I got a Wii

[ChadTower]

I do get that, really.  But I'd rather take them outside with a football and get the same amount of quality time with a $10 ball than $400 in electronics.

Then later on they can play 4 player Mario Kart or Visual Pinball if they want.

[rampy]

I do get that, really.  But I'd rather take them outside with a football and get the same amount of quality time with a $10 ball than $400 in electronics.

Then later on they can play 4 player Mario Kart or Visual Pinball if they want.

You don't get it Chad... Say it with me... "the nighttime is the right time..."  The Wii isn't a video game system, it's a cult.

[versapak]

I do get that, really.  But I'd rather take them outside with a football and get the same amount of quality time with a $10 ball than $400 in electronics.

Then later on they can play 4 player Mario Kart or Visual Pinball if they want.

OK

That's it.

Website dedicate to video gaming here, and not only that but the costly hobby of building your own...

You talk of playing football outside instead, because it is cheaper?


You're fired. Turn in your forum pass and arcade controls on the way out.

[ChadTower]

Well I did just say I own nearly every domestic game console ever released.

First, teach kids football.  Second, teach them videogaming.

Priorities.

[shmokes]

Chad,

Your talking about staying away from the Wii cos it's too dangerous.  Do you have any idea how crazy you sound right now?  While you're at it make sure your kids aren't accidentally exposed to rock n roll.   

[ChadTower]

Chad,

Your talking about staying away from the Wii cos it's too dangerous.  Do you have any idea how crazy you sound right now?  While you're at it make sure your kids aren't accidentally exposed to rock n roll.   

No, I'm not, and if you could read below the very top of the surface, you'd see that.  Especially when I said "No Wii, football instead".

Wait until your kid is more mobile and maybe you'll understand what it's like to try and do something like that with a small mobile child in the room.  It's just not as much fun to have to hold back on every movement because the kid is moving around the way a kid does.  I just don't see it as that much different than trying to play horseshoes in a narrow corridor with kids in it.  You can tell them and tell them and tell them to stay out of the way but eventually one of those kids is going to catch a shoe to the skull.

It's not about the danger, it's about the difference in the fun level and how I think there are easier, cheaper, and better alternatives given that there are already about 25 different game systems in our house.

[AlanS17]

Well I said it once, but I can say it again. There's only one game that you can potentially injure someone else by playing, and that's Wii Sports. The rest of them are perfectly safe.

With no cords to trip over, you could make the argument that it's even safer than older consoles. 

[mahuti]

Rayman's not too safe. My mother-in-law ended up on the floor.

[Howard_Casto]

Well I said it once, but I can say it again. There's only one game that you can potentially injure someone else by playing, and that's Wii Sports. The rest of them are perfectly safe.

With no cords to trip over, you could make the argument that it's even safer than older consoles. 

I don't even know how people are hurting themselves with wii sports. 

I'm willing to accept the fact that drunkards and small children get too excited and play too hard.  I'm even willing to accept the fact that these same individuals get so excited they let go of the remote.  BUT it is impossible and I mean impossible to break the new straps during gameplay.  How do I know?  I was curious so I tried to break it by swinging as hard as I can and letting go.  If a grown man can't do it I think you are safe giving it to your kids. 


The other issue is this... people don't read those instructions when they come up.  You are supposed to play the wii in an open space.  That means no coffee table, no china cabinet, no nothing in the living room but a tv when you play games like wii sports.  In other words, much like a party, you move the furniture out of the way when you are ready to play something crazy like wii sports.  Or if you are like me, you got rid of the cumbersome coffee table (or as I call it " the stupid thing that is always in my way and i trip over when carrying heavy things") years ago and you have plenty of room to play. 

Buy your kids a wii, not only are they fun, but everytime someone buys a ps3 they kill a kitten... in front of it's mother... in a pet store window...... while a bus-load of kitten loving orphans are stopped at the red light in front of the shop.... while pointing and laughing at the crying children.  They sacrifice it's little kitten soul to Satan to give birth to a new cell processor.

The wii, on the other hand, runs on love, pixie dust and unicorn droppings.  It can cure cancer and re-animate the dead.  People who buy a wii are 1000 times more likely to win the lottery.  Buying a wii gets you into heaven, unless you are an atheist, in which case buying a wii makes you live forever.  People who don't buy a wii are nazi communists who hate fun... and the jews. 

