More Wii ranting

[shmokes]

I've made it clear in the past that I'm disappointed with the Wii hardware.  For the most part this means that multi-platform games do not come to the Wii.  The biggest disappointment for me in this respect, was that I wasn't going to get a chance to play GTA IV and Rock Band, since I don't have a PS3 or 360.  So, naturally, I was ecstatic when I learned that EA was releasing Rock Band for the Wii.  But the more I learn about this title, the more I realize there's no way in hell I will buy it for the Wii.  Ever.  Because of the Wii's general wimpiness (and lack of a hard drive) features have been cut out of Rock Band altogether for the Wii.  World Tour, for example, and character customization are sitting on the cutting room floor.  But that's not the biggest problem.  DLC.  No downloadable content.  Harmonix has said that they would love to do downloadable content, but that each song pack is like 100 MB so there's just no realistic way of doing it on the Wii since the Wii doesn't have a hard drive.

There's just no way on god's green Earth that I would lay down $170 for a game with only 45 or so songs, when everybody else gets to selectively download new songs to their heart's content from an ever growing library.  So dumb.  I really want Rock Band, but it's just gonna have to wait until some day way in the future when I can afford to buy a PS3.

[Minwah]

As a GameCube owner, I am a little dissapointed with the Wii's graphical power, although it is still quite impressive at times.

However I couldn't care less about the lack of hard drive. I think for the price (of console and games) it is excellent - I certainly wouldn't ever buy a PS3 or Xbox360 on principal (they are a rip-off). I would like to see some more serious games tho, such as a full on racer using the remote as a wheel*

Note I don't own a Wii but my gf has one. I have enough consoles to last several lifetimes...

* I don't keep up on new games so this might already exist (I know one or 2 games use the remote as a wheel).

[patrickl]

I certainly wouldn't ever buy a PS3 or Xbox360 on principal (they are a rip-off).

You mean you feel they are too expensive? An Xbox 360 is actually about 50 euro cheaper than a Wii. A PS3 is only 130 euro more and for that money you get a harddisk, a Blu-Ray player and a whole lot more computer power.

If anything, the Wii is a ripoff. It's a slightly enhanced Gamecube with a new controller.

[FrizzleFried]

Wii is a fun TOY... not a great CONSOLE.  It's awesome when playing games that utilize it's unique controls,  but if you bought it to play standard "console" titles via a game pad,  you got suckered.  I really don't like game-pad controlled games...so the Wii works fine for me... I just paid $65.00 for Guitar Hero III at Amazon...what's the price for Xbox 360 or PS3?   It also seems that most games are about 25-35% less expensive than XBox 360/PS3 titles?

My only gripe is that it's not Hi-Def...I'd like to utilize my entire screens real estate.

[shmokes]

I certainly wouldn't ever buy a PS3 or Xbox360 on principal (they are a rip-off).

Yeah . . . I feel the same way as patrickl.  I can get behind you on the games.  Wii games are genuinely less expensive (at least in the U.S. they are usually $10 less than 360 or PS3 games).  But in terms of value, the Wii is by far the worst value of the three systems.  The Xbox 360 over here costs only $20 more than a Wii, and once you've bought a second controller for each system, the Xbox 360 actually costs less.  At launch Microsoft and Sony were losing between $150 and $300 per system sold, while at launch Nintendo was making a profit on their little Wii.  Clearly, the 360 and PS3 presented a better value (at least in terms of dollars or euros or pounds) than the Wii. 

[AtomSmasher]

The Xbox 360 over here costs only $20 more than a Wii,

Since your complaining about the Wii not having a harddrive, it seems like you would want to buy the 360 that does have a harddrive and not the one only $20 more.

I think it should be clear to everyone by now that if you want to play muliplatform games, then get a 360 or PS3.  Where the Wii really shines is by having some of the best exclusives.

[ahofle]

Shmokes, why don't you sell your Wii already and buy a PS3 or 360?  How many threads do you need to create whining about it?  I think we all get the point -- the Wii is an overpriced pile of dung with gimmicky expensive controls, no hard drive, no dolby digital sound, and no HD graphics (all of which were widely known facts BTW when you purchased yours).  So just get the console you really want and be done with it.   

