog sticks and buttons. The IR tracking of the pointer can often leave a bit to be desired too, so it will be interesting to see how well that works as a control scheme in games...and I'm not buying Red Steel to find out.

It's tempting, but I'm inclined to wait until they finally start getting them in stores rather than wait AND pay S&H, though I still don't know why they're $30...$25 would be a little easier to swallow.

...and when will people understand that component looks better on all TVs. Though my Wii is looking particularly "ishty" on my HDTV...it's not flattering. You can choose not to participate in the HD era, but at this point, you should hope to make your product look as good as possible out of the box.

I have to say this is pretty funny for me...when I first saw footage of Wii Sports, I wondered how long it might be before something like this happened. A lot of motions have you flicking the controller towards the screen. Reminded me of the old infamous clip of the little boy plus wiffle bat and glass door.

BTW, using a "natural" bowling motion without completely compensating for how you could use the controller more subtley (isn't that the point...a person could pick up the controller and mimic the normal action) could potentially have enough force to lend some damage if let got right at/after the bottom of the swing motion if going for that strike. I wouldn't say it's impossible.

...picking up my Wii today...not letting my friends use it near my plasma without intense instructions and a sobriety test.

The artist simply forgot to mention that they were all forced to play Barbie Horse Adventures with electrodes hooked up to their privates in lieu of the rumble feature. That last guy really loves him some Barbie...and electrodes.

Oddly enough, Nintendo is just taking the "same 'ol games" and introducing a semi-new control scheme. I say semi-new if you don't count previous attempts to do much of the same on PCs rather than consoles. I see the Rev/Wii as nothing but a "party game" kind of console with some nostalgia factor brought on by the VC (where my interest lies...though the pricing is disappointing so far).

However, if you'd like to play a "standard/classic" type game, you're going to go to the badass "power consoles." If I want a racing simulator, a good shooter, or an action game, I will gravitate towards the one with better graphics, physics, and other such improvements. For plenty of those types of games, the Wii control scheme isn't neccessary and would probably be artificially tedious if they try to shoehorn the new controller abilities into them. Oddly, the one type of game I think the control scheme would help with is a dead genre that I used to to like...classic style, slow-paced adventure/puzzle games that require mouse-like input (many of the game types that are successes on the DS). However, there are so many ways to also design a game so that it doesn't require precise mouse navigation/input too.

In reality, you can map/simplify performing complex tasks in an intuitive way to sticks and buttons. The fun-factor of the Wii mostly focuses on the joy of watching your friends looking like idiots. Probably even more entertaining when drunk. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that for most people...just think of karaoke. Probably no coincidence that karaoke also came from Japan.

Everytime this topic is brought up, I'd usually admonish the thought because "video games" is a nearly perfect descriptor and it's really people's attitudes that needs to change. However, it's pretty obvious how hard it is to change public perception and often stupid little trick like a minor name change is the best means to do so. Marketers, brand managers, and politicians all know this quite well.

It's also a bit hypocritical since now if any female ever asks what industry I work in, I'll usually respond "entertainment software" or something to that effect in an attempt to hide the fact that I do work with video games. If a girl finds that out, you're getting nowhere (as my sister even jokes, my job is "girl repellant")...so sadly, manipulating perception is often easier than getting people to just realize the truth.

"Flipping crabs over and hitting their weakpoint for MASSIVE DAMAGE only clogs up the internet tubes. If the internet were a truck, it'd be okay, because they could just haul off the dead crab, but as it is now, they need to send in some RIIIIIIIDGE RAAAACER through to unclog the tubes, along with some powerball...balls. They might as well clean up the poker chips while they're at it."

Geirskogul just made me LOL and spit on my keyboard for massive damage.

Why won't the term "four dour coupe" die already?...that what I want to know.

While I'd never buy a sedan, the CLS is one of the designs I'd love to own if I did. However, they're not fooling me by simply slapping "coupe" in their description. They're sedans...they just happen to look good because the designs are inspired by coupes. However, I think they look slightly better than large coupes because the door and rear side glass doesn't look as large and out of proportion. So it's nice to see BMW coming out with something equivalent.

...and BMWs will (hopefully) forever drive far, far better than any equivalent Benz. Benz's are nice to cruise and be seen in, but not to drive. Everytime I drive a Benz, I feel like I've taken sedatives...I far prefer being a passenger. The E55 does have a hell of a lot of fun torque though...but I'd rather have a little more driving character/competence than that.