Do you really hate Jews that bad Chad?

[ChadTower]

  I was curious so I tried to break it by swinging as hard as I can and letting go.

You tested a brand new strap under limited conditions.  Now do it 10,000 more times and get back to us.  That's when the straps will start to break. 

No strap will protect a three year old that gets excited and jumps into the path of a fast moving arm.

I'm not saying the Wii is bad or that people shouldn't buy them.  I'm saying as of now, it's not for my family.  We have literally thousands of console games already that we barely ever use and the Wii would end up no different.

[Howard_Casto]

Not true.  See what you aren't getting is the wii is the BEST CONSOLE EVER!!!!!!!!!!

Do you know how good something has to be for me to say that?  I hate everything.  I haven't liked a console this well since the nes.

[shmokes]

Chad, Howard's right.  Stop being such a Nazi.  Only a person who hates his own children would deprive them of the joy that is the Nintendo Wii.

But mostly, seriously, your fears are way overblown.  It ain't dangerous.  So your kid gets whacked in the head one day.  He cries for five minutes, then he forgets it ever happened.  They're not machetes.  They're Wii remotes.  I've been hit in the nose with a baseball bat before, and I've been hit in the nose with an onion that was being swung around in one of the red-colored mesh bags, mace style, and I've been punched in the nose.  It ain't that big a deal.  I'm not going to start wearing a helmet.  Certainly safety is a huge, legitimate concern for your family, but you can't make decisions based on safety concerns alone.  If you did that you'd never step foot into a motor vehicle.  You certainly wouldn't consume alcoholic beverages.  Your diet would change drastically.  Etc..  You need to balance safety considerations with other things like living happily.  Anyone who avoids purchasing a Wii on safety grounds is giving WAY too much importance to safety considerations at the expense of other more relevant things, because they just aren't dangerous.  If anything, videogames finally have some health benefits and your kids are going to find themselves healthier.

[versapak]

Chad, Howard's right.  Stop being such a Nazi.  Only a person who hates his own children would deprive them of the joy that is the Nintendo Wii.

But mostly, seriously, your fears are way overblown.  It ain't dangerous.  So your kid gets whacked in the head one day.  He cries for five minutes, then he forgets it ever happened.  They're not machetes.  They're Wii remotes.  I've been hit in the nose with a baseball bat before, and I've been hit in the nose with an onion that was being swung around in one of the red-colored mesh bags, mace style, and I've been punched in the nose.  It ain't that big a deal.  I'm not going to start wearing a helmet.  Certainly safety is a huge, legitimate concern for your family, but you can't make decisions based on safety concerns alone.  If you did that you'd never step foot into a motor vehicle.  You certainly wouldn't consume alcoholic beverages.  Your diet would change drastically.  Etc..  You need to balance safety considerations with other things like living happily.  Anyone who avoids purchasing a Wii on safety grounds is giving WAY too much importance to safety considerations at the expense of other more relevant things, because they just aren't dangerous.  If anything, videogames finally have some health benefits and your kids are going to find themselves healthier.

Exactly.

[davieboynj]

Kinda funny...  Back in November I was being made fun of by one of my co-workers kids for wanting to get the wii, saying it was a cheap, kiddie system.  The kid had asked for an Xbox360 (which i personally think is also a great system) for Christmas himself.  Obviously, i laugh and brush it off.  Maybe the kid is right...  Fast forward to January 10, and i find out that the kid is desperate to get himself a wii, as one of his friends has one and he likes it a ton better.  The 360 sits, largely unplayed while he's at his friend's house on the wii. 

If only i could derive pleasure from telling an 11 year old "How 'bout them apples!" 

Anyways, I've never had as much fun playing a console - - not even back in NES days.  THAT is an accomplishment.  My wife and I were just all ear to ear grins just creating eachother's miis... 

Oh, and it's only dangerous if you're either an idiot, or horribly, horribly inactive.  I've had sore muscles from marathon bowling sessions, but I'm pretty sure that's a good thing. 