[Dartful Dodger]

<High jacking your Wii rant with my PS3/RockBand rant>

The character customization feature is over rated.  It’s only a handful of heads, and 5 body heights and 5 weights and the clothing options are very repetitive too.  There are a lot of choices, but they are all the same.

I was actually jealous when I heard there was a Wii version since I figured they’d take advantage of the Mii.

I’ve lost interest in World Tour Mode too.  You need at least two players to play in WTM and its tough to find time when the other guys or I want to play. Our band is also at a point where we all have to play on hard and play either a 6 or more song set or play random songs.  Random meaning at least one impossibly crazy song that at least one of us can’t finish on hard. 

I still play Solo Tours, but mostly because of my need to solve the game.  The game lost its fun factor half way through hard and now that I’m on expert I just want it to end.

It’s still a good party game, but it gets frustrating when you play with people who stink and the people who stink are the ones who always want to play.  The game should have had a karaoke style mode where the whole band doesn’t fail if one guy drops out.

DLC is the only thing keeping the game alive(this week has "Call Me" by Blondie and “Saints of Los Angeles” by Mötley Crüe), like you said without it the game might not be worth $170.  Although if you include all I’ve spent on DLC my Rockband is costing me over $200.

GTA might be the second game I buy for the PS3.  $60+ for a game is ridiculous so I refuse to buy a game unless it’s great.

[ahofle]

How much do the songs cost to download out of curiosity?

[Dartful Dodger]

Some are .99 but most are 1.99.  You can buy sets too and they cast about 9.99.

When I first bought RB I loved it and got caught up in a DLC frenzy.  Now I just wait until there is a song I really like, or is free.

[versapak]

How much do the songs cost to download out of curiosity?

1 = $1-2
3 = $5.50
6 = $10

[shmokes]

Shmokes, why don't you sell your Wii already and buy a PS3 or 360?  How many threads do you need to create whining about it?  I think we all get the point -- the Wii is an overpriced pile of dung with gimmicky expensive controls, no hard drive, no dolby digital sound, and no HD graphics (all of which were widely known facts BTW when you purchased yours).  So just get the console you really want and be done with it.   

It's really a rant about the crippled version of Rock Band Wii owners are getting.  And look what useful information it generated (not missing out on the character customization, for example).   

[DaveMMR]

Shmokes, why don't you sell your Wii already and buy a PS3 or 360?  How many threads do you need to create whining about it?  I think we all get the point -- the Wii is an overpriced pile of dung with gimmicky expensive controls, no hard drive, no dolby digital sound, and no HD graphics (all of which were widely known facts BTW when you purchased yours).  So just get the console you really want and be done with it.   

It's really a rant about the crippled version of Rock Band Wii owners are getting.  And look what useful information it generated (not missing out on the character customization, for example).   

I think you like your Wii you just hate admitting it.   

And look, we've disagreed on a lot about the value/usefulness/fun factor of the Wii but I'm going to agree with you in that I'm also a little disappointed as well about the crippling of Rock Band for the Wii.   I really see no reason (at least not technologically speaking) why you can't fit a few 100MB songs (or like 20) on SD cards.  Those things are cheap.  Yeah, maybe they can't run from the card not unlike the VC games, yada yada yada but as I said, the Wii is not that weak that it couldn't be possible.   

On the other hand, I'm glad it's coming out at all for the Wii.  My girlfriend and our friends love Guitar Hero and I'm sure Rock Band will be an excellent little party game.  And as long as they can release sequels that utilize the instruments, the investment won't be as bad as it seems without the DLC.  But if I had an Xbox 360, that's the version I'd get.

