Ben

I am sure this one will add a few new bits and pieces to the equation but one thing still irks me about all of these sports games. It's clearly evident in this one screen shot too. The people on the sideline aren't watching the game. This drives me crazy. Maybe it's something that will happen next generation but it relly kills the realism. In Madden 09 you can be running down the sideline for a game winning touch down in overtime and the guys on the sidelines simply don't react. This one bothers me just about as much as the repeating fan in the MLB the Show series. I really like that game too but when you can see the same fan appear 15-20 on screen and move in the exact same way as all of the other clones, very bothersome. Still I'll end up with Madden and the Show.

walk and look like an Egyptian.

You people blaming the victim have some real issues to work out. You seem to be asserting that this contest was so obviously dangerous that this woman should have known better. By that same logic, it should have been obvious to the radio station that this type of contest was not a good idea.

If we assume that neither the contestants nor the radio realized the risk, then the radio station should have taken the advice of the nurse that called them and warned them of the danger. Instead they turned it into a big joke and now someone is dead.

The least they could have done is paid attention to the warning signs and got the contestant some medical attention.

All of you people talking about natural selection, you better watch out. Based on the intellect shown in your comments, if natural selection is truly at work we won't be hearing much else from you in the future.

I had a cable card for a short period of time. It worked ok and the installation went well but shortly after, we switched to Directv.

Wii people please realize that you have to be the most hypocritical people on the planet. Gameplay over graphics seems to be the mantra. Except when it comes to the lack of online gameplay. All of a sudden that doesn't matter.

To be honest, the Wii version looks like shite. I would expect that where the Wii is really going to shine will be in the first party department as always. In this area, they won't be competing against 360 and PS3 versions of the same game.

Of course this brings up my biggest complaint. The Wii should have been more powerful. I hate that I have to choose between the graphics of the 360 or the gameplay of the Wii. If Nintendo would have put out a system similar to the 360 in processing power, they could have had the best of both worlds. Instead they chose to build highly profitable system that is not up to par with their main competition. To say that they aren't competing with Sony and Microsoft is ridiculous. Of course they are. This game is a perfect example.

Again, as great as the Wii gameplay may be (and the jury is still out on that one for me until I play it), you can't tell me that you wouldn't want graphics and online capabilities to go along with that gameplay.

This could be really good. As a big fan of Phillip Marlowe, I would love to see this done correctly. Here's hoping.

sorry should say "wouldn't use the exact same type of interface" or if you like, it can just be a sarcastic statement too.

# 50

Microsoft and Sony obviously would use the exact same type of interface, the idea is that for every rumble pack, their is a dual shock (bad example as sony did get sued on that one) but you get the point.

As for Nintendo being profitable equally all those Sunny things you talk about, wasn't the Gamecube profitable? Nintendo is a smart company for maximizing profits. That doesn't mean they are your friends. They do things that best represent their own interests and the interest of their stockholders. If that wasn't the case, we would be looking at a $199 Wii perhaps with a second controller.

What I find unfortunate is the rash of people who seem to suggest that fun and graphics are mutually exclusive. Stop for a momemnt and think about this. If Nintendo conquered the world and in the process destroyed Microsoft, took out Bill Gates (Allard to just for kicks) and then subsequently bought out Sony and rebranded the PS3 as the PS iii. Would you not be excited to see how Zelda, Metroid and Mario would look and play with that horsepower under the hood?

The Wii may turn out to have the greatest gameplay in the world. This is a best case scenario. If that happens, which of the following is more likely to happen in the future?

A) Sony and Microsoft attempt to emulate the Wii's unique control interface while maintaining cutting edge graphics and processing power

B) Nintendo closes the gap between themselves and Microsoft/Sony in the processing power and graphics arena while cutting profit to subsidize hardware costs

See this is where the strategy can backfire. If this new control interface truly is a revolution, other companies will adapt. In that case, it will no longer be a unique trait of the Wii. Nintendo will once again have the credit for being the agent of change but how much will that be worth if they end falling behind again.

Nintendo has always innovated. They have always been profitable. Still the bulk of their fortune lies in the handheld market. The Wii is an interesting departure. Folks are more willing to try it because it does offer something new and potentially better. Only time will tell if it is truly better though.

Personally, I wish they would have innovated while still maintaining specs close to the PS3 and 360. Again, I receive nothing for Nintendo being profitable from day one. When I hear them talking about the profit issue, I actually get pissed off. Rather than lining your pockets from day one, how about including an extra controller.

So what was the reason again why Nintendo made the decision to go with less processing power? Oh yeah, to keep the price down and encourage new audiences to play. Or was it to be more profitable from day one. The $250 price is very close to core 360. $60 controllers are expensive.

That's the reason I don't like Nintendo's approach here. I don't believe that innovation has to come at the cost of processing power. If you do decide to go with the lesser hardware though, at least pass the savings on to the consumer. I can somewhat justify less power if their is a cost savings. On the other hand, I get no benefit because Nintendo becomes profitable from day one.

As for the innovation, I think we should all take a wait and see approach. I have already heard far too many people claim that the gameplay is better many different games simply based on the theory that the controller is automatically better. I understand that folks have played Wii at E3 but until we see how well most of the games hold up over long periods of play time, we really won't know how much better or worse the Wii will be. Of course Zelda will be great because well it's Zelda but I am keeping an open mind on the rest of it.

As for spelling everything with ii. Please stop. It makes it next to impossible to have rational conversation about anything because I know that you will support most everything that Nintendo says or does. Of course it's not just Nintendo. I realize that Sony has there own group of people screaming HDMI, Bluray blah blah blah and of course Microsoft has fanboy aplenty. Anyone in that camp that defends the lack of a hard drive in the cheaper core model falls into this same category.

See by being unbiased, you can hate on everyone.

I have and always will own all systems. When you do that, there is a calming sense of impartiality. I do feel for the pure Nintendo fanboy though as they are looking more and more like the battered wife, making excuses for the abusive husband.