[versapak]

Oh, and it's only dangerous if you're either an idiot, or horribly, horribly inactive.  I've had sore muscles from marathon bowling sessions, but I'm pretty sure that's a good thing. 

Well...


The level of danger is a bit exaggerated, but with a 3 year old around it definitely exists without any idiocy as a contributing factor.

The couple of times that my daughter got whacked, it was because she was very excited and trying to get a better perspective on what her mommy was doing.

One second she is safely on the other side of the room, the next second she is right behind my wife in the middle of a back-swing in bowling.


As Schmokes was saying though... It isn't exactly a life threatening sort of thing. The kid gets a little short lived discomfort. Before no time they are back to their wild ways plenty excited to be in the awesome aura of the Wii once again.

It is one of the freshest and most fun video gaming experiences in years, and not getting it simply because you are worried you might bonk a kid or two is just silly.

If you are worried about truly dangerous drunken debauchery, then simply don't drink and Wii.

[AlanS17]

... and if you're worried about injury, don't play football.

[shmokes]

Now do it 10,000 more times and get back to us.  That's when the straps will start to break. 

I'm with Howard here.  I don't think it's happening.  10,000 times doesn't make sense.  The strap is ONLY stressed on the off chance that the controller slips out of a person's hand.  I have never seen this actually happen.  Not once.  Ever.  But even if the controller slipped out of a person's hand at high speeds ten times per day every day of the year, it would still take years for it to happen 10,000 times.

Now, I know that 10,000 is just a figurative number meant to convey the same meaning as "a lot", but it's just not something that's happening a lot.  I've never even almost lost control of the remote.  I'm not saying it can't or doesn't ever happen.  It just doesn't happen a lot.  What's more, the Wii remote is incredibly light.  It only weighs a few ounces.  This thing is not breaking straps.  What's happening is that people aren't putting the wrist strap on (almost nobody I play with does), and when the controller slips out of their hand and busts their TV they are deliberately breaking the strap so their friends and family don't think they're such fools.

[AlanS17]

In my 20+ hours of game play, I've lost the remote exactly one time. This was in the first 15 minutes and in one of the most active games to date - Wii Sports tennis. Since then, I haven't even come close.

[Howard_Casto]

The couple of times that my daughter got whacked, it was because she was very excited and trying to get a better perspective on what her mommy was doing.

I agree with the peanut gallery.  It's kind of funny my mom and I were talking about this the other day.  She said something to the degree of:

"Parents are too over-protective of their kids these days, making them wear bike helmets when they are riding in the front yard and such.  Do you know how they kept us from doing stupid stuff when I was little?  They let us go ahead and do it, the pain teaches you not to do it again.  None of this time-out when a kid gets too close to the light socket, cause they knew I'd just wait until they were out of the room and try it anyway.  Grandma would say 'Go ahead and let her touch it, she'll only do it once.' and sure enough after I shocked the hell out of myself I never did it again."

If you bought your kid "Super knife thrower 3000 little tykes knife kit" then I would agree, but it's a wii.  Either they'll get a bump on the head a few times until they figure out not to step close to people while playing or you'll learn early that your child is "special" and you'll have other concerns anyway. 

[tommy]

 Do you know how they kept us from doing stupid stuff when I was little?  They let us go ahead and do it, the pain teaches you not to do it again.

Givin the fact the thing didn't get you killed, otherwise it's a decent plan.

[RTSDaddy2]

The Wii, as I've said - and now seen stated on here - several times is the ULTIMATE Family fun center right now.  My sister still talks about the fun she had playing Wii golf and baseball during our Christmas Day party.  My wife and I could hear them laughing and whooping it up with the Wii while we took a few minutes to clean off the table for dessert, then came and joined them....it was a blast!

As for hitting things with the remote, throwing the remote through things, I guess we're just more inclined to follow directions or something.  I've owned my since launch day and haven't launched the remote through anything so far....but we move tables and etc. out of the way PRIOR to playing too...perhaps that's it.

[SNAAKE]

oh yeah nintendo is totally hookin people up. I was at a friend's house the other day and had a blast playing 4 player wii sports for like 5-6 hours. wii is a great multi player console..dont know about single player though..dont see myself playing adventure games with that remote lol

[shmokes]

You will change your mind after playing Zelda . . . especially considering that Zelda was a game retooled for the remote, rather than one built from the ground up to take advantage of it.  It's already proven that adventure games can shine on the Wii, but it's also pretty clear that they can be a lot better.