[off-topic]
I have to disagree with FrizzleFried.  You can call it a toy but I still say no one makes a more compelling, genuinely fun game than Nintendo (and Sega - but they're 3rd party now).  And that's the reason you buy a Wii in the first place (unless your that targeted "non-gamer" who's a sucker for the motion gimmicks): for a strong selection of titles you can't find on the Xbox 360 or PS3.   But if you're aching for the more "hardcore-gamer" oriented selections found across the latter two systems (GTA4, MGS4, etc.), maybe it's time to look into a 360.
[/off-topic]

I don't know, I'm still looking forward to Rock Band despite the shortcomings. 

[shmokes]

I have to disagree with FrizzleFried.  You can call it a toy but I still say no one makes a more compelling, genuinely fun game than Nintendo (and Sega - but they're 3rd party now).  And that's the reason you buy a Wii in the first place (unless your that targeted "non-gamer" who's a sucker for the motion gimmicks): for a strong selection of titles you can't find on the Xbox 360 or PS3.   But if you're aching for the more "hardcore-gamer" oriented selections found across the latter two systems (GTA4, MGS4, etc.), maybe it's time to look into a 360.
[/off-topic]

I agree with all that (except the Sega bit . . . if this was ever true, it certainly hasn't been for a LONG time  ).  Nintendo is the greatest software developer/publisher on the planet.  The DS is the only Nintendo system I haven't owned (I think it's really cool, but I have no place in my life for portable games these days).  Honestly, that's really where all this hating on the Nintendo Wii stems from.  If I wasn't so emotionally invested in Nintendo, it would be a non-issue.  I'd just get a different system and have done with it.  It's my desire for Nintendo to succeed, and for the Wii to succeed -- my desire to love the Wii -- that makes me so disappointed in the really stupid hardware mistakes that I think Nintendo made.

[DaveMMR]

I agree with all that (except the Sega bit . . . if this was ever true, it certainly hasn't been for a LONG time  ).  Nintendo is the greatest software developer/publisher on the planet.  The DS is the only Nintendo system I haven't owned (I think it's really cool, but I have no place in my life for portable games these days).  Honestly, that's really where all this hating on the Nintendo Wii stems from.  If I wasn't so emotionally invested in Nintendo, it would be a non-issue.  I'd just get a different system and have done with it.  It's my desire for Nintendo to succeed, and for the Wii to succeed -- my desire to love the Wii -- that makes me so disappointed in the really stupid hardware mistakes that I think Nintendo made.

Well okay, Sega's been dropping the ball on Sonic titles (and you know what... slightly overrated series overall anyway - not bad, just not as good as they were made out to be).  But when it comes to video games that actually seem to have a "personality", Sega does quite well.  (I'll go ahead and give credit to Capcom and Konami as well but they have always been 3rd party so I'm not counting them)

And maybe I'm having no frustrations with the Wii because I'm considerably simplified my gaming needs.  Not on purpose, of course.  But as my leisure time has dwindled at the same time my available choice of alternate recreational hobbies increased, I find that I'm less willing to invest time in these gritty "interactive narratives" that dot the more powerful systems' landscape.  And for every must-own game on the PS3 or 360, there are a few dozen that look as if they're not trying very hard to bring anything new to the table.   

The Wii, on the other hand, simplified everything to the point where you can just bring home the console, hook it up and begin playing right out of the box.  Most games are pick-up-and-play without those annoying "mandatory tutorials" or "three hour introduction" (except for SM Galaxy, one of its few flaws).  If I get bored with my software, I can either pop online and download some classics (or the new games being developed for WiiWare) or pop in some cheap-but-excellent Gamecube titles.   Yeah, perhaps they could have beefed up the Wii a little, but it works for what it is.

Here's the twist though: If the 360 gives me a compelling enough reason to drop cash on their machine, I'd pick one up in a heartbeat.  I love Nintendo, but I've always played the console field too.  The only problem is, nowadays, not even the promise of GTA4 is enough to make me blink (it's a great game series, but the formula is not as fresh as it was back when the GTA3 arrived).  Yeah, there are some 360 exclusives I'd snatch up if I could.  But , for now, the Wii is more than enough to keep me entertained.

[Malenko]

wanna sell your wii schmokes?

