Nick

Picked it up this afternoon. Haven't gotten much time in yet, but so far the game is a BLAST! The controls really make the game a ton more fun than other GTA knock-offs. The graphics aren't stellar, but they are still good for the Wii. In some areas the graphics shine (explosions are very well handled), but in others they are original XBOX quality...which is to say that they are far better than the PS2. If you don't have this game already for a different platform, I'd recommend that you pick it up.

Been waiting for Godfather: Blackhand Edition...soon my wait will be over. I'm guessing that I will be getting very little sleep for the next while (as I can only really play games after my wife and daughter are asleep). Anyone know if it'll live up to my hopes, or will it just be another bad GTA clone with motion controls tacked on? I'll be buying it regardless, but I'd rather go into the purchase with my eyes wide open...

Picked mine up in late Sept. 2006. Knew that I had to have one for the camp out for Wii launch. It made the long, cold night a lot more tolerable. Plenty of other fans with DSs inline. Lots of multiplayer fun was had by all, and when most people drifted off to sleep I popped in FF:III. I may have come late to the party, but I love my DS!

Perhaps there is truth to this, but I'm not sure that it is completely the fanboys' faults. Ninty fans buy the consoles for the first party offerings first and foremost. There's very little that third party devs release on a Ninty system that can't be had in a better format on a different system. The Wii could change this if third party devs create truly unique experiences on the Wii, but they had better not try to release against one of Ninty's main franchises. They're dead if they do. Personally, I know what I'm picking up if I've got the choice between ANYTHING and Mario/Metroid/Zelda/etc. So, who's fault is it really?

I got my fill of these types of games in the two such mini-games in Rayman. That was enough for me.

I can see some folks wanting to pick up one of these titles, but you're right...this is excessive.

It's already been commented on, but as an audio engineer I can't help but repeat it. You can use a speaker as a microphone. I don't know that I'd recommend that you do so, but in some instances (like the afore mentioned Yamaha SubKick mic), it works quite well. The main problems come from the high SPLs (Sound Pressure Levels) required to move the driver to generate the signal and the limited frequency response. One way to make voice command integration a bit more responsive would be to base the recognition off of the timing of the percussive elements of the commands in question. That type of an approach would, of course, create some different sets of problems. So, whatever.

I would be more prone to wanting to see Mii integration if there was a firmware update allowing for more options in Mii creation. For the most part you can get Mii's pretty close to your intended target, but there have been several times when I've not been able to get a Mii to look anything like what I'm shooting for. Until Ninty gives us more flexibility in Mii creation, Mii integration is not that important to me.

As for MySims vs Animal Crossing Wii, I'm going to end up buying both regardless, because my wife is an addict of both franchises. Oh well...

I'm still working my way slowly through Twilight Princess...almost done with the Sky Temple. Also been playing Excite Truck during short breaks in the day, and when I'm away from home I've been really into Elite Beat Agents (which is just totally addictive).