[Howard_Casto]

I think the misconception is that every single game on the wii lineup requires you to flail around like an idiot while standing in the middle of the floor.  Wii sports, wii play and some of the mini game discs are the only ones that require that.  Most of the wii games allow you to sit comfortably on the couch and don't require constant motion tracking, so you can rest your hand for long periods. 

Zelda is a prime example.  Running, riding, and moving around don't require the wiimote.  You only use it when attacking an enemy and then you can  rest your arm until the next baddie comes up.  Also you don't swing the length of the screen or anythng, a quick two inch swipe will strike the sword. 

[Tahnok]

Back on the original subject, I finally bit the bullet today and got up at 7:30. I got over to Best Buy at around 8:00 and waited in line until 10:00. Lucky for me, the cold spell we've been having for the last week is starting to break and it was actually tolerable being up against the side of the building a jacket on. That is, until about 9:30 when they started handing out vouchers, and everyone, in their excitement, moved away from the wall. Anyway, I ended up getting voucher #14, out of 40 something vouchers. I know, nothing compared to what some people have gone through to get it, but it was still more than I would usually do for a console.

After having played it quite a bit today, I can say that it was totally worth the wait (both the wait this morning, and since launch). Sports is so unique, and Zelda is just amazing from the little bit I've gotten into it. I've not even configured it for online yet either (I'll do that later tonight). So far, the console has given me a very good first impression.

Also, as Howard said, I was relieved to see that Zelda is fairly easy to control, without the need for too much movement. I think they balanced the game very well. Just enough movement to draw you in, not so much that it makes it tiring playing for a length of time.

[farmecologist]

Our Wii just arrived in the mail last week.   I was a bit skeptical about the control scheme ( as many of us are ).   However, I'm happy to say that I am a total believer now.   The sensitivity an accuracy of the controller is amazing.  I have had two TOTAL non-gamers over and they both had a blast with Wii sports.   The whole Mii idea is just great.   I really hope Mii usage continues in more games. 


And since we are talking about the strap issue, I really don't see how one could break them...even the thin ones...UNLESS the strap on your Wiimote is defective.   We tried yanking on the strap quite hard and it was just fine.   


And I really don't see why anyone has an issue with the Zelda control scheme.  I really think it was implemented quite well.  And Howard certainly is correct..you do not have to 'flail around like an idiot' in ANY game unless you WANT to  .   My brother was playing Wii sports just fine sitting down.  In my opinion the 'flailing around like an idiot' is part of the fun. 

[shmokes]

By the way, Warioware: Smooth Moves is phenomenal.

[Howard_Casto]

By the way, Warioware: Smooth Moves is phenomenal.

Is it truely phenomenal, or just phenomenal like the other wario ware games?  I played some of the others, and while I found them to be great fun while trying to beat them, I didn't really want to ever play them again once completed.  I guess what I'm asking is, will I get the same 4 puny hours of original gameplay on this one?

[shmokes]

Can't say.  It's the only Warioware game I've ever played, and I only rented it last night and played it for maybe two hours or so (mother-in-law is visiting so we're a little busy).  It's certainly not phenomenal in the same way a Legend of Zelda or Super Mario 64 or Metroid is phenomenal.  But I can't wait until I get to play the thing while drinking with a group of friends. 

[rampy]

By the way, Warioware: Smooth Moves is phenomenal.

Is it truely phenomenal, or just phenomenal like the other wario ware games?  I played some of the others, and while I found them to be great fun while trying to beat them, I didn't really want to ever play them again once completed.  I guess what I'm asking is, will I get the same 4 puny hours of original gameplay on this one?

Howard,  it's a "party" game... the 1player playthrough value is probably as limited as the other warioware titles (from what I understand). 

in other news... have you guys seen the engadget coverage of Tiger Wood 2007 wii edition?    er... joystiq...

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/22/joystiq-interviews-wes-culver-tiger-woods-wii-designer/
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/18/joystiq-hands-on-tiger-woods-pga-tour-07-wii/

[AtomSmasher]

By the way, Warioware: Smooth Moves is phenomenal.