[shmokes]

I doubt it.  Not unless I get too hard up for cash.  As I mentioned, Nintendo is the best (and my favorite game developer on the planet.  Regardless of the Wii's retarded hardware deficiencies, it remains the only platform where Nintendo games can be found, unfortunately.

[RetroGreg]

I have a 360 and a Wii. I use the 360 daily and the Wii like every month or so. Get a 360 and you won't be disappointed. It's packed with features that I didn't even know I would want. Now I don't want to console game on any other system.

[RetroGreg]

I should add that people coming to this forum should be interested in what Xbox Live Arcade has to offer. You can't beat updated classic games with online play for usually $10.

Bomberman is great over Live and there are many more. They also made Pac Man Championship Edition which is a new HD Widescreen Pac Man game by the original creator that is really great.

[AtomSmasher]

I have a 360 and a Wii. I use the 360 daily and the Wii like every month or so. Get a 360 and you won't be disappointed. It's packed with features that I didn't even know I would want. Now I don't want to console game on any other system.

I got a 360 about 2 months ago and I barely play it at all.  Granted the only games I have for it are Rock Band (which I played quite a bit when I first got it) and the pack in games (Forza and Marvel Ulitmate Alliance).  Since I've gotten it, I've bought 2 games for the Wii because each time I decide to get a new game theres been a new one on the Wii that I want to play more then anything available on the 360.

[Malenko]

I got a 360 about 2 months ago and I barely play it at all.  Granted the only games I have for it are Rock Band (which I played quite a bit when I first got it) and the pack in games (Forza and Marvel Ulitmate Alliance).  Since I've gotten it, I've bought 2 games for the Wii because each time I decide to get a new game theres been a new one on the Wii that I want to play more then anything available on the 360.

Could you be more specific? I think theres only like 3 Wii games Im super interested in, Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart and Zelda. On my 360 I have a lot of games, but Army of Two, Assassins Creed (I think Im alone in loving this game though), COD4, DMC4, Lost Odyssey, SmackDown vs Raw 08, NHL 08,etc etc you have to have either a 360 or a PS3 to get. And while you can get classic games on the Wii you can do the same on the 360 and PS3.

Everyone says its the gimmicky controls that keeps people buying the wii, but we all know its the line up of great first party titles. I would like to get a Wii but store never have them and Im not spending $400 on egay to snag one. I should have kept the one I bought my nephews, lol

[RetroGreg]

To each his own, but the original poster seems displeased with the Wii so I suggest the 360 which I have enjoyed greatly.

I have Mario Galaxy and a couple other games on Wii, but they just don't seem to hold my interest as much. I was a huge GameCube fan and i think that is part of it. The updates for all the Nintendo franchises on the Wii are really only adding motion control and the graphics are on par with the GameCube so I'm personally not seeing them as something I need to buy when I can just play the GameCube games. Plus online is bare bones bad on the Wii compared to the 360 which caters to online players. Plus once you play in HD widescreen it's hard to go back to the SD offerings on the Wii.

If you play with a lot of people in house then sure the Wii can be good for a party, but I just couldn't stay interested in it a single player machine or as my sole console.

When I go look at the Wii section in the game store I see mostly low budget shovelware and good Nintendo franchise games that I  KNOW could be a lot better if their tech was improved.

What are you playing on it lately? Smash Brothers without voice chat? I'd surely buy it if I could talk to who I am playing. Same goes with Mario Kart. The Wii is just not catering to hardcore gamers, but rather casuals which is doing them well - but not good for me any longer. Until they catch up with the technology of HD and solid online play the bulk of my gaming will be on other consoles.

[RetroGreg]

I got a 360 about 2 months ago and I barely play it at all.  Granted the only games I have for it are Rock Band (which I played quite a bit when I first got it) and the pack in games (Forza and Marvel Ulitmate Alliance).  Since I've gotten it, I've bought 2 games for the Wii because each time I decide to get a new game theres been a new one on the Wii that I want to play more then anything available on the 360.

Could you be more specific? I think theres only like 3 Wii games Im super interested in, Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart and Zelda. On my 360 I have a lot of games, but Army of Two, Assassins Creed (I think Im alone in loving this game though), COD4, DMC4, Lost Odyssey, SmackDown vs Raw 08, NHL 08,etc etc you have to have either a 360 or a PS3 to get. And while you can get classic games on the Wii you can do the same on the 360 and PS3.

Everyone says its the gimmicky controls that keeps people buying the wii, but we all know its the line up of great first party titles. I would like to get a Wii but store never have them and Im not spending $400 on egay to snag one. I should have kept the one I bought my nephews, lol

I'd have to disagree. I think the people buying it are casual gamers that want to play with friends with the new controls that anyone can use. GameCube had a great first party lineup and it didn't do good at all. They're the same Nintendo games on Wii, the only difference is the controls.

[massive88]

Gamecube also came out at the wrong time to not support DVD playback as well. 

But I agree, the controls are the biggest reason for Wii's success.  That and their PS2-shortage marketing strategy.

[AtomSmasher]

Could you be more specific? I think theres only like 3 Wii games Im super interested in, Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart and Zelda. On my 360 I have a lot of games, but Army of Two, Assassins Creed (I think Im alone in loving this game though), COD4, DMC4, Lost Odyssey, SmackDown vs Raw 08, NHL 08,etc etc you have to have either a 360 or a PS3 to get. And while you can get classic games on the Wii you can do the same on the 360 and PS3.

The two recent games I bought were Okami and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.  Some of the other games I own are No More Heroes, Super Mario Galaxy, Zelda, Metroid Prime 3, Super Paper Mario, Res. Evil 4, and Excite Truck all of which are either great or at least really good games IMO and not available on the 360 (okay Res. Evil 4 is through backwards compatability with the xbox, but it has inferior controls).  The only 360 games currently out that I can think of that I'm really interested in are Dead Rising, Assassins Creed, Crackdown and Gears of War.  I'll probably get Dead Rising and Crackdown in the next couple of months, but I'll wait for Assassins Creed and GoW to become platinum hits before picking them up.  I also would of gotten Mass Effect, but I'll probably get it on the PC instead.  

[Malenko]

I think my point is, if they don't make the controls less gimmicky and more useful (like they did with the DS) the novelty is going to wear off.  The lack of supply isn't making me want one more, its actually making me want one less. What kind of company cant produce enough units to meet demand over a year after launch? "marketing strategy" it doesn't impress me.

I forgot about No More heroes, I heard thats great. Wasn't Okami originally a PS2 game?
I didn't want to get into a game library comparison here, but I stand by the titles I cited; I've never been into RE and Metroid isn't Metroid.... cause Metroid is a 2D side scroller to me

I donut like Dead Rising (I think Im alone in that opinion too) but Crackdown is soooo much fun. I'm sure you can snag GOW cheap when GOW2 comes out in November. Im not huge into first person games, but theres also Bio Shock, Rainbow 6 Vegas

[AtomSmasher]

Well I play most of my shooters on the PC, which is one of the main reasons I'm hesitant to pick up GoW.  Metroid Prime 3 and Res Evil 4 are the only shooters I've ever enjoyed on a console because of the superior controls, but I'm willing to give GoW a try since everyone says its such a great game and reviews of the PC version usually say its best to play it with a gamepad (same with assassins creed).

I'm also not saying one consoles library is better then the others, I'm just saying that there are plenty of great games on the Wii.  If I thought the 360 didn't have any great games, then I wouldn't of bought one.  I was just offering a counter-point to RetroGreg saying he rarely plays his Wii.

[massive88]

What kind of company cant produce enough units to meet demand over a year after launch? "marketing strategy" it doesn't impress me.

I dont think Nintendo's goal is to impress you.  I think its to keep demand high and sell consoles, which is exactly what they have successfully done for just about a year and a half now.

[RetroGreg]

Well I play most of my shooters on the PC, which is one of the main reasons I'm hesitant to pick up GoW.  Metroid Prime 3 and Res Evil 4 are the only shooters I've ever enjoyed on a console because of the superior controls, but I'm willing to give GoW a try since everyone says its such a great game and reviews of the PC version usually say its best to play it with a gamepad (same with assassins creed).