Is it truely phenomenal, or just phenomenal like the other wario ware games?  I played some of the others, and while I found them to be great fun while trying to beat them, I didn't really want to ever play them again once completed.  I guess what I'm asking is, will I get the same 4 puny hours of original gameplay on this one?

Howard,  it's a "party" game... the 1player playthrough value is probably as limited as the other warioware titles (from what I understand). 

The only other Warioware game I have is the one on the DS and the Wii version doesn't have much more content then that.  After 4-5 hours of playing it I have almost every minigame unlocked along with every bonus feature.  The worst thing is that the mutliplayer is completely different then the single player, the multiplayer consists of only a couple mini games (not micro games like the single player) and are generally played with only one remote that is passed from player to player.

It basically just shows the potential of the wii controls, just as the DS warioware showed the potential for its hardware.  Definately worth a rental, but not a purchase.

[hypernova]

So what's the availability look like to anyone that happens to be passing through electronics stores and the like?  I still haven't gotten one, and was curious what everyone's been seeing around.  Any in stock?  Sold out still?

[ChadTower]

They can be had.  I've been in stores during the day and walked over just out of curiousity and see them in the case.  Usually 4-5 of them right next to the sign that says "The Wii is currently out of stock.  We cannot advise you as to when exactly the next shipment will come in" that the stockboy didn't bother to remove.

PS3s are easy to get now too.  There are a couple at the local Target and the local Walmart that have been sitting there quite a while now.

[rampy]

They can be had.  I've been in stores during the day and walked over just out of curiousity and see them in the case.  Usually 4-5 of them right next to the sign that says "The Wii is currently out of stock.  We cannot advise you as to when exactly the next shipment will come in" that the stockboy didn't bother to remove.

PS3s are easy to get now too.  There are a couple at the local Target and the local Walmart that have been sitting there quite a while now.

You sure those weren't empty display boxes? I know during my initial hunt I had my hopes dashed several times by those

rampy

[ChadTower]

No reason for them to have 4 display boxes on their sides inside the bottom of the locked glass case.  I'd have been really surprised if they were, would have been the least effective display ever.  Plus they were gone a couple days later.

[hypernova]

Checked around Sunday morning via the phone.  No luck in local Targets, BBs, and we're in WM bi-weekly anyway.  Never see any.  Checked the local Microcenter too.  Nothing.

[somunny]

Saw a few people carrying them out of a Best Buy I was in this afternoon.  I also saw some in a case at Target last Friday.

[rampy]

No reason for them to have 4 display boxes on their sides inside the bottom of the locked glass case.  I'd have been really surprised if they were, would have been the least effective display ever.  Plus they were gone a couple days later.

Well the locked in a glass case was an important detail... that I overlooked in your previous message.  sorry 'bout that... I still have been punk'd by the empty display boxes from afar, before though...

[ChadTower]

We've all been burned by display cases when there is no stock.  Very annoying.

I finally spent some time playing a Wii on Sunday.  Played some Monkey Ball minigames and a couple of the Wii Sports.  I definitely felt the new control paradigm and it was somewhat intuitive to a person with a lot of experience moving from one specialized control scheme to the next (like any good arcade person).  The graphics are more than sufficient for everything I saw.  The downsides for me were mostly the amount of room necessary for a multiplayer game.  We had to use an entire decent sized, mostly empty room for four player action. 

I definitely see it as a real success of innovation but am also glad I haven't dropped $250 + $60/each for three extra controllers on the package.  Still need to explore the other games before I decide to jump on that.

[shmokes]

FWIW, controllers 3 and 4 at this point might only be $40 each, as most multiplayer games don't use the nunchuck (Wii boxing does, but it's only 2-player).  The only exception I can think of is possibly Madden, which I've not played (though I hear is quite good).  I don't know if it's 4-player, but I suppose it could be.

As far as space goes, I think you just make due with what you have.  I've played 4-player tennis in pretty small areas and it's never been a problem.  A bigger area would be nice, but I think we'd be bumping into each other just as much.  You definitely need more space than a traditional gamepad game needs, but not much more, IMO.