I'm also not saying one consoles library is better then the others, I'm just saying that there are plenty of great games on the Wii.  If I thought the 360 didn't have any great games, then I wouldn't of bought one.  I was just offering a counter-point to RetroGreg saying he rarely plays his Wii.

Your Wii collection is a great lineup of software. It's the only place you'll get the Nintendo exclusives and the reason why I do own a Wii. My gripe is that these franchises have only added motion control and otherwise seem like GameCube games, and I'd rather play them with a controller so I mostly think the GameCube games are better. I did buy Zelda - but I bought the GameCube version so I could play it the old way.

Once I have become accustomed to the features the 360 offers it is hard to go back to playing on the Wii. I don't want to enter friend codes and have no voice chat. I used to not play online that much, but now that is what I mostly play. I love when I turn on the 360 it tells me what everyone on my friends list is playing so I can join their game if I want. I love that it provides online leaderboards to updated classic games in Live arcade which brings back that old high score feeling in the arcades back in the day.

The main thing that gets me is that I know the Wii games could be so much better if they had better online and were in HD. They'd be great. But as it stands I'm sorely disappointed that they do not offer these features.

As for good 360 games: I can't stop playing Call of Duty 4 so I'd recommend you check it out. Crackdown was amazing and I put in at least 20 hours on that - plus you can play it in co-op online. If you get it and want to play co-op my Gamertag is the same: RetroGreg
Also either Guitar Hero or Rock Band, Gears of War as you mentioned, Bioshock is really good, Halo 3 is fantastic, Grand Theft Auto comes out this month, and the new Battlefield game comes out in June. I think the value is understated - the games may cost $60, but I play them far longer with the online play so you really get more out of them.

[SithMaster]

Well I play most of my shooters on the PC, which is one of the main reasons I'm hesitant to pick up GoW.  Metroid Prime 3 and Res Evil 4 are the only shooters I've ever enjoyed on a console because of the superior controls, but I'm willing to give GoW a try since everyone says its such a great game and reviews of the PC version usually say its best to play it with a gamepad (same with assassins creed).

I'm also not saying one consoles library is better then the others, I'm just saying that there are plenty of great games on the Wii.  If I thought the 360 didn't have any great games, then I wouldn't of bought one.  I was just offering a counter-point to RetroGreg saying he rarely plays his Wii.

In case you are contemplating getting GoW for the pc don't.

One of the few games I'm looking forward to is GoW2 so that will dictate when I get my 360.  Some of the points shmokes mentioned about the wii shouldn't matter as long as the game play is fun.

[AtomSmasher]

Your Wii collection is a great lineup of software. It's the only place you'll get the Nintendo exclusives and the reason why I do own a Wii. My gripe is that these franchises have only added motion control and otherwise seem like GameCube games, and I'd rather play them with a controller so I mostly think the GameCube games are better. I did buy Zelda - but I bought the GameCube version so I could play it the old way.

Once I have become accustomed to the features the 360 offers it is hard to go back to playing on the Wii. I don't want to enter friend codes and have no voice chat. I used to not play online that much, but now that is what I mostly play. I love when I turn on the 360 it tells me what everyone on my friends list is playing so I can join their game if I want. I love that it provides online leaderboards to updated classic games in Live arcade which brings back that old high score feeling in the arcades back in the day.

The main thing that gets me is that I know the Wii games could be so much better if they had better online and were in HD. They'd be great. But as it stands I'm sorely disappointed that they do not offer these features.

As for good 360 games: I can't stop playing Call of Duty 4 so I'd recommend you check it out. Crackdown was amazing and I put in at least 20 hours on that - plus you can play it in co-op online. If you get it and want to play co-op my Gamertag is the same: RetroGreg
Also either Guitar Hero or Rock Band, Gears of War as you mentioned, Bioshock is really good, Halo 3 is fantastic, Grand Theft Auto comes out this month, and the new Battlefield game comes out in June. I think the value is understated - the games may cost $60, but I play them far longer with the online play so you really get more out of them.

I get my online gaming fix from the PC and refuse to pay Microsoft to play online when its free on every other console, which is why the poor online capabilities of the Wii don't bother me.  The 360 definately beats the Wii in online features if your willing to pay the monthly fee.

As I said, I generally do not like shooters on consoles, and the only console shooters I've played that I do like are because of the Wii's superior controls.  As for CoD4, Bioshock, and Battlefield, I've played the first two on the PC and will probably play both of the new Battlefield games on the PC when they comes out (I've played every Battlefield game on the PC so far).  Halo is overrated and I don't have the slightest urge to play the latest one.  I already own Rock Band (as I mentioned earlier) which is a great game, and will probably pick up GTA4 when it comes out (I've been enjoying the GTA series since the first one came out in 1997), but didn't mention it because, as I said, I was only talking about games currently out.

[RetroGreg]

You're right - I don't mind paying the $5 monthly for the integrated friends list and the other features Xbox Live provides. It's a small price for the enjoyment and longevity it provides to the games I buy.

You seem to have the perfect solution for yourself - a pc and a Wii. But I don't know how you can consider a wiimote "perfect" controls for an FPS when you are used to a mouse and keyboard. Halo is a good console game, but not really for pc gamers due to the speed so I can see why you wouldn't like it - but that leads me back to wondering why you like Metroid on the Wii?? 

Since you seem like a console Nintendo fan with you're game selections - I want to know if you owned a GameCube and last generations versions of those games? I don't see how they are different/better on the Wii with the motion controls. Every other Nintendo console had significant upgrades in their franchise titles. The Wii really doesn't to me.

Also - I was just listing current games most people are talking about. I've played a lot more but am not going to go out and list them all for you - as you stated yourself both consoles have plenty of games. You simply stated you just bought a 360 so I was trying to help you find some of the better games now and upcoming.

My whole gripe about the Wii is it's lack of features that keep me from seeing it as little more than a gimmick for casual gamers. I don't want dumbed down games or controls with last gen graphics that sometimes don't even better their GameCube prequels (see Mario Kart).

[RetroGreg]

I forgot to add that Okami is just a PS2 port and Resident Evil 4 is obviously a GameCube/PS2 port as well. Another reason the Wii library is lacking to me - so many ports with tacked on motion control.

[AtomSmasher]

Yes, Okami is a PS2 port, but try finding a new copy of the game (they're still selling for $40-50 on amazon, so $40 for the Wii version isn't a bad deal).  Yes RE4 is a port, but it has superior controls to every other version. 

You can have an integrated friends lists and other features for free on the PS3 and the PC (I use XFire which works in pretty much every game).  And I never once said the wiimote was perfect for an FPS, so I don't know why you put quotes on that.  I said it was "superior" to the gamepad, which it is.  For the few games that got it right, it is far better then a gamepad, not as good as a mouse and keyboard, but still good enough to allow the game to be enjoyable.

As for Halo being over rated, I'm talking about the single player portion, and its paced roughly the same as any other FPS, so speed has nothing to do with it.  As I said, I won't be playing multiplayer on the 360 anytime soon, so that wasn't even a factor, and even if it was, I think you know my stance on console FPS games 

I appreciate the help with finding games, but I stay pretty up to date on all games available on all the systems 

And no, I never owned a Gamecube.  The last Nintendo console I've owned (excluding handheld systems) was the original NES...which technically belonged to my older sister.  The only last gen console I owned was the PS2.

[RetroGreg]

That's true. At least you can play it now.

Sure - I know you can have those lists on PC and PS3 (Is it game specific?), but we were just talking Wii and 360. Plus PS3 has some barriers because a mic is not a pack in and I like the voice chat 

Since you didn't have a GameCube there are a gold mine of games you can get cheap now to play on the Wii. I think that pretty much explains most of our differences right there. I've played all those and the Wii sequels seem too much the same to me.

I'm glad you are enjoying yours though. I do like making the Mii's and the Virtual Console.

[AtomSmasher]

That's true. At least you can play it now.

Sure - I know you can have those lists on PC and PS3 (Is it game specific?), but we were just talking Wii and 360. Plus PS3 has some barriers because a mic is not a pack in and I like the voice chat 

Since you didn't have a GameCube there are a gold mine of games you can get cheap now to play on the Wii. I think that pretty much explains most of our differences right there. I've played all those and the Wii sequels seem too much the same to me.

I'm glad you are enjoying yours though. I do like making the Mii's and the Virtual Console.

I understand we're just talking Wii and 360, but I was just explaining why I don't like paying Microsoft a monthly fee for something thats free on other systems.

As for the wiimote, I mentioned it in a previous thread that I think its a good compromise between a mouse and keyboard and a gamepad.  Pretty much any game the controls better with a mouse/keyboard should control better with the wiimote then a gamepad.  So far shooters and point & click adventures are the only ones really shining right now, but I bet an rts would work great on it as well.  Also, with a boxing game and a golfing game coming out designed to make good use of the wiimote, we should soon find out if sports games really can be better on the Wii.  I'm really hoping they are, but the accelerometers been sloppy at best in other games, so I'm not holding my breath.

Regardless I'm sure we'll both find games we love on both the Wii and 360   

Also, I actually did pick up a few gamecube games when I first got my Wii, but the only one I really enjoyed was Eternal Darkness.  (other ones I got were Mario Sunshine, which was ok but not great. Animal Crossing, not my type of game.  Resident Evil 4, hated the controls.  and one or two others, but I don't remember what they are at the moment)

[DJ_Izumi]

I don't want to sound like a jerk here, but if you're upset that a console doesn't have the games and features that you want, isn't that more your fault for buying the wrong console than the consoles fault for not having the features?

[versapak]

I don't want to sound like a jerk here, but if you're upset that a console doesn't have the games and features that you want, isn't that more your fault for buying the wrong console than the consoles fault for not having the features?

You seem to miss the point of the rant.

He is disappointed that his favorite game developer (Nintendo, which can only be found on Nintendo made hardware) went so "cheap" with their hardware specs.

Yeah, he could have gone with a 360, but missed out on his favorite developer's games, or gone with a Wii and missed out on a slew of other great games.

Something is gonna suck with either situation.


Jerk.

[DaveMMR]

Something is gonna suck with either situation.

Exactly.  It's been like this with every single console generation all the way back to the 2600 (although with the Colecovision you had the best of both worlds thanks to the VCS Expansion Module, but that'll never happen nowadays).  Anyway... if buying multiple consoles is not in the cards, you make a decision on what games you want to play when system shopping.  If the only thing you worry about is how much power your decision does or doesn't have, maybe you're not enjoying the exclusive games as much as you think.   

I mean, yeah, the Wii is weak compared to it's competitors.  But I'm having too much fun with the games to really care.

[versapak]

Something is gonna suck with either situation.

Exactly.  It's been like this with every single console generation all the way back to the 2600 (although with the Colecovision you had the best of both worlds thanks to the VCS Expansion Module, but that'll never happen nowadays).  Anyway... if buying multiple consoles is not in the cards, you make a decision on what games you want to play when system shopping.  If the only thing you worry about is how much power your decision does or doesn't have, maybe you're not enjoying the exclusive games as much as you think.   

I mean, yeah, the Wii is weak compared to it's competitors.  But I'm having too much fun with the games to really care.

No one ever said that was the only thing he was concerned about.


It seems to just be something that has been bugging him.

Did he make the wrong choice in consle? Maybe yes. Maybe no.

Not like any "should have" advice from any of us actually changes the situation or helps in any sort of way.


I bought the Wii knowing its limitations hardware wise.

Before actually having one though, I didn't know how much its weaknesses would bother me.

The fun to be had was certainly there with a few titles, but in the end I found that it really did just feel like a gimped last gen machine with a gimmicky controller.

Hindsight is 20/20.

Once there is a stronger library, and hopefully even a price drop, I will probably replace the one I got rid of, but either way...

It is certainly a pretty valid reason to do a little venting in a msg